Price reduction at 208 Amberleigh Drive, Pennington, NJ

Some people say that the heart of any home is the kitchen. For me, I kind of like open spaces where the conversation can flow from one part of the room to the next. Whichever you prefer, I think you will like what you see at 208 Amberleigh Drive, Pennington, NJ. This 1,908 sq. ft. town home in Drakes Mill at Brandon Farms has been reduced to $327,900.

Don't you want to find out more? Let me take you on a tour, up the long driveway and into the entrance foyer where you will see a two-story family room, living room/dining room, and more in this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home. You can also take a virtual tour right here.

What you don't see in the pictures are the clubhouse and swimming pool and even more amenities make townhome living a dream. I want to show you the whole picture. Why not call me now? Cell 609-658-2612 (cell) I'm waiting to hear from you!

After the storm in Mercer County

Where were you when the storm hit on Sunday evening? That's been the question for the past day and a half. Really the question should be did you lose any trees?

The picture to the right, courtesy of nj.com, shows more than I could ever explain about the ferocity of the storm that passed through Mercer County. It flooded roads and damaged trees and power lines leaving some people without power until today. The damage even prompted Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo to declare a limited state of emergency in some parts of Hamilton Township.

But as bad as the storm was it is good to know that our emergency systems are in place and our first responders were on the spot and able to perform their duties for the community. My thanks go to them and my encouragement goes to anyone impacted by the storm. We're lucky to live in a caring, capable community. I hope this message finds your family and your New Jersey home safe and well.

Good news for the Mercer County NJ real estate market

Here is some good news: the Dow closed above 9000 yesterday and on the same day it was reported that sales of existing homes rose 2.5% in June over May in the Northeast. Is this further indication of recovery or a turnaround or is it just plain, old-fashioned good news?

I'm going to stick with the cautious optimism of this is good news because I know - as do you - that there are still some challenges to be overcome. But did you know those challenges are good news for you as a buyer and a seller? Let me explain.

Challenge 1: In the same period, median prices have declined by 5.9% in the Northeast over last year. This continues to make ample opportunity for buyers to make good investments. The decline may seem like a challenge for buyers, but in reality, it is a leveling off period. There should be a steady market for a while, with no big spikes or dips.

Challenge 2: Inventory remains high. Again, a value for the homebuyer; but what does it mean for the seller? It means that buyers can be very choosy so you have to come to market with your best game. And that is where I come in.

I have a great offer for those of you who have previously had your home on the market and taken it off for whatever reason. My team has a guaranteed method to market your home and get results. I want to talk to you about the unique opportunity that now exists for you. Call me at 609-658-2612 or read more about our offer for Mercer County here.

A testimonial from a New Jersey home buyer

Sometimes I really love email and today is one of those days. In fact, I cannot think of a better way to start off a Monday morning. In my inbox today is note from a satisfied client that reads, "Hey Joe, We got the awning cranks… thanks…As I said on the phone the other day, Maria and I are very appreciative of your hard work and patience… It took a long time… but you helped us get the home we wanted… Thank you!!!!!

As a double bonus they also provided this wonderful endorsement for me to share
with you about their New Jersey home buying experience:

Joe Giancarli is an exceptionally professional and patient realtor. We were choosy first-time home buyers with very specific requirements. Joe remained positive throughout, making the long process pleasant and easy. He always put our needs first and consistently guided us in the right direction. The home we finally purchased is PERFECT. I can’t imagine a better real estate specialist.

Best Regards,
Ron & Maria

I know that you can't see my face, but if you could, you would realize how touched I am by their sincerity. I am even more proud to have been there for them. Ron and Maria had a positive experience and are now in a home they love. Now that is a good effort and a great start to a great week. Thank you!

Are you ready to slide into a New Jersey home?

It's summer. It's hot. It's Sunday. And it's baseball season. I try to keep up to date with all the action in the real estate market in the Mercer County area so that I can share it with you - my clients, friends and all who seek professional advice. In addition to my professional resources, I also like to use Google as my search engine for certain topics like New Jersey home or Mercer County real estate. It is kind of a simple process, really.

Imagine my surprise when I found a brand new sight on my search today: Sliding into Home. Sounds interesting and fresh and new. I couldn't wait to click, but instead of houses for sale I found baseball - the Yankees to be precise. If you are a Yankees fan or even if you are just mildly interested in the history of baseball, I encourage you to take a look; it's fun.

