With more and more of these short sales flooding the market, we as agent's have to prepared to handle them when our buyer stumbles across one of them in which they would like to place an offer. Some of these tips will help to make the sale go somewhat smoother and help to protect and possibly save your buyer some money. Inform buyer it may be timely: Let me say that again; Inform your buyer these transactions are likely to be timely. This is something you want to let them know right up front, and inform them that if the need to be in a property by a certain date, buying a short sale may not be a route they want to take. Pre-approved: Make sure your buyer is pre-approved when placing an offer or writing a contract on a short sale before you send the offer or contract over. Also If your b... 03/20/2009

I just got finished putting this together for a customer of mine who requested it. So since I put all the work in, I figured I may as well share it with any other buyers considerign a townhome purchase in the Little Egg Harbor / Tuckerton NJ area. Also if townhomes aren't what your looking for, I would be more than happy to assist you in finding what you are looking for. I hope this is helpful for anyone trying to decide on what townhome developement fits their specifics a little better.  Local Townhome Development Breakdown for LEH / Tuckerton NJ •1.       Tall Timbers - This development has a mix of units; it has economy condo living, 2 bedroom units ranging from 1000 - 1200 sqft. , and 3 bedroom units ranging from 1500 - 2000 sqft. This development has an association fee in the amoun... 03/17/2009

5. To use in emergencies Lenders and even some financial advisers recommend taking out a home equity loan while you're employed. That way, if you lose your job, you have cash on hand.I can hear some of you saying, "Desperate times call for desperate measures." But listen to this: Using borrowed money to pay for everyday expenses is adding trouble on top of trouble.How will you get by, you ask? You will. My grandmother, Big Mama, never made more than $13,000 a year as a nursing assistant. Yet she managed to raise five grandchildren and pay her bills-on time, all the time-without tapping into the equity in her home.If you're living well now, put aside rainy-day funds. Then, if your situation changes, you won't have to rely on debt. 03/04/2009

4. To invest Don't even go here. Buying stocks and bonds with savings is investing. Buying them with borrowed money is called gambling, and if you ante up with home equity money, it's gambling with your house.Of course, gambling is popular. The Federal Reserve Board found that in 2001 and the first half of 2002-the most recent period it reviewed-11 percent of mortgage refinancing funds were put into stocks and other financial investments. That's up from less than 2 percent during the two years prior.Here's the problem: Interest rates on home debt are hovering around 4 to 5 percent for a line of credit and 7 to 8 percent for a loan-still low by historical standards. But if interest rates rise, what you owe may increase at a faster rate than your investments. You lose; the bank wins. 03/04/2009

3. To pay for college Americans have a weak spot when it comes to sending children to college. But by the time your kids are grown, you should be shedding debt to prepare for retirement, not piling it on. If your child is already college age-and you neglected to save in advance-there are alternatives to borrowing against your house. Consider state schools, which generally cost less than private ones; your kids may even be able live at home. And apply for financial aid, no matter how much you make. If your income is low enough, you may also qualify for low-interest federal loans (though I don't recommend other college loans, which come with credit card-size interest rates).Better yet, don't let home equity debt be your last resort because you failed to save for your child's education. Wh... 03/04/2009

2. To pay off a credit card The average American household owes $9,840 in credit card debt, but I have met people who owe their entire annual income or more-often at a double-digit interest rate. To these people, a home equity loan looks downright reasonable.But if they haven't mended their spendthrift ways, a home loan won't help them. A study in the late '90s found that nearly two-thirds of those who took a home loan to pay off credit cards resorted to their cards again within two years.The worst-case scenario gets uglier. Home equity loans are "secured debt." Should you file for bankruptcy, you could lose your house. Credit card debt, because it's not backed by an asset, is "unsecured," and in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding can be wiped away.Instead of shuffling credit card spendi... 03/04/2009

