Danielle SetteJessi Davidsonmortgagepre-approvalPre-qualificationSetteDavidson February 3, 2020

Understanding Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

Understanding Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

There’s plenty of real estate terms used in transactions. Needless to say it can be confusing for buyers and sellers trying to navigate the process. Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson of Team Sette Davidson at ERA Justin Realty understand. “The home loan process might feel overwhelming and difficult to understand. You’ve probably heard that you should pre-qualify or be pre-approved for a mortgage if you’re looking to buy a property. These are two key steps in the mortgage application process. Some people use these terms interchangeably, but there are differences that every homebuyer should understand,” states Sette. Danielle and Jessi break down the difference between the two.

Pre-Qualification

The first step in obtaining a home loan is to meet with a lender and get pre-qualified. Davidson says, “The pre-qualification process is based on consumer-submitted data. The lender will review with the buyer their financial situation and discuss income, job stability, debt and credit.” Pre-qualification can be done over the phone or online, and there’s usually no cost involved. Once they have performed a basic review of the qualifications and run credit, they will issue a Pre-Qualification Letter to the potential buyer, which will identify how much you can expect to borrow, the maximum sales price, any down payment requirements and basic terms of the loan, such as interest rate.
 
The Pre-Qualification letter is used to provide evidence that the buyer has been reviewed by a lender who is vouching for their ability to obtain a loan.
 
Your pre-qualified amount isn’t a sure thing, because it’s based only on the information you’ve provided. It’s just the amount for which you might be approved. A pre-qualified buyer doesn’t carry the same weight as a pre-approved buyer, who has been more thoroughly investigated.

Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved is the next step, and it’s much more involved. You must complete an official mortgage application to be pre-approved, and you must supply the lender with all the necessary documentation, such as pay stubs, bank statements, assets, etc, to perform an extensive check on your financial background and current credit rating. The lender can pre-approve you for a mortgage up to a specified amount after reviewing your finances. You’ll also have a better idea of the interest rate you’ll be charged on the loan at this point, because this is often based in part on your credit score, and you might even be able to lock in an interest rate.
 
You’ll receive a conditional commitment in writing for an exact loan amount, allowing you to look for a home at or below that price level. A Pre-Approval letter is almost like shopping with cash; the only remaining piece of the puzzle is the property you are buying.
 
Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson are REALTOR Sales Associates with ERA Justin Realty, both ready to discuss your home-buying questions and needs. To reach either of them, or any of our experienced Sales Professionals, call 201.939.7500 or stop by our office located at 118 Jackson Avenue in Rutherford.

buying a homeIlene HarpuderOutgrown your home January 30, 2020

Have You Outgrown Your Home?

Have You Outgrown Your Home?

It may seem hard to imagine that the home you’re in today – whether it’s your starter home or just one you’ve fallen in love with along the way – might not be your forever home. Ilene Harpuder, Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty, understands a homeowner’s needs for selling when the home no long fits their needs. “Many homeowners are surprised when they suddenly realize that ‘perfect’ home of just a few years ago is no longer adequate for their lifestyle. From an expanding family to the empty nest to financial reasons, it’s common for a home to no longer be the right fit,” Ilene states.

If you’re unsure if you’ve reached the point where a move is warranted, Ilene share a few signs you’ve outgrown your home:

• More Kids than Rooms or More Rooms than Kids – Life changes and our homes must change also.

• Clutter or Lack of Storage – Do you need more closet or storage space? A home with more space could be the answer.

• Home Office – More and more companies are opting for telecommuting or home office workers. If your kitchen is your office, it might be time to look for a new home with extra room for a home office.

• Outdoor Entertaining – Home design trends over the last couple decades has seen a rise in outdoor living and entertaining areas. You might have simply outgrown your yard if you crave space for an outdoor living or dining area.

• Lifestyle – The square footage might be fine, but you would prefer a different floorplan; more open, single story, more windows, etc.

Your reasons for moving will be as unique as you are, but these are just a few considerations which indicate you might have outgrown your current home. Make sure your home still meets your needs and wants, then you’ll be able to decide if it’s time to move.

When you’ve decided to move on — whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, accepting a fantastic job offer in another city, or simply want a change, contact Ilene or any of our experience ERA Justin Realty Sales Associates at 201-939-7500. ERA Justin Realty has sold 3 times more homes in Rutherford than the nearest competitor, based on statistics from NJMLS. We are located at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue in Rutherford.

ERA Justin Realtyhome inspectionJennifer SullivanTeamERATeamERAJustin January 19, 2020

 
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH YOUR HOME INSPECTION

A proper home inspection is the best way to purchase a property that’s not a home improvement nightmare. Before you purchase a home, hire an inspector to make sure the structure is sound and there aren’t any major defects.

