tag:Residential Real Estate

tag:Residential Real Estate

Here's the skinny on a unique new home built in Jacksonville Beach

Post By: Olivia April 25, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:metered, fl, ssts:business:real-estate, sstsn:real-estate, tag:Architecture and Design, tag:Exclude from Home Front, tag:Home Construction Industry, tag:Home Prices, tag:Jacksonville, tag:Jacksonville Beach, tag:Residential Real Estate, type:gallery

Here’s the skinny on a unique new home built in Jacksonville Beach

A narrow lot is no problem when you can build up instead of outwards. This “skinny house” at 1952 Horn St. occupies a 3,485-square-foot parcel in Jacksonville Beach (just under 1/10 of an acre), but its unique footprint offers two bedrooms and 2.5 baths, with room for a pool in the backyard. It’s on the market for $619,000.

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Entry foyer

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Kitchen

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Kitchen

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Kitchen

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Living area

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Powder room

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Second-floor landing

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Primary bedroom

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Primary bedroom

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

CAPTION

Provided By Rick Casto For Ryan Wetherhold/Oceanside Real Estate

Three Leaf Partners plans apartments for Wauwatosa's St. Bernard site

Post By: Olivia April 15, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:free, ssts:communities:north, sstsn:North Suburbs, tag:Business News, tag:Local News, tag:Milwaukee, tag:Overall Neutral, tag:Property Development, tag:Real Estate, tag:Religion & Belief, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Residential Sales, tag:Roman Catholicism, tag:To the Point, tag:Wauwatosa, type:story, Wi

Three Leaf Partners, a Milwaukee-based development firm, is planning a three-story apartment building to replace the St. Bernard parish's building on Harwood Ave.

A Milwaukee-based real estate developer plans to bring an apartment development to the former site of St. Bernard Congregation and Wauwatosa Catholic School in the Wauwatosa village. Here’s what to know.

Three Leaf Partners named as developer to purchase St. Bernard parish

Three Leaf Partners LLC submitted its plans for a three-story multi-family development at 7474 Harwood Ave. to the City of Wauwatosa weeks after parishioners learned St. Bernard would close to merge with its sister parish Christ King.

Rev. Phillip Bogacki, pastor of both parishes, told parishioners in a letter that parish leaders had chosen a developer to whom they would sell the St. Bernard property, but didn’t name Three Leaf Partners. Proceeds of the sale will serve as an infusion of cash to carry the newly merged parish forward, he said.

Three Leaf Partners, co-founded by Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, has developed hotels, multi-family apartment buildings and other projects around the Milwaukee area, Minnesota and Indiana. The firm developed the Honey Creek Apartments in Wauwatosa and is working on multi-family apartments and townhomes in Hartland.

St. Bernard property to be replaced by 163-unit apartment building

Three Leaf Partners’ plans would bring a 163-unit apartment building to the coveted property in the Wauwatosa village, plans by Milwaukee-based Korb + Associates Architects show.

One-bedroom units from 650 to 850 square feet would make up most of the building, while more spacious one-bedroom units from 850 to 950 square feet and two-bedroom units that are 1,150 to 1,250 square feet will also be available.

Below the three levels of apartment units, a basement garage will provide 187 parking spots for residents. Twenty-three parking spots north of the building are planned for visitors.

A courtyard will bring residents an outdoor space within the apartment complex’s walls, complete with grills and a fire pit. The building will include a storage area for bikes, a fitness room and club room, among other amenities.

How much will Three Leaf Partners’ apartment development on Harwood Avenue cost?

The project costs $46 million and Three Leaf Partners does not plan to ask for tax incremental financing, or TIF, according to the BizTimes, which first reported on the development.

Representatives of Three Leaf Partners did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.

The firm has sought out TIF in other projects, including $13 million in city financing help for an apartment project in West Allis.

Parts of St. Bernard’s history may be preserved in the new developments, plans show

Plans show that developers and architects may repurpose the bricks, stained glass and other aspects of the existing building that housed St. Bernard parish, which became Wauwatosa’s first Catholic church in 1911.

Construction on the current parish complex began in 1962. The parish property underwent extensive renovations starting in 2000, which brought new parish and school office centers, a gymnasium and an elevator, according to the parish website.

Rev. Bogacki said in his letter to parishoners that approval from the city for the developers’ plans may take six to nine months and that the parish will remain in their building during that time.

“If plans are approved, we can determine when to set moments to celebrate the good work of our past and pledge ourselves to a renewed future,” he wrote.

Will the new apartment replacing the St. Bernard property in Tosa’s village go before the Common Council?

The development meets the current zoning code and therefore does not need to go to the Common Council for approval, according to Eva Ennamorato, Wauwatosa’s communications manager.

“That’s unique when it comes to developments,” Ennamorato told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The development firm plans to present its plans at the Wauwatosa Design Review Board meeting Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at Wauwatosa City Hall.

The in-person meeting will not be recorded, and residents can share their thoughts on the development during public comment, Ennamorato said. The development may need to go before the Board of Public Works or other boards to receive certain permits before construction can begin, according to Ennamorato.