1. To buy a carI cringe when homeowners say, "I paid off my car loan with a home equity loan." First, I need to point out: You have not "paid off" the car loan. You've only shifted the debt to your house, thereby increasing the liability on what may be your biggest asset.If the interest rates on both loans are about the same, the home loan might save you a few hundred dollars when you figure in the tax deduction.But there's a catch: Most home equity lines of credit carry a variable rate-when some financial benchmark like the prime interest rate moves up, the interest charged on your home equity line also rises. Lately, the prime rate has been increasing.So why not use a home equity loan with a set interest rate? Because the house loan's term-how long you have to pay it back-is five to 1... 03/04/2009

Not every bit of value in our homes vanished when the market collapsed. So how bad would it be to hit the house up for some cash? During the long real estate boom, homeowners were persuaded by lenders that using their homes' rising value to pay for new cars, big weddings, or college tuition was a good financial move. Maddening credit card debt was reason enough to take on a second house loan-as was, in some cases, a chance to invest in the stock market.Home equity lines, in particular, became like, well, credit cards. After all, they're structured much the same way: You can borrow up to your limit all at once, or take small amounts as you need them.By 2006, some 24 percent of homeowners had bought a car or truck with a home equity line of credit, according to the financial services rese... 03/04/2009

A short interesting piece by CNET anticipating the next release of the iPhone and what new things it might do. Will the iPhone be able to do everything and anything by 2013? Be sure to check out the video, if nothing more, just to see something different.  WHAT WILL BE NEXT??   Follow Me on Twitter!! 03/02/2009

Just when you think the winter is about to end and it's going to get warm outside - the snow strikes again! And apparently this time it's going to be a whopper of a storm between today, tonight, and tomorrow. Luckily, I've opted to work from home tomorrow so I shouldn't have any problems. I might have to cancel plans to attend a dinner up in Newark, but other than that - it should be smooth sailing. Like most storms, I expect this one to be less than impressive for those of you on the northern part of the New Jersey coast. They're calling for about a foot of snow - my prediction is a quarter of that at best. In any event, for those of you in the state located in an area where it WILL be bad, remember to take extra precautions! And for those of you who are going to get a snow day tomorro... 03/02/2009

The massive snow storm that's blowing this way must be psychic. It knows how much we missed it. It knows how much we like to bundle up our little ones in five layers of sweaters covered by a winter coat that makes their car seats impossible to buckle. Best of all, this snow storm knows how badly we all want to shovel our driveways. And, I don't know about you, but I was secretly praying for school to be canceled tomorrow, Monday, March 2. LOcean County Schools have already shuttered their classes while the rest of us were watching 60 Minutes.  --I swear they get those listings posted before anyone else, maybe that's because they're psychic.  we're getting 14 inches nonstop in the early morning through rush hour. At Newark Airport, planes are already delayed by an hour.Dear March Snow: I... 03/01/2009

Snow, more snow in New Jersey today. I'm watching Dr. Phil, and the National Weather Service keeps interrupting to tell me there's, like, a Winter Weather Warning tonight until tomorrow.I look out my window, and it's coming down and blowing around.   Weather Stations say to brace ourselves for 8-12 inches. I'm braced for anything and everything except for my kids to be out of school tomorrow. Are you digging more snow? We are digging, but not that kind of digging. 03/01/2009

PLACES TO GO SNOW TUBING IN NEW JERSEY   Snow Tubing NJ TAKE THE KIDS SNOWTUBING THIS WEEKEND IN NJ 1 hour sessions are $16 on Weekdays and $20 on Weekends Mountain Creek - Snow Tubing NJ 200 Route 94, Vernon NJ, 973-827-2000VERNON NJ - Less than two hours from most of NJCoca Cola Tube Park in Mountain Creek offers snow tubing from mid December through mid March. The Coca Cola Tube Park is open Thursday  through Sunday. Hours are Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday and Holiday's from 10:30am to 8pm. Tubing is closed from 4:30pm to 5:00pm for slope grooming on weekends and holidays. Thursday & Friday $16 for 1 Hour tube session - Saturday & Sunday $20 for 1 Hour tube session - Saturday & Sunday Evening (After 5pm) $16 for 1 Hour tube session. To make reservations ... 03/01/2009

