Category Archives: Uncategorized
Tax Appeal Time – Help With Your Atlantic County, NJ Tax Appeals.
I’ve been getting calls from clients regarding appealing their Atlantic County, NJ property tax valuations. In an effort to help I’d like to include some resources to help with this process.
The deadline to appeal taxes is April 1st. All of the information and forms required can be found here: http://www.aclink.org/taxation/homepage.asp Here is a link to the form you’ll need to download and complete: http://www.aclink.org/taxation/pdfs/FormA-1-Print.pdf
You’ll see on form A-1 that you will need to provide 5 comparable sales to justify your appeal. Comparable sales used as evidence in 2015 should have occurred between October 1, 2013 and October 1, 2014. This is where many people get stuck coming up with this information.
If you need help completing the form or obtaining comparable properties I am available to help.
For a fee of $50.00 I will locate the 5 best comparables and email them to you with full details including lot and block number and addresses. (This service is free to current and past clients)
If you need additional help completing form A-1 I can also help for an additional $75.00 fee.
Note: The county charges a separate filing fee ranging from $5.00 to $150.00 based on the assessed valuation. The filing fee schedule is as follows:
| If the assessment appealed is: | |
| Less than $150,000 | $5.00 |
| $150,000 or more, but less than $500,000 | $25.00 |
| $500,000 or more, but less than $1,000,000 | $100.00 |
| $1,000,000 or more | $150.00 |
Best wishes on saving money on your taxes!
Matt
P.S. Call me if you need my help with your property tax appeal. I have a limited amount of time set aside to help with this so call me at 609-484-9890 ext. 132 if you need my help.
How Does Someone Create a More Interesting Life?
I was reading a blog post that asked people how they would define an “interesting life” for themselves. After reading the responses, I thought I’d share one with you that I particularly liked.
Having an interesting life doesn’t mean it has to be interesting to anyone else. It also doesn’t mean you have to do the typical things most people associate with being interesting, such as travel.
The definition of the word interesting, in application to life, is different to everyone.
I have done things such as swim with dolphins, ride a horse along the beach, rappel down a steep cliff, star in high school plays, have my picture in the newspaper, ride home on the first train of morning because I missed the last train the night before, roll around in a large plastic ball on water, walk on stilts for a circus company, teach a college course, sew my own clothing, make actual useful things in woodshop, and more. The list of random things goes on and on.
Are these things going to make me famous? No. Are they exciting enough to make a book out of? Probably not. Do you think any of those things are interesting at all? I have no idea. But I feel I’ve had an interesting and meaningful life so far.
Sometimes what we think of as interesting is some external idealized life. But if you listed all the things you’ve done in your life, I’ll bet you’d have a fairly long list of things that you found interesting at the time, and even more so in hindsight. From that list, you may find yourself feeling motivated to do something a little different to recapture that feeling of doing something interesting. Go for it!
Sincerely,
Matt Haviland
Your Real Estate Consultant For Life
P.S. I’m amazed at the interesting things people have done with their lives. Next time we talk, I may just ask you about some of the interesting things you’ve done. You can always reach me at: 609-338-3773.
P.P.S. If you’d like to view or download my entire February newsletter filled with interesting articles and ideas click here: February 2015 Newsletter – Matt
Why Sign an Agreement with Your Agent?
Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you—or anyone you feel comfortable introducing me to.
Real estate agents often ask home buyers to sign a formal agreement that commits the buyer to working with that agent. Usually no money exchanges hands for this agreement, but it does commit the buyer to working with that agent for a period of time. Why would a buyer do this? Primarily to ensure that they are working with the best real estate agent they can, which will matter the deeper they go into the home buying process.
Happy Buyer Clients
The buyer doesn’t pay the agent, but the agent will invest significant time working with the buyer. Without a commitment, a real estate agent can’t guarantee they’ll make money in exchange for the time spent with that buyer. If a buyer wants to work with a great agent, they’ll be willing to make a commitment in exchange for that agent’s time.
If you or someone you know wants to buy a house in the next few months, please let me know at 609-338-3773. Also get a copy of my report, Making the Move Easy On the Kids.
Matthew Haviland,
Your Real Estate Consultant For Life Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132
P.S. Who do you know who’s thin
king about buying a home? Please introduce us so that I can help them have a great home buying experience from start to finish.
Helping Happy Home Buyers And Sellers
Mildy, Augustin and Lilliam. New home buyers.
I love helping home buyers and sellers make their dreams come true! In today’s real estate economy there are many challenges and opportunities. I’m grateful that my clients choose me to help them buy and sell their home.
Fruit basket
Earlier this month I helped a family purchase their first home. And to my surprise a few days later I received this wonderful edible arrangement at my office. Congratulations to Augustin, Mildy and Lilliam and your family. Matt
Getting Perspective This New Year
Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ
Each of us can probably identify times when a moment, a day, a year, or even our whole lives changed in an instant—not because we did something different—but simply because our perspective shifted. Here is a very small story from the website peopleandpossibilities.com that illustrates how simple and powerful a different perspective can be:
One day I was shopping with my child after work to pick up supplies needed for an employee celebration. I was exhausted and wanted to get in and out quickly. My child was tired and cranky and wanted out of the shopping cart. She was grabbing for every item we passed.