Contact the reporter at bfogarty@gannett.com

March real estate transactions in Crawford County

Post By: Olivia April 10, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:premium, oh, ssts:news:local, sstsn:local, tag:Bucyrus, tag:Business News, tag:Commercial Real Estate, tag:Crawford County, tag:Galion, tag:Local News, tag:Overall Neutral, tag:Public Records, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, type:story

These real estate transactions were recorded in Crawford County during March:

228 N. Boston St. (three parcels), Galion; Charles and Linda Swick to Brennen Yant; $155,000

984 Tiehack Court W., Galion: A. Elaine Hottenroth to Steven M. and Erin C. Williams; $270,000

700 W. Warren St., Bucyrus; Bradley S. Powers, Joseph L. Powers and Mark T. Powers to Jennifer J. Lafrance and Renee E. Powell; $68,500

3081 Oak Drive, Bucyrus; Gerard J. and Elizabeth A. Dolan to Matthew R. and Kylie A. Hatfield; $285,000

143 Pounder Ave., Galion; Mark I. Pittman to Ashley Sellers and Patrick Hook; $155,000

251-253 S. Market St., Galion; Jordan Oil to Dilshaan Foodmart; $110,000

527 N. Union St., Galion; Michael K. and Kathy J. Jenne to David J. Rhoades Jr.; $154,000

6760 Brandt Road, Galion; Brenda J. Mason to Miler M. Ramos; $70,001

320 Liberty St., Bucyrus; The Estate of Edward Naveja to Thomas W. Applegate; $120,000

1207 John St., Bucyrus; Lisa M. Miller, administrator, to Randy W. Bloomfield; $55,510

148 Kincora Drive, Bucyrus; Lutz Custom Homes to Amy A. Roe; $266,764

716 Kaler Ave., Bucyrus; Ashley N. Howell to Melia C. Williamson; $123,500

215 Seventh Ave., Galion; Richland County Home Buyers to Amanda H. Landry; $166,000

1668 Fairview Road, Galion; Zachery and Rachelle Wirick to Carline A. Garverick and Tucker L. Hall; $285,000

One parcel on Ohio 96, Crestline; John D. and Marlene K. Burkhart to Brian D. Burkhart; $120,000

4888 Dickerson Road & 30.47 acres, Annapolis DeKalb Road, Tiro; The Marjorie A. Shealy Trust to The Phenecie 2024 Irrevocable Trust; $1,500,894

One parcel (42,27 acres) on Annapolis Dekalb Road, Tiro; The Marjorie A. Shealy Trust to The Phenecie 2024 Irrevocable Trust; $591,210

4888 Dickson Road, Tiro; The Marjorie A. Shealy Trust to R and K Conservation; $1,707,895

1163 Rosedale Ave., Bucyrus; Chad and Jessica Kernell to Ashley N. Howell and Keith A. Morris; $294,000

1900 Whetsone St., Bucyrus; Susan G. Gulley to Jessica M. and Chad D. Kernell; $440,000

5194 Stetzer Road (four parcels), Bucyrus; Rickey A. and Jennifer S. Burton to Thomas J. and Amy M. Ohlinger; $282,500

272 N. Union St., Galion; The Estate of Jeffrey D. Court to Melissa A. Hershey; $155,900

309 E. Rensselaer St., Bucyrus; Raul Ornelas and Maria G. Rodriguez to Nayeli Mendez Mazariegos; $30,000

2380 Spore Brandywine Road, Bucyrus; Tyler Stevens and Samantha A. Stevens, fka Samantha A. Palmer, to Lawrence D. and Cheryl L. Schmidt; $40,000

833 Crew Ave., Galion; Amanda J. Needels to Tony L. Castle; $44,000

205-205½ S. Union St., Galion; James L. Toth to Joshua R. and Shana M. Keller; $20,000

6659 Middletown Road, Galion; David Cowgill to Mark D. and Jamie C. Tate; $155,000

6273 Crestline Road, Galion; Amy A. Roe to Mark A. and Melissa Holbrook; $249,900

692 Crescent Way, Galion; Perry J. Swinehart to Robbie L. Servis; $119,900

6907 Sandusky Ave. (two parcels), Chatfield; Chatfield Hardware Co. to Chatwood LLC; $85,000

500 W. Warren St., Bucyrus; Mark E. Pfeifer and Allison Pfeifer, htta Allison Bullock, to Kevan and Abbie R. Hughett; $121,900

200 W. Summit St., Galion; U.S. Bank Trust National Association to Diane and Scott Persinger; $57,000

319 Heritage Circle, Bucyrus; Lakeview Loan Servicing to Howard K. Martin; $135,299

1355 Biddle Road, Galion; Murrel and Justin R. Lewis to RXPLUS Renovate; $199,400

390 Clink Blvd., Crestline; Tira L. Stima to Jamie A. and Garrison L. Stima; $86,000

7645 Ohio 309 (two parcels), Galion; Candace L. and Sherri J. Penn to Carrie Levering-Smith; $45,000

102 Switzer Drive, Galion; Harold G. and Mary R. Cramer to John Plott; $239,900

One parcel (2.290 acres), Crossroads Boulevard, Bucyrus; Crawford County Development Board Inc. to Crossroads Holdings; $34,350

906 Prospect St. (two parcels), Bucyrus; Trenton M. Cornell Estate to James Coonrod; $139,000

247 Hayes Ave., Bucyrus; Janet W. Luman to Everett H. and Naomi R. Fortner; $130,000

1022 Laura Ave., Bucyrus; Joyce A. Brown to Elizabeth A. Pack; $240,000

210 Bennett Drive (two parcels), Galion; Dorothy Silavent Estate to Lori E. Ehrman; $120,000

766 Center St. (two parcels), Galion; Benjamin C. and Jillian Kaple to Brooke L. and Daniel L. Newell; $335,000

116 N. Spring St., Bucyrus; Mark I. and Cynthia L. Light to Joshua Lawson; $18,500

640 W. Perry St. (two parcels), Bucyrus; Robert S. and Hanna H. Patterson to Jeremy and Taryn Hutton; $48,405

3393 Monnett New Winchester Road, Caledonia; Tiffany M. Stocksdale, nka Tiffany Kibler, and Jonathan Kibler; $295,000

726 Richardson Ave. (two parcels), Galion; Lowell F. Eusey to Tammy L. Randolph; $135,000

One parcel (3.00 acres) on Spore Brandywine Road, Nevada; Phyllis L. Tschanen and Bette J. Harden to Brian D. and Beth A. Dunlap; $21,000

