Since 1937 we have sold thousands of homes and are still dedicated to providing full service to our clients and customers. Our agents and brokers list and sell residential and commercial property in Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, Morris, Sussex and Union Counties. The firm is a member of the Garden State Multiple Listing Service and all our listed properties may be found at Realtor.com. We are also registered as a designated broker for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's foreclosed properties.

Market Conditions - Tiny Bubbles and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Since 1990 the real estate market had been increasing in value, especially during the Internet boom years beginning in 1995. Moreover through the years 2002 - 2005 the increase in home prices was fueled by an advancing stock market and historically low 30-year loan rates of 4.25%.

In January of 2006 the market began to lose its "irrational exuberance" and buyers were no longer willing to pay asking price. Nevertheless, housing demand remained strong because local governments continued to restrict residential building through conservation, eminent domain and regulations such as the Highlands Act.

Throughout 2006 buyers were influenced by news reports pertaining to the infamous, "housing bubble". Buyers put off purchasing a home as they waited for the housing bubble to burst and home prices to drop. The market is always at the mercy of these self-fulfilling prophecies.

In January 2007 the sellers market is gone and with it multiple offers and multiple buyers. The good news is that in February the NYSE increased to a volume over 1260 million shares, unemployment remains low and home loan interest rates remain reasonable at about 6%.

The strongest segments of the real estate market are homes priced under $600,000. Buyers for these homes are no longer waiting for prices to drop as they did in 2006.

However, sellers with homes priced above $600,000 must still contend with a dearth of buyers. Many say that the talk of high property taxes in New Jersey is making buyers think twice when calculating how property taxes figure into the monthly mortgage payment. Secondly, buyers can no longer count on double-digit appreciation of home prices.

Knowing this, we constantly research local property values so you get the highest price for your home without it languishing on the market for an extended period of time.

Many of our clients have tried to sell their home themselves as For Sale By Owners (FSBOs). They spend roughly $600.00 on newspaper ads and Internet FSBO sites before realizing that Realtor MLS is more cost effective and in the final analysis - it works.

Our firm is affiliated with HouseExpress.com and can market your home for sale in Garden State MLS for a flat fee as low as $495. Garden State MLS is the largest database used by ALL Realtors in this area. Call us or see HouseExpress.com for a complete schedule of fees.

Our record of experience and success makes us the best qualified to serve your real estate needs.