An inspection helps buyers identify serious issues with a house, condo, townhouse or other type of home. Some lenders require home inspections before they’ll approve closing on a mortgage loan. ERA Justin Realty Sales Associate, Jennifer Sullivan, offers a few tips on preparing for a home inspection:

Get Multiple Recommendations
Make sure you get a few recommendations of qualified inspectors from your real estate agent, attorney, friends, family, neighbors or the American Society of Home Inspectors. Interview the inspector to find out how they work, what their training is, if they are licensed and insured and how they communicate with their customers.

Attend the Inspection 
After the inspection is complete, buyers will get a report from the inspector. Many people don’t realize they can be at the inspection or think they will “leave it up to the professional” to make recommendations. Make sure you are present for the home inspection and be prepared to ask questions and point out specific problems you’d like to check out further. Although he is the expert, this will be the first time your home inspector has been at the property, so any knowledge of potential issues you have will be invaluable to point out.
 
Ask Questions
The reason you hired a home inspector is because this person has the necessary knowledge to evaluate whether or not this property has any issues that would make purchasing the property a bad decision. If you don’t understand what the inspector just told you, ask for clarification. A good inspector will answer all of your questions and should explain what s/he is doing as they are walking through the property. It’s better to ask a question now than have an issue arise after you’ve purchased the property.

Don’t Focus on Small Issues
Whether the home is new construction or 70 years old, there is a strong likelihood that the inspector will find items to list on their report. Each home will have things that an inspector feels could be updated or modified, but that does not mean it is a pending problem or you should kill the deal. The main point of the report is to learn if the home has any major structural problems or if any of the major systems are in need of extensive repair (think plumbing, electrical or HVAC). It is not a wise idea to ask a seller to replace every burned-out light bulb or cracked electrical outlet cover, remove all the wallpaper or credit you for these items.
Determine which battles are worth fighting and which items can be handled at a later date and take your concerns to your real estate agent for negotiation. Sullivan states, “Making unnecessary home inspection repair requests can lead the seller to look at other offers that may be on the table”. 
Jennifer Sullivan is a Realtor Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty. Jennifer or any of our full time agents can be reached at 201.939.7500 to discuss any of your real estate needs.


charityERA Justin RealtyNJ Food & Clothing RescueRutherford Food PantryToys for tots January 4, 2020

ERA Justin Realty and It’s Agents Helped to Make the Holidays Special

 

ERA Justin Realty and It’s Agents Help Make the Holidays Special

 

ERA Justin Realty spent the holiday season giving back to the community that they serve. Beginning with Giving Tuesday, the office started collecting food for the food pantry. Thanks to the generosity of the agents and local residents who contributed food, ERA Justin was able to help fill the Rutherford Food Pantry with food for the holidays. The Rutherford Community Pantry, Inc. is a volunteer non-profit organization which meets emergency and ongoing needs for food and personal hygiene items for citizens of Rutherford and members of Rutherford religious institutions who are referred by an approved agency throughout the year. It is a joint effort of concerned citizens, community faith congregations and civic organizations.
 
The second charity ERA Justin Realty helped is Toys For Tots. In conjunction with the ERA Real Estate network, the ERA Justin Realty agents contributed new toys to the program which is run by the US Marine Corps Reserve. Their mission is to bring the joy of Christmas to less fortunate children. The entire ERA Real Estate network had 253 participating offices in the drive with over 7,500 agents who collected more than 8,300 toys this holiday season. For more information on the Marine Toys for Tots program visit toysfortots.org.
 
The third charity that ERA Justin helped this holiday season is NJ Food & Clothing Rescue. The staff of ERA Justin contributed items on wish lists of needy families in the area that were provided by the charity to help make their Christmas happy. NJ Food & Clothing Rescue have been helping local families since 2015. This is the 4th year that ERA Justin has adopted families through the program.
 
ERA Justin has always been there for the community but during the holiday season they especially work hard to make it special. For more information about these charities or for help with your real estate needs, please call (201) 939-7500 or visit us at one of our two Rutherfordlocations, 118 Jackson Avenueand 57 Park Avenue.
ERA Justin Realty CharitiesHelping FamiliesNJ Food & Clothing Rescue December 20, 2019

Special People Doing Special Things!

ERA Justin Realty in conjunction with Realtor agent and program coordinator Sharon Robie have secured items of necessity for families and children for Christmas 2019. 

N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue started in 2015 as a non profit fundraising organization.   Phil and Renay Stafford started the charity because in 1999 they were flooded  by hurricane Floyd and lost most of their belongings.  When they applied for relief services they were told that they would have to wait for services.  That motivated Phil and Renay as Phil had been helping people most of his life but wanted to take it a step further. N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue was born. 

Phil offered, “We try to help people that are in crisis without having to wait. If someone comes to us for help we can help immediately.  We help people all year long with food, toiletries and essential household items. At this time of year, one of many things we do is adopt a family for Christmas.”