One parcel (15.399 acres) on Spore Brandywine Road, Nevada; Phyllis L. Tschanen and Bette J. Harden to Jason J. Roop, trustee of The Roop Preservation Trust; $107,793

4050 Clady Road (two parcels), Bloomville; Aaron Studer to STM Farms LLC; $10,990

1429 Cullen Court (two parcels), Bucyrus; Jennifer L. Rogers and Catherine M. Richman to Timothy and Debbie Monaco; $193,000

355 Bennett Drive, Galion; Cody A. VanMeter and Sarah D. Hines to David G. Newman; $250,000

145 Beal Ave., Bucyrus; The Estate of Thomas P. Steinmetz to OPH; $130,000

7907 Anker Drive (two parcels), Galion; Richard N. Jacobs to Ashlie M. Lee; $129,900

One parcel (2.205 acres), Quigg Road, Crestline; Niese Family Farms to Patrick C. and Shelly M. Niese; $25,000

7075 Quigg Road (three parcels), Crestline; Patrick C. and Shelly M. Niese to Nick N. and Miranda Fike; $275,000

304 N. Boston St., Galion; Mary A. Stone, et al. to Erin B. Gorrell; $162,000

5680 Monat Drive, Galion; Tracy D. and Cheryl E. Rehm to Logan A. Knipp and Madison D. Niese; $185,000

124 E. Arnold St., Crestline; William A. and Stephanie L. Wine to Rodney E. and Kathleen M. Fender; $109,000

219 Wilson Ave., Galion; Harold and Jessica Smith to Stephen Pence; $130,000

800 S. Poplar St., Bucyrus; Robert J. Sherman to Charles E. and Nevada N. Zinn; $140,000

252 S. Pierce St., Galion; Rent Due to Brian A. Gress; $35,000

136 Orange St. (two parcels), Galion; Rick Kigar, private selling officer, to Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB; $63,334

319 N. Columbus St., Crestline; Richland County Home Buyers to Paul J. and Tracy L. Lannon; $124,000

236 W. Summit St., Galion; Zachary J. and Elizabeth Hatfield to Miguel Sanchez; $99,000

547 Whetstone St., Bucyrus; Ken E. Shulaw, et al. to Teresa V. and Kenneth E. Long; $43,000

1215 Dawsett Ave., Galion; Jeffrey T. Everly to Justin A. and Enid R. Ramsey; $25,000

Two Glen Ridge homes sell over asking price

Post By: Olivia April 10, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:premium, NJ, ssts:money:real-estate, sstsn:real-estate, tag:Business News, tag:Essex County, tag:Glen Ridge, tag:Homeowners Insurance, tag:Homes for Sale, tag:Money, tag:Montclair, tag:New Jersey, tag:NJ Content Sharing - North Jersey, tag:NJ Homes for Sale, tag:North Jersey, tag:Overall Neutral, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Residential Sales, type:story

Well-maintained, full of character and customizable in a location that blends urban and suburban living: That was the common status of two North Jersey homes that sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking price within days of one another.

Located on opposite ends of historic Glen Ridge are 28 Oakwood Ave. and 15 Sommer Ave., both listed at the end of January by Amy Owens, realtor and team leader of the Amy Owens Real Estate Team at Keller Williams NJ Metro Group. The homes yielded selling prices of $999,999 and $852,500 — or $350,000 and $253,500 over asking — on April 1 and March 28, respectively.

“Just nothing had come on the market at the time, and I thought to put these two homes on the market on the same weekend,” Owens said. “One of the reasons that I put them both on the same weekend was because a lot of buyers won’t come out just to see one house. So, I explained to both of the owners that it’s good to have another house because you’ll get more buyers out and then they’ll decide which one is right for them.”

Each home did in fact attract more buyers, with the properties collecting a combined total of 64 offers during their time on the market.

Owens said this popularity is credited to the centralized location of each property, and that each home offered the opportunity for the next owners to make their own improvements and add personal touches.

“That’s something that all buyers should be looking for right now when they buy a house, especially since we’re in such a high market,” she said. “What’s the upside of the house? What can I do to add value to it?”

28 Oakwood Ave., Glen Ridge

28 Oakwood Ave, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 | Zillow

Built in 1925, 28 Oakwood Ave. is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom side hall colonial-style home in the northernmost neighborhood of Glen Ridge. The property features a brick fireplace in the living room, a sunroom that can double as a home office or playroom, a finished basement, a fenced yard and a one-car garage. It is also located near Brookdale Park and the Glen Ridge Country Club.

Owens said that the previous owners of the home had opted to preserve some of the home’s character, rather than renovating the property to have a mainstream, modern look. She believes this played a big role in the demand for the home, as it felt warm and inviting to potential buyers.

“They didn’t bastardize the house,” she said. “There’s a beautiful marble used in the kitchen, which wasn’t pristine and perfect. You could tell it had been loved and used, but it was still really pretty.”

Cathy Miller, a realtor with Keller Williams NJ Metro Group who represented the buyers of the home, said her clients were relocating from Italy, having been transferred to New Jersey for work. They were specifically drawn to Glen Ridge because of its proximity to New York City for work, as well as for the area’s highly-rated school system.