I was losing my patience and temper when an elderly woman came over to us. She took my child’s hand, and said “What a lovely child.” My little girl was quiet immediately. The woman looked at me. She had an angelic smile and then again said, “They are so wonderful at this age.”
At once I felt peaceful and in control of the situation. After the lady walked away, I found a snack that pleased my little one and we had a pleasant shopping trip.
This year, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to make an effort to seek a fresh perspective whenever I find myself feeling stressed, angry, or stuck. It won’t be easy, but maybe by thinking of the opposite of whatever I’m thinking, I can gain some distance that will help me move on and be a bigger person in that moment.
I hope you are having a wonderful New Year so far, and wish you success and joy as you kick off 2015!
Sincerely,
Matt Haviland
Your Real Estate Consultant For Life
P.S. I would love to hear about your New Year’s resoltuions. You can always reach me at: matt@sjhouses.com or phone 609-338-3773
To view or download my full January 2015 Newsletter click here: January 2015 Newsletter – Matt
Happy New Year!
Reflecting on 2014, I’m very grateful to have helped so many people make their dreams come true. I look forward to the best year ever! 2015. Best wishes, for a healthy and prosperous, blessed new year! Matt
December Newsletter – Matt’s Home News
My wife Katrina and parents.
Click Here to download or view our december E-newsletter: December Newsletter – Matt
Sometimes You Have to Keep Going
Most of us have experienced dire circumstances in life when we had to keep going or risk losing something of great value, perhaps even our own life. It’s one of the ways that we learn to be resilient, by having to dig deep inside and come up with more strength than we thought we had. Here’s a story about a young woman that illustrates this point:
I had gone with friends to a small resort island in Indonesia. Being 16 and invincible, I decided to windsurf alone to a small deserted island nearby. Halfway there, the wind changed and I found myself getting carried out towards open water. I panicked and began fighting the sail. Several times I dropped it into the water and had to pull it back up with brute force. Being a small girl, it took a toll on me and after a while I had lost all strength. I was afraid to paddle with my arms because I was worried about sharks, so I just lay on the board and floated out to sea.
Finally, I clamped down on my fear. I had to think my way out of this, so when I had the strength again, I picked up the sail and began very carefully tacking into the oncoming wind rather than fighting it. No one had ever taught me that, but I just figured that there had to be a way, and I refused to give up. Eventually over the course of two hours, I worked my way back to shore. The feeling of triumph did not diminish the lesson learned…that I was a fool for going out alone in the first place.
Now that my own children are teenagers, I try to warn them to look before they leap and think before they act. But I know that they will face these moments where they may have to keep going or die, and I realize that the best preparation I can give them is the strength to stay calm and think clearly in moments of crisis.
What a great story that reminds me to push through when the going gets tough. After all, there’s very little in my daily circumstances as dire as getting swept out to sea.
Sincerely,
Matt Haviland
Your Real Estate Consultant For Life
P.S. If you remember a time when you had to push through or face losing something important, I’d love to hear about it. Reach me at: 609-338-3773 to share your story.
Thanksgiving Open House 2014
Each year we give out fresh baked pumpkin pies to our top clients and supporters. This year we asked what they were thankful and put a short video together. We are grateful and blessed to have great clients, friends and family.
Happy Thanksgiving From The Haviland Group!
November Newsletter – Cut Holiday Costs without Cutting Value
Cut Holiday Costs without Cutting Value
Click here to view download or print our November Newsletter: November Newsletter – Matt
November is a good time to talk about money. Why? Because during November and December, people spend on travel, gifts, and food at a rate of three to four times their ordinary rate of spending. The result is that many people end the holiday season in January with a profound sense of loss—in the pocketbook.
So I thought it would add value to your life to discuss some approaches to spending wisely over this holiday season. Here are some of my suggestions for cutting costs without cutting the fun.
1. Instead of cooking everything for your holiday parties yourself, invite guests to bring a dish, dessert, or drink they can share with others. Coordinate so that you don’t get too many cookie plates and too few main dishes.
2. Think of high-value gifts that don’t cost a lot. A gift basket filled with low-cost, but fun items is a big hit.
3. When someone in your life has expensive tastes, see if you can get relatives to share the cost, and that can be their gift. A 14 year old boy would probably prefer to get one new Xbox from four relatives than get four separate gifts of clothes and books.
4. Make your own decorations instead of buying them. Google DIY Christmas (or whatever holiday you prefer) Decorations, and you’ll get tons of ideas!
If you put your mind to it before you start spending, you can probably come up with even more ways to save this holiday season. Let me know what you find.
Sincerely,
Matt Haviland
Your Real Estate Consultant For Life
P.S. Another way to save is to use e-cards instead of mailed cards this Christmas season. If you want to send me an e-card, send it to: matt@sjhouses.com – I’d also love to hear from you in person at 609-338-3773. That’s free!