Tag Archives: real estate

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Real Estate Market Update For Mays Landing, NJ

Here is the latest update for the real estate market for Mays Landing, Hamilton Township, NJ Atlantic County

So first let me say that this update is for Hamilton Township (AKA Mays Landing), Atlantic County, NJ.  There are two Hamilton Townships in NJ so if you are looking for Atlantic County in South Jersey you’ve come to the right place!  Mays Landing is located about 20 minutes east of Atlantic City and Ocean City.  Mays Landing is also the regional shopping and retail hub of the county and home to The Hamilton Mall and many other strip centers and chain restaurants.

Here is an update for the Hamilton Township real estate market.  New listings were down slightly for December.  Closed sales were up.  Days on market was down to just 63 days.  The median sales price was lower for the month however it is up 14% year to date to a median sales price of $173,250.

This report also takes a look at condos and townhomes in Mays Landing.  New listings were down for the month and median sales price is up 21%.  Monthly supply of inventory is up slightly to 6 months.


If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling real estate in Mays Landing please let us know. We can help them analyze the real estate market in their neighborhood to see if this is a good time to buy or sell for them.

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Your award winning real estate team!

Thank you to our clients, friends, family, and colleagues for your support of our business.  At The Haviland group almost all of our business is referral based.  We are blessed to work with great clients each year.  Once again we have received awards form the NJ Association Of Realtors.  Matthew earned the silver award and Richard earned the Bronze award.  Combined The Haviland Group had 67+ transitions sides and over $12 million in sales volume.  And it’s important that you know we always have time for more clients.  Who do you know that needs expert help from on one of the top real estate teams in NJ? .

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Why You Should Buy Or Sell A House In Atlantic County Right Now.

There are many reasons to buy and sell a home right now in Atlantic County, NJ.  Let’s take a look at this from the perspective of home buyers and sellers.

Home Buyers In Atlantic County, NJ.

  1.  Interest rates are still low.  You still have great buying power.
  2. Atlantic County, NJ home prices are on the rise in many of our communities as inventory is shrinking.  Purchase now before prices go up.
  3. Right now there are less buyers looking for homes in the winter.  Less buyers means less competition and you are less likely to get in bidding wars with other buyers.  You can often negotiate a great price and terms this time of year.

Home Sellers In Atlantic County, NJ

  1. Right now inventory is lower in Atlantic County.  If your neighborhood has no other homes for sale or just a few for sale this could be a great time to sell before more homes come on the market in the Spring.
  2. If you are moving up to a larger home this is the perfect market to move up to something bigger.  Demand for lower price homes in the $200,000 range and below is high.  Demand for higher priced home is not as great.  That means you can get top dollar for your home and get a great deal when you purchase your next home.
  3. Rates remain low.  Higher interest rates mean less buying power for home buyer.  If rates go up home prices will go down.  Sell now before any likely interest rate hikes occur.

Figuring out when to buy and sell a home ultimately depends on your circumstances and situation.  Contact me for a free consultation.  I can ask a few simple questions to help you determine if this is the right time to buy or sell for you.

Best wishes,

Matt

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Should I get a real estate attorney when buying or selling in NJ?

Here are 5 reasons to hire an attorney when buying or selling a home in NJ.

As a real estate agent I often get asked from buyers or sellers should I hire an attorney?  In NJ having an attorney is not required.  There is a difference in how closings are handled in North Jersey versus South Jersey.  If you are in North Jersey it’s customary for an attorney to handle everything in the transaction including title search and handling the closing.  If you’re in South Jersey title companies typically handle the closing and title work.  Regardless of what part of NJ you are buying or selling a home, here is my list of 5 reasons you should consider hiring an attorney.

