Greetings! Well the news is good. Real Estate sales are steadily improving again for the second quarter of 2010. As of June 9th 2010 the overall market is up 24.97% from this time last year. The biggest increase in sales is in the high end market, which is good news for the luxury seller. It is also good news for the buyers, as in large part it is price driven and the higher end of the market has shown us some especially good buys. Obviously too good to pass up for the buyers who enjoyed both the savings and the low interest rates.    I am happy to announce that  each one of my listings will not have their own domain name. Making it even easier to find our listings on the internet
 
Market BuzzFor a look at towns that have  had dramatic  sales increases.  Our market report gives you the up  date market buzz.  To find out how your own home might fit into this picture, give me a call. Individual pricing is dependent on supply and demand at the time of pricing, and how your price point is performing. Each town is a sub market of a larger market and  each price point is a sub market within that. The numbers below represent the increase in sales, not prices. Price Increase will not occur until there is more buyers than sellers, basic supply and demand.

Atlantic Highlands +13.33%
Fair Haven -19.23%
Little Silver +117.64%
Middletown +48.81%
Monmouth Beach -35.71%
Oceanport +100.00%
Red Bank +10.04%
Rumson +120.00%

 Information supplied by Monmouth County Board of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Single Family Homes Year to Date sales vs last year same time frame. Jan 1 – June 17th.

LUXURY MARKET  The most interesting thing in the local market recovery is that in many cases it was the luxury market led the way. Using the same year to date single family formula, it is good news for sellers and buyers alike. Over $1M  

Bay Head +100.00%
Spring Lake +100.00%
Rumson +166.66%

   Information supplied by Monmouth County Board of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Single Family Homes over $1M year to date sales vs last year same time frame. Jan – June 17th 49 Dogwood Lane, Fair Haven $1,487,500   234 3rd St. Fair Haven $725,00041 Wardell, Rumson $1,600,00013 North St, Rumson $575,00044 Park Ave, Rumson   $545,00027 Asbury Ave, Oceanport $680,00042 Hill Rd, Atlantic Highlands $555,00010 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Middletown $1,962,500280 Portland Rd, Middletown $2,275,00053 Woodbine Ave, Little Silver, $455,0001524 Ocean Ave, Sea Bright $1,575,00012 Sussex Rd, Holmdel $680,000  Not all of our listings were in MLS, some of our clients prefer discretion. We are happy to accomodate those that are looking for quiet sale.  Please feel free to contact me directly for a discreet market opinion on your home.   CarolynnCarolynn Ozar-Diakon
RESOURCES Real Estate 732 212 0440www.resourcesrealestate.comcarolynn@resourcesrealestate.com  

How does it look in our area?  Let’s start by saying thank goodness that awful Winter is over! With December bringing us record breaking rain fall, then over a foot of snow which froze and then more rain on top of frozen snow, it was dismal and mucky. I cannot remember any other time driving through the area and seeing quite that amount of downed trees and yards saturated, simply unable to hold any more damp.  Many homes lost power several times, and unless they were able to get out of the house and into a hotel, they were stuck like several of my friends with felled trees blocking either the street or the drive.  We all made it through in relative good humor though, and it is the hard times that make families stronger. Kids always remember the “fun” stuff like sleeping on the floor in front of the fire in a sleeping bag, or candlelight board games.  Now, we are all the more grateful for Spring, the flowers this year are lovely. I think all that wet helped the tulips and daffodils.  What has the Spring done for the real estate market and specifically your town?   Let’s see.  Market News  Well the Spring market did bud despite the horrible weather and we saw quite a flurry of sales in Feb and March, especially in the higher end. Could be a combination of pent up demand and of course in the Rumson area, the Wall St. bonus. I hear that Wall St is hiring again and that bonuses are back. This might not sound like good news to  the man   on Main St but from where Monmouth County stands it is good news. Like it or not we are a bedroom community for Wall St, only 45 mins to 1hr away by fast ferry or train. These commuters are a large part of our local economic community. not just for real estate, but for many local businesses.  The tax break for first time home buyers was not something in this particular area that I saw much of, but I am sure that we benefitted by the move up buyer upgrading to their next house in the area. The deadline for having an accepted contract for the tax break is only days away at the end of this month. Although I have heard talk of it being instigated again later in the year.  Perhaps, more importantly is job stimulus, New Jersey has continued to see job losses in the past years, and we need to turn that tide around. Let’s hope our new governor can get a grip on government spending and address job creation in New Jersey. Budget cutting is never pleasant, and nobody wants to be the one getting the cut, but it has to be done.  Your Town  Some towns are showings good signs of recovery while others not yet  Some price points are experiencing gaps in the market of good inventory and when a well priced home comes on, there is little to compete and sells for full price and has a bidding war. Yes even in 2009 and year to date, we have experienced bidding situations. it all comes down to good pricing. Priced to attract attention from the buyer who is likely to buy the home. Good pricing leads to good closing prices. Over pricing leads to stale homes and anxious sellers getting low or no offers. Each price range is different, but here is an overview on a few towns year to date, from this time last year. Note: this reflects sales not prices.  ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS + 25%FAIR HAVEN                               + 8.33%LITTLE SILVER                       + 120%MIDDLETOWN                         + 36.36%MONMOUTH BEACH         –  42.45% RED BANK                                   + 45.45% RUMSON                                          + 72.72%

