Success of the Husband and Wife Realtor Team Part Two

Back in January of 2007' I wrote a post that focused on the Success of the Husband and Wife Realtor Team. The post was all about how my husband and I have worked together to be a successful team. Recently my husband, Bob, took a fall while out for some exercise on his bicycle. The fall seemed somewhat minor and he never even mentioned the fall to me. Weeks later he ended up having surgery on what turned out to be a broken thumb. Some might think "no big deal", how bad can a broken thumb be? Normally a broken thumb might not be such a big deal except for the fact that it was his right thumb and well you guessed it - he's right handed!

Since I have received messages from other couples considering going into the Real Estate business together, I thought that a follow up to this post was in order. One of the points I listed in my old post was to determine who does what. My husband is the technical strength of our Realtor team but when he broke his thumb, working on the keyboard became very difficult and even painful. In addition to his limited keyboard access, he lost his ability to drive (doctor's orders).

Think about all the things you use your right hand for in the Real Estate business. How many hands do you shake a day? How many times do you have to juggle keys and listings while opening doors and showing homes? What about answering phones and writing down notes while talking to a customer. An exercise to try to illustrate this dilemma is to hold your right hand behind your back as you go about your business and you will see what it would be like.

The biggest point is patience with your partner and picking up the slack when they need you. Bob and I will be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary in a few weeks. Working together has been a true test of how much we really respect and care for each other. I guess that is the most important thing to consider when embarking on working together with your spouse. That's what makes for the Success of the Husband and Wife Realtor Team!

For your Pascack Valley Real Estate needs, call Bob & Lisa at (201)218-6802.

_______________________________________________________________

Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)218-6802

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

Pascack Valley NJ Real Estate Update

Blah, blah, blah...It's the Price! That's the new real estate mantra for today. The old familiar real estate mantra used to be Location, location, location but in the current declining (ugh) market, it's all about the Price.

With the fever of yesterday's market we were bombarded with "Tips". There were tips on how to Win the Bidding War, Tips on how to Stage a home to Sell for top dollar, and Tips on how to get the best mortgage rates.

But now that the dust is settled, blah, blah, blah...it's the price! Those tips are not helping the situation at hand, and it's time to start listening to the new real estate mantra. Sellers who have been caught in the proverbial swinging door are faced with declining property values while many Sellers have extended themselves a bit too far using the equity in their homes like a piggy bank.


Sure staging to sell may help your home stand out in the crowd but staying realistic is key right now. If you don't have the time and resources to update or stage a home, don't waste your efforts on putting perfume on a pig (so to speak). Pardon the pun....

Most real estate reports state that the market will continue on it's downward trend before we start to see things bounce back up again. That bounce may be more like a very slow and gradual climb. So if you're planning to sell your home now, pull up your hip boots and get ready to set a competitive price if you want to sell as quickly as possible.

The reality of this market is that some Sellers are not going to get what they want and may just have to take whatever the market is willing to give them. The Buyers are in control now and they are setting the price on what they are willing to pay for a home. Enter the new Mortgage guidelines and those Buyers are much more scarce! Yikes!!!

So with all the chatter about what to do in the new real estate market, you may chose to listen to all the blah, blah, blah... but It's the Price!

Please visit www.Hammersteam.com for all your real estate needs.

Pascack Valley Westwood New Jersey Sold Homes/Activity Report June 08

Westwood, NJ Single Family Home Sales Activity for June 08' - The Pascack Valley concluded the month of June with Three home closing in the town of Westwood! The Summer market is officially under way with homes selling at a nice pace! With interest rates low, Buyers should act now before the rates start upwards again.
The town of Westwood is always bustling with activity and yet still maintains that desireable small town community feel.

Westwood Real Estate Market Activity:
Listing Status: Sold

Total: 3
Total List/Sale Dollars: $ 1,322,500
Average ListPrice: $ 494,333
Average SoldPrice: $ 440,833
Median SoldPrice: $ 440,000
Sale Price/List Price* 89.177


















There are currently 39 Actively Listed homes in the town of Westwood with an average List Price of $584,020.
There are some fantastic NEW CONSTRUCTION opportunities in this popular town with prices ranging in the low $700,000 to $1.3 million dollar price range.





Compare the previous Year's activity for the Pascack Valley towns by clicking on the following link:
June 2007' Pasack Valley Sold Homes Market Report
For more information on Listings in the Pascack Valley area of Bergen County, New Jersey, call Bob & Lisa at (201)218-6802, or visit us online at http://www.hammersteam.com/ your Pascack Valley Real Estate Resource at "Your Service"! It's a great time to "Buy A Home" in the Pascack Valley. We're keeping an eye on the real estate market for you....
Click on the links below to view some scenes of the picturesque Pascack Valley towns.
EMERSON
HILLSDALE
RIVER VALE
WESTWOOD
PARK RIDGE
MONTVALE
WOODCLIFF LAKE
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
PASCACK VALLEY SPRING SHOW
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associates •
Coldwell Banker • Lisa's Cell:(201)218-6802
• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642

Selling in Bergen County Through the Eyes Of A Buyer

With Inventory at an elevated level, Interest Rates remaining low and the Stock market at an all time high, what is the state of the Real Estate market in Bergen County? So many try to pinpoint the real reason the market is where it is instead of focusing on the obvious. When a home is listed for Sale, the Seller should try this simple excercise. Selling In Bergen County through the eyes of the Buyer.

