17 DEVON AVE LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ 08648

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/MNDRZ4/17-DEVON-AVE-LAWRENCE-TOWNSHIP-NJ-1006143440

Coming Soon! This charming 4 bedroom home on a beautiful tree lined street in Lawrenceville exudes character! When you first arrive at 17 Devon, you'll notice the lovely mature trees, shrubs and flowers that decorate this home. Walk up the expansive front porch and enter to find beautiful hardwood floors, decorative molding throughout, and neutral colored walls. The updated kitchen, with separate breakfast nook and skylight, boasts newer stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, casement windows and plenty of cabinet space. This home has a nice flow, and the formal dining room- with built in china cabinet, and the living room are perfect for entertaining. Walk outside to the park-like fenced in yard, with paver patio and 2 car garage/storage shed- with access from the alley behind the home. The 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms and an updated full bathroom with large tub and pretty ceramic tile. The Master bedroom on the top floor is quite spacious and includes a 1/2 bath, closet and storage space. The mostly finished walk-out basement has a 1/2 bath and makes a great den or playroom. There is plenty of closet storage throughout this home. 17 Devon Avenue is located in a peaceful neighborhood with friendly neighbors, close to schools, shopping, Route 1, Rider U., I-295 and public transportation. Replacement energy efficient windows, 3 zone heating (basement heated too!) and newer roof round out this lovely home. 1 year home warranty included!

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Square feet: 1,454

Price: $295,000

For more information about this property, please contact Anne-Marie Tustin at (609)-921-2700 or atustin@weidel.com. You can also text 5273624 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

See more listings at: www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

MLS ID: 1006143440

https://www.facebook.com/10210716293237839

43 CLIVEDEN CT LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/XZS5NG/43-CLIVEDEN-CT-LAWRENCEVILLE-NJ-1002252212

Well maintained 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath townhome in the Manors of Lawrenceville! Enter into this home and you'll find the kitchen with new flooring and stainless steel gas oven/stove. Easy access to the one car garage makes unloading groceries a breeze! Adjacent to the kitchen is the dining room which continues into the living room, each with lovely hardwood floors and neutral colored walls. The living room has recessed lighting, a cozy stone gas fireplace, and new slider out to the spacious deck, which backs up to evergreen trees. Upstairs are 3 large bedrooms with ceiling fans, a new washer and dryer and 2 full baths. The Master bedroom has an en suite bath and walk in closet plus attic access. The partially finished basement has a rustic feel, with built in seating and a bar area- great for entertaining! The unfinished portion offers lots of storage space. Newer windows, newer furnace and a/c, plus a central vac system round out this great home! The Manors has a clubhouse and swimming pool and is steps away from the Manors Shopping Center and next to 62 acre Village Park. Conveniently located near I-95/295 and Route 1 for easy access to shopping and public transportation.

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

Square feet: 1,628

Price: $314,000

For more information about this property, please contact Anne-Marie Tustin at (609)-921-2700 or atustin@weidel.com. You can also text 5204618 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

See more listings at: www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

MLS ID: 1002252212

https://www.facebook.com/10210716293237839

2793 MAIN ST LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/XA7EUB/2793-MAIN-ST-LAWRENCEVILLE-NJ-1001944248

Charming 3 bedroom upstairs apartment for rent in a historic home on Main Street in downtown Lawrenceville. Renovated, this home features all replacement windows, newer electrical system, and newer flooring throughout. 2 bedrooms plus family/living room upstairs, another bedroom in walk-up finished attic with its own separate heating system. Plenty of room for meals in the large renovated eat-in kitchen. Walk to restaurants, shops and Lawrenceville Elementary School. Close to 62 acre Village Park. Minutes from Princeton, I-95, Rider University and The Lawrenceville School. Note: 6 term lease is $2000 per month plus utilities. 1 year lease or longer is $1700 per month plus utilities.

