Real stories from New Jersey residents provide insight for those considering entering real estate market
Edison, NJ – May 26, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — The newly re-launched website at http://www.REALstoryNJ.com has been updated to inform and educate potential buyers and sellers of New Jersey real estate, offering first-hand knowledge from individuals, couples and families who recently bought or sold in this market.
“These real consumer stories detail how average New Jerseyans are capitalizing on the opportunities and advantages in today’s real estate market that many are unaware of,” said New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) 2009 President Diane Dilzell. “A lot of potential buyers and sellers are undecided about entering the real estate market. The real stories offer real world examples of the challenges and expectations that are often experienced throughout the transaction, and demonstrate that people are finding success, despite changing market conditions.”
NJAR® is featuring the real story testimonials on the website as part of its Get the Real Story® campaign, an effort to educate the public about the current real estate market in New Jersey. A few example stories from the site include, a couple who bought a fixer-upper in Roselle Park; a Camden County couple who took advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time buyers; and a Piscataway family who upgraded to a bigger home.
“These real stories are compelling for site visitors because of the personal connection: the people telling them could be friends, colleagues or neighbors,” Dilzell said. “The written stories and videos add some clarity to what could at first be a daunting and confusing undertaking.”
More than 15 stories are featured on http://www.REALstoryNJ.com, varying both geographically and situationally. Buyers and sellers continue to contact NJAR® to share their experiences. New testimonials are continually being added to the site.
Currently featured in a video on the site, David and Jensyn Modero purchased their single family, fixer-upper in Roselle Park earlier this year and have already put in work to make it their own, installing a new wood floor and repainting the interior to suit their tastes. In their testimonial, the couple offers their advice and suggestions to other purchasers, from preparing the necessary documentation for financing to factoring in local and community amenities.
Mary Lee from Hardyston is thankful for the renovations she made on her home. An unexpected job opportunity led her and her family to put their Sussex County home on the market. After one month and a REALTOR® who provided an accurate view of the market plus an appropriate pricing plan, “I sold my home for double what I paid for it, plus $5,000. They say the market should double every 10 years – it was pretty much on track,” said Mary Lee.
Craig and Lauren Keating from Voorhees took advantage of special buyer opportunities, like the first-time home buyer tax credit and the increased Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits. Their testimonial gives advice on what to look for when house hunting.
According to Al Pulido in Piscataway, “I heard that the market had gotten tougher and that some buyers were being hit with delays and difficulties. But, I didn’t let the stories I had heard get in the way of my search.”
It turns out he and his wife, Christina, benefitted from incentives in the marketplace and moved from a small co-op to a larger home that would fit their family of four. Al even found that there were many houses that used to be out of reach for them, which they could now afford due to the current conditions. The affordability also allowed Al and his family to keep the co-op even after buying the new home.
For more testimonials of people who have recently bought or sold real estate in New Jersey, visit http://www.REALstoryNJ.com. Updates are also available on the Get the Real Story® Facebook page, as well as its RSS feed, http://www.realstorynj.com/realstory.xml.
If you are a recent buyer or seller in New Jersey who wants to help others by sharing your story, e-mail NJAR® at kcassidy (at) njar (dot) com.
The New Jersey Association of REALTORS®, with approximately 50,000 REALTOR® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members, is one of the largest trade organizations in the state. NJAR®‘s membership is comprised of real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are members of the national and local REALTOR® organizations. As the leading advocate for the real estate industry and private property rights in New Jersey, NJAR® is committed to protecting the dream of homeownership. For more information, please visit www.njar.com.
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For media inquiries contact::
Lauren Castellano
Media Coordinator
Phone: (732) 494-4709
Fax: (732) 404-8130
E-mail: lcastellano (at) njar (dot) com
For legislative related media inquiries contact:
Danielle Alpert
Government Relations Coordinator
Phone: (732) 494-4730
Fax: (732) 404-8127
E-mail: dalpert (at) njar (dot) com