What this does not mean is that the real estate market is likely to see a jump in pricing. This move to recovery in large part has been fueled by lower pricing, low interest rates and pent up demand. There is still a lot of inventory out there not sold. Within each of these towns I also have available what percentages at each price point. Please email me at carolynn@resourcesrealestate.com if you would like more specific information.  I am also happy to provide a confidential market analysis for your own home.  If you tried selling your home and were unsuccessful. please feel free to call me to review your pricing for the price point in your town. Happy to help.  Carolynn  

What to expect in the market in 2010.

I saw the market pick up in the second half of 2009, and consumer confidence  increase. In September we saw our luxury listings moving more quickly and with bidding situations occurring. Although prices will remain flat in many markets, we  may see a slight increase in pricing in this area due to  low supply of well priced homes. Buyers are most definitely value driven and are watching the market closely.  Top areas, both resort and with easy access to major cities  will be the first to  recover, as  indeed they were the last to fall. I believe we are  cruising along the bottom, and although I believe there are still short sales and foreclosures in all price ranges still to occur, we  have started to witness the end of the  freefall and there will be more stability in housing for 2010.Sellers should be cautious not to jump  for joy  too high with their asking prices. Value  pricing will be their best asset.

GREAT NEWS

New Jersey shows a 55% increase for October 2009 over October of 2008 in home sales. Interest rates remain low, homes are lower than they have been in years and there are bargains to be had.

Washington, December 01, 2009 Pending home sales have risen for nine months in a row, a first for the series of the index since its inception in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors ®.

 

Q. Is it worth putting my house on the market now over the holidays, or should I just wait for the Spring?

A. I recommend going ahead for several reasons. We only know what the market is doing, not what might be coming. We know right now that we have the best interest rates in memory. We also know that buyers that are out looking over the various holidays are generally more motivated, and your property could be sold with less showings. Less inventory around this time can help with the price also, and all homes show better look better with pretty holiday decorating.

Carolynn Ozar-Diakon
Broker Owner

I am excited to share great news…August continued to show a rise in the amount of homes sold in Monmouth County. For the past few months we have experienced more sales than the same time frame from previous years. August was amazing, and not typical for August. Despite what many people think..the busiest Fall month is usually October.

I am encouraged by the increased sales for several reasons, it is an indicator of the buyer confidence level and shows that it is price driven. As long as sellers continue to price their homes for the market that we have and not for the markets of 05/06 we are going to continue to move homes through October. I have experienced in the past when we see an abnomally in terms of the month, it generally continues for several months and  in past years have given us  brisk holiday sales. Thanksgiving and on.  

RESOURCES brings top dollar for Monmouth County homes.

 I am also very excited to share with you that August was a special month for us also. We made it into the top ten real estate companies in Monmouth County again. Alongside multi-office companies, Resources with our one specialized boutique office also had the top dollar amount for under contract homes for August in that top ten by far!!   Showing once again that bigger is not better. Our dedication to service and marketing is exceptional and produces exceptional results for our clients.