  1.  Real estate agents can’t give legal advice.  Real estate agents can go over the contingencies of a contract but they can’t give legal advice.  Only an attorney can advise you on legal matter.
  2. Inspection Negotiations.  Attorneys can help in negotiating acceptable inspection terms.  Often a well drafted letter from an attorney can be more well received if it is coming from an attorney rather from an agent or home buyer or seller.
  3. Review of contract terms.  Your real estate agent will most likely be using standard New Jersey Association of Realtors contract forms.  These work well for most homes however every home and circumstance is unique.  It’s wise to have an attorney review the terms of the contract during the three day attorney review period once the contracts are fully signed.  During this time an attorney can cancel, or revise a contract on behalf of a home buyer or seller.
  4. Review of contract deadlines.  Attorneys will also help keep track of important deadlines in a real estate transaction to help ensure your agent does not miss any important deadlines.
  5. Problems at the closing table.  At the day of closing there can be problems.  In my experience there are two common problems.  The first is the seller not moving out all their personal items in time for closing and the second is repair issues.  Sometimes a new repair issue is discovered at closing.  For example the air conditioning is not working properly.  An attorney can help successfully negotiate agreeable terms for the buyer and seller and make sure they are legally protected if such a problem would occur at closing.

We have worked fantastic attorneys.  We would be happy to recommend one to you depending on your location and circumstances.  Contact us and we’ll be happy to recommend an attorney for you.

 

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What’s The Best Real Estate App?

We review the pros and cons of real estate apps and look at the new KW app.

What's The Best Real Estate App

My KW.com app.

Everyone has an App these days.  Banking, social media and even your favorite restaurants all have apps.  They are convenient ways to stay connected and offer many conveniences.  So when it comes to real estate Apps which one is best?

There are many large real estate websites that all have apps.  And most of them work very well.  Apps like Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia etc.  provide similar home search functions and capabilities.  They are connected to GPS so when you are driving around or walking around you simple open your app and you’ll see all the homes for sale around you.  You’ll also see photos, prices and details.

Here is the biggest problem with these apps… they are not connected to a local agent.  These apps are not connected to a local real estate expert who is looking out for your needs and best interest.  So if you have a question or want more details on a property you may be connected to the listing agent but most of the time you’ll be sent to an agent who has paid to advertise on the app that may know nothing about the property at all.

My app also has a map function where you can draw the area you are interested in and it will pull up all available homes.

So what’s the best real estate app?  Mine of course!  My KW app allows my clients and friends and family to have all the features and benefits of the big name real estate apps with a connection to a local agent who is looking out for your best interest.  My app works nationwide.  And if you’re looking at home outside of my area of coverage I can connect you with a local agent anywhere in the country through our network of over 150,000 highly trained agents.

For 2019 our app will be totally redesigned with direct connection to every Multiple Listing Service in the country we will have the most accurate data for our customers.  If you would like a great real estate app connected with a great real estate agent download my free app now.  When the new version of the app is released your app will automatically be uploaded to the new version.  Click here to download now or Text
KW2JXSUJJ to 87778.

Best wishes, Matt
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Real Estate Market Update For Egg Harbor Township NJ

Here’s a quick look at the real estate market for Egg Harbor Township, NJ from our latest research report.  Home price do vary on a monthly basis as often time one high or low priced home can skew the numbers.  Here are the important numbers to look at for single family homes.  Inventory is down nearly 5%.  Home prices are up 2.3% year to date.  Days on market is down to 71 days on market year to date and just 55 days on market for the month of November.  Closed sales are up nearly 8% year to date.Real Estate Market Update For Egg Harbor Township NJ

 

For condos and townhomes prices are up year to date by nearly 30%.  The number of closed sales is down 32% year to date.  Egg-Harbor-Township-December2108marketupdate

If you or someone you know if buying or selling a home in Egg Harbor Township, NJ contact me for customized market report based on your specific criteria and location.

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Use a Mortgage Payment Calculator to Help Find Your Atlantic County, NJ Home

Mortgage Payment Calculator

When it’s time to buy a home, chances are you’ll need to find a lender and get a mortgage approved. It’s ideal to know ahead of time the maximum amount you’ll qualify for from your chosen lender. After you know how much of a loan you can get, and you begin house hunting, you’ll need to find out just how much a house will cost before you make an offer. So, how do you figure this out you may ask? This is where mortgage payment calculators come in.