Renay added, “Throughout the years we’ve helped families who are in crisis or are having difficult times. We help single parents, seniors, Veterans and the homeless. We have families who are registered with us who we help with food weekly. During their hard times, we help them with fruits, vegetables and non perishable items. In this way what little money they do have they can use towards bills, rent, medicines, etc. The families for our Adopt A Family program are families that are registered with us.  We also sponsor a domestic violence agency, Never Alone Again.  This organization has families with single moms and children with many of them living in a shelter. We also have families referred to us from people who we know; who know families who are struggling. This is our 4th year that we have done this project. Every year the number of families and children we help increases.”

Sharon concluded, “We have single families and companies including ERA Justin Realty sponsoring families for Christmas this year. This is very bitter-sweet and are happy that we are able to help so many families, but its also sad that there are so many in a situation like this. N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue could not do what we do collectively without the help of very generous people. ERA Justin Realty sponsored needy families in 2019. For additional information visit their website www.njfoodclothingrescue.org or email them at njfoodandclothingrescue@aol.com

ERA Justin has always been there for the community. To find out how Sharon or any our real estate agents can help you with your real estate needs, please call (201) 939-7500 or visit us at one of our 2 Rutherford locations, 118 Jackson Ave and 57 Park Ave.
Catherine NimmoERA Justin RealtySelling A Cluttered House December 9, 2019

Selling A Cluttered House

 
Selling A Cluttered House
When you own a home, it is easy to accumulate a lot of items over time. With enough closets, spare bedrooms and a garage or shed, you can easily fill your home to bursting. When trying to sell that home, clutter makes your home seem smaller, ultimately eating equity and killing deals.
According to ERA Justin Sales Associate, Catherine Nimmo, “Getting rid of clutter is the first thing you need to do when you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, and, unless you move frequently, there are very few people who don’t accumulate more than they should”. Unfortunately, all of these items can really get in the way when you decide to sell your house. 
Clutter makes it hard to think. Buyers want and need to see the full potential of your house to picture themselves in it, but that can be difficult to do when it is covered up in your things. You have to make room for a potential buyer to imagine their lives in what might soon be their home. Make separate piles of items to save, donate, and throw away. Less is more! 
You can sell your items online, hold a garage sale, or donate. For the things you’re keeping, store your personal items in the attic or basement or consider renting a storage space and temporarily clearing everything out to make the house neutral. 
 
By getting rid of extra seating, paring down the clothes in your closets and throwing out everything in the pantry that’s past its best-before date, you create the illusion of more space. After all, near-empty rooms always look bigger than rooms filled with furniture. Hiring a professional organizer to help with the process is very effective if a seller needs assistance.
 
Nimmo says, “Once you have removed all the clutter, you’ll want to do a deep-clean of your home”. If you do not plan on hiring a professional, go room by room cleaning- dusting, polishing, wiping, etc. If you have carpets, you will want to get them professionally cleaned. Hiring a stager can also help get the home show-ready once you have decluttered. A good real estate agent will have a portfolio of vendors to help you with all aspects of getting your home sales-ready.
 
The last step in the process is to take good professional photos. Most potential buyers these days are going to look at your house and its listing online. Good photos make all the difference, and will draw buyers. The cleaner it is, the less clutter it has, and the better the furniture is staged, the more amazing your photos will look. Spending time at this point of the process makes a big impact later on.
 
Catherine Nimmo and all of the ERA Justin Realty Sales Associates are available to help get your home ready to sell. Call (201) 939-7500 for all of your real estate needs. ERA Justin Realty is conveniently located at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue. Both in Rutherford.


ERA Justin Realty agentJason Rivera November 25, 2019

ERA Justin Realty Welcomes Jason Rivera

ERA Justin Realty Welcomes Jason Rivera 

Jason Rivera has recently joined the staff of Realtor agents at ERA Justin Realty. Jason is an East Rutherford resident, where he has lived for 3 years with his wife, Denise and their 2 children, daughter Jaden and son Sebastien and their boxer, Hazel. He is a native to the area having grown up in Passaic Park.

Jason said, “I’ve been through the process of home buying/ownership several times before becoming an ERA Justin Realty agent.  I know the feeling as a buyer and a seller and to be a successful agent, I need to feel more like a confidant rather than a sales person.” 

 “My previous life as a technician had me in and out of all different types of homes and I know the nooks and crannies of a living space. This has given me a good eye for detail. I also like to feel as if I’m visiting with the homeowner rather than having an appointment.” Jason, who will be specializing with first time home buyers, continued, “My focus has been to do the right thing not because it benefited me but because it was the right thing to do and I was  recognized for detail of service as a most aesthetically detailed technician .