To see complete market report for your town click here

As you can imagine, that is  the question that I get asked the  most. On my website, www.resourcesrealestate.com,  I have a market report section that is updated every quarter. Click on your town on the right hand side bar for your updated report. If your town is not included-  email us and we will send  one  to you.You may be surprised to note that in Rumson,for instance, the price ranges that are currently selling the most are $500,000 – $600,000 and over $2M Homes. Over $3M still take longer on average – the luxury market for obvious reasons always takes longer in any market.  Rates remain low, inventory is still high, so plenty of choice, and with some very motivated sellers It is a GREAT time to buy. I believe in real estate. I bought my first home when I was 19 years old  in London, which is currently one of the highest priced cities in the world!. I continue after 20 odd years in this business to believe in it. I have continued to buy and just recently purchased a home in Middletownand a 1768 farmhouse in Eatontown.For those first time buyers or if you have not owned a home for three years the $8000 credit is good until December  1st, 2009. Use it.The second most common question –  ”  When will we hit bottom”?. Simple answer –  ”I don’t know’, and guess what neither does anyone else!!. I do  sense the decline in buyer confidence abating and that we appear to be leveling off. This does not mean that prices will suddenly go back up, as with any cycle it takes a long time for the cycle to complete. It does not spike and plummet like the  stock market, and I do not see prices going up anytime soon. Therefore,my advice to  the seller who is thinking of waiting-  you might  have to wait  for  several years just to get back to where we were 2 years ago. For the buyer, I advise moving ahead in this period before  mortgage  rates move upward and change the affordability factor. Smart sellers have been moving with the market, pricing  correctly the first time and selling quickly, freeing up equity to invest in other real estate.    Remember, selecting  a realtor is not like choosing a pair of shoes. Please consider the size of the transaction before deciding to place the responsibility upon a friend or acquaintance to represent you.  Besides intelligence and knowledge, look for integrity and ethics. Some agents do less transactions but with better results. Speaking as an agent consistently in the top 1% of my industry, I  encountered agents  willing to take short cuts with their ethics and integrity; these actions  usually represent the agents interests better than yours. Meaning you may get your house sold, but at the short end of the stick, and sometimes end up being in a position of having to take less than you might have. Even a good  agent is only as good as their client allows them to be. In some cases the client ignores good advice and ends up selling for less later on.When I opened Resources Real Estate, I decided to open a specialized boutique agency that would “out behave” other agencies and provide an unprecedented level  of expert  advice and service to  clients. In some instances it may not be what the client wants to hear, but it is only when one has factual honest information the client can make informed decisions. A few years ago, we realized that in order to maintain  our high level of quality, not only did we have  to continue to  be selective with our choice of agents,we also would have to be selective with our  clients. We have evolved into the premier ‘go to; private boutique agency.   We will not compromise our standards to become a McAgency, with  high  numbers, and a string of unhappy clients. I suggest you interview us first before making any real estate decisions, and get the honesty your deserve – if we are not a good fit, then by all means we both have the option not to work together. Either way our consultation is at no charge.

A large part of my business comes as personal referrals from previous clients and  from professionals like accountants and attorneys. I appreciate the confidence placed in me and I invite you to  watch  some client videos to get more of a sense of what we are about at RESOURCES Real Estate.

 Caro
Well, as leave an eventful 2008 that was filled with breakdowns, bailouts and the bear chasing the bull out of town, keep in mind – this too shall pass.
 
To be honest, as an area we did prove more resilient than many others. Our local banks have not disappeared into the night. In fact, several of them have reported not even one foreclosure. Why?   Nothing amazingly clever, just making sure that the borrower has a job, an income that is accurate and an appraisal that is not based on   speculative future value.
Despite what many large newspapers would have you believe, this area cannot be compared to national averages and statistics.   While, of course, we are impacted by the national economy and the global meltdowns, we are very much a local market. In fact a much sought after area , due in large part to our proximity to  Manhattan, ease of commute, good schools and the pure beauty of  Monmouth County.  I have compiled market reports for local towns, which are available here. These are updated to the end of November and will be updated within a day or so.so keep checking back. View your town here.  


All this  does not mean that it has not been a tough year for some. Those people who lost their jobs, or a large part of their stock portfolio find it hard to take comfort in the fact that that our real estate market average has fared better than many other areas. Economic downturns also create stress in the home, contributing to more divorce.
 
In my 23 years in real estate, I have worked with many such clients and know that stress can compromise decision making.   I can GUARANTEE that your property will sell, if you listen and take my advice.   Too often, a client on a knee jerk reactions stops listening to good advice and grabs at straws that invariably cost them time and money. I am only as good as my client will allow. I have seen clients completely ignore sound advice and judgment then make mistakes that I know will result in a mess. It is as painful to watch as it is for the client to experience.
 
If the added pressure takes on a toll on the marriage and it becomes a divorce issue, a client’s hearing can often  get impaired – blocked by the loud sound of additional emotional stress.
 