Take a look at your home as if you were the Buyer. Simply stated, try to envision yourself looking at your home as if you have never seen it before but are considering buying it. You may want to bring in an objective opinion but your listing agent should be able to assist you with this. Take a walk through your front door as if seeing it for the first time through the eyes of a Buyer. Does the front of your home look appealing? Are the steps clear of debris such as leaves, shoes, and dead or dieing plants? Does the front door look inviting or could it use a fresh coat of paint? What about the landscaping? Is it trimmed and looking it's best for the current Season?

When you step into your home what is the first thing that might catch your buyer's eye? Is it the dirty Windows? Perhaps a fresh coat of paint on the walls would brighten things up. Is your furniture arranged in a manner that might trip someone or is it open to show off the space of the rooms?

Let there be light! In other words, how would a Buyer walking into your home find lightswitches? Would they be easy to spot? Are there fingerpints on the wall around the switch? Is there a switchplate missing? How about light bulbs - are they all accounted for? As simple as it sounds, showing a home without light verses with light could make all the difference in the world.

Let's take a look at the flooring through a Buyer's eyes. Can the rugs use some cleaning or the hardwood floors use some shining up? Then there is the "Heart of the Home" or the Kitchen. How does that fair? Could the counters be cleared of clutter and the Refrigerator stripped of magnets? Can a Buyer see the refrigerator?

How about the beds - are they made? Does old junk fall out of the closets when a unsuspecting buyer opens the doors? Lets take a stroll down to the Basement. Would it make a Buyer want to run screaming from your home or will the Buyer say something like, "this is great storage space".

Let us not forget the ugly truth about Bathrooms. Most Buyers want to open that door and see something clean and fresh. Pitted or moldey grout in the Tub is so easily remedied and so easily overlooked by a Seller because when you live in a house, it's easy to overlook alot. But in this market, whatever it is, Buyers are still buying but the saavy Seller is making their home stand out like the prettiest girl at the Ball!

Buying or Selling a Home in Bergen County you can rely on Bob & Lisa of The HammersTeam for Top Notch Customer Service and Advice.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker• (201)218-6802

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

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Hillsdale New Jersey - Homes Are Where the Heart Is!

The popular town of Hillsdale has a special place in their hearts because Lisa and Robert first met at the Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale some years ago. Having grown up in Hillsdale, Bob has a real love for this special Pascack Valley town. Bob's grandfather had been a Builder in the early 1900's and was the architect of several of the custom homes in town. Hillsdale is also Home to the filming of several episodes of the favorite T.V. show "Ed". The quaint little town of Hillsdale has gained in popularity through the years for it's small town friendly appeal and charming ambiance.

The Victorian Train Station (listed on both the National and NJ registers of Historic places) and red brick Traffic Booth are icons and the heart of this much sought after community. The Pascack Valley Train line carrying commuters to NYC via connecting routes is a big draw for the popular town. Other forms of public transportation are also available on the main routes. Adjacent to the Train Station is the Veteran's Park where, in warmer months, residents can pick up a Newspaper and sit and enjoy a snack from the bagel store, the Hot Dog stand, the Deli or any of the local conveniently located Hillsdale eateries.

The highly rated Pascack Valley High School located on Piermont Avenue in Hillsdale is attended by students from the town of Hillsdale as well as the neighboring town of River Vale - where Lisa grew up.

Today the school has undergone major renovations to update and add space to accomodate the students comfortably as they transform education through the use and integration of technology. The Elementary schools of Hillsdale consist of two grammar schools Ann Blanche Smith (K-4) on Hillsdale Avenue and Meadowbrook School (PK-4) on Piermont Avenue. While the middle school children attend George G. White (5-8) on Magnolia Avenue.

During the Summer months Beechwood Park on Hillsdale Avenue is the stage for concerts under the Band Shell as well as Ball Games and Picnics on the Field. Fun for the whole family. There are five playgrounds throughout the borough, as well as three Athletic Fields.

Feel like a refreshing swim?! Well, the Stonybrook Swim Club, covering 12 acres is the perfect cure for those Summertime Blues. Stonybrook offers it's members four pools, one Olympic sized pool with Diving, and facilities such as Snack Bar and playground that insures fun for the whole family!

Directly across the street from the Park you will see one of the many homes sold by the HammersTeam. Bob remembers the days when his Mother participated in at least one of the many Hillsdale recreation clubs offered by the town of Hillsdale.

Other homes in Hillsdale sold by the
Team can be seen by visiting their website at http://www.hammersteam.com/. For more in depth Pascack Valley History and local information contact Lisa and Bob!