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1

Square feet: 2,118

Price: $1,700

For more information about this property, please contact Anne-Marie Tustin at (609)-921-2700 or atustin@weidel.com. You can also text 5111430 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

See more listings at: www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

MLS ID: 1001944248

https://www.facebook.com/10210716293237839

Why My Clients Like Me

In my last blog, I explained what I like about real estate. This blog explains why my buyers and sellers like me. I definitely go out of my way for my clients. How do I go above and beyond you ask? Read on to find out...

1. I work hard- I have trimmed hedges for clients and weeded their lawns. I have moved 100 photos from someone's walls then spackled and painted them. I have staged, rearranged and moved furniture. I have called around to the whole neighborhood to invite people to an open house.

2. I hold their hands- This is especially important with 1st time home buyers. I provide them with a list of steps and what to expect during the home buying process and give them an idea of their estimated costs.

3. I provide numbers- I offer free market value analyses (MVAs) for sellers. My MVAs are pretty accurate, as I have attended workshops hosted by professional appraisers. I know how much extra a house with a finished basement costs versus an unfinished one, or a house with 4 bedrooms as opposed to 3.

4. I am fair and honest- I am never going to go MIA. I provide frequent communication and have a thorough list of vendors (inspectors, contractors, mortgage reps, attorneys, etc.) clients can work with throughout the home buying or selling process.

Here are a few testimonials from my past clients:

"Our realtor, Anne-Marie Tustin, was nothing short of excellent in helping us find our dream home. We can't say enough good things about her quality of work. She really took the time to understand our "must-have's" and took into account our budget and quick timeline. She showed us a wide variety of homes and ended up finding us a house that was exactly what and where we wanted. In addition, as first time home buyers, she was always available to answer any and all questions. She guided us through the process and had great recommendations for our mortgage consultant and lawyer as well. She made the process incredibly easy. We love our new home and do not plan to leave, but would definitely recommend Anne-Marie to anyone looking to buy or sell." Nico C.

"We have been extremely satisfied with Anne-Marie's services as a realtor. She first helped us sell our house which had many challenges and once we sold our house she helped us in finding our new house. She is a wonderful person and realtor. I would highly recommend her as a realtor." Mark M.

"Anne-Marie is very knowledgeable in the real estate field. Her knowledge and professionalism guided and helped us close the deal in a timely manner. Her willingness to take the extra steps above and beyond what's required is what sets her apart from other agents I have dealt with. I would definitely work with her again in my future real estate [investments] transactions. [She] is a great agent to work with. Always punctual, responds very quickly to questions and e-mails. We are very satisfied with her service." J. and J. L.

"Anne-Marie was very helpful throughout the process of renting my apartment. I highly recommend her." Isabelle D.

For more information about me and the services I provide, call, text or e-mail me and see for yourself!

Anne-Marie Tustin
Sales Associate
Licensed in NJ & PA
Keller Williams Realty
100 Canal Pointe Blvd., Suite 120
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-987-8889 Office
609-575-8801 Cell
atustin@kw.com
www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

Why I Like Being a Realtor

      Sometimes people ask me what I like being a real estate agent. Other times people ask me why they should choose me to sell their house or to find a new home. Well, I gave those questions some thought and here are my answers....

 

1.     Meeting new people- my clients have touched my life in different ways and I sincerely enjoy helping them.  Some are facts and figures people and want to strictly get down to business. Others are emotional and like to chat about their lives which is often very enjoyable. I have to say that I have learned a lot from my clients.

2.      Being out and about- my job is not boring. It would be difficult for me to sit at a desk all day. I am always active… you may find me walking the streets delivering “Just Listed” postcards in a neighborhood, going out on a listing presentation or showing buyers potential homes. But with all the technology out there, I am reachable 24/7 (well, maybe 12/7).

