Posted by PAULA CLARK @ 8:34 pm, June 12th, 2009

It’s easy for Bergen County home buyers to get overwhelmed. A home is the biggest investment most of us make and the entire process can be a bit scary! Here are Bergen County home buying tips, sure to calm the most timid among us!

1. Research before you look.
Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing.

2. Be realistic.
It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.

3. Get your finances in order.
Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford.

4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions.
It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.

5. Decide your moving timeline.
When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move.

6. Think long term.
Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

7. Insist on a home inspection.
If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.

8. Get help from a REALTOR®.
Hire a real estate professional who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. Buyer’s reps are usually paid out of the seller’s commission payment. Give me a call…it won’t cost you a penny!!

After all, the process of selling a home is always complex. For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at www.OurNJhouse.com or www.OurBergenCountyHouse.com or www.SellWithMelNJ.com

Record low mortgage interest rates boosted the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®‘ (NAR) forward-looking pending home sales index 6.7 percent in April to 90.3 from a reading of 84.6 in March.  The April 2009 reading is 3.2 percent above April 2008.  “Housing affordability conditions have been at historic highs, but now the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit is beginning to impact the market, too,” says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. The index in the Northeast shot up 32.6 percent from March to 78.9 in April.For more information, read NAR’s press release or watch a video interview of Lawrence Yun on the latest index figures.

For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at www.OurNJhouse.com or www.OurBergenCountyHouse.com

For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at http://www.ournjhouse.com

Parkway Elementary School Students Visit The Paramus Municipal Complex

A treat was in store for Parkway students as they were given a tour of the Paramus Municipal facilities. This occurred on Tuesday, April 14th and involved three second grade classes. Lucky for them, their second grade teacher, Mrs. Bland, has a son named Keith Bland who is a Paramus Patrol Officer. Chief Richard J. Cary was on hand to welcome them.
These second graders learned about Police operations from DARE Officer and Juvenile Bureau Detective James Teehan and members of the Patrol and Operations Divisions. After touring Police Headquarters, the students visited the Borough Hall and the Municipal Court. This is the kind of education day these youngsters will not easily forget.

Pictured from left to right are DARE Officer and Juvenile Bureau Detective Jim Teehan, DARE and Patrol Officer Sal Cosentino, Chief Richard Cary, Juvenile Bureau Detective John Devine, and 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Bland, whose son Keith is a borough patrol officer.

For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at http://www.ournjhouse.com

Borough officials say the rate increases are necessary to offset the more than $2.5 million they spent cleaning the soil and updating the facility without passing too much of the expense on to taxpayers who don’t use it.

But the rate increases, passed by a 4-2 council majority on Tuesday, highlighted friction between the Democratic majority and Republicans Maureen O’Brien and Cathy Bentz, who voted against the measure. The pair said the fee structure puts too much of a burden on residents who are already struggling in the economic downturn.

“I don’t think we should increase the rates this year,” O’Brien said. “I think we should leave it so people could see what a beautiful pool we have this year, and next year maybe a lot of people will come, and if you’ve got to raise the prices then, you’ve got to raise the prices.”

Most of the money for the soil remediation and swimming pool upgrades — such as a new kiddie pool, new plumbing and a new slide — came from bonds the council approved last year, before Bentz and O’Brien broke a Democratic monopoly on the council in the November elections. The Republicans raised the pool-spending issue during their campaign.

They contend that the borough should have concentrated on the state mandate that contaminants be removed from the soil, and that the upgrades could have been made later.

Now, they said, the borough is attempting to bump the rates too quickly, a strategy that could backfire if too many people decide to continue with alternative arrangements they made last year, when the pool was closed.

They also said their council colleagues did not give them enough time or information to fully consider the decision after they had raised concerns about the price increases at a work session last week. They said they did not know they would be voting on new rates until the issue appeared on the meeting agenda, and they did not know what the proposal would be until an informal meeting about an hour before the vote.