In my experience, a lot of money is wasted that could be netted out of the equity in the property by expecting the divorce attorney’s to  do the  realtor’s job.  I have been referred by many divorce attorneys, and even judges in court ordered cases, to help with this situation, as it can quickly become out of hand. An experienced, calm and professional realtor is needed. Sometimes one spouse may not want to sell the home, despite it not being financially  possible to keep it. A swift sale  with both parties to move on with their lives is cheaper and  and far less stressful  than fighting over an asset that has become a  symbol of the conflict, rather than an comingled asset.The buying public will smell the distress quickly and that will impact the value in a negative way. For divorce attorney and divorce mediation professionals, or for a  market analysis please email me at carolynn@resourcesrealestate.com for a completely confidential appointment.

On the Brighter side……………..  
 
I personally think that we will see an increase in home sales in 2009,  driven by  lowered real estate prices, low interest rates and pent up demand from the last few years. So, if you are thinking of selling take heart, listen to good real estate advice and take the plunge. If buying – the opportunity has never been better for all of the above reasons. Close your eyes take a breath and jump…. Come on in the water is fine.

RESOURCES Real Estate

112 East River Rd
Rumson, New Jersey 07760

732-212-0440

www.resourcesrealesate.com  

www.carolynndiakon.com  

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My Blog To comment on any portion of this newsletter it is posted on my blog on www.resourcesrealestate.com or www.carolynndiakon.com.

Regards, Carolynn  

Featured article in the Monmouth Journal- October 3, 2008  

As market experts, economists, and political pundits weigh in with their opinion of the bail out and other assorted plans to move forward, I can only hope whatever path chosen is laced with common sense.

Any fool should known that prices do not go up forever and that interest rates do not come down indefinitely. The real estate market is not a ball-it does not “bounce back” or plunge in a matter of days. It quietly and reliably cycles up around and down again and so on. In fact it is always in the process of one or the other. It is probably the best and most consistent long term investment strategy there is. I am not a stock market investor, I am a real estate investor, and I can tell you with certainty that I am looking to buy. I am making offers and buying what I can that meets my criteria.

I have never been an investor in the stock market, mainly because I do not understand it will enough and my expertise and interest has always been in real estate. Sometimes, I have felt a little dumb not being a savvy stock market player, but in the last few days- I have been feeling pretty smart!

I have been a broker for over 20 years and managed an office during the tough times of the late 80s, I have seen this happen before. I have some advice for both sellers and potential buyers.

To sellers: We have been cycling down since the second have of 2005, and yet many sellers have been valiantly trying to achieve 04 and 05 pricing. It is not going to happen, it was not going to happen last week and it sure is not going to happen next week. If your agent has not been firmly telling you what to do…and is in the yes-ing you to death business: Get a new agent. Now is not the time for the weak. Tough times call for tough agents.\

Conversely, if you have a tough agent, you are receiving ongoing communication and you know that truthfully there is nothing that the agent is not doing…don’t jump ship from one agency to another. Sit down with your agent and the broker and discuss options and ideas. Frankly, agencies spend a lot of money on marketing a property and jumping ship-if you are not following their advice-it is definitely not going to help. If the price is not right, it will not be right with another agency. If the house does not show well, it will not show well with another agency. Same thing with showing…now is not the time to be coy; buyers are in shorter supply they have more to look at. Make sure you can get them in your property without any obstacles. Such as, “try back tomorrow, 24 hr notice, pick up key from office” etc. Get as showing friendly as possible. Is it inconvenient? YEP. It is a necessary inconvenience if you want to sell your house. Your tough agent should be telling you that.

To Buyers: Don’t overlook this opportunity that is on our hands: low interest and lowering prices. Don’t try to calculate the bottom, it could be tomorrow-it could be 6 months from now. Whenever it is, it will be irrelevant if the interest rates have gone up! I have noticed that the Fed did not lower interest rates as a response to the financial news this week. The Fed will not lower them forever. In fact, during previous recessions the interest rates have gone up. Use this time to make great deals, like the investors are. Just remember that on the whole-real estate is a long term investment, and when it is also a short-term investment-that’s a beautiful thing. Don’t buy above your means, don’t borrow based on tomorrow’s pay check. There is more to choose from today than in previous years, and there ARE lenders that are willing to lend money. Not every bank forgot the common sense practice of making smart loans to qualified buyers.

In summary, whether a buyer or a seller, be smart, use some common sense and a tough agent who will negotiate on your behalf. Now is not the time for timidity, and is definitely not the time for inexperience or less than a full time commitment from your real estate professional.

