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Uncategorized Real Issues in Real Estate Below you’ll find my take on timely topics and issues of concern to anyone involved in real estate, either as a consumer or professional.  Scroll down to see my latest postings.  You can also review past articles by clicking the “Review Recent Posts From This Blog”  or by searching the category links on the right side of […]
Uncategorized Useful Information by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office Here are some useful links to issues of special interest to home buyers: Lead Paint: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/2d14f4_a4023be137b94271aa4cd99ee0f257af.pdf Mold: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/moldguide12.pdf Asbestos: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos Underground Oil Tanks: https://www.epa.gov/ust Termites: https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/termites-how-identify-and-control-them Radon: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/2016_a_citizens_guide_to_radon.pdf Fire Extinguishers: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/portable_about.html Flood Maps: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home Fair Housing: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp […]
Uncategorized Stats! Stats! Stats! Local End of Year 2018 by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office   Last month I highlighted the stats and projections from the Otteau Valuation Group seminar I attended. Those were both state-wide and local and a look forward.  This time, let’s look back and deeper into the local […]
Uncategorized End of Year 2018 Housing Forecast by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office Recently I attended the Fall Housing Workshop hosted by Jeffrey Otteau of the Otteau Group, Inc.  Mr. Otteau is generally recognized as one of the foremost authorities on New Jersey real estate.  His seminars are always packed […]
Uncategorized A Loss Deeply Felt by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office   The day after Thanksgiving we lost a person very close to me professionally. Judy Zinn passed away after a long illness.  Judy brought me into the business almost 20 years ago and I felt it was […]
Uncategorized The Media as History   by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office It has been said that whatever you read or see or hear about real estate in the media has already happened – it’s history. The following article in the September 29th edition of The New York […]
Uncategorized Tax Cuts – Price Slump? by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office As we approach the autumn market peak later in September, it’s interesting to analyze all the factors that contribute to the state of the housing market in our local Essex County, New Jersey as a whole and […]
Uncategorized End of Spring? by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office Just because it’s almost August doesn’t mean spring is over, not in the housing market, anyway. Spring in housing was late this year for a number of reasons and the kind of housing market we associate with […]
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Uncategorized A Late Spring by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office I am frequently asked why there seems to be more houses for sale recently.  People are surprised by the blossom of lawn signs when there’s supposed to be nothing for sale. Improbable as it may seem, both […]
Uncategorized Fair Housing’s Anniversary and Peril by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office   This article on the OpEd page of The New York Times, Monday, May 14th is worth repeating. Click the illustration or headline to read it:   HUD doesn’t get many headlines.  Even this story was buried […]
Uncategorized Spring 2018 Housing Forecast by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office At the end of March I attended the Spring Housing Workshop hosted by Jeffrey Otteau of the Otteau Group, Inc.  Mr. Otteau is generally recognized as one of the foremost authorities on New Jersey real estate.  His […]
Uncategorized Spring Market Update – Coming Soon by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office I recently attended the Spring Housing Update hosted by Jeffrey Otteau.  Next month I will have some of the detailed information he shared but there’s one idea that came over loud and clear: Don’t Wait! The spring […]
Uncategorized Tax Reform and the Housing Market   by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office I recently attended a seminar by Jeffrey Otteau who is generally acknowledged as a principal authority on New Jersey real estate.  His company, Otteau Group Inc., holds seasonal seminars on the state of the Jersey housing […]
Uncategorized To Pre-pay or Not Pre-pay? by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office With tax reform looming on January 1st, homeowners with property taxes above $10,000 have just a couple of days to decide whether to pre-pay their 2018 taxes so as to be able to claim the property tax […]
Uncategorized A Guest Contributor   by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office This month I will share this space with a guest contributor, Sarah Callahan. She writes a blog at http://blog.reviewhomewarranties.com where she shares tips for home buying.  She’s been kind enough to include my blog in her picks of […]
Uncategorized Stagnation   by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office   This installment may seem to veer a little from real estate but I’ll try my best to keep it on the straight and narrow. I’ve been watching Ken Burne’s film “The Vietnam War” and it’s […]
Uncategorized When Housing Becomes A Global Asset     by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office   As more and more foreign buyers use US real estate as a home or as an asset, especially in the higher priced segments, brokers have expanded their marketing reach internationally.  Our company has many, […]
Uncategorized Whither The Market? by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office   Let’s see where the suburban Essex County housing market is heading as we head into the second half of 2017: Click on the table to open a larger version It’s obvious that the market is not […]
Uncategorized The 10 Biggest Threats Facing Real Estate   by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office This article comes from a recent issue of Realtor Magazine.  I found it very interesting and thought you might also: 10 Biggest Threats Facing Real Estate DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 Global […]
Uncategorized Market Update by James Stefanile, ABR, GRI, SRES, QSC, gCertified, REALTOR/Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties, Montclair Office Just a quick look at the local Essex County housing market.  The spring real estate season is hitting its stride with robust demand and not much inventory to satisfy the wishes of a, seemingly, competitive buyer pool. […]