Jason concluded, “I am an avid guitarist, enjoy playing hockey and I’m a hockey ref with certifications from USA inline, AAU, SIHA and ISCA. I enjoy spending time with the kids and being involved with them at school functions. ERA Justin Realty is the right fit for me. It feels more like a family than a company and has the backing of ERA Real Estate, a well established brand.”

 Jason and all of the ERA Justin staff can be reached at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 and at ERA Justin Realty’s 2 Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Ave and 57 Park Ave.
agentERA Justin RealtyERA Justin Realty agentKaitlyn BacoREALTOR November 22, 2019

ERA Justin Welcomes Kaitlyn Baco

Kaitlyn Baco recently joined ERA Justin Realty as Realtor Sales Associate and is excited to continue helping clients. A former executive chef, Kaitlyn understands client satisfaction and wants to bring the utmost attention to the customer service experience. 

Kaitlyn says, “I am committed in operating the best business that few can replicate as I am respectful, outgoing, friendly, competitive, and always willing to help. I am a great communicator and strive for satisfaction. Being able to assist others through business is my passion.” Kaitlyn graduated with high honors from Monmouth University with a degree in Business Administration from Monmouth University, and a concentration in Marketing and Management.

Kaitlyn continues, “I take full pride in hard work and dedication. I productively and efficiently plan my priorities (the guest/client first, always) and make strategic decisions to accomplish goals. I understand a great leader that can plan accordingly without wasting time is extremely important and essential in helping clients find their dream home in the time most comfortable for them.”
When asked why she chose ERA Justin Realty, Kaitlyn immediately boasted “I wanted to join ERA so that I would be treated like family. In my own family, we root for each other to be successful and are always encouraging one another to reach our own personal goals.”
Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker Co-owner added, “We are pleased that Kaitlyn joined our firm for growth in her real estate career. She is dedicated and passionate in all that she does”. A 7 year resident of Rutherford, we are confident that she will give her full time and energy for the success of her buyers and sellers. 
For help with your real estate needs, Kaitlyn and all of the ERA Justin Realty real estate  professionals can be reached by calling (201) 939-7500 or visiting www.ERAJustin.com. We are conveniently located at either of the two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.


55 Kip CenterERA Justin Realtyfestival of trees and wreathsholiday wreath November 22, 2019

ERA Justin sponsors a wreath for the 25th Annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths

 

ERA Justin sponsors a wreath for the 25th Annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths

ERA Justin’s little elves have been very busy decorating for the Kip Center’s 25th Annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths. While a favorite tradition in the community, it also serves as a fundraiser for the Kip Center. Beautiful Trees and wreaths are designed by Kip supporters including local merchants, non-profit organizations, artists, and children. 
Trees/Wreaths/Centerpieces will be on display at the Kip Center from now until December 14th at which time they will be raffled off to benefit the 55 Kip Center. Raffle tickets are available for purchase Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Raffle tickets are 25 for $10.00. Please join us for a Kip Open House, as part of the Borough’s Holiday Festivities, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 30th.
ERA Justin Realty is pleased to help 55 Kip Center, a fun, empowering, and enriching vital resource for older adults and their families. They are Bergen County’s ONLY nationally accredited Senior Center of Excellence and have a membership of over 700 members. They offer Health & Wellness, Education, Recreation, Fitness and nutrition programs to area seniors volunteers also provide escort for essential transportation needs including doctor appointments and grocery shopping. Volunteers can also provide food shopping for those unable to shop for themselves. A little of your time can make a BIG difference in the life of a senior in Bergen County! For more information on this program or to become a volunteer, please call Cathy Baviello of 55 Kip Center at 201-460-1600. 
 

35 Years35th anniversaryanniversaryERA Justin Realty November 8, 2019

ERA Justin Realty Celebrates 35 Years with ERA and Introduces New Vision

ERA Justin Realty Celebrates 35 Years with ERA and Introduces New Vision


Looking back, Ron Darby Broker-Owner never thought he would be completing his 52nd year in the real estate industry. He thanked the community in addition to the lawyers, mortgage brokers, and bankers, along with other business professionals who have always been there for them as they have grown to top 100 ERA success status.

Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker-Owner said, “Time flies when you are doing what you enjoy. I remember when I was studying for my salesperson and then my broker licensing. It seems like yesterday, though it’s now thousands of transactions later. We’ve certainly grown and it’s because of the dedication of our wonderful teammates and professionals who focus with us.”

“ERA Justin Realty is highly driven by the knowledge and experience of our business platform. Everything we do is designed with the universal goal of expanding that knowledge base through a series of innovative tools, programs, and resources that help deliver true value and make it easier for us to better serve today’s consumers. We are building a smarter business community; we all achieve more when we share knowledge and work together.

Metzger concluded, “All of our firm’s Realtor agents can be reached at either of our two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue. By phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also, view 1000’s of homes at our websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.”