When you can plan a budget before you buy a home you can save yourself a lot of time and potential money. By providing some basic information about a listing you’re interested in, with a mortgage payment calculator, you can get an estimate of the overall costs of a property, or several properties if you’re looking to compare.

Mortgage Payment Calculator for Atlantic County NJ

As an online resource, mortgage calculators can also give you an idea of what type of loan you may want to apply for. Through showing you variables, which impact mortgages such as interest rates and down payment amounts, you’ll be equipped to determine the best home loan budget for you. With the help of a mortgage payment calculator for buying a house in Atlantic County, NJ, you can get insight into what to expect, including taxes or HOA fees if they’re applicable.

As a home buyer, one of the best decisions you can make is to educate yourself about the process and how each step will affect you. You’ll have a lot of decisions to make; these are major financial and lifestyle decisions worth taking the time to understand so you can buy with confidence and be happy in your new home. When you utilize a tool such as a mortgage payment calculator you give yourself a valuable resource, knowledge.

Mortgage Calculator

You can find mortgage calculators through different lender and real estate sites, or check out the mortgage calculator below to begin. When it’s time to buy a home, work with a Realtor® who has a passion in helping their clients find solutions towards achieving their home dreams. Get the conversation started with Matt Haviland, give him a call today at 609-338-3773 or send him an e-mail.  The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty are here to help you find the right home from start to finish.

MortgageCalculator.org

Free Mortgage Calculators

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How to Get a VA Home Loan

How to Get VA Home Loan

How to Get a VA Home Loan

One of the best benefits for military service men and women and their spouses, is the Federal VA home loan option. Owning a home is still the great American dream, and for our personnel who have served in any military branch, VA home loans can help make this dream a reality. What’s more, is that these loans can also be used by surviving spouses, giving the families of our fallen heroes a legacy in housing security.

While these home loans are funded through private lending companies, as an active duty soldier, reservist or veteran, the required parameters to get a loan are different compared to civilians. With a VA home loan down payments and private mortgage insurance aren’t required. This is a big boon to getting over one of the biggest expenses towards homeownership with no need to save thousands of dollars before you buy a house.

There are various types of VA loans available depending on your personal situation as a veteran. For example, disabled vets can apply for an Adapted Housing Grant which will help cover the costs of adapting an existing house or having one constructed to accommodate housing features as needed. Other benefits include different refinancing options to lower the interest rate on your current VA loan and property tax reduction and exemptions for applicable veterans, such as is offered through the New Jersey Dept. Military & Veteran Affairs.

How to Get VA Home LoanSo, how do you get a VA loan? The first place to begin is at the Federal VA website. Here, you can find the resources you need to check for eligibility requirements and what options may be applicable for you.  Once you determine which type of VA loan you want, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) form needs to be completed. You can access this form through the VA eBenefits site, or ask your chosen lender for the form. With your COE in hand you can work with your lender to complete the VA loan application process and get approved for funding.

With all the benefits available through a VA home loan, going through this bit of paperwork is worth the effort in achieving your home dreams. You can also review your options with your Realtor®. The agents at The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty understand all the options available for veterans and their families; we’re here to help every step of the way. Get the conversation started with Matt Haviland, give him a call today at 609-338-3773 or send him an e-mail.

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Down Payments for a Home – How Much do I Really Need?

One of the first questions asked when someone is planning to buy a home is, “How much do you have to put down to buy a house?” You may think the answer is a simple one, but this is not necessarily the case. The amount of a down payment needed depends on several factors and your own individual situation.

The first thing to consider is what type of mortgage loan you can qualify for. The type of loan will determine what the minimum requirement is for a down payment on a house. If you qualify for a first-time buyer loan program, chances are you will need a lower down payment, good news for those struggling to save for this major investment.

For qualified buyers through the FHA you can buy with a down payment as low as 3.5%, or possibly with a zero-down payment, but there’s a price. If you qualify for this option, you’ll be required to pay for mortgage insurance for a while. Mortgage insurance isn’t for you but for your lender to be able to recoup the losses should you not make your payments. A down payment helps lessen the overall principal amount of a loan. The higher your down payment, the lower the principal funding. The more principal funding a lender provides, the more money they’re putting at risk in a loan.