Carolynn Ozar-Diakon

Broker/Owner, RESOURCES Real Estate

Email: carolynn@resourcesrealestate.com

Featured article in the Monmouth Journal- October 3, 2008  

As market experts, economists, and political pundits weigh in with their opinion of the bail out and other assorted plans to move forward, I can only hope whatever path chosen is laced with common sense.

Any fool should known that prices do not go up forever and that interest rates do not come down indefinitely. The real estate market is not a ball-it does not “bounce back” or plunge in a matter of days. It quietly and reliably cycles up around and down again and so on. In fact it is always in the process of one or the other. It is probably the best and most consistent long term investment strategy there is. I am not a stock market investor, I am a real estate investor, and I can tell you with certainty that I am looking to buy. I am making offers and buying what I can that meets my criteria.

I have never been an investor in the stock market, mainly because I do not understand it will enough and my expertise and interest has always been in real estate. Sometimes, I have felt a little dumb not being a savvy stock market player, but in the last few days- I have been feeling pretty smart!

I have been a broker for over 20 years and managed an office during the tough times of the late 80s, I have seen this happen before. I have some advice for both sellers and potential buyers.

To sellers: We have been cycling down since the second have of 2005, and yet many sellers have been valiantly trying to achieve 04 and 05 pricing. It is not going to happen, it was not going to happen last week and it sure is not going to happen next week. If your agent has not been firmly telling you what to do…and is in the yes-ing you to death business: Get a new agent. Now is not the time for the weak. Tough times call for tough agents.\

Conversely, if you have a tough agent, you are receiving ongoing communication and you know that truthfully there is nothing that the agent is not doing…don’t jump ship from one agency to another. Sit down with your agent and the broker and discuss options and ideas. Frankly, agencies spend a lot of money on marketing a property and jumping ship-if you are not following their advice-it is definitely not going to help. If the price is not right, it will not be right with another agency. If the house does not show well, it will not show well with another agency. Same thing with showing…now is not the time to be coy; buyers are in shorter supply they have more to look at. Make sure you can get them in your property without any obstacles. Such as, “try back tomorrow, 24 hr notice, pick up key from office” etc. Get as showing friendly as possible. Is it inconvenient? YEP. It is a necessary inconvenience if you want to sell your house. Your tough agent should be telling you that.

To Buyers: Don’t overlook this opportunity that is on our hands: low interest and lowering prices. Don’t try to calculate the bottom, it could be tomorrow-it could be 6 months from now. Whenever it is, it will be irrelevant if the interest rates have gone up! I have noticed that the Fed did not lower interest rates as a response to the financial news this week. The Fed will not lower them forever. In fact, during previous recessions the interest rates have gone up. Use this time to make great deals, like the investors are. Just remember that on the whole-real estate is a long term investment, and when it is also a short-term investment-that’s a beautiful thing. Don’t buy above your means, don’t borrow based on tomorrow’s pay check. There is more to choose from today than in previous years, and there ARE lenders that are willing to lend money. Not every bank forgot the common sense practice of making smart loans to qualified buyers.

In summary, whether a buyer or a seller, be smart, use some common sense and a tough agent who will negotiate on your behalf. Now is not the time for timidity, and is definitely not the time for inexperience or less than a full time commitment from your real estate professional.

Carolynn Ozar-Diakon

Broker/Owner, RESOURCES Real Estate

Email: carolynn@resourcesrealestate.com

Just heard on the 6pm news that the cute dolphins entertaining us from the river banks  of Rumson and Middletown in the Navesink river – are in fact,not dolphins but more likely bull sharks. Huh? Now that must come as a surprise to all those that went out on boats, including kayaks and canoes to get up close and personal with the dolphins!!   My family took the “Resourceful” out to watch them cavort, and oohed and ahhed with the best of them.

It made me think a little about the local real estate market, (well lets face it, I am always thinking about the real estate market) and I saw a mini parallel. How you ask?

Well, it seems to me that buyers  right now do not realize they are behaving like dolphins when they could be bull sharks. Not that I know much about bull sharks, but they just sound more assertive. In a buyer’s market, buyers make low offers and pretty much have plenty to choose from. This buyer’s market is not working that way. Many prospective buyers are sitting and waiting – rather than taking action,making offers and see what comes back.The opportunities are out  there to be eaten up. Motivated sellers, low interest rates. Sounds like the perfect feeding ground. However right now, many buyers’  appear   to be acting more like cute dolphins than like sharks of any description. I don’t think there are any sharks that take a wait and see approach, especially not bull sharks, unless there are bear sharks?!

