The greatest fear preschool children typically have is that they will somehow be left behind. If you need to leave your children for a short time to search for your new home or to orient yourself to the new location, reassure them that you will be back. It may help if you bring them back something from the new location. Consider assigning them a task to complete before you return, such as packing some of their toys in boxes. This will help them feel more involved in the move.

Elementary children may fear how the move will disrupt their everyday lives. To alleviate these fears, take pictures of the new location and of such spots you know they will enjoy as parks and pizza parlors.

Teenagers may be worried about fitting in and making new friends at their new school. Help assure them by finding out as much as you can about the school they will attend. Make special notes of the local trends, sports teams and school clubs.

Once you're settled into your new home, visit the schools that the children will attend and schedule a meeting with the teachers before their first day of school. Once your children start to make new friends, encourage them to bring their new classmates home to visit.

With careful planning and consideration of your children's feelings, the transition will be comfortable for everyone. If you need more advice on relocating, or if you need help selling your existing home, call me. As your real estate sales professional, I am here to help you every step of the way.

The dining room has undergone a lot of changes in recent years. It is no longer reserved just for dining or used only when company is expected for dinner.

Today, your dining room can meet a multitude of needs. It can be a casual office or studio space, a spot for your children to do homework or access the computer, a quiet reading nook, and of course, a place to gather, entertain and eat.

How you choose to utilize your dining room depends entirely on your needs, but a few decorating tips can help you make the most of this versatile room.

• The main attraction of any dining room is the table. When selecting a table, consider the available space as well as how you plan to use it. A glass-topped table may be perfect for a modern room that will be used primarily for dinner parties, but it may not be the right choice if your children will be using it for projects. Tables come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including oblong, square and even octagon; measure your space before shopping to help you pick a table that fits your dining room. An extendable or drop leaf table will allow you to have a smaller table for day-to-day use, then larger when you have guests. Sit on the chairs before buying a dining set to make sure that they are comfortable.
• Traffic flow is another consideration to keep in mind. Make sure that you allow enough space around the table for a small desk, comfortable chair or other furnishings that you may need.
• Don't forget the floors. Wall-to-wall carpeting may not be the best choice in a room that will be used for eating, but you can make the room cozier by adding an area rug. Just be sure that it is large enough that the dining chairs fit on it. You don't want the front legs of the chair to be on the rug and the back legs to be on the bare floor. This can feel unstable when sitting and make it difficult to move the chair.
• The right light is important in the dining room as well. A dimmer switch is an ideal option to create various moods - bright when the kids are doing homework and soft for a dinner party, but not too dim; you want your guests to be able to see each other and what they are eating.

Brighten your day in the sun room of this ranch vinyl-siding home only a short drive to The Jersey Shore.  This Barclay model in the highly sought after Country Walk 55 and over community has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, refined dining room, spacious great room with carpeting, master suite with two-person shower, walk-in closet, linen closet, laundry with built in sink and cabinetry with washer and dryer included, over-sized kitchen with laminate countertops, double sinks, dishwasher, garbage disposal, electric range, breakfast area, pantry, appliances included, custom cabinets, refrigerator, plant shelves, attic storage, 9 foot ceilings throughout, custom blinds.  That’s just the interior, outside you’ll enjoy your corner lot with upgraded front porch and large patio.  The community offers a clubhouse, swimming pool, walking trails and the list goes.  Get ready to relax in your new comfortable easy care home.  It shows like new don’t wait to see this one.

Bank owned 2 bedroom colonial with fihished attic. Located on a corner lot with off street parking for two cars. This home is conviniently located to major highways with easy access to Philadelphia and the Jersey shore. This starter home is ideal for the first time buyer looking to reap the benefits of the federal tax credit. Add your personal touch to make this home!

• Noise enters your home in the same locations where air seeps in, so use weather stripping or caulk to seal around your doors and windows. You may also want to consider installing energy efficient windows and solid wood doors.
• Have your heating and air conditioning ducts wrapped with high-quality, fiberglass insulation.
• Hard surfaces can amplify sound, so soften your home by adding pillows, carpets or area rugs.
• Hang curtains rather than window blinds.
• Place pads underneath your washing machine, stereo and television to help absorb sound.
• Line the bottom of cabinet drawers with rubber mats.
• Add shelves filled with books along a wall.

• Have your chimney inspected annually and professionally cleaned as needed. 
• Install a guard on top of your chimney to prevent animals or debris from getting in and blocking it.
• Keep the area around the fireplace clear of any flammable objects and use a fireplace grate or screen.
• Keep children and pets away from the fireplace and never leave unattended.
• Never use gasoline or any liquid accelerant to help start your fire.
• Install both a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke alarm in your home. Check the batteries regularly.
• Have a fire extinguisher readily available.
• Make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.

There is a perception out there that you have until Nov. 30th to find your home.  That simply is not the case you actually have to close by Nov. 30th.

It's crunch time folks, it is going to take a great game plan and precision execution to score your tax credit from this point forward.  With it taking up to 45 days to close an FHA mortgage we are down to the 2 weeks (this is your 2-minute warning) to find that property and get it under contract.  Is there still time to get it done?  You bet, but you need to get under center and snap the ball for that final drive now.

Now let's all get out there and win one for the 1st time home buyer!

Check out the high-end amenities at this almost-new ranch, three year-old home close to major highways;295, NJ and PA Turnpikes.Perfect whether you're heading to Manhattan or Center City Philadelphia, the mountains or the shore. Great features include 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, elegant living room, warm family room, distinguished dining room all with plush wall-to-wall carpet, master suite with soaking tub for bubble baths,dual sinks, sep. shower, walk-in closet, linen closet, inviting kitchen with appliances included, breakfast area, sillstone countertops, double ovens for big meals, custom cabinets and more. If that isn't enough the community boosts a clubhouse with card and billiard room, craft room, library computer room, fitness room, oversized gathering room and full kitchen.Outside you can enjoy the pool, tennis court, bocce ball and picnic area.This upscale 55+ community is ideal for boomers as they have availability for buyers 50-54 years old.Start your low maintenance high quality lifestyle early.

If a homeowner is realistic from the beginning and there was an accurate assessment of the property’s true market value, then the list price may well reflect the price the house should generate. In cases like this, there probably won’t be much need to negotiate.

Another factor that influences negotiability is the seller’s pricing strategy. This will also vary from property to property. Some believe it aids the selling process to build a little cushion in the price, just for the sake of negotiation. Other sellers recognize that they’ll never get to the negotiating stage unless they have a high number of interested buyers, and they figure that a competitive price will generate a higher level of interest.

Property value is determined largely by supply and demand factors, also known as market forces. Market forces are out of the individual seller's and buyer's control. A competitive market analysis should be done to accurately calculate property value.

When you are ready to buy or sell, give me a call. I can use current sales data to help you determine a price that is reflective of market values and meets your needs.

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.