ERA Justin Realty • reasons to sell • September 29, 2019

4 Reasons to Sell This Fall

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

4 Reasons to Sell This Fall

Buyer Demand is Strong

Buyers are out in force looking for their dream homes. Buyers are often competing with one another for the available listings. According to NAR, listings were only on the market for an average of 31 days last month.

There Is Less Competition Now

Housing inventory is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market. This meant that, in the majority of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in the market.

There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move UP

Prices are projected to appreciate by 5.4% over the next year according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more in both down payment and mortgage payment if you wait.

It’s Time To Move On With Your Life

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

All of the ERA Justin Realty full-service Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue. By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also, view 1000s of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin • forced savings • Owning a home • reason to own • September 23, 2019

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

One of the Top Reasons to Own a Home

One of the benefits of homeownership is that it is a “forced savings plan.” Here’s how it works: You make a mortgage payment each month. Part of that payment is applied to the principal balance of your mortgage. Each month you owe less on the home. The difference between the value of the home and what you owe is called equity.

If your home has appreciated since the time you purchased it, that increase in value also raises your equity. Over time, the equity in your home could be substantial. Recently, CoreLogic revealed that the average homeowner gained more than $65,000 in equity over the last 5 years.

Unlike the last decade, homeowners are no longer foolishly tapping into that equity. In 2006-2008, many owners used their homes like an ATM by pulling equity out to purchase new cars, jet skis, or lavish vacations. They were pulling out cash (equity) from an appreciating asset, and then spending it on rapidly depreciating items. That is not happening anymore. Over 50% of Homes Have at Least 50% Equity

The number of homeowners that currently have at least 50% equity in their home is astonishing. According to the Urban Institute, 37.1% of all homes in the country are mortgage-free. In a home equity study, ATTOM Data Solutions revealed that of the 62.9% of homes with a mortgage, 25.6% have at least 50% equity. That number has been increasing over the last five years: By doing a little math, we can see that 53.2% of all homes in this country have at least 50% equity right now. Of all homes, 37.1% are mortgage-free and an additional 16.1% with a mortgage have at least 50% equity.

The bottom line is that homeownership is different than renting. When you own, your housing expense (the mortgage payment) comes back to you in the form of equity in your home. That doesn’t happen with your rent payment. Your rent helps build your landlord’s equity instead.

ERA Justin Realty • real life • Reality TV • TV myths • TV real estate shows • August 21, 2019

TV SHOW Myths vs. REAL LIFE

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

TV SHOW MYTHS vs REAL LIFE

“Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We’ve all been there, watching entire seasons of shows like “Property Brothers,” “Fixer Upper,” and “Love It or List It,” all in one sitting,” said Rufina “Maggie” Rodriguez/ERA Justin Realtor agent. When you’re in the middle of your real estate-themed TV show marathon, you might start to think everything you see on the screen must be how it works in real life. However, not necessarily correct.

Myth #1: Buyers look at 3 homes and decide to purchase one of them.

Truth: There may be buyers who fall in love and buy the first home they see, but according to the National Association of Realtors, the average homebuyer tours more as a part of their search.

Myth #2: The houses the buyers are touring are still for sale.

Truth: Everything is staged for TV. Many of the homes shown are already sold and are off the market.

Myth #3: The buyers haven’t made a purchase decision yet.

Truth: Since there is no way to show the entire buying process in a 30-minute show, TV producers often choose buyers who are further along in the process and have already chosen a home to buy.

Myth #4: If you list your home for sale, it will ALWAYS sell at the open house.

Truth: Of course, this would be great! Open houses are important to guarantee the most exposure to buyers in your area, but they are only one piece of the overall marketing of your home. Keep in mind, many homes are sold during regular showing appointments as well.

Myth #5: Homeowners decide to sell their homes after a 5-minute conversation.

Truth: Similar to the buyers portrayed on the shows, many of the sellers have already spent hours deliberating the decision to list their homes and move on with their lives and goals.

Bottom Line: Having an experienced professional while navigating the real estate market is the best way to guarantee you can make the home of your dreams a true reality.

Buy a home in 2019 • buying a home • ERA Justin Realty • Home buying steps • July 22, 2019

10 Steps For Buying a Home This Summer

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

10 Steps For Buying a Home This Summer

If you are thinking of buying a home, you may not know where to start. Here is a simple list of 10 steps that you will go through to purchase a home. Make sure to ask your agent for details about each step. ERA Justin Realty has been a New Jersey market leader since opening its doors in 1950.