Is it the constant media bashing that the real estate market got in the last few years that makes us view a home as purely a financial investment and pressures us to buy right at the bottom? When is right at the bottom? I have been a realtor for over 20 years and to date nobody has ever been able to predict the date of the absolute peak or the absolute bottom. What is known, is that real estate has perpetually cycled, always on the down or the up cycle. Historically it always cycles back up higher than it was before. Some real estate analysts are saying that the end of the downward cycle is close.

As it  is impossible to perfectly time the market the  average person buying or selling will gain on one  end of the transaction to offset the other. Which is important to remember that generally it balances out. Although it is weighted on the side of the upward buyer. Speculators and investors with a shorter horizon are acting now, which is another indicator that now is the time to act. I have been making offers on investment properties recently, some I won some I lost. Real Estate is obviously a large part of my portfolio and especially my retirement, although those that know me, find it hard to believe that I would ever retire!!

There  have been other indicators recently that the market is about to start its upswing. On a national level, existing home sales rose 15% in recent months, new home sales were also up 4.5%. Consumer confidence up 5 points in August over July.

Affluent homeowners increasingly are bullish about future real estate values.  œKey findings from the annual survey of the ˜luxury™ market demonstrate that the typical million-dollar homeowner is invested not only in the value of their home as a current part of their portfolios, but also see long-term gains coming from this investment, said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  The survey polled 305 U.S. homes with a primary residence valued at $1 million ($2 million in California) or more and who had investable assets of more than $1 million. The average annual household income of this group was $754,000.

Jim Weichert was also quoted recently stating that “We have reached the bottom of the housing market and will soon begin to see improvements, by and large we are turning a corner. You might be guessing, but we are sure. Now is the time to buy real estate.”

I think Jim is right, the Summer is always slow except for closings of properties sold in the Spring. Buyers, sellers and the realtors are focused on the beach and vacations. Once mid September rolls around I believe we will see a positive upswing.

Speaking of other agencies. At a dinner party recently, one guest was surprised to hear me say something positive about another agent, his assumption being that we are all sworn enemies. Nothing could be further from the truth, we all work in cooperation with each other, and I treat my fellow realtors with respect and I get treated the same way. In fact, I have made a point in getting along with other realtors in my career, it can only help my clients. I want the the other realtors out there to want to work with me rather than shudder at the thought. I can be firm and resolute in my representation to my clients without being rude and obnoxious. Now of course there are some out there like that, and we all know who they are! As an educated consumer one of the things to research when choosing a realtor is to find out how they are perceived in the industry. It could make or break a sale.

Year to date sales in our local towns:
Category – SingleFamily / Area: ATL – ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS

Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory
January 2008 1 $399,900 $360,000 90.02% 57.0 30 30.00
February 2008 5 $766,760 $668,675 87.21% 91.0 33 6.60
March 2008 3 $405,933 $391,333 96.40% 62.0 33 11.00
April 2008 3 $698,267 $525,000 75.19% 366.0 35 11.67
May 2008 4 $409,750 $390,625 95.33% 112.0 40 10.00
June 2008 1 $1,249,999 $1,249,900 99.99% 480.0 42 42.00
July 2008 4 $360,700 $326,250 90.45% 85.0 44 11.00
August 2008 4 $664,500 $614,375 92.46% 54.0 42 10.50
 
Total 25 $619,476 $565,770 91.33% 163.4 37 16.60
   
Total 2008-2008 25 $619,476 $565,770 91.33% 163.0 37 17.00

Category – SingleFamily / Area: FAI – FAIR HAVEN

Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory
January 2008 3 $1,923,300 $1,721,833 89.52% 94.0 46 15.33
February 2008 5 $493,400 $463,000 93.84% 87.0 52 10.40
March 2008 2 $589,950 $584,950 99.15% 156.0 53 26.50
April 2008 8 $636,225 $607,312 95.46% 115.0 55 6.88
May 2008 8 $902,612 $846,750 93.81% 42.0 59 7.38
June 2008 5 $767,880 $747,300 97.32% 31.0 68 13.60
July 2008 3 $769,633 $733,333 95.28% 66.0 73 24.33
August 2008 10 $835,050 $798,900 95.67% 78.0 72 7.20
 