3.       Learning new things- I don't claim to have all the answers, but if I don’t know the answer to something.. I  will research it and find out. Here are some situations that I have had to learn more about and problems I have solved:

a) Aluminum wiring- Aluminum wiring in a house can pose some problems. For more information on what to do about that, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/516.pdf

b) Mold- Some mold can be dangerous and is important to identify. Certain mold, including toxic mold, should be treated only by a professional. Find more information on mold here: http://www.cdc.gov/mold/cleanup.htm 

 

c) Radon- Repeated exposure to radon gas can pose lung problems if it is above 4 pCi/L. At or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends you consider installing a radon remediation system to reduce your exposure. For more information visit: http://www.radon.com

c) Termites- Termites can cause a lot of damage to a home. Often, you can tell if you have termites if you notice what looks like dried mud tubes. To learn what to do about termites, visit: http://termiteshq.com/6signs-termites-infested-home

d) Gas line easements- Rights-of-ways and easements provide a permanent, limited interest in the land that enables the pipeline company to install, operate, test, inspect, repair, maintain, replace, and protect one or more pipelines within the designated easement. Generally, property owners are prohibited from installing any structures, storing anything that could be an obstruction, or planting trees or shrubs along the right-of-way.

e) 203-k construction loans- These loans are used to repair or rehabilitate single family homes. These loans help you finance a "fixer upper." To learn more, visit: http://porta.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=program_offices/housing/sfh/203k

f) Home warranties- Some sellers offer a one year home warranty to the buyer, which usually covers the cost of repairing appliances (minus deductible) if something goes wrong. They are relatively low cost. Check these out at: http://www.ahs.com

g) Home owner's insurance for investment properties- If you have a rental property, it is best to let your insurance company know, as this situation requires a special type of policy. Compare different companies at: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/renting-out-a-home-get-right-insurance-1.aspx

h) Historic home remodel requirements- If your home is considered historic, or in a historic district, you probably can't just put up any new front door for example. If your property is located in a designated historic district, you may need to seek the approval of the local Historic Preservation Commission before remodeling the exterior.


i) Raw land- Many lenders are not willing to lend money to purchase raw land. In addition, there are many other thing to consider such as whether the land has access to public utilities (electric, water or sewer) or if the land will support a septic system. A perc test and survey will need to be done as well. For other considerations, visit: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/4584/home_improvement/getting_raw_land_not_a_raw_deal.html

i) Underground storage tanks (USTs)- USTs can pose problems if they have corroded and are leaking substances such as oil. If you are concerned about USTs on your property, contact the appropriate company and they can do a sweep for one to see if one is present and determine whether the soil has been contaminated.

k) Short sales- Short sales are potentially better for your credit then letting your home fall into foreclosure. Short selling involves a multi step process you go through to get your mortgage lender to approve a lesser amount than what you owe. This often happens because a home was purchased at the height of the market, around 2006 and now must be sold for less, as market values have decreased since that time.

So, I hope your career is as rewarding as mine is. In my next blog post, I will write about what my clients like about me.


Anne-Marie Tustin, MBA
Realtor Associate in NJ & PA
Keller Williams Realty
Princeton NJ
(609) 987-8889 office
(609) 575-8801 direct
atustin@kw.com
www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

Market Value Analysis: What's Your Home Worth?

Often people are curious as to what the value is of their home. This could be for mortgage refinancing purposes, tax valuation reasons, or because they want to know how much money they might get for their home if they sold it.


Many factors play into what a home is worth. If you are planning to sell, it is important to price your home fairly and accurately from the beginning. Doing so should generate the most showings and potentially multiple offers. In addition, this often gives you, the seller, the upper hand in terms of negotiations.




Statistically, it has been shown that homes that are priced correctly sell for closer to their listing price than homes that are overpriced. And these houses generally sell in half the time as well.


To determine what someone's home is worth, I complete a market value analysis. I do this by looking at other houses that have sold. I take into consideration three factors when looking at comparable properties (CP):

1. Distance: CP should be 1/2 mile or less from the subject property
2. Similarity: CP should be similar in style and size
3. Date: CP should have sold within the last 6 months

Occasionally finding homes that are close, similar and have sold recently is not always possible. What if the subject property is a multi family property and only single family houses have sold lately? What if the last similar condo in the development sold 2 years ago? What if the house is out in the country with no other comps for miles and miles?