Save your down payment. (It may be as low as 3.5%)
Know your credit score.
Work with an accomplished real estate agent.
Get pre-approved.
Go home shopping.
Make a proper offer.
Have your home inspection.
Have your mortgage appraisal.
Close the sale.
Congratulations, you are a home owner and can Move In.

Our ERA Justin Realty group of Realtor Broker Owners, agents, management staff and administration team are available to serve your needs daily. The 10 steps and more is what we do each day for our buyers and sellers and how we accomplish successes for you.

Further, we are the #1 Brokerage in closed Rutherford listings and sales for the last 18 consecutive years with over 1,000 reviews and testimonials from our buyers and sellers.

Questions and want more information on our real estate market leaders and real estate topics, consumers can reach the ERA Justin Realty team at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue. By phone at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Additional real estate information is also available at the firms 1000’s of homes websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

2019 leadership circle • ERA Justin Achievers • ERA Justin Realty • July 16, 2019

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

ERA Justin Realty 1st & 2nd Quarter 2019

These ERA Justin Realty Leadership Circle achievers, whose additional certifications include Historical Home Specialists, Senior Residential Specialists, and consistent Leadership Circle Achievers are New Jersey Five Star Home Professionals.

For the first and second quarters of 2019, Kristen Davis, Sophia Vazac, Carol D. Calamari, Lee Schilare, and Fara Espandi (pictured from left to right: Julia Dagistanli – not pictured) know the secrets to real estate success. It is easy to see that these sales professionals are focused on exceeding the needs of their sellers and buyers. They would like to be your Realtor.

They are also knowledgeable on a variety of topics. Throughout the years, they’ve been featured in, Moving And How It Affects Children, How Renters Can Become Buyers, Dollar For Dollar Return On Renovations, Empty Nesters And Returning Children, Avoiding The Money Pit, as well as other timely articles for buyers and sellers.

Although showing and selling real estate is a 365-day job for these ERA Justin Realty real estate achievers, their responsibilities go beyond what the public sees. The firm has a vast resource library of important topics to share with the public. They and their brokers, Ron Darby and Jennifer Darby Metzger are always busy advising homeowners on topics that aid them in making sound real estate decisions regarding their homes.

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” stated Darby. “We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of over 1,000 quotes and testimonials from our sellers and buyers. No other area real estate firm can offer that. Ask any of these Leadership Circle achievers who will provide a complimentary Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of your house and you will have the answers to your real estate questions.”

“These ERA Justin Realtor achievers’ are our best-of-the-best for the first and second 2019 quarters. They achieved our ‘Leadership Circle’ status for their efforts above and beyond for their sellers and buyers,” Metzger concluded.

For more information on these real estate market leaders and on real estate topics, consumers can reach them at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue. By phone at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Additional real estate information is also available at the firms 1000’s of homes websites at www.ERAJustin.com andwww.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Realty • Feed the need • Move for hunger • July 3, 2019

ERA Justin Realty Continues Collaboration With Move For Hunger For Food Pantries

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

ERA Justin Realty Continues Collaboration With Move For Hunger For Food Pantries

ERA Real Estate, a global franchising leader and ERA Justin Realty New Jersey, previously announced that they will be a real estate brand working on a national level with Move For Hunger, a non-profit organization that mobilizes the relocation industry to reduce fight hunger. The ERA Justin Management Team: Jennifer Mazone, Michelle Korosy, Glenn Elliot, Jennifer Metzger, Cindy Plessel, Ron Darby, Mazzion Schnackenberg and Nona Orlando, in conjunction with the staff of Realtor agents, enabled the ERA® network of participating brokers and their affiliated agents to tap into Move For Hunger’s network of more than 1,000 relocation companies to collect food and fill food pantries in advance of the holiday seasons and support the ongoing ERA “Feed the Need” campaign.

“Connecting with ERA agents and brokers both complements and advances our mission, so this collaboration was a natural fit,” explained Adam Lowy, founder and executive director of Move For Hunger. “By combining the strength of our network of relocation companies with ERA Real Estate’s network of brokers and agents, we have the ability to get food to those who need it most.”

“Millions of Americans face food insecurity every day and together with Move For Hunger, we can help put food on the tables of families across the country,” said Simon Chen, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate. “We look forward to working with Move For Hunger to provide our passionate brokers and agents the opportunity to hold local food drives during the upcoming holiday season and beyond.”

