Buying a home

Buying a home can be a daunting task. It will most likely be the largest purchase you will ever make. It makes sense to have some professional assistance when dealing with such an important part of your life. I can help make sure you make the right decisions so that you only spend your time enjoying your new home. Below are some tools and articles that will educate you about purchasing a home.

1. Why Buying a home is a great idea.

2. Income Tax Savings

3. Stable "Rent"

4. Freedom at last

5. A great savings tool

6. A great real estate agent

1. Why buying a home is a great idea.

Buying a home is a great idea, it is generally regarded as one the best investments to make. Homes, as a rule of thumb typically appreciate about four to five percent a year. In some areas, like Northern New Jersey or the New York City metro area, this has been higher in recent times. For example, if you purchased a home for $300,000, using a mortgage and suppose you put 20% down towards the purchase price. That would be an investment of $60,000. If your home appreciates 5% every year - In two years, your home would increase in value by $15,000 in that first year alone. This means on your $60,000 investment, you've already made $15,000. Or a fantastic 25 percent return on investment for that year. In the last few years, housing prices have increased about 40% on average making the above investment far more lucrative.

2. Tax Savings

Buying a home can also save you money when it's tax time. Mortgage interest can be deducted to save you substantial amounts of money every year. You can use part of your home to run a business and deduct the space used for business purposes.

3. Stable "Rent"

Imagine renting a home or apartment and basically never having an increase in rent. This is the result of buying a home, because of buying a home at a fixed mortgage, your monthly payments will be stable without fluctuations that come with renting. Rent increases at least periodically. Isn't the cost to rent a home or apartment now more then ever? Do you think that trend will stop? Of course not.

4. Freedom at last

With your own home, You can change the color of the paint, you can add your favorite type of window. Owning a home allows a great deal of flexibility rather than renting. You can customize the home, even add rooms or change the layout. It's all up to you! You can plant flowers, trees, shrubs, or whatever your heart desires.

5. A great savings tool

By paying your mortgage every month, you essentially deposit your payments in a savings account. Over time, those payments you make apply towards the principal of the mortgage (your home) and eventually you build equity. Although homes do require upkeep they allow to save in many other ways. Having your own laundry machine can free up your time, and make carrying several dollars of quarters to the Laundromat an old nightmare.

5. Already Own a home? Buy another!

Think one home is enough? Many people own two homes. 42% of homes sold last year were second homes. People buy second homes for financial security, and investment. Probably one of the best investments you can make with little risk is real estate, and as Mark Twain said, "Buy land, they don't make it anymore." is one valuable piece of advice indeed. In addition to land value increasing, properties can generate rental income.

6. A great real estate agent

A great real estate agent is worth there weight in gold. I can provide you with information, trends, school and town data, advice on locations and just about anything else related to real estate.

Want to see what homes are available in Bergen County NJ?Fill out the short form below and I'll e-mail you personalized listings, to your exact specifications - free!

First Name:
Last Name:
E-mail Address:
Contact Phone Number:
Desired home type or search::	Single Family 2-4 Family Condo / Co-Op / Townhouse Investment Property (Commerical or 4+ Family) Land
I am interested in homes styles that are:	Colonial Ranch Capecod Split-Level or Bi-Level Contemporary Duplex Community Style Living
What town(s) are you interested in: (to select multiple towns, click on a town and hold your CTRL button while clicking on other towns)	Allendale Alpine Bergenfield Carlstadt Cliffside Park Closter Cresskill Demarest Dumont East Rutherford Edgewater Elmwood Park Emerson Englewood Englewood Cliffs Fair Lawn Fairview Fort Lee Franklin Lakes Garfield Glen Rock Hackensack Harrington Park Hasbrouck Heights Haworth Hillsdale Ho Ho Kus Leonia Little Ferry Lodi Lyndhurst Mahwah Maywood Midland Park Montvale Moonachie New Milford Northvale Norwood Oakland Old Tappan Oradell Palisades Park Paramus Park Ridge Ramsey Ridgefield Ridgefield Park Ridgewood River Edge Rive Vale Rochelle Park Rockleigh Rutherford Saddle Brook Saddle River South Hackensack Teaneck Tenafly Teterboro Upper Saddle River Waldwick Wallington Washington Township Westwood Woodcliff Lake Wood-Ridge Wyckoff
Number of Bedrooms Needed:	1 2 3 4 5+ (are you sure you don't need a hotel?)
Number of Bathrooms Needed:	1 2 3 4 5+
Garage & Driveway Preferences:	I don't own a car or have no need for any parking I own a car and need at least a driveway for a car or two. I own several cars and defintely need a driveway to hold three or more cars, preferbly with a garage. I'd like a two car garage with a driveway wide enough to have several cars during a family reunion for instance. I own a small boat, several cars, and maybe even a small plane, I need excessive parking / storage space.
Yard Preferences, and overall location of home.:	I don't have time nor want to take care of a front yard or back yard. No green space please. I'd like to have a small frontyard (if any), but would like a small backyard for the occasional barbeque or gathering. I need something to do on weekends and think I lawn mower is a good workout so I want a decent sized front-yard, and a moderately sized backyard, but no football field. I'd like a a large front yard and backyard, large enough to have a small wedding in the backyard. I need my own football field, maybe enough space to put a small runway for my small plane.
What type of area do you wish to your home to be located in?	Urban Suburban Rural Hills / Mountainous I want to see livestock on my property, and not just deer.
Questions / Comments: (this would be a good place to enter any special requests, such as "need access to nyc bus or train" or "I like quiet places" or "need a local bar/pub", or "I am single and want a place to find other people". )
Once you're finished selecting your preferences, click the submit button below.