Southern New Jersey is in the middle of a Blizzard......We are supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow, possibly more in some areas.....What is he doing out there in the middle of a BLIZZARD?  What do you think he is doing?  Follow Me on Twitter!! 03/01/2009

  Four Seasons at Harbor Bay Adult Community in Little Egg Harbor, NJ is Offering 2 Spec Homes        Two spec homes are being offered by Four Seasons at Harbor Bay in Little Egg Harbor, with a 3.99% mortgage rate.   Bonaire II Normally - $400,000 Being Offered at: $299,950 $50,000 in upgrades including gourmet kitchen, granite counters, sunroom, above garage storage, and much more   Kingston Being Offered at $310,000 Upgrades include upgraded cabinets, corian counters, loft, upgrades tile in master bath suite, and located on cul-de-sac lot      If you would like more information about either of these homes, or would like to make an appointment to see them, give the Muldowney Team a call at 609-713-5194, or e-mail us at jkipila@vandykgroup.com.   Jennifer Muldowney Kipila Nancy Muldown... 02/24/2009

Like any other life changing experience, buying a home for the first time can seem like an incredible challenge. However, once first-time home buyers are able to organize their priorities, conduct some useful research, and interact with a trusted real estate agent, confusion can quickly turn into excitement and ambition. Keeping in mind some of the basic tips outlined below can help create a path to a successful first time home buying experience.  Prior to researching the real estate market and hunting for mortgages, you will need to analyze your family's goals and priorities. Take some time to reflect and determine if it is the right time to purchase your first home. You may also want to ask yourself where you want to be in the next few years and consider how purchasing a home for the ... 02/03/2009

Here are home sales statistics for the Little Egg Harbor/ Tuckerton NJ market from January 1st through January 31st. There were 6 UPLAND homes that sold in January with an average of 120 days on the market. The average upland listing price of these sales was $204,550. The average upland selling price of these sales was $197,250. There were 2 WATERFRONT homes that sold in January with an average of 159 days on the market. The average waterfront listing price of these sales was $237,000. The average waterfront selling price of these sales was $208,500.   Remember that these are averages and that every home is not the same, there are some homes worth significantly more and some worth significantly less. It is extremely important that if you are selling your home you price it competitively ... 02/02/2009

Does someone you know need some help reading, or a self confidence boost?  Have you heard about the 'Read to a Dog' program?  Well, it's coming to the Little Egg Harbor Branch of the Ocean County Library! The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog.But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.Today, hundreds of registered R.E.A.D. teams work throughout the United States and Canada. Here in southern Ocean County, children of all ages have the opportunity to read to Parker!Parker, and his handler Teri Ganster, will be ... 01/04/2009

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. B.B. King! All Christmas preparations are on hold this weekend...my all time favorite, Mr. B.B. King  is performing at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, NJ. He's in the area (NY Metro) for a few days, but the War Memorial show is the one to see.  It's affordable, with tickets starting at $35 and the venue is beautiful! The Patriot Theater at the War Memorial is widely recognized for both its grand architectural design, acoustics and its reputation for hosting a splendid array of concert  events; the theater seats over eighteen hundred guests and has hosted everything from opera to local high school plays! Show time is 8pm Saturday, December 6th, and the War Memorial is just steps away from the NJ State House and a 50 minute ride up Rt 539 to ... 12/05/2008

  Real Estate Report Little Egg Harbor, NJ - October, 2008   There were only 19 closings in Little Egg Harbor in October, 2008. But there’s good news. And that is…the buyers are out and about, with 33 residential single family units under contract and expected to close in November. New listings in Little Egg Harbor total 56 last month and that’s also a good sign. In October 2007, there were 69 new listings. With inventory steadily decreasing, it seems like the market is beginning to stabilize. Sale prices are down slightly but, with short sale numbers in the mix, comparable sales analyses must be done carefully. Short sales can skew the numbers unless you’re careful. If you’re planning to sell be sure to price your home right. Use recent home sales of similar properties in your neighbor... 11/10/2008