Of course, I have to let you know that when you leave the field or the stadium and are ready to slide into a great home yourself, I want to be there for you. Give me a call at 609-658-2612 when you are ready. Have a great week!

New Jersey foreclosures decrease by 30%

Time for some good financial news. According RealtyTrac, the number of foreclosures in New Jersey during the first six months of 2009 were thirty percent less than the same period in 2008.

Housing counselors in New Jersey speculate that federal government programs that help homeowners modify their loans have been instrumental in the decline. There is also legislation in New Jersey that offers mediation to distressed homeowners, along with state loans to help lower monthly payments.

Loan modification help can be obtained for free. Take a look at http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/ for the options that are available to you.

New Jersey State Attorney Anne Milgram has also been aggressive in pursuing home mortgage modification frauds, filing two lawsuits charging ten defendants with mortgage related fraud just this week.

The fact that more people are thriving in their New Jersey home should be a confidence builder for you as a home buyer. We all plan to afford our purchase, but knowing help is available when the unthinkable happens allows us to move forward with our lives. There is no better place to start than with a home in the Mercer County area. Call me at 609-658-2612 to get started.

Today we celebrate freedom

Today is not your average Saturday. It's the Fourth of July, the birthday of the United States of America. It's the most patriotic day of the year because today we celebrate our independence. We celebrate freedom.

Independence is a very powerful word. It signifies our ability to make our own choices. Freedom is the word, the state of being that allows us to follow a path that leads us to live our life to its fullest.

How right it is that we celebrate this day with parades, picnics and fireworks; a grand display of joy. On our birthday, our friends wish us a happy birthday and they end the sentiment by wishing us many more birthdays. I wish the same for our great nation: many more years of independence, freedom and joy. Happy Birthday America.

Can you see yourself in this Hamilton, New Jersey home?

When you decide that you just might want to move and begin looking for the perfect home, you get the opportunity to see a lot of different properties and take a peek into many different neighborhoods and personalities. You are always looking for the vision of yourself and your family. You ask yourself, how do we fit here?

Take a quick virtual tour of this great property just listed at 36 Sadie Street, Hamilton, New Jersey. Then find out more about the property, taxes, and neighborhood of this younger colonial New Jersey home. Do you feel you belong? There are 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, nice storage areas, and even better open areas for gathering the family or friends together.

Is it calling your name? Then it's time for you to give me a call at 609-658-2612 so that we can look at it together and find out if it is just the right place for you. I can't wait to show you!

Looking at economic indicators in Mercer County, NJ

Earlier this week the Trenton Times reported on commercial vacancies and how they are an indicator that the economic recovery may not be as fast coming as we hoped. On the flip side, Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist and columnist for the New York Times reported today that even though more jobs were shed by US businesses in June, we are on the way to a jobless recovery. What? How is it possible that we can be doing both?

I think this is just an example of how economic indicators can be interpreted differently by different people. Kiplinger Reports gives a very straightforward message on how to read economic indicators in this online post that is updated frequently with current information. It charts the standards: consumer confidence, durable goods, existing home sales, interest rate spread, jobless claims and retail sales and help you make your own interpretations from understanding our history of what happened next when the economy was doing this. Economists use intricate models to make their predictions. Others have some common-sense ways. Such as:

• Movie theaters: Movies are fairly affordable entertainment. A packed house means that people are on a budget. Shorter lines at the theaters means that people are spending their money on other forms of entertainment.
• Dry cleaners: If the dry cleaners looks full, it might be that fewer people can afford to pick up their belongings.
• Look at your eyes: Are they droopy? In hard financial times, people tend to get less sleep because of worrying. If the eyes look rested, we may have turned the corner.

Do you have a common-sense indicator? The indicator that I trust is the number of people that I speak to every day that have a plan for moving forward, moving up, and moving on with their lives. They are both selling and buying primary residences in Hamilton, Trenton and beyond. They are looking for and finding the path to happiness right here in Mercer County. They are excited and involved in making New Jersey home.

I would be honored to help you find your joy. Please give me a call at 609-658-2612 to discuss how home ownership can increase your happiness.

Credit: Quirky Economic indicators were provided by Kiplinger.com. See more here.