Homes Sold in 2008 in Chatham Township, New Jersey

There were 137 homes and condos sold in Chatham Township, New Jersey in 2008. That in itself does not tell us too much but if we look which price ranges are moving it helps us understand the patterns. For example, 68% of the homes sold in 2008 were under $1 million. That means that 32% of the homes sold were over $1 million. Not a bad split!

If you are considering buying a home or investment property in Morris or Union or Essex Counties, New Jersey, this is a great time to buy, with prices at an all-time low and interest rates even lower!
Call/text (201-960-2090) or email Trish@BestNJhomes.com or visit www.BestNJhomes.com for New Jersey Towns and School information.

Comparison of Sales 2007 to 2008 including sales price, days on the market, average list to sale price ratio

2008 Market Wrap Up for Morris, Essex, Union and Somerset Counties, NJ

While we continue to be bombarded with information about the deplorable economy and dismal real estate market, let us remind you that here we focus on our LOCAL real estate market. And, locally, our real estate has remained quite strong relative to the economy and the rest of the state and the nation. In most communities prices and number of sales are down, but not dramatically. In fact, we sold 2,483 homes in these communities in 2008 vs 3,066 in 2007. Prices have softened to approximately the level of 2004 prices, in most places, but that still allows for huge increases in value since 2000. Take a look at the FACTS below and call or email us for information

specific to your home and neighborhood. Yes, we can get very, very LOCAL!

What is Your House Worth These Days? It depends on where you are, though most prices are getting to about 2003 levels right now, there are exceptions. If your home is in Florham Park or Short Hills or New Providence, you're in pretty good shape.

If you'd like to know more specifically, we will provide you with an online price opinion at no cost or obligation. Call or email Trish@BestNJhomes.com.

Visit www.BestNJhomes.com for free MLS searches for real estate in Chatham, homes and condos in Madison, homes for sale in Short Hills, Summit and all these nearby communities.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you found this information helpful. Be sure to comment either way. Your feedback is important to me!

:) Trish Giassa at Keller Williams Realty Premier Properties in Summit, NJ

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Bringing Your Family Home

Moore Estate 2008 Market Update

Real estate activity at Moore Estate in 2008 has been rather disappointing. Number of sales are down 50% and median and average sales prices are down and days on market have increased by 24% and average list to sale price is now 95.9% instead of the 97.9% in 2007. There are many reasons for this, including:

• The national and local economy and tight mortgage market
• More properties and fewer buyers equals more supply, less demand, putting pressure on prices
• The primarey target markets for The Moore Estate is downsizing empty nesters - and they are either unable to sell their larger homes or unwilling to sell at market prices, therefore they are unable to move

Currently there are 7 homes for sale in Moore Estate, from 4 Davenport for $499,000 to 7 Morgan Place at an asking price of $1,395,000. Additionally in Morris Township there are a total of 32 condos/townhouses for sale. Many are lower priced, such as Pitney Place. More notably as competitor to the high-end Moore Estate luxury townhouses is the project of new townhomes at The Brownstones on Howland Terrace. Though not as idyllic a location, these homes are brand-new, offer 3,900 to 4,400 square feet, elevators in every home and are quite close to the Convent Station train station. Prices range from $939,000 to $1,350,000.

Nonetheless Moore Estate still maintains a special cache with area buyers (in fact we have a buyer from New York who is most interested in Moore Estate over any other area townhouse community, but must sell their home before they can buy). Sales are still occurring, however, staging, marketing and pricing properly are the key to being the home the real buyers choose.

If you currently live in Madison, Morristown, Chatham, Harding, Mendham, Summit or Short Hills and would like to downsize to a townhouse in the Moore Estate in Convent Station, we can help you get your home sold so you can move on with your life and move into this fantastic community. Trish Giassa 201-960-2090 Trish@BestNJhomes.com

Visit my websites: www.bestNJhomes.com for information about the area and links to area organizations and schools.

Visit www.MooreEstateCondos.com for specific information about The Moore Estate and Morris County area condos and townhouses.

Valuable Foreclosure Assistance Programs

Homeowners who face the prospect of losing their home to foreclosure need all the help they can get. The Wall Street Journal compiled a helpful list of telephone hotlines and Web sites, by state, for at-risk homeowners, and it has published a summary of the various mortgage modification programs that are either proposed or currently in place. HUD and NAR also provide lists of foreclosure assistance programs by state.

This article courtesy of CRS Member Connect. The Certified Residential Specialist organization helps CRS designated agents provide information and resources to help us help buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Only 8% of real estate agents have the CRS designation. I am proud to be one of them.

The FACTS ... and nothing but the FACTS, Ma'am

At the beginning of every year I go into our Garden State MLS system to run some analysis of what has actually and really happened in our markets in the past year.

I always find it illuminating to see the final figures, since I also hear the news and certainly know that the real estate market is not what is once was. However, there is one truth to real estate that continues to hold true. Actually, three ... location, location, location.
Sutton Woods in Chatham Township, NJ is a beautiful condo community that is ideally located at the edge of Chatham Twp, NJ and very close to downtown Summit, NJ. A vital town center with interesting and yummy eateries, a first class hospital center, and a Midtown Direct NJ Transit train to New York City, among many other fantastic features. Visit www.SuttonWoodsChatham for more information about Sutton Woods. So, at Sutton Woods we have actually seen days on market decline and both average and median prices increase! Go figure! :)

This is a community I have sold many homes in and know quite intimately. If you are considering buying or selling in Sutton Woods, call me to get you top dollar.

If you are interested in real estate and homes in Summit, Short Hills, Chatham, Madison and the surrounding areas, we can help you maximize your situation.

Come back to this blog for updates on more communities in Chatham, Madison, Morristown, Short Hils, Millburn and Summit. 201-960-2090. Trish@BestNJhomes.com

Grateful for all I have

Happy New Year to Us All! Yes, times are tough. For some of us it's difficult to see anything good in our horizon, but, I believe that if we look for a few little things that are still precious in our lives, then we can persevere and even change our situation. Here are some ideas:

• Your home, humble as it may be
• Your spouse or best friend
• A sunny day like today
• Your health
• Your ability to love and be loved

I recently had the good fortune to dog-sit for a friend who was traveling - I saved her a little money and got to know the little creature who loved to play, made me laugh every day and made me get out to walk her every day. Daisy is pictured here.

Isn't she cute! She loves to sit in "her spot" by the window and watch people go by in her hometown of Livingston!

Be grateful and happy for what you have. Concentrate on it and you will have more to be grateful and happy about! May you and your family enjoy a Peaceful, Happy and Healthy 2009!

Your friend and realtor,
Trish Giassa :)
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PS: Call or email me if you are interested in finding out about Our List Of Best Buys in Livingston, Short Hills, Summit, Chatham, Madison and Morristown.