“ERA brokers and agents have a commitment to service that goes far beyond their residential real estate expertise,” said Stephanie Reyna, national vice president of growth & engagement for ERA Real Estate. “We continue to be inspired by the way they step up and demonstrate leadership in their communities.”

Ron Darby and Jennifer Darby Metzger, ERA Justin Realty Broker Owners participate in many varied charitable organizations. Their firm has been strongly involved since ERA Justin Realty’s beginnings in 1950.

The Feed the Need campaign officially launched with the following brokers and agents: ERA American Real Estate, ERA Neubauer Real Estate, Inc., ERA Davis & Linn, ERA Justin Realty Co., ERA Central Realty, ERA Home Run Real Estate, and ERA Old South Properties, Inc. with more to be announced. For more information call ERA Justin Realty at (201)939-7500.

career opportunity • ERA Justin Realty • real estate career • June 27, 2019

ERA JUSTIN REALTY OFFERS SUCCESSFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

ERA JUSTIN REALTY OFFERS SUCCESSFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

How many careers exist today that involve helping people achieve their lifelong dream? According to Ron Darby and Jennifer Darby Metzger, leading real estate owners and brokers in the real estate industry for decades and co-owners of ERA Justin Realty, “Real estate agents help make dreams come true every day.”

Darby and Metzger speak from great experience. They have hired, trained and guided agents to success hundreds of times. Many ERA Justin Realty agents have been with them for decades, with earnings greater than at most area real estate firms. Darby continued, “We also give our agents the greatest buyer base potential with stronger advertising than any other real estate firm in South Bergen County. Full color page advertising of our listings in the South Bergenite to our potential buyers and our agents while giving our sellers more marketing exposure than other firms. Our ‘Winning Edge Teammate Advantage’ benefit package makes us proud. Our major market share has made us #1 in Rutherford closed sales transactions for the past 18 years.

Continuing, Metzger said, “All across the nation, the most coveted award that we achieved in business is the ‘J.D. Power & Associates’ award as well as having achieved more than 1,000 wonderful buyer and seller reviews. These are honors above all honors. We are proud to be part of these achievements. Our team of Realtor sales agents exceed expectations. Continuing to grow, we are offering those who want a successful career in real estate to phone me for a confidential conversation. Give us a few minutes and we’ll give you a rewarding lifetime career. To learn more, phone me at (201) 939-7500 or view our website at www.ERAJustin.com.”

2019 Summer Concerts • ERA Justin Realty • Rutherford Summer Concert Series • sponsorship • TeamERA • June 19, 2019

ERA Justin Realty Sponsors Summer Concert Series

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

ERA Justin Realty Sponsors Summer Concert Series

Rutherford – ERA Justin Realty is pleased to once again be a sponsor of the Rutherford Summer Concert Series that begins June 27th. Concerts will be held every Thursday night (except July 4th) from 8-10 PM in Lincoln Park.

The first concert, on Thursday June 27th, is “Life Speed” and will be followed by July 11 – Rutherford Community Band, July 18 – Luke & the Trouble Makers, July 25 – Rutherford Community Band, August 1 – The Bruce Show, August 8 – Big House & String Theory, August 15 – Unbrothers, and August 22 – Rock Kandy. Grab a blanket or your favorite outdoor chair and head over to Lincoln Park on Thursday evenings in the summer to enjoy Rutherford’s annual Summer Concerts in Lincoln Park. Bands will perform various types of music for Rutherfordians to enjoy while being outdoors. Note: Rain date for each concert is the following Monday.

This sponsorship is just part of ERA Justin Realty’s ongoing community involvement. In November the company sponsored a food drive for the Rutherford and Lyndhurst Food Pantries as part of Giving Tuesday. For the holidays they collected Christmas gifts for families and children and sponsored a holiday tree at 55 Kip Center. They organized a donation of suits for needy veterans, the collection of eyeglasses for use in Lion sight missions and sent children to MDA camp.

ERA Justin Realty has been the #1 office in the sale and listing of Rutherford homes for 18 consecutive years as per NJMLS stats. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, or have any real estate need, the ERA Justin Realty full-service real estate consultants can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue. By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also, view 1000’s of homes at their website at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Achievers • ERA Leadership Circle • Home pricing • May 16, 2019

ERA JUSTIN REALTY 2019 1st QUARTER ACHIEVERS

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

ERA JUSTIN REALTY 2019 1st QUARTER ACHIEVERS

Flowers are blooming, lawns are greening, buds are on the trees and ERA Justin Realty is active with Spring real estate listings and sales. This is the time when families focus on real estate sales, but the first question asked is, “How do I price my house?”