Councilmen Fred Hayo — the swimming pool liaison — and Richard LaBarbiera shrugged off the criticism, saying the new rates were in line with what other towns were charging.

 “The fee is still extremely competitive and probably one of the best bargains around,” LaBarbiera said. “To not increase it would have been an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer, which at this time would have been inappropriate.”

They also said they addressed Bentz and O’Brien’s concerns about the first draft of the rate structure when they introduced the final proposal, scaling back the fees and adding one-month memberships.

“The rest of us were flabbergasted by the vote,” Hayo said. “I don’t know where this is coming from. It stinks of party politics.”

Borough manager Anthony Iacono said the swimming pool, which is supposed to operate on its own revenue, has a deficit of about $300,000, which the new rates are meant to reduce. He said the pool was not sustaining itself even before it closed in 2007, when it had about 5,500 members.

E-mail: akin@northjersey.com

Article from NorthJersey.com

For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at http://www.ournjhouse.com

• It is recommended that you do not use your newly installed countertops or vanities for 48 hours. That includes any work to be done to your cabinets or plumbing fixtures.The silicone adhesive needs to set and if disturbed may cause seams and backsplashes to shift.
• Granites are made up of many different types of natural stones that may vary in color and grain. They are porous and require sealants or waxes to maintain their beauty.
• Granite is resistant to stains. Generally, any liquid spilled on agranite top, if wiped up within a few minutes, will not stain. However if left for a long period of time, even water can soak into a granite countertop and leave a dark colored spot; but this usually will evaporate. Liquids that do not evaporate, such as oils, will cause stains if left to soak into the stone; however, if the source of the stain is known then it is very likely that the stain can be removed. Most stains can be removed by a professional stone restorer. Even oil stains can usually be removed using a poultice or paste that will draw out the oil from the stone.
• Granite is heat resistant and can withstand the heat of hot pots and pans without damage. Impact from a heavy object may scratch, chip or break granite. We recommend that you do not use your countertop as a cutting board or place hot skillets or roasting pans directly onto the surface. We suggest using cutting boards and trivets/hot pads at all times.
• Granite will become damaged from use of harsh chemicals. Routine cleaning with mild soap and water is all that is required. Avoid using bleach, abrasive cleaners, strong chemicals and solvents, permanent markers and inks and oil soap products. They will remove any waxes and sealants, create stains and will expose your stone to damages that may or may not be repaired by a professional.
• Some granite is more porous than others. However, all of our granite countertops are sealed upon installation. The rule of thumb is that when the water no longer beads up, it’s time to re-seal. A re-application of a penetrating sealer should be performed either by the home owner or a professional, every year (longer or shorter depending on usage), which only takes about 15-30 minutes.

 To Learn More About This Topic visit  http://stoneplusdesignllc.com

Question 1: In utilizing the Loan Modification option to bring an asset current, can the mortgagee include all fees and corporate advances?

Answer: It depends upon when the closing date occurred. For assets closed:

After July 1, 1991 but before January 1, 2001, the 7-year unearned premium refund schedule shown in Mortgagee Letter 1994-1 remains in effect,

On or after January 1, 2001 that are subsequently refinanced, the 5-year refund schedule shown in the attachment of Mortgagee Letter 2000-46 applies, or

On or after December 8, 2004, refunds of upfront MIP are eliminated except, when the mortgagor refinances to another FHA insured mortgage. The refund schedule attached to Mortgagee Letter 2005-03 has been modified to a 3-year period.

Question 9: Can a mortgagee qualify an asset for the Loan Modification option when the mortgagor is unemployed, the spouse is employed, but the spouse name is not on the mortgage?

Answer: Based upon this scenario, the mortgagee should conduct a financial review of the household income and expenses to determine if surplus income is sufficient to meet the new modified mortgage payment, but insufficient to pay back the arrearage. Once this process has been completed the mortgagee should then consult with their legal counsel to determine if the asset is eligible for a Loan Modification since the spouse is not on the original mortgage.

For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at http://www.OurNJhouse.com