“Interestingly, my clients were doing research and this area was coming up as the highest on their Internet searches, so that shows you also that there’s a lot of press about this area internationally,” she said.

Miller said her clients were ideally looking for a smaller home. She said that while the home on Oakwood Avenue was on the smaller side for Glen Ridge, it was a normal size property for her clients’ European standards.

Additionally, she said they were drawn to the property not only because it didn’t require a lot of money in repairs, but also because it had some features that reminded them of Italy.

“They told me they particularly felt at home in the house because it had some characteristics that reminded them of Italian properties, like the ribbon trim and the wood floors,” she said. “They also didn’t want an open layout. They wanted a kitchen that was more enclosed. Open layouts are a very American concept, and in European homes, that’s not really a concept that caught on. So, they liked the fact that the kitchen was a little more separate from the rest of the house.”

15 Sommer Ave., Glen Ridge

15 Sommer Ave, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 | Zillow

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom colonial-style home at 15 Sommer Ave. is located at the southernmost end of Glen Ridge, near neighboring West Orange and East Orange. Built in 1937, the home offers a living room with a brick fireplace, a sunroom that opens to the backyard, a one-car attached garage and a spacious backyard with a patio.

“It has this great sunroom off of the back that looks over the yard, which is the perfect size,” Owens said. “It also has the opportunity for the new owners to make a true primary suite, and I think that’s something that appealed to a lot of people.”

Sara Whitley, a realtor on the Amy Owens Real Estate Team at Keller Williams NJ Metro Group, represented the buyers of the home. She said that the mix between suburban neighborhoods with large homes and spacious yards, as well as access to vibrant downtown areas, is what attracted her clients to Glen Ridge.

When looking at the property at 15 Sommer Ave., Whitley said her clients were attracted to the homes layout, as well as the fact that the property had not been overly updated. She said one of the biggest factors for them was that it was a clean slate for them to add in their own style.

“Part of what spoke to them was actually that the layout was almost identical to the home of their friends in Montclair. So, they felt kind of this kindred spirit with the home,” she said. “This home, while staged beautifully and maintained impeccably, certainly needed a bit more updating over time, and they were actually looking for something they could really put their mark on.”

During their home search, Whitley said her clients had put in offers on three other homes, including the property on Oakwood Avenue, but were not accepted. Because of this, Whitley said they had to regroup to determine what steps they needed to take to secure the home on Sommer Avenue.

“I think a lot of buyers get frustrated and feel like there’s some sort of bait-and-switch happening. I think that it’s important for them to understand that that’s not what’s happening. What’s happening is that the demand is simply extremely high and inventory is incredibly low,” Whitley said. “So, it’s really important to work with someone who can at least try and meet those expectations and guide you to what a winning number should be in a particular house.”

This week in April is the best time to sell your home. Here's why

Post By: Olivia March 26, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:free, ssts:money:real-estate, sstsn:real-estate, tag:Business News, tag:Homes for Sale, tag:Housing, tag:Money, tag:New Jersey, tag:NJ Content Sharing - North Jersey, tag:NJ Homes for Sale, tag:North Jersey, tag:Overall Positive, tag:Real Estate, tag:Real Estate Agencies, tag:Real estate agents, tag:Realtor.com, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Residential Sales, type:story

We’re officially in the thick of the spring housing market, and we’ve already seen an increase in real estate activity across the country. But there’s always one week that’s expected to stand out the most for homeowners looking to sell their property.

This year, Realtor.com has deemed the week of April 14-20 as the best week to sell nationwide. This week is expected to combine higher buyer demand, lower competition from other sellers and fewer price reductions than what is seen during a typical week.

“We looked at six different metrics that all kind of captured inventory on the market, time on the market and prices,” said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. “So, we looked at all six of those metrics and we looked at how those metrics move both nationally and within a metro area over the course of a year. We weighted all of those equally and looked at where that perfect sweet spot is where you’re bringing together all of those metrics.”

What makes the third week of April the best time to sell nationwide?

The third week of April is expected to have a favorable balance of market conditions for sellers, including elevated prices, increase buyer demand and lower competition from other sellers, Jones said.

“We kind of found that optimization point where you’re seeing prices that are over the average price for the year but time on market that’s faster and less competition from other sellers,” Jones said. “You can expect to see good demand for you home because there aren’t too many sellers in the market quite yet, and you can see your home sell quickly.”

In terms of home prices, media listing prices are expected to be about 1.1% higher — or $7,400 more — than the average week, and home costs could be about 10.4% higher — or $34,000 more — than they were at the start of 2024.

While active inventory was 7.9% higher at the start of 2024 compared to 2023, the highest beginning-of-year inventory since 2020, inventory was still 39.7% lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to the report. As a result, it is predicted that there will be 13.7% fewer homes on the market during the best week compared to the average week.

Home listings are also expected to receive about 18.4% more views during the best week than the rest of the year. According to the report, this week in 2023 had 22.8% more views per listing. So, if mortgage rates see a significant drop this spring, we could see a greater surge in buyer demand sooner.

Homes are also expected to sit on the market for as few as nine days, or about 17% faster than during an average week.

When is the best week to sell in North Jersey?

While the week of April 14-20 may be the best time to sell nationally, March 31 to April 6 is the best week to sell in the New York metropolitan area.

In our region, median listing prices are expected to be 5.2% more — or $38,000 — during this week than they were at the start of 2024, according to the report. There are also expected to be 16.7% fewer price reductions during this week than there are during the average week.