Click on this link to see our Images Of Hillsdale show!>

Pascack Valley New Jersey Updates - Are You Moving To Emerson New Jersey?

Moving to Emerson New Jersey? If you or anyone you know is planning a move to the small town community of Emerson NJ we'd like to welcome you to explore the details of this great town right here.

The picturesque town of Emerson NJ is the quintessential Suburban Community. Its closely knit population truly deserves its reputation as "The Family Town". Like most of the other Pascack Valley towns, the town center revolves around it's transportation link to NYC with a quaint Train Station . The Train station is set at the town center along the strip of convenient shops and Restaurants.

This quaint town center of Emerson Train Station is also the home of the little specialty store appropriately named, "The Cookie Cupboard". Here you can order specialty cookie platters and a host of fun and edible gifts.

If you must sit and wait for the Pascack Valley Train to come in, you can grab a paper and enjoy your wait at the station. The NJ Transit covered bus stop is located at the Train station as well.

There is much to see in the bustling center of the town of Emerson NJ. Across the street from the Train Station and Cookie Cup board stands the quaint Victorian structure that houses the Emerson Hotel. This is just one of the many eateries that residents can take advantage of here in this Pascack Valley town.

While you wait for your Train, take a moment to read some history about the popular main road running through the town called "Kinderkamack Road". You'll find this sign right there in front of the Train Station. The Pascack Valley area is very rich in history!

The Emerson NJ town center is quite an active area but you will find that there are many places in this small town where one can behold the beauty of the natural scenery. The Centennial Park pictured here was an effort of the residents who volunteered to work on it.

For the Golf enthusiast, the Emerson Golf Club backs up to the scenic Oradell Reservoir and the Hackensack Country Club is set high on the East Hill in the neighboring town of Oradell within close proximity to Emerson NJ.

The main road intersects with Main Street and leads to the highly rated Emerson NJ High School. Along Main street is one of the grammer schools that accommodates the children on the east side of town. There is another grammar school on the west side of town as well to accommodate the children living on that side of the town.

Also notable along this Main Street one will find the Borough Hall as well as another park dedicated to the Veteran's.
At the corner of the Kinderkamack and Ackerman Avenue stands the New Emerson Pharmacy. In addition to your medications, you can pick up a card and gift here as well.

The town of Emerson, NJhas been under a revitalization program and hopes to re-open a newly renovated strip mall on Kinderkamack Road in the very near future. There promises to be a Super Stop n' Shop for the convenience of residents. There also stands the mall at the corner of Main and Old Hook Roads where the current Shop Rite is still a popular source of necessaries.

Moving to Emerson New Jersey? You're sure to find this little town is going to fill your Homeownership needs!

If you or anyone you know is planning a move to the town of Emerson NJ or any of the other Pascack Valley towns or surrounding Bergen County towns, call Bob & Lisa at (201)218-6802for town information. Feel free to visit us online at http://www.hammersteam.com/.

If you enjoyed this Town post, you may enjoy our other town posts about the neighboring Pascack Valley towns in the following links:

Moving to Westwood NJ?

Moving to River Vale NJ?

Moving to Hillsdale NJ?

____________________________________________________________________

Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)218-6802

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

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Pascack Valley Hillsdale Real Estate Home Sales Update January 08

Hillsdale, NJ Single Family Home Sales Activity for January 08' - The Pascack Valley started the New Year off with four home closing in the town of Hillsdale in the first month. The Spring market is officially under way with homes beginning to list for the busiest real estate season of the year! With interest rates low, Buyers should act now before the rates start upwards again.

The town of Hillsdale is constantly changing to keep up with the times while maintaining that desireable small town feel.

Hillsdale Real Estate Market Activity:

There are currently 47 Actively Listed homes in the town of Hillsdale with an average List Price of $608,259. There are some fantastic NEW CONSTRUCTION opportunities in this popular town with prices ranging in the high $600,000 to over one million dollar range.

Listing Status: Sold

Total: 4

Total List/Sale Dollars: $ 2,341,000
Average ListPrice: $ 604,675

Average SoldPrice: $ 585,250

Median SoldPrice: $ 583,000
Sale Price/List Price*: 96.788


Compare the previous month's activity for the Pascack Valley town of Hillsdale by clicking on the following link:

December 2007' Market Report

For more information on Listings in the Pascack Valley area of Bergen County, New Jersey, call Bob & Lisa at (201)218-6802, or visit us online at www.HammersTeam.com your Pascack Valley Real Estate Resource at "Your Service"! It's a great time to "Buy A Home" in the Pascack Valley. We're keeping an eye on the real estate market for you....

Click on the links below to view some scenes of the picturesque Pascack Valley towns.

EMERSON

HILLSDALE

RIVER VALE

WESTWOOD

PARK RIDGE

MONTVALE

WOODCLIFF LAKE

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

THE PASCACK VALLEY NEW YEAR'S SHOW

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)218-6802

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •