Downtown Jersey City Weekly Real Estate Update

Last week on my facebook fan page, I promised you I would start giving you weekly downtown Jersey City market stats. Since my business is mostly Hoboken and Jersey City, this makes complete sense to me! So, without further due, here is your weekly real estate update.

What's hot in JC

For the week of June 7th 2010 thru June 13th, 2010

Condominium Sales:

There were 4 sales this week reported. From the lowest, at Trump Plaza, a 837 square foot one bedroom on the 20th floor, with an asking price of $439,888 sold for $405,000.

The highest sale, a two bed two bath at Fulton's Landing - 149 Essex - no square footage listed, with an asking price of $478,000 sold for $455,000.

Median list price was $444,444 and median sale price was $410,000. Median days on market was 61 days.

New Pending Sales:

There were two new contracts written for this same week. 264 9th, a 510 sq foot studio that needed renovations, with an asking price of $199,900 went under contract. And, 61 Grand Street, an 1100 square foot two bedroom two bath with an asking price of $559,000.

Median days on market 192 days.

Note: There are 184 condominiums and co-op's currently for sale.

Brownstones and Single Families:

No sales or new contracts were recorded for this week.

Note: There are 26 single families currently for sale.

Information provided by the Hudson County MLS, deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Does not include private inventory withheld from developers such as 77 Hudson and Trump Plaza, etc.

Selling Your Home - Tip # 5

5. Putting Your Home on the Market: Show It to Sell It

After you have cleaned, shined, decluttered and generally whipped your property into shape, it's time to attract a buyer.
Regardless of who markets your home, you or a broker, there are other, small things you must do to attract buyers. For example, even if it's bright daylight, open the blinds and turn on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make the home appear roomier. Be sure to remove all your kids and pets -- they're cute, but a prospect wants to see your home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure your pet's litter pan is clean so the home smells clean and fresh, not like air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure your home is available to be seen by a prospective buyer with as little notice as possible. That means less than an hour, or even five minutes, if possible.

This is a very important tip that too many sellers miss. Selling your home is an inconvenience, yes we know this. But the goal is to sell your home right? So if that means waking up an extra half hour early in the morning to leave your place ready then it must be done. As an agent, we get last minute appointments all the time, and the seller's that refuse to let us show their homes get missed, skipped and another property that was ready gets the offer. Sounds harsh, but this is the reality! So always be ready for show. Like they say on Toddlers and Tiaras - you have to be on!!

Hoboken | Sellers | Selling Your Real Estate? | Time To Start Preparing

Real Estate Tips For Selling Your Home

Selling your home? Then you'll want to know that it takes work and time to prepare a home for market. Check in to read six tips for how to prepare.

Sometimes, life just hands us the inevitable: just when everything seems right with your home, something happens and you have to sell your dwelling. No matter what your reasons are for selling, remember that now is no time to dawdle, the process of preparing a home for sale can take a month or more. So, here's how to start:

1. Take a Fresh Look at Your Home

Your home looks great to you, but a buyer wants to see it since he and his family will be living in it -- so take a fresh look at your dwelling. Remember, be very critical; your buyer will be.

Next, walk up to your building (if this were the suburbs you'd pull into your driveway) noticing the immediate surroundings. How does the exterior of your building look? Are the stairs kept well? Do you have old pot plans with dead plants crowding the entrance? Does the front door make you excited to walk in??? Many times, I will take a buyer to a property or meet them there, and the buyer will say to me - "I don't want to go in." Sound crazy? It's true!! The front entrance is the very first impression! You may want to talk to your association and ask if anyone mind if you tackle the entrance be cleaning up, replacing plants and painting the front door. --- Don't wait until everyone agrees or ask them to get involved because sometimes a simple clean up can turn into a control battle, always let your fellow home owners your clear intentions of tidying up.

Next, walk inside and decide if the common areas need help too. Do the hallways need repairs or repainting? If there is not enough in the budget, then focus your effort on cleaning and making sure the hallways smell fresh and are free of odors.

Then, size up the interior as though seeing it for the first time. Walk into your home and take a tour and imagine what your real estate agent might say about each room; don't forget to look into cabinets, open doors and check out the bathroom.

Finally, make a mental note of the things that might put off potential buyers, along with another list of the things that first attracted you to the dwelling. Remember, the home's become a great place for you, but a new buyer will see things that you don't.Here are some top 3 things that turn off potential buyers almost immediately: I've listed them in an easy acronym for you to remember - O.C.D.

Odors - from pets or cooking spices can be an immediate turn off for some buyers especially if they have allergies or strong reactions to certain odors

Clutter- too much furniture, knick-knacks and just plain stuff will deceive a buyer into thinking the house is too small

Dirt - buyers are less forgiving in other people's homes (those for sale) than in their own homes. A dirty toilet, dirty grout, dirty dishes, dusty floors, or dusty ceiling fans can give the buyer a bad impression, make them think their are many repairs to do, and will make the buyer feel anxious to leave. Look for my next tips!!! Or if you can't wait, email me directly and I'll send you my full list.