This week is also anticipated to yield 7.1% fewer active listings than during an average week, resulting in 16% more views per property. And, active listings are expected to stay on the market for 11 fewer days than during an average week.

“While we did determine that this is the optimal week, the weeks surrounding it are also really good weeks to sell. This may bring together a tiny bit of favorability either on price or other seller competition, whatever it may be, to make it really the best week. But, in general, if you’re not ready to sell that week, that’s okay,” Jones said. “It’s still a good time of year to start thinking about putting your home on the market, being on the early side of spring and the busy season, so you can get in there and get buyer attention before there are a ton of other sellers in the market who are also vying for that same attention.

Sellers should start preparing their homes to sell now

There’s just about a month until the national best week to sell arrives, and even less time until the best week to sell in the New York metropolitan area. So, if you’d like to take advantage of this time, you better start preparing now.

“Even though it is the best time to sell — it’s the selling season and there are going to be buyers looking for a home — buyers are still probably going to be a little bit picky because they’re paying a lot for a home right now. So, the best way to prepare is to have realistic expectations,” Jones said.

Preparation not only involves doing things like finding a real estate agent and ensuring that your home is priced attractively, but also making any repairs, deep cleaning the interior and adding a fresh coat of paint to the inside of the home. You can also take some time to improve your home’s curb appeal by adding plants and colorful flowers to the front of your home, as well as repainting things like your garage door, fences and railings.

“I think that, in general, the consistency of it is a little bit comforting because even though mortgage rates are moving around and all of this stuff feels very out of control, those typical seasonal housing dynamics do continue and they do persist,” Jones said.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

Florida receives high ranking in study for selling, renting homes

Post By: Olivia March 22, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:free, fl, ssts:news, sstsn:news, tag:Business News, tag:Cape Coral, tag:Exclude from Paywall Logic Testing, tag:FL Content Sharing - SWFL, tag:Florida, tag:Fort Myers, tag:Google Inc, tag:Naples, tag:Overall Neutral, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Zillow, type:story

Sold Home For Sale Sign in Front of New House

Good news for Southwest Florida home owners.

New research has revealed which states properties are most likely to be sold and rented this year. Florida is No. 2 on the list.

The research, pulled together by online self-storage finder Storage.com analyzed nationwide and regional Google searches for keywords related to real-estate sites such as Zillow and Trulia, to identify which states have the biggest interest in moving.

More:Top 10: February’s most expensive house sold for whopping $26M in Collier County

More:Top 10: February’s most expensive house sold for whopping $7.25M in Lee County

These searches were then compared against local populations to identify where reported the highest desire.

According to the research, “a huge 476,050,700 Google searches were made for property and rental sites last year across the US.”

Florida came in with 13,985 searches per 100,000 people – 18% above the national average.

Colorado topped the list as the state where properties and rentals are most in demand. The state averaged 14,414 searches per 100,000 residents, which is a fifth (21%) higher than the national average of 11,869 searches per 100,000 residents.

What state is at the bottom of the most searches list, or homes least likely to be sold or rented? Alaska sellers and landlords are least likely to receive interest, with only 6,025 searches per 100,000 people, which is 49% lower than the national average.

February real estate transactions in Crawford County

Post By: Olivia March 8, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:premium, oh, ssts:news:local, sstsn:local, tag:Bucyrus, tag:Business News, tag:Commercial Real Estate, tag:Crawford County, tag:Crestline, tag:Galion, tag:Local News, tag:Overall Neutral, tag:Public Records, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, type:story

These real estate transactions were recorded in Crawford County in February:

361 N. Market St., Galion; Richland Home Buyers to Kristy and Adam Delagrange; $25,000

220 W. Charles St., Bucyrus; John L. Spiegel to Angela D. Newhouse; $45,000

1021 Charles St. (four parcels), Galion; Lynnette A. Hagerman, executor of The Estate of Carol J. Huvler, to David and Diana Gregg; $159,000

7464 N. Miller Road (two parcels), Bloomville; Linda Griffin to Michael W. and Lisa Truex; $269,000

143 W. Summit St., Galion; Mary Beth Wittkopf, Krista L. McGinnis and Debra Horton to James Fischer; $161,559

634 N. Union St., Galion; Kimberly O. Staiger to Iden F. and Bethany A. Rocha; $145,000

One parcel (5.754 acres) on Monett-New Winchester Road, Caledonia; Tiffany M. Kibler, fka Stocksdale, to Joshua R. Snyder; $74,750

Two parcels on Bucyrus Street, Crestline; Michelle Eckert to Richard Flannery; $6,250

