WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — For most New Jersey homeowners, the fall brings to mind colorful images of beautifully manicured landscapes, cascading leaves, crisp weather and the nostalgia of the upcoming holiday season. But, did you know that fall ranks second only to spring for the successful resale of home properties? Consider the advice from these prominent New Jersey Realtors who view autumn as a most opportune time to sell one’s home.
At Crossroads Realty, a full-service realty company servicing Ocean and Monmouth counties, Mary Cericola, broker-manager of the Barrier Island office, emphasizes the exceptional confidence buyers have because of new construction and renovation and the opportunity for investment. A wide array of choice properties are available – single-family homes, multifamily homes, condos and co-ops. Additionally, the pool of sellers is strong as the tourist season comes to an end. Cericola tells her clients that developing a solid relationship with a local Realtor is the first step in the process of selling one’s home. “Choose a savvy Realtor who knows your market and understands all the changes in building codes; he/she will price your home correctly so it will sell,” she said.
One reason why autumn offers an incentive to sell is that inventory is traditionally low and buyers are more interested and serious. According to Rollie Davis, broker-manager at Davis Realtors, an independent broker in Somerset, Monmouth, Union, Mercer and surrounding counties, “Buyers are motivated because they’ve sold their homes and may want to rent first to try things out. Banks have improved their procedures and we’re seeing a surge in buying in adult communities.” Davis also points out that more new households are being created as adult children leave the nest and purchase their own residences.
Echoing these observations is Frank Glaush, owner/broker at Partners Realty Group, a full-service broker and realty specialists in Woodbridge. “Many of these first-time homebuyers are the newest demographic known as the Millennials or Generation Y,” Glaush said. “They value the notion that purchasing a home is the first step toward building wealth.” Glaush reports that currently, interest rates are historically low and sees the trend continuing through the fall. He also observes that single-family homes and condominiums close to public transportation are selling faster than they did last year.
For Heidi Dittloff, marketing director at Gloria Nilson & Co., owned by Dick Schlott with headquarters in Middletown, a full-service Realtor with more than 20 offices statewide, it will be a dynamic fall. Dittloff reports that there is a shorter window in the fall because of the holiday season and presently, homeowners are receiving multiple offers.
Dittloff emphasizes that much of this positive activity comes off of the active summer sales where buyers found exceptional properties that were by industry standards turnkey. “Buyers in the fall want to ttansition quickly to a new home and community because of the dominant school calendar and they want to be ready and comfortably settled in before winter hits,” she said.
Yet, in any New Jersey location, the key to a successful sale is realistic pricing. And fall affords sellers less competition so they can capture a buyer’s attention.
John Turpin, broker/owner of Turpin Real Estate, a full-service real estate agency and brokerage firm in Far Hills, specializing in residential properties in northern New Jersey, loosely defines fall as August through October. He recommends listing a home early, right after Labor Day. Additionally, Turpin champions the richly engaging and colorful fall foliage New Jersey sellers have to their advantage. According to Turpin, showcasing one’s home in the fall attracts numerous buyers from the tri-state area who will travel amid such beautiful surroundings to view a given property.
A renewed sense of optimism coupled with affordability post Hurricane Sandy points to the fall as a thriving time for resale of homes. At Diane Turton, Realtors in Manasquan, a full-service, family-owned business servicing the Jersey Shore, Perry Beneduce, marketing director, reports that sellers are very motivated. He sees a tremendous influx of folks into the New Jersey Shore area. Rebuilding and the offering of one-of-a-kind luxury properties are attractive to the international buyer as well. Last month, Diane Turton Realtors opened a London office. Many homes will launch into the international market, where interest from Asia and Europe is strong. “Moving forward, this fall’s a win-win for everyone – agents, companies and clients,” Beneduce said. ? This custom oceanfront property in Spring Lake features three levels of living space and six bedrooms, six baths, a designer kitchen with Caesarstone countertops and a full fourth-floor rooftop deck. Amenities include radiant heating, a heated pool and spa, an elevator and two garages. The home is listed at $8,495 million by Colleen Tobin of Diane Turton, Realtors’ Spring Lake office.
By Sherri Heller
