RealtorIrene Blogs about Northwestern NJ Real Estate - Hunterdon & Warren

On Tuesday, December 29, my buyers finally closed on 121 Creek Road - a fabulous 70-acre farm in Pohatcong. The property in Warren County NJ (the Route 78 corridor) consists of an 1800's main home, a barn and a smaller guest cottage. The sale price was $765000.

When I first showed 121 Creek Road in March or April, the list price was $950,000. My buyers' first offer on this Warren County NJ farm for sale was not accepted. In July, I requested and was granted a meeting with the executrix and her 2 listing agents to try to creatively find a meeting of the minds. No such luck.

Despite several interim price reductions, the seller and my buyers were not on the same page. In August, one of the listing agents called me to ask if my buyers were still interested. The seller's bottom line, however, was somewhat less attractive to my buyers at that time. No movement.

Eventually, my buyers opted to make one more stab at this farm in Warren County NJ. We went Under Contract in early October. Lots of problems between then and closing, including septic and well issues. I was able to keep my buyers motivated and with the help of their attorney, we worked through all the unpleasantness! The walkthrough on December 28 disclosed several more problems, ones that were only resolved at the closing table the next morning. (Yes, a sleepless night for many - with my buyers deciding not to even attend the closing.)

I don't know if the husband will ever wear the quilted overalls on which I embroidered his first initial but he sure had a good laugh over my closing gift to him! He and his wife have already begun work on 121 Creek Road, Pohatcong, Warren County NJ!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy a property - farm or otherwise? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

One couple seeking a vacation or getaway property in a lovely Sussex County NJ lake community are the happy new owners of this great foreclosure in Highland Lakes, Vernon, NJ. Yes, they have lots of painting to do but that doesn't diminish their joy. A Highland Lakes home has been on their dream list for quite a few year.

 There were multiple offers on this Sussex County NJ REO owned by Freddie Mac and lots of question marks. At the time the offers were received, there were no power lines to the home. I was still juggling bids from electricians.  Getting power meant multiple visits from Vernon Township building inspectors.

With electricity, we were able to turn on the well pump.  Oops! All the pipes and the boiler had burst from freezing while the house sat abandoned. Multiple bids later, new boiler was done.  We had the home inspection the day after getting that news. Egads, the boiler ran but didn't heat the Sussex County NJ home. Buyers are now rather nervous...

While we sailed through our fire-safety inspection, Vernon Township won't grant an Certificate of Occupancy while there are still open building permits. Flunked the next Vernon building inspection for lack of an emergency shut off switch on the upper level. Closing was scheduled for Nov. 20 for this Highland Lakes foreclosure; the seller approved funds for the switch on the 17th, electrician installed on the 18th, and Vernon Township accomodated my unreasonable request for an inspection on the 19th.

We closed on time!!!

Bright and early on Monday, Nov. 23, I showed up with a thank you note and freshly-baked loaf of my breakfast bread for the Vernon NJ township employees. Without their great cooperation and attorney Marleen Horlacher's skills and her faith in my getting things done, we never would have closed on Friday.

And the new owners started painting on Saturday!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes, Vernon NJ was a very trying Sussex County real estate deal for the seller, her family and me, her listing agent. Two previous deals had fallen apart. Third time seemed to be a charm, until:

• The well pump died 2 days before the home inspection and installation was finishing as the buyer, his agent and inspector arrived.
• The septic, which had passed thorough inspection a year ago, flunked and required $6,000 in seller repairs on this AS-IS Scenic Lakes home.
• The clock was ticking for the first-time buyer credit and slated to close on Friday, November 20, around 1:00 p.m.
• The lovely elderly lady who owned 12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes and her moving truck had headed in Florida. 

The buyers did their final walk through on Thursday night and decided the attic didn't pass "broom clean" standards because of some unused replacement materials the seller had left. Friday afternoon, their attorney proposed a credit and the deal did not close.

Late Friday, I removed the disputed items via 2 trash bags. Photos were insufficient, so we had another walk through at 11 on Saturday. The attorneys met at 4:00 and closed the deal.

12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes sold for $187,000.

Although I regularly go the extra mile for my Sussex County NJ real estate clients, I'm particularly appreciative of the 2 attorneys doing the same on a sacred Saturday!

This Scenic Lakes listing also resulted in an unexpected compliment, Google Juice for Photos - One of many benefits of my Vacation Properties in Sussex County NJ series.

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

On Wednesday, a Franklin NJ Ranch Home for Sale sold for 95% of its list price (the average list-to-sale price ratio for Sussex County NJ real estate). From the date of listing, it was just 56 days to closing. We had 3 offers within the first 12 days, so this listing attracted great interest! The sale price was $171,000 and there were no seller-concessions.

The new owners had visited my Open House and simply had to have this home for sale in Franklin. Wonderful people and well qualified buyers, they had interacted with 6 other real estate agents before thay met me! I am 007!

Even though I represented both sides (a dual-disclosed agent in NJ lingo), both the sellers and buyers knew their interests were well served every step of the way. Sure, there were challenges. The sellers were in Florida, so I handled many aspects for them. We had multiple visits from the fire-safety inspector to get the Certificate of Occupancy. Termite treatment. The well test flunked. Over-chlorination resulted in 2 more tests and then a UV system still had to be installed.

But we got to the closing table as scheduled! Too bad a martini "shaken, not stirred" doesn't appeal to this Agent 007!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

This morning was the scheduled inspection on the home for sale at 12 High Crest Drive, Scenic Lakes-Vernon NJ. While I normally opt to be present at inspections, a final walk-through at a different listing of mine prevented that.  With my seller's consent, I was going to get things rolling and then leave.

As the listing agent for this Sussex County house for sale, I had not meet the buyers. They are from a distant area of the Garden State; their agent from the adjacent county. The Mrs. was at work but I met the delightful husband.  This gentleman explained he'd been using Google to learn more about life in Sussex County in general and Vernon in particular - before making an offer on my listing.

He kept finding my posts on Sussex County NJ real estate and lifestyle!

What a wonderful compliment! Before ever meeting him, I was enticing him and his wife to choose one of the homes for sale in Sussex County. And, even better, my post on 12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes prompted him to tell his agent that he needed to see this listing.  Lovely feedback on how a blog post impacts a first-time home buyer!

While my seller was pleased, this dynamic gal in her 80s was already aware of my online marketing of her home for sale. At the recent wedding of one of her granddaughter, she made all her family members watch the video.

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from RealtorIrene.com represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage. With her vast network, however, Irene Kennedy also can help you find an equally talented real estate agent elsewhere.