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Add-On Front Patios

A New Home Trend Front Patios

Front porches and back patios have joined forces. The result is the emergence of the “front yard patio.”

A front yard patio is inviting, which might herald a reversal of a 70 year trend towards hiding out in our houses and entertaining only in our backyards. This condition was a direct result of the age of the automobile, when garages gradually crept to the front of the house at the expense of our porches.

For those of us with garage-dominated or porch-less facades, the front yard patio is a welcome feature—a decorative, as well as functional entertaining space that says, “Hello.”

Front patios can look like almost anything, and be constructed of any material that can be made weed-free and level, including brick, stone, gravel, or wood. They can be attached to the home, wrapped around the front door, or set off on their own. And they can be enhanced by such things as:

  •   A fire pit or heat lamps.
  •   A small side fountain.
  •   Low shrubs or low walls.
  •   Tea lights or lanterns.Front patios are more than simple functional changes in our space and lifestyle. They’re also a smart move for home sellers as they gain traction with buyers who see them as inviting and desirable features that add value to the house.

For more great tips and interesting articles download Matt’s Home News February edition here:  February Newsletter – Matt

Best wishes,

Matt

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How to Wake Up Feeling More Refreshed

Matt's Home News January 2017

  • Most of us have experienced bouts of insomnia that make it difficult to get up in the morning. But for some people, waking up throughout the night is a continuous problem. Here are a few suggestions for improving your sleep and giving yourself more energy in the morning:

    1. Shut off all electronics at least one hour before bed. Studies have shown that electronics keep the mind active longer than other forms of mental stimulation.
    2. Do a sleep hygiene assessment on your home.  Do you have blackout drapes?  Are all LED and other small lights turned off or covered? Do you have a source of white noise, like a fan? Is your pillow and bedding comfortable? Do you need a new mattress?

      First snow day of 2017

    3. Exercise vigorously during the day, but not within two hours of bedtime. Take a walk after dinner to help with digestion, which can also keep you somewhat awake.
    4. Don’t load up on carbohydrates at or after dinner. Digesting carbohydrates tends to spike the energy in your body.
    5. Sit up and read a book in bed until you start to feel sleepy.  Don’t push past the sleepiness. Instead, put the book down and turn off the light.
  • For more great articles and fun facts download and view my January newsletter here.  January Newsletter – Matt
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Market Statistics For Atlantic County, NJ 2016

I have several clients investing in real estate in this market.  Prices are low inventory is high and it’s a great market to buy and hold.  I also have investors looking to flip properties.  I’ve put together some interesting statistics that should be helpful for people looking to invest in the Atlantic County, NJ real estate market.

Market statistics as of 12/22/16 For Atlantic County NJ

City Number of sales In 2016 Year to Date # of homes for sale # sold/month % sold/month
Galloway 349 311 29.08 9.35%
Absecon 122 98 10.17 10.37%
Port Republic 9 7 0.75 10.71%
Egg Harbor Twp 548 362 45.67 12.62%
Hamilton Twp 278 219 23.17 10.58%
Somers Point 127 86 10.58 12.31%
Northfield 130 84 10.83 12.90%
Linwood 98 85 8.17 9.61%
Pleasantville 224 121 18.67 15.43%

Sunset, Port Republic, NJ

This first chart shows some of the mainland areas, the number of homes sold and % of homes that sold.  The highest % sold was Pleasantville at 15.43%.  Pleasantville was followed by Northfield, Egg Harbor Township and Somers Point.

It’s also interesting to look at the number of sales in certain price ranges to see what price ranges have been selling the most.  Homes in the $150,000-$200,000 are selling most followed by $200,000-$250,000.

 

Sold Price Number of sales by price point
0-50k 94
50-100k 214
100-150k 307
150-200k 468
200-250k 350
250-300k 159
300-350k 56
350k-400k 33
400-450k 23
450-500k 16
500-550k 7
550+ 10

*Includes these areas: Galloway, Absecon, Port Republic, Egg Harbor Twp,
Hamilton Twp, Somers Point, Northfield, Linwood

I also get asked frequently how long it’s taking to sell homes so I broke that out based on the number of bedrooms.  Three bedroom homes are selling faster.  This is most likely due to their lower price point.