Total 44 $864,756 $812,922 94.01% 83.6 60 13.95
   
Total 2008-2008 44 $864,756 $812,922 94.01% 84.0 60 14.00

Category – SingleFamily / Area: LIT – LITTLE SILVER

Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory
January 2008 4 $667,175 $634,200 95.06% 41.0 54 13.50
February 2008 2 $619,950 $580,000 93.56% 118.0 63 31.50
March 2008 4 $854,725 $810,000 94.77% 122.0 68 17.00
April 2008 3 $384,600 $363,333 94.47% 87.0 69 23.00
May 2008 3 $862,300 $858,667 99.58% 150.0 71 23.67
June 2008 12 $534,696 $519,279 97.12% 75.0 61 5.08
July 2008 11 $891,336 $811,909 91.09% 150.0 55 5.00
August 2008 6 $881,483 $830,167 94.18% 107.0 54 9.00
 
Total 45 $712,033 $675,944 94.93% 106.3 62 15.97
   
Total 2008-2008 45 $712,033 $675,944 94.93% 106.0 62 16.00

Category – SingleFamily / Area: MID – MIDDLETOWN

Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory
January 2008 26 $477,844 $447,094 93.56% 101.0 346 13.31
February 2008 33 $418,476 $389,888 93.17% 94.0 355 10.76
March 2008 34 $501,253 $475,372 94.84% 87.0 379 11.15
April 2008 36 $605,067 $570,636 94.31% 103.0 399 11.08
May 2008 50 $539,596 $518,359 96.06% 91.0 426 8.52
June 2008 49 $493,226 $477,134 96.74% 64.0 436 8.90
July 2008 47 $523,079 $500,719 95.73% 76.0 446 9.49
August 2008 62 $504,313 $483,673 95.91% 86.0 445 7.18
 
Total 337 $507,857 $482,859 95.08% 87.8 404 10.05
   
Total 2008-2008 337 $507,857 $482,859 95.08% 88.0 404 10.00

Category – SingleFamily / Area: MON – MONMOUTH BEACH

Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory
January 2008 1 $949,900 $965,000 101.59% 10.0 19 19.00
February 2008 N/A $0 $0 0% 0.0 29 0
March 2008 2 $1,797,000 $1,691,250 94.12% 138.0 34 17.00
April 2008 4 $1,435,000 $1,321,810 92.11% 152.0 33 8.25
May 2008 3 $661,967 $630,833 95.30% 129.0 35 11.67
June 2008 3 $769,667 $726,667 94.41% 57.0 33 11.00
July 2008 3 $925,967 $871,633 94.13% 92.0 37 12.33
August 2008 4 $880,675 $852,275 96.78% 55.0 40 10.00
 
Total 20 $1,060,025 $1,008,495 95.14% 90.4 37 12.75
   
Total 2008-2008 20 $1,060,025 $1,008,495 95.14% 90.0 37 13.00

Category – SingleFamily / Area: RUM – RUMSON

Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory
January 2008 8 $1,781,737 $1,649,062 92.55% 63.0 80 10.00
February 2008 6 $2,085,333 $1,926,167 92.37% 182.0 93 15.50
March 2008 5 $1,117,780 $1,041,600 93.18% 143.0 105 21.00
April 2008 7 $923,114 $873,929 94.67% 82.0 108 15.43
May 2008 8 $1,346,725 $1,224,562 90.93% 117.0 113 14.13
June 2008 6 $996,150 $937,902 94.15% 64.0 120 20.00
July 2008 8 $1,721,625 $1,622,062 94.22% 134.0 110 13.75
August 2008 7 $1,103,271 $1,006,071 91.19% 98.0 112 16.00
 
Total 55 $1,384,467 $1,285,169 92.83% 110.4 105 15.73
   
Total 2008-2008 55 $1,384,467 $1,285,169 92.83% 110.0 105 16.00

So lets all get bullish about real estate, there are future capital gains to be had at shark prices right now. If you are interested in statistics about any other town   not shown here , please email.

In other news, I am looking for a few good men (or women). I have invested so heavily in websites in the last few years that I have an over abundance of qualified prospects coming in every day. I only hire a select few, but I am looking to expand right now, so if you want to know more about coming a professional real estate agent. Please call or email.

Carolynn Ozar-Diakon

Broker Owner

RESOURCES Real Estate

732-212-0440

www.resourcesrealestate.com

carolynn@resourcesrealestate.com

Well, the real estate buyer decided to take their lives off hold and buy homes – taking advantage of the still low interest rates and the affordability factor that increased in the last couple of years with higher supply forcing homeowners to lower prices to match demand.