704 Cherry St., Galion; Robert M. and Linda Dapper to Devin J. Sadowski; $114,500

2061 Brokensword Road, Bucyrus; Burnard and Linda M. Stewart to Sonja L. and Daniel A. White; $42,000

5490 Ohio 19, Bucyrus; Brent A. and Stephanie N. Matthews to Cheyenne and Cole Hess; $230,000

313 Heritage Circle, Bucyrus; C. Jeffrey Dummitt to William R. and Lynne A. Rutter; $172,200

1040 Poe Road, Bucyrus; Floyd L. Emory to Lucas and Mikayla Pennington; $435,000

520 N. Seltzer St., Crestline; Timothy P. Gremling to Floyd L. Emory Jr.; $205,000

1149 Farmview Drive, Bucyrus; Lynn M. Heiby to Betty J. Reed; $280,000

1013 Marion Road (two parcels), Bucyrus; Michael J. and Paula S. Romanoff to John and Elizabeth Cali; $279,900

244 Walker St., Galion; Norma M. and Kristine M. McNeal to Adrianne L. Peck; $152,500

102 Seventh Ave., Galion; David and Elizabeth Wright to 5 Family Homes Inc.; $20,000

388 Helen Ave. (three parcels), Crestline; Paul Commane to Christopher A. Middleton Jr.; $158,500

179 Penn Ave. (two parcels), Bucyrus; Dennis C. Richardson to Carl E. Massey; $45,445

375 Bennett Drive, Galion; Rodney Ramsey to Lucas A. and Robin N. Lawhon; $250,000

715 E. Main St., Crestline; Bulldog Store and Lock It to Robert J. and Margaret Hein; $6,000

426 Milo St., Bucyrus; Robert W. and Mary E. Erwin to Mykah Estes; $128,000

340 S. Sandusky Ave. (two parcels), Bucyrus; Calen Helvin, aka Calen-Helvin, an Ohio Partnership, to Craig A. and Marilyn K. Miley; $145,000

126 Sherman St., Galion; Larry D. Merwine to Jace A. Kincaid; $100,000

6288 Crawford Morrow County Line Road, Galion; Abram Kaple to Eileen Cross; $305,000

Two parcels (0.916 acres) on Temple Road, Bucyrus; Michael L. and Teresa L. Cooney to Aaron R. and Katelyn A. Dornbirer; $9,200

529 S. Boston St., Galion; Happy Properties to Alexandra Yates Keller; $152,000

4888 Dickson Road (four parcels), Tiro; The Kenneth A. Shealy Revocable Trust to Scott, Brooke and Keith Alt; $310,000

121 S. Pierce St., Galion; Monks Renovation Buying and Selling to Kylynn Snider; $144,000

116 Main St., Tiro; The Estate of David L. McMeeken to Charles R. Fike; $45,000

209 N. Hill St., New Washington; Trudy L. Bays to Firelands Federal Credit Union; $81,100

255 Clymer Ave., Galion; William L. Rupp and Marcy A. Graham to Marcy A. Graham; $110,000

425 Maple Drive, Crestline; Judith A. Berger to Bart Kegley; $152,000

210 N. Wiley St., Crestline; Judith A. Berger to Bart Kegley; $37,500

320 Songer St. (four parcels), Bucyrus; Paul McGlone, by Ricky D. McGlone, his attorney-in-fact, to The Zigan Group; $23,000

617 Garnet Court, Bucyrus; Stella L. Denzer to Owen L. Stamper; $95,000

361 Carmel Ave. (two parcels), Galion; Estate of William R. Porter to Yvonne M. Metheney; $85,000

301 E. Summit St., Galion; Jennifer L. Warner to Sean Spears and Ashley Diebler; $239,900

907 Cloverdale Ave., Crestline; Richland Home Buyers to Brenda S. and Darrell W. Pittman Sr.; $145,000

722 E. Main St., Crestline; Tina M. McNeal to Douglas M. Swart; $34,000

518 N. Union St., Galion; Joey C. Lewis III to Erik and Madalyn Kullman; $180,000

224 Erie St. (four parcels), Galion; Lynn A. Sigar to Joseph Toy; $161,000

905 Whetstone St., Bucyrus; ALP Properties to Connie L. Lowdor and Kenneth C. Zirkle; $50,111

Home offices, spa amenities are hot in home real estate in 2024

Post By: Olivia March 7, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:free, newton, NJ, ssts:money:real-estate, sstsn:real-estate, tag:Bergen County, tag:Business News, tag:Essex County, tag:Home Buying and Selling, tag:Hudson County, tag:Interior design, tag:Money, tag:Morris County, tag:New Jersey, tag:NJ Content Sharing - Morristown, tag:NJ Content Sharing - North Jersey, tag:North Jersey, tag:Overall Positive, tag:Passaic County, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Residential Sales, tag:Sussex County, type:story

Buying a home is likely one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make. Because of that, homebuyers often come into the buying process with a wish list of their most desired home features.

But, what was popular in the past might not be popular now, and homebuying trends have changed as we enter 2024. So, what popular home features might make a property a hot commodity? Here are a few:

Move-in ready homes

Before all else, more homebuyers are seeking properties that are move-in ready, rather than those that might require some updating.

“I think now people are getting a little bit more picky on what they want. They just want instant gratification,” said Max Stokes, a partner of the Fox & Stokes team at Compass Real Estate.

Stokes said buyers that are coming from luxury buildings in areas like Hoboken and Jersey City are used to having a fully finished living space. Because of this, he said more buyers are turning towards properties in less desirable locations as long as they’re move-in ready.

“When I bought my first house about 14 years ago, I just bought for the neighborhood and figured that everything else in the house I can fix over time,” he said. “I don’t hear that anymore. People would rather buy something in a location that might not be as desirable, but the home’s move-in ready.”

Looking for a house in NJ in 2024?Here’s how you do it, for first-time buyers

Separated spaces over open-concept living

While the interest in open-concept layouts will likely never fully go away, Oakley said she’s seen more buyers interested in properties with designated spaces.

“Now I’m noticing that buyers want a little bit more separation and designation between the rooms and more closed spaces,” she said. “They still want a nice flow, of course, but just not that complete open box where you can see everything.”

Oakley said she’s seeing this trend in other areas of the home. For example, she said the trend of open shelving in kitchens is starting to go away, as more people are going back to wanting their items away and out of sight. Similarly, integrated appliances were predicted to be a popular interior design trend for 2024 specifically because they’re more hidden in our kitchen spaces, rather than being freestanding.

Multiple primary suites and first-floor bedrooms

Having a bedroom on the home’s first floor — a trend we saw driving up home prices in 2023 — and having multiple primary suites are increasingly popular features homebuyers are searching for in 2024.