3 bedroom Average 71 days on market
4 bedroom average 91 days on market

Now is a great time to buy, sell and invest in real estate in Atlantic County.  Contact us for a free consultation to help you evaluate your opportunities in today’s market.  Matt

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7 Quick, Easy Ways to Winterize

Winter is coming soon. Are you ready?

November is a great time to winterize your home in preparation for colder weather. Here

are a few quick, inexpensive tips for cutting your heating bills.

1. Use a draft snake. This device was adopted during the Great Depression, and is one of

the easiest ways to cut the cold. It’s a long sack filled with sand or kitty litter that you

can push into the crack under doors to stop drafts. You can buy a pre-made draft

snake, or make your own.

2. Change the direction of your ceiling fans. Heat rises, so pulling the heat down from the

ceiling will warm your room up fast.

3. If you used a window AC unit in the summer, remove it for winter. Warm air escapes

through the vents and the areas around the unit.

4. Service your heating unit and replace filters. An efficient heating unit will work better

and cost less to run.

5. Consider using window insulation film. This thin layer of film sticks right onto your

windows and adds up to 70% more heat retention.

6. Use a candle to detect subtle air leaks. Light a candle, then move it all around the edge

of your windows. If the flame wiggles in the breeze, then caulk that spot on the window.

7. If you have a fireplace, keep the flue closed when not in use to prevent heat from

escaping and cold air from working its way down into the house.

For more tips and articles view and download my November Newsletter:  november-newsletter-matt

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Healthy Pets Save Money

If your like me your pets are part of the family.  We love our pets, but they can be expensive to care for, especially as they age. You never want to have to choose between your pet and your bank balance, so consider these simple tips for saving money while keeping Fido or Fluffy healthy and happy:

Our Family Springer Spaniel Marta

Our Family Springer Spaniel Marta

 Get regular checkups. The money you spend on vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and

routine medical care will pay off in preventing more expensive illnesses later.

 Groom at home. Lots of grooming—brushing, washing, clipping claws—can be done

on your own. Also learn to do the unpleasant tasks of cleaning ears and anal glands.

 Get annual dental care. Talk to your vet about keeping your pet’s teeth clean and

preventing infections. Dental problems are one of the leading causes of dog or cat

health problems as they age.

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New Construction Open House. Immediate occupancy

Come join us for an open house at the Village Grande English Mill in Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Imagine your new home in a fabulous community where the lawn maintenance and snow removal are taken care of for you. Imagine living in a brand new home without having to worry about repairs.  If you are 55 and over you’ll want to visit the Village Grande English Mill in Egg Harbor Township.  We have very limited home sites left before English Mill is completely Sold Out!

213 Ivy Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Move In Ready new home for sale.

213 Ivy Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Move In Ready new home for sale.

Come in and take advantage of purchasing one of our inventory homes, settle in and call The Village Grande home for the Holidays!!  Prices start in the low $200,000 range.

We invite you to come join us Sunday, October 2 nd from Noon to 2pm for our “Fall in Love with our Grande Lifestyle”, Event. Our Event is being held at 211, 213 and 215 Ivy Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

Please bring the grandchildren for our pumpkin decorating station! Light refreshments will be served. I will be on site to give you some tips and answer questions about selling your current residence. We will also have our mortgage representative, Hector Ramos from MDE Home Loans, here to answer questions and guide you through the finance process.

Of course we will have current residents here to give you some input and tell you all about the activities and how much they have “fallen in love with our Grande lifestyle”!

We will also be here to give you a personal tour of the community, clubhouse, models and inventory homes!

Hope to see you there!

Matt

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Fall In Love With Your Home!

Is it better to move in the Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter?

Here’s a quick post to let you know how I can help you and the people you feel comfortable

introducing me to.

If you or someone you care about had been thinking about buying or selling a home in the spring or summer and decided to wait, there is a subtle yet important shift to moving in the fall that deserves consideration.

Summer moves are often triggered by family needs, while fall and winter moves are frequently influenced by external factors such as work. Whether you are buying or selling, here are critical seasonal influencers which affect the value of a home.

springorsummer-move

 

 

 

It is important that you know I optimize marketing strategies based on several factors that influence your micro-market. The next time you notice a person who is falling into an autumn or winter move and you know they’d benefit from my help, call or text me immediately. I promise they’ll be delighted you introduced us.

Matthew Haviland, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life

Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132