While you may not need a down payment through an FHA loan, your monthly mortgage payment will include the cost of mortgage insurance from which you won’t directly benefit. This can be a worthy trade-off if saving for a down payment is a challenge. And the good news is, you won’t have to pay for mortgage insurance for the duration of your loan. When there’s a suitable amount of equity built into your property, you can request a review to discontinue the insurance.

Military veterans and active personnel can qualify for a VA loan, which will waive the down payment completely if you don’t have the funds to put down. These loans are provided through various lenders but backed by the US Dept. of Veteran Affairs. As such, if you don’t have a down payment you won’t have to include mortgage insurance. If you or your spouse has been a part of the military, this is an option worth looking into.

So how much of a down payment do you have to have for a house if you don’t qualify for a special program loan? The standard answer is 20% of the sale price. For a $100,000 home, this would mean you need $20,000 for a down payment. This is a sizable sum which can be a challenge for even the savviest saver. If you don’t have the full 20% however, not all is lost. Some lenders are willing to go as low as 5%-10% for a down payment, provided you pay for mortgage insurance to help lessen the risk to the lender.

To help avoid this extra expense though, you may be able to achieve the 20% down payment through a grant. While most grants are geared towards lower incomes and first-time home buyers, there are options for those in-the-middle-income buyers as well.

Learn more about down payments with this Bank Rate article. If it’s time to buy a home, get the conversation started with Matt Haviland; give him a call today at 609-338-3773 or send him an e-mail. Matt and his team are passionate about helping their clients achieve their home dreams; The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty are here to help you find the right home from start to finish.

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First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Options Around Atlantic County

First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Options Around Atlantic County

First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Options Around Atlantic CountyYou’ve saved and planned and you’re ready to take the plunge into home ownership. There are many great mortgage choices for first-time homebuyers to consider. This list will break down some of the most popular options and provide links to find out more about the ones you may qualify for.

First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Options Around Atlantic County

FHA Loans are 15 or 30-year loans which are backed by the Federal Housing Administration under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHA Loans usually allow approval for borrowers with lower credit scores. These loans can also help through low down payment mortgages and lower closing costs. You’ll have to pay a slightly higher rate for mortgage insurance however, which can be paid upfront or annually.

USDA Loans are based on income for qualification and backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These loans provide help with the purchase of houses located in certain rural areas and include zero down payment mortgage options for borrowers who qualify.

VA Loans are available to active military members and veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and are partially backed by the same. The goal with this program is to assist veterans in purchasing houses. These loans can include no down payment mortgage options and don’t require private mortgage insurance. They do require a one-time funding fee which is a small percentage of the total loan amount.

Good Neighbor Next Door assistance program offers loans for houses which have been foreclosed on at half price to qualified borrowers. This is an incredible program and as such has stringent guidelines. The Good Neighbor Next Door program is available only to borrowers who work in public service sectors as law enforcement professionals, teachers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or firefighters. The firefighters and EMTs must also work within the same jurisdiction as the house they are purchasing. These homes are offered in “revitalization areas” as defined by the FHA. These areas generally have a high number of foreclosed properties available.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government programs which help qualify first-time homebuyers who have low or moderate income with lenders.  The Fannie Mae HomePath Ready Buyer Program in particular offers qualified first-time homebuyers up to 3% toward closing costs for HomePath Properties which were foreclosures under their loan programs.

New Jersey State and Atlantic County Residents can also benefit from some wonderful down payment assistance options outlined in our previous post about First Time Homebuyers Government Programs. Check out the blog post to find out more about first time government programs that are available. These are great offerings specifically for area residents.

The options are too many to list but there’s sure to be something for most any first-time homebuyer to benefit from. For more choices and information see this informative Bankrate article.

Matt Haviland with The Haviland Group and Keller Williams Realty always offers free consultation for first-time homebuyers. Contact Matt today at 609-338-3773 or via e-mail to find out how he can help you.