These issues can create a challenge. This is where I have to make adjustments. Some of the adjustments I might make include the age of the home, the number of bathrooms, square footage, renovations that have been done (bathroom or kitchen), garage (yes or no, attached or detached), basement (none, full, partial, finished or not, walk-out), patios/decks, fireplaces, new windows, or new HVAC. In terms of location, I might make adjustments for whether or not the property is on a busy road, near power lines, or has significant acreage. I have rough dollar values for all these factors and add and subtract based on how my subject's property compares to the close, similar, recently sold properties.

Then, I input all these items into a spreadsheet with the subject and at least 3 comparable properties side by side for comparison purposes. This is how I come up with an estimate of the market value of a home.


If you are interested in knowing how much your property might be worth, please contact me for a free market value analysis:


Anne-Marie Tustin, MBA
Realtor Associate in NJ & PA
Keller Williams Realty
Princeton NJ
(609) 987-8889 office
(609) 575-8801 direct
atustin@kw.com
www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure.. Which is Better?

A lot of people ask me, "What is a short sale? How is it different from foreclosure?"
A short sale is when someone has to (or wants to) sell his/her house but owes more on the house than the house is currently worth. People often find themselves in this situation when they bought their homes at "the height of the market" back in 2005.


A short sale doesn't mean your house won't sell..it will just take longer, and the process is quite tedious, but it is not impossible to have a favorable outcome. The first step when you are ready to list your home is to find a real estate agent that is familiar with short sales. The agent will need to offer advice on your home's current market value based on recent homes that have sold in the area.


The agent will need to alert potential buyers that the home is a "short sale", which gives them an indication that the process is more involved than a normal sale. Once an offer comes in, the offer will need to be submitted to the bank that holds the mortgage(s) for approval. The approval process is different depending on the bank. Many times, it can take several months to get an answer from the bank.


Along with the sales contract, there is quite a bit of paperwork that needs to be submitted to the bank including a hardship letter detailing why the seller is having trouble paying his/her mortgage, or why he/she needs to sell the house- job loss or transfer, death, divorce, etc. Tax returns, recent paystubs and bank statements will need to be included as well. Plus, a HUD-1 form detailing all the fees and closing costs associated with the deal, as the bank will want to know how much they can expect once all is said and done.


Once the bank receives the sales contract, buyer's mortgage preapproval letter or proof of funds, and deposit money, along with the financial package described previously and a comparative market analysis, then a negotiator is assigned to the case. After a few weeks the bank will have their own appraiser determine the fair market value of the property, (called a BPO).


During this time period, it is important for the listing agent to keep in contact with the bank and be on top of the process. Like I said, the approval process can take 2-6 months and sometimes you get to the end, only for the bank to turn down the deal. However, even if the short sale is approved, it is possible that unless negotiated with the bank, the homeowner may be liable for the "deficiency balance," or the difference between what the house sold for and what was actually owed on the mortgage.


Banks do seem to be becoming more and more flexible, as they realize that they will likely get even less money if the home goes into foreclosure, and they are not in the business of owning houses. With foreclosure, the homeowner becomes so far behind on his/her mortgage payment, that the bank works to obtain ownership of the property and evict the homeowner and auction off the property.


Having a foreclosure is worse on your credit history than going through a short sale. Foreclosures stay on credit reports for up to 7 years and it may be difficult to buy a property during that time, or even to rent a house. With a short sale, it may say that your mortgage balance was settled for less than the full amount, but it won't have as much of a negative effect as a foreclosure.


So all that being said, there are several reasons why if at all possible, it is better to do a short sale than to let your home fall into foreclosure. For more information, check out: http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/programs/exit-gracefully/Pages/hafa.aspx.
If you are considering a short sale, feel free to contact me at the number or email below.


Anne-Marie Tustin
Realtor Associate in NJ & PA
Keller Williams Realty
Princeton NJ
(609) 987-8889 office
(609) 575-8801 direct
atustin@kw.com
www.Anne-MarieTustin.com