Due to the relatively recent unpredictability of the real estate market across the nation, more homebuyers have been focused on finding a property that they’ll be able to spend the rest of their lives in. Having a first-floor bedroom will allow their properties to be more functional as they age. Additionally, more households have become multigenerational due to the costs of living, so younger generations are looking for spaces where they can accommodate elderly family members.

“I’m noticing with certain buyers that they’re looking for either a first-floor bedroom or the option of having a first-floor bedroom,” said Jamie Oakley, a realtor with Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Franklin Lakes. “Thinking into the future and functionality for them, whether it’s the buyers themselves as we get older or thinking about family members who may be coming to live with them at some point.”

Homes with multiple primary suites were also predicted to be a big trend in 2024 due to more couples choosing to sleep in separate spaces.

“I’m hearing a lot of trends of people wanting two primary suites, so like couples who want to sleep separately but still want to live together, which is interesting,” said HGTV personality Noel Gatts, founder and principal designer of Beam and Bloom based in Bloomfield.

Multiple home offices

While home office spaces grew increasingly popular during the time surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, many homebuyers have been searching for properties with multiple office to accomodate more people working from home.

This is not only due to many companies continuing to work remotely, but also because more companies have implemented hybrid work schedules, meaning more people may be working at home, even if only for a few days a week.

“The work from home trend is definitely continuing, so having multiple home office spaces is definitely something that tops a lot of people’s lists,” Stokes said. “It’s becoming more than one because one person would be working from home, but now it’s the real deal where people, whether it’s even going back to the office, they still have the opportunity to work from home a couple days a week.”

A finished basement, or the option for a finished basement

Homes with a finished basement — or a basement that has the ability to be finished and used for different purposes — is something many homebuyers are seeking.

Oakley said many families are looking to incorporate more hang out and entertainment spaces in their home, such as game rooms, media rooms and playrooms, which are often common uses of basement spaces. Finished basements are also often used as an in-law suite or as a distinct living space for kids or other family members that may visit.

In older homes, Oakley said basement heights tend to be shorter, meaning there isn’t enough room for these spaces to be used for anything other than storage.

“I was actually showing a property recently that was a beautiful new construction home on an existing foundation and everything my clients were looking for,” she said. “Then, we went into the basement and they could hardly stand up in it, which for them was just a complete turn off because it wasn’t a space that they could use.”

Self-care amenities and spaces

Homes with self-care amenities or spaces the buyers can use for self-care activities has become more popular, Oakley said.

“I saw a house recently that had a cold plunge installed in it and that completed wowed the buyers,” she said. “So, spaces for a gym or a spa. Even with staging, I’m noticing that they might have yoga mats set up with little weights and things like that just to show what the space could be used for.”

How to buy a home in NJ in 2024, for first-time buyers

Post By: Olivia March 1, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:free, DIY & Expert Content, ssts:money:real-estate, sstsn:real-estate, tag:Business News, tag:Home Buying and Selling, tag:How-To, tag:Keller Williams Realty, tag:Loans, tag:Money, tag:National Association of Realtors, tag:New Jersey, tag:NJ Content Sharing - North Jersey, tag:North Jersey, tag:Overall Positive, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Residential Sales, tag:Zillow, type:story

It’s a new year, and if your resolution is to finally make the leap into homeownership, this might be the best time to do it.

In 2024, there is expected to be more predictability and stability for potential homebuyers. Additionally, Zillow predicts that more homes will hit the market this year, as more homeowners who locked in all-time-low mortgage rates may put their homes up for sale, growing tired of waiting for such low rates to return.

“I do believe we’re going to get back to a normalcy of the market where people are going to buy, sell, rent and relocate based on what’s going on in their life,” said Rob Norman, eastern region president of Coldwell Banker Realty, based in New Jersey. “I don’t think we’re going to be as shocked or surprised by what’s going on in the market, as perhaps we were in the past.”

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Many first-time buyers don’t even know the steps they need to take to begin the process. If you’d like to buy your first home in 2024 but don’t know where to start, don’t be intimidated. Here’s a look at how the homebuying process works:

Save for a down payment

Ensuring you have money tucked away before starting the homebuying process is important.

Down payments are a percentage of a home’s purchase price, so the amount you’d need to pay for a down payment largely depends on the price of the home you’re looking to purchase. A 20% down payment is traditionally what’s recommended, and the more you’re able to put down means the less you’d have to pay each month for your mortgage.

While this is recommended, it doesn’t mean you actually have to have that much saved up. According to a 2023 study from the National Association of Realtors, the median down payment for homebuyers across the country is just 14%. Additionally, many loans today require a much lower percentage to qualify, such as 3% for some conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA —Federal Housing Association — loans.

Get preapproved for a mortgage

It’s important to get preapproved for a mortgage before you start house hunting so you know exactly what you can afford, and to save time later in the process.

This requires submitting income verification, like pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements, to a lender, as well as looking at your debt-to-income ratio.

“You have to get preapproved by a mortgage professional,” said Betti Russo, a broker sales associate with Keller Williams Prosperity Realty in Wayne and Oakland. “It’s to be able to know exactly what you can afford. You might think you can afford more than you can or you might be shortchanging yourself and thinking you can afford less than you actually can. The preapproval is going to really dig deep and tell you exactly what you can afford.”

Russo said that in today’s market, it’s important to act quickly when you find a house you love. Getting preapproved also means that you’ll be ready to submit your best offer right away, giving you the best chance at securing your property. Because houses are leaving the market so frequently, she said there’s no time to waste.