Ask the ERA Justin Realty first quarter 2019 award achievers, and the answer you will hear is “realistically.” Ask any of the achievers who will provide a complimentary Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and you will have the answers to your real estate questions. They include Sophia Vazac, Julia Dagistanli, Lee Schilare, Fara Espandi, and Carol D. Calamari all cited for outstanding listing and sales production.

“If you are thinking of selling your home and want to know for how much it could sell, then you should contact a Realtor sales professional at our firm and request a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine its fair market value,” suggests Sophia Vazac.”

“The fair market value of a house is the highest price an informed buyer will pay. A homeowner’s asking price is the advertised price of a house when it goes on the market and may be slightly higher than the fair market value because it is assumed that some negotiation will be necessary to reach an agreement with a Buyer,” adds Julia Dagistanli.

Lee Schilare offers, “To get an estimate of the fair market value, a homeowner can call our ERA Justin Realty Realtor sales team. Our service is provided free of charge and without obligation.”

“In conducting a CMA our ERA Justin Realty sales professionals have access to a wide array of information, such as databases containing recent listing and selling prices of similar homes, and how long these homes took to sell. The resulting analysis can help a homeowner understand what today’s changing market has done to the price of his or her home, and will provide a realistic figure of the home’s fair market value. If a home is then put on the market, our sales professionals will use the CMA to help the homeowner establish a selling marketing program. The CMA information is very helpful in determining the true value of a house and the right asking price. In the end, however, the homeowner should decide on a price that he or she feels is competitive and consistent with the price at which other houses in the area have sold,” added both Fara Espandi and Carol D. Calamari.

Ron Darby, Broker Co-owner added, “Our CMA report for our Sellers is truly comprehensive in all aspects. Complete with color photos and detailed information, it makes pricing easier for those planning a sale. Truly, there is a difference in real estate companies, and our details will make the difference. We ask Buyers and Sellers to compare. We believe that in order to exceed expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, we don’t offer just real estate basics, we try to be as comprehensive as possible. Proof of our abilities for our clients and customers shows in these fine award achievers, honored during the first quarter of 2019 for their production.”

#1 • 18 consecutive years • closed Rutherford transactions • quotes • ratings • May 14, 2019

ERA Justin is Proud to be #1 in Closed Rutherford Transactions for 18 Consecutive Years

by Jennifer Darby Metzger

Jennifer Darby Metzger and Ron Darby are very proud to report that ERA JUSTIN REALTY is the #1 office in closed sales transactions of Rutherford properties for 18 consecutive years!! And serving with strong listings and sales in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Ocean and Hudson Counties. No other area real estate firm has accomplished the Rutherford status. Thanks to our exceptional Realtor team of sales agents responsible for our outstanding success…..

“Beth went above and beyond. I would recommend her to everyone.” ~ “Carol was fantastic! I have already recommended her to my friends.” ~“Catherine was outstanding. I am very pleased with her work.” ~“Cathy is a true professional in every sense of the word. ~ A real class act!” “Danielle is amazing, definitely worth having her as a Realtor.”~”Fara goes out of her way to make sure her clients have the best experience.” ~“Glenn was great, I was very pleased with the service provided.”~“Grace turned a business deal into a friendship for life.”~“Ilene is great to work with; you can always depend on her.”~“Jennifer made the home buying process seamless and pleasurable.”~“Jen was a pleasure to work with and always available when needed.”~“Jessi helped us buy the right house in the right neighborhood.”~“Joana is an excellent agent to work with. Highly recommend her!”~“Julia is a great Realtor. Very knowledgeable and very attentive.”~“Kristen was very helpful and a joy to work with!”~“Lee was great! She made the process of buying a home easy.”~“Mary was really great and we chose her because of her knowledge and honesty.”~“Michelle was wonderful to work with!”~“If you are looking for an honest and professional person, put your trust in Monika.”~”Morgan was so helpful, responsive and honest throughout the whole process.”~“Peggy is a wonderful salesperson and great to work with!”~“Rose was truly a great ERA Agent, we highly recommend to our friends & family”~“Sharon is the best, you will not be disappointed.”

To learn more, call the ERA Justin Realty sales team at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue by phone at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD, and the firm’s meet and greet Hoboken location. Additional real estate information is also available at the firms 1000’s of homes websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.”

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