Currently there are 12 homes under contract in Rumson, and only  four of those are over $2M. Out of the four properties, Resources Real Estate sold two. one we listed and sold, for a total of three transactions.     AS THEY SAY THREE OUT OF FOUR AIN’T BAD!! One of my major goals has been to stay lean and mean and not hire anybody and everybody. I strongly believe in quality not quantity. Our concept is to maximize the knowledge and experience in our boutique office rather than hire hordes of part times that rarely come into the office and sell maybe two properties a year.

                                 

The average price of a home on the market today in Rumson is $1,804,367 with an average of 120 days on market.   Year to date closed and sold properties  in Rumson shows 39 homes, the average selling price has been an overall average of $1,303,818 with with an on the market average 106 days on the market

January 2008 8 $1,781,737 $1,649,062 92.55%
February 2008 6 $2,085,333 $1,926,167 92.37%
March 2008 5 $1,117,780 $1,041,600 93.18%
April 2008 7 $923,114 $873,929 94.67%
May 2008 8 $1,346,725 $1,224,562 90.93%

Rumson has fared well with sale to list price year to date, we are seeing on average a 92.57% of list to sale. That is representative of our area being somewhat insulated from the national real estate numbers, and also smart pricing.   Ok, what about all those homes that have been on the market for ages that you drive by all the time? OVERPRICED.

For the sake of losing you to sleep, I chose only one town to report. However I am happy to provide you with reports on your town. Just click here for a town report. Enter the town and we will be happy to supply. Just some of the towns we cover are:-

Little Silver, Fair Haven, Monmouth Beach, Atlantic Highlands, Sea Bright, Middletown, Holmdel, Colts Neck, Red Bank, Oceanport and Shrewsbury.

PRICE is the sole reason for a home not to sell, even if it shows terribly and is located next to a train track – there is a right price for it. We don’t always want to find out what that price is, and that is ok. The beautiful thing about owning your own home is you can do what you want. SELL IT OR STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

The great thing about real estate over say an investment like stocks – is that you get to live in your investment while the market continues to cycle up and down and up again. You can even decorate it!.You can’t do that with stocks.

REMEMBER

Stocks are liquid assets; houses are not.

You can’t improve a stock; you can improve your home.Stock prices fluctuate rapidly; house prices remain relatively steady.
A stock is an investment and nothing more; a house is your home.

Away from real estate for a second, although for those that know me may say that is impossible!   So, I am a little passionate about the subject of real estate.. In fact, I am in the process of making a real estate video, which will focus on pricing and staging. I shall be attempting to make it lively and humorous like my radio show, so not to lose anyone to sleep. More news on that later.

Went to see ‘Get Smart’ with my 13 year old daughter, it was cute and funny and not laced with sex, violence and cursing. We went to the movies in Atlantic Highlands – we love that movie theater. No sex, violence or cursing  from the audience. Not always the case at the mall, I avoid that one  wherever possible.

Went to The Avenue on Wednesday night for dinner with the board of Prevention First, we had our once a year dinner. I was extremely disappointed in the service, our waitress was surly at best. Never got our coffee, had to jump up and down for service, it was really loud, and I did not feel well the next day. So I would give it a thumbs down.

Went to a search engine optimization class last week at the Molly Pitcher – hosted by Brian Pasch – very informative. Anyone not getting what they want out of their site, just go to his website www.brianpasch.com  It was an eclectic group, from a newspaper, scar and tattoo concealer products and Mr John the portaloo company. It was good to meet people in other industries and brainstorm ideas. In fact, I went to look at a horse with my daughter a couple of days after the seminar and the farm that we went to had a portable toilet, I would never have noticed before, but I even sneaked a peek at the vendor. There is business everywhere if you look!

The “Resourceful” went into the water this month for Summer viewings of waterfront properties. See beautiful waterfront homes here.

Had a bankruptcy attorney come into the office this week, which was very helpful.He gave us some  interesting information.  We keep our skills honed and want to stay abreast of information for our clients. Hopefully, none of our clients will need his services, but we know how to help, if and when any of clients are thinking of reorganizing their finances.

I am in the process of putting together a  team of experts in several fields, that our clients can turn to. Divorce attorney, Financial planner, Counselor, Divorce Mediator and Bankruptcy attorney to start. Many times these services go hand in hand with a real estate situation and I want to have a team of experts on board to help.

WANTED:   Persons or Items needed by myself, my agent or my clients

  • Cleaning person 3 or 4 days per week.
  • Sales Person for inside/outside sales for website ads.
  • Part time bookkeeper one day per month.

Before you leave don’t forget to look at the great homes we have available.

To talk to me direct call 732-212-0440 or visit my website www.carolynndiakon.com.

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