Not only will getting preapproved help you understand what you can afford, it’ll also give you a better idea of how much you’ll pay for other homebuying fees. This includes closing costs, which typically cover property taxes, insurance and fees from various entities.

Explore potential neighborhoods

Once you know how much house you can afford, you’ll have a better understanding of what areas you can consider buying in. Russo said she always recommends that homebuyers take the time to visit and explore areas they’d consider buying in to make sure it’s the right fit for them.

“Just because there’s a beautiful house there and the price fits within your budget doesn’t mean that you’re actually going to love living in that area,” she said. “You want to pick an area that talks to who you are as a person, what you like to do and how close you want to be to certain things.”

Would you rather more of a city or a suburban environment? Are you a commuter who needs easy access to public transportation? Would you like to be within walking distance of certain amenities? Russo said these are just a few factors to consider when picking a location.

Map out your wants versus your needs

Chances are, you’re not going to find a home that comes with everything you want right off the bat. So, it’s recommended to write a list of what features you need, as well as what features you want, but can survive without for the time being.

“The things that are your must-haves are concrete, and your wants should be like ‘I would like this someday, and maybe the house doesn’t have it right now, but I can change this about the house down the road,'” Russo said. “You don’t have to have everything right away, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer.”

Certain aspects about the property can’t change, such as being too close to a highway or having a small backyard, but cosmetic things, like carpeting and kitchen cabinets, can be updated at any time. Russo said figuring this out and knowing what you want in advance is necessary to give yourself the best chances at securing your home.

“It’s a very, very big sellers market still, so homebuyers don’t have time to waste,” she said. “They need to do a lot of preparation in order to be able to get the home that they want. They need to figure all of this out in advance so that when you step into a home, you either want it or you don’t want it. And if you do want it, you have too act very quickly, there’s no time to think about out.”

Find a realtor

While you’re not necessarily required to work with a realtor to find a home, having one does make the process easier.

Because buying a home involves a lot of moving parts, such as finding homes for sale, writing up offers, making edits to the contract and ensuring other parties are prepared, having a realtor will alleviate some stress, especially for first-time buyers.

Additionally, realtors often have a network of trusted people like real estate lawyers and building inspectors, meaning they’ll be able to recommend other individuals that you may need to consult during the process.

Russo said that just because one person had a great experience with a particular realtor doesn’t mean they’ll be the best fit for you. She said it’s important to find someone that you can mesh with, especially because you’ll be working so closely with one another.

“I think referrals are really good and knowing somebody that has worked with the agent before and that they’ve had a good experience with them. Online reviews are also great,” she said. “Experience is not always the answer, but experience is definitely a good answer. You can pick the most experienced agent in the area, but you could have a serious personality conflict or just don’t like their style. Just because they’ve sold the most homes doesn’t mean they’re the best fit for you and your needs.”

Do your research to find a realtor that is familiar with your desired area and that you feel will be able to fulfill your needs.

Make an offer

Russo said that when making an offer on a house, you want to put your best foot forward because you might not get a second chance.

“You need to be prepared to go in with your best foot forward. I always ask people, ‘What’s the house worth to you? How are you going to feel if you don’t get it?'” she said. “Obviously besides your budget, that’s going to determine how strong you go in with an offer.”

Russo said to also remember that money is not the only factor involved in making an offer. Things like how soon you can close on the home and whether you’re willing to waive an inspection also play a role.

“You need to be very flexible in your demands and do whatever you can to make the seller happy, whether that be offering a quick or flexible closing based on the seller’s needs or offering inspections for information purposes only,” she said. “Just make it really easy for the seller to accept your offer.”

See rank in states with the highest increases

Post By: Olivia January 20, 2024 0 Comment(s) access:free, ssts:money:real-estate, sstsn:real-estate, tag:Business News, tag:Economy News, tag:Home Prices, tag:Money, tag:New Jersey, tag:NJ Content Sharing - North Jersey, tag:North Jersey, tag:Overall Neutral, tag:Real Estate, tag:Residential Real Estate, tag:Residential Sales, tag:Zillow, type:story

Home prices have increased across most of the country over the last year, but some states saw a more significant increase than others.

New Jersey experienced the fourth highest percentage increase in home prices across the nation over the last year at 7.43%, according to a recent study by New Jersey Real Estate Network, which analyzed data from Zillow from January 2023 to December 2023.

Additionally, New Jersey had the second highest home price increase by dollar amount. With the average home price now estimated to be about $495,469, houses across the state saw an approximately $34,283 increase from January 2023.

“The spike in housing prices across certain states results from a mix of factors,” reads the analysis. “Economic vitality, job growth and population influx can drive demand, while supply constraints and low interest rates can amplify the increase in prices.”

New Jersey ranked just behind No. 1 Connecticut, with a 9.56% increase, as well as No. 2 Maine and No. 3 New Hampshire, with 8% and 7.49% increases, respectively.

According to national housing market data compiled by Compass Real Estate, the median home sale price across the country was up by 3.5% in November year-over-year, while the median sale price of condos and co-ops across the country was up by 8.6%. Home prices across the nation have seen a 54% appreciation rate over the last five years, far exceeding the the inflation rate of about 22%.

On the opposite end, Louisiana experienced the biggest percentage decrease in home prices at 2.19%. With the average home price estimated to be $195,356 in the state, home prices in Louisiana decreased by $4,370. Idaho, Texas, North Dakota and Nevada all saw home prices decrease in 2023, at .75%, .42%, .36% and .11%, respectively.

These were the top 10 states with the highest percentage increase in home prices during 2023: