Two New REMARKABLE RENOVATIONS for 2010

There is something to be said for getting exactly what you want. I should know because I live in a home that was totally renovated by Remarkable Renovations. Remarkable Renovations, a company owned by the creative and talented developer Debra Buchalski. Remarkable Renovations specializes in home remodeling, design and restorations.



Happily there are two "REMARKABLE" projects on the horizon to tell you about: one in Margate and one Ventnor.
The home in Margate is BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION. The home in Ventnor is a TOTAL RENOVATION. Here is a description of both as well as some photos of the current transformation.


SENSATIONAL NEW CONSTRUCTION IN MARGATE MARINA
Margate, NJ
 

The Margate Marina is that rarest of settings offering the best of the beach, fine dining and the Marina all within a short walk. Currently under construction, this new 4 BD 2.5 BA home offers Victorian beach charm w/shingle exterior, circular windows & arched doors ways. The front porch entry leads to a living room that flows to a large dining room & gourmet kitchen w/granite counter tops & Stainless Steel appliances. There's a 1st floor master BD, a huge back yard & a 2nd floor deck w/bay views. Two car off parking too.

QUINTESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA BEACH BLOCK LIVING MEETS "REMARKABLE" STYLE
Beach Block, Ventnor, NJ

Aptly named "The House of Seven Gables", this stately 4 BR, 4 BA English Tutor is in the process of being expertly renovated to meet the demands of a modern lifestyle. Once you walk in the sun filled great room flowing effortlessly into the state of the art chefs kitchen & media room you will know why it truly is "Remarkable". "Seven Gables" is located on the 2nd lot from beach front and features a large great room, a master bedroom suite with private ocean view balcony, a 1st floor bedroom suite, a bonus den/play room, hardwood floors & outstanding opulent bathrooms. Plans are available and can be modified to suit specific needs at this time.

As I said before, there is something to be said for getting exactly what you want. Smart Buyers who make their move now, can meet with Remarkable Renovator, Debbi Buchalski and provide this input into the selection and building process to create the perfect in the custom home.


 Please visit my web site at www.Markattheshore.com, email me at markarbeit@aol.com or call my cell at 609-402-5885 for more information on either of these two exciting new projects.

Attracting Buyers on the Internet : REALTOR.COM is tops!

It is an undisputed fact these days that 85-95% of all Buyers are "surfing the net" on their own, prior to calling a Realtor.  While every Realtor would like to believe that THEIR web site is FABULOUS, with all the "bells and whistles", the most popular web site for most Buyers is REALTOR.com®, the official listing site of the National Association of REALTORS®.


While all of my listing are displayed prominently on REALTOR.com®, I decided to experiment special banner to attract Buyers.  Please check this link out:


http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/08205?frp=*&orderid=3025446


Please email me at markarbeit@aol.com and let me know if you think this is good idea.

2010 - The Real Estate Year To "Trade Up"

• Have you owned or rented for the past few years at the shore?
• Are you tired of renting someone else’s home?
• Do you hate walking several blocks to the beach?
• Does your current home just not have enough bathrooms?
• Are you tired of moving the kids around every time you have weekend houseguests?
• Have you always wanted a fabulous water view?
• Are you still in that first little place that “got you to the shore”?
  
  If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, then NOW, more than ever, is the time for you to make your move in the real estate market at the Jersey Shore. Why? Because in 2010, TRADING UP will be the biggest opportunity for current home owners and long time renters.
  
  2009 was a significant culture shock for Real Estate in the country and the shore as current owners adjusted to the fact that homes purchased in 2005 at the height of the market would no longer yield the same dollar value. Fortunately, our market experienced a lower percentage of loss than most of the country, but nonetheless, economic changes and lower sales prices had their effect on our area.
  
  In September 2008 I sold a home in Margate to couple for $375K. Over the next 14 months, they renovated their new home, adding central air conditioning, a gourmet kitchen with granite counters and Stainless Steel appliances, a full bath and a small deck in the back yard. They decorated it like a model home, and in November of 2009 they contacted me to sell the house. We listed the home for $475K and it sold at full price, fully furnished, in 14 days! No, these are not typical results in these times, but yes, it does happen. This Buyer/Seller is now in a position to TRADE UP.
  
  Overall, homes sold well in 2009. I personally closed deals for 70 Buyers and Sellers. However, not all price categories sold as well. The homes that sold had at least one of these key factors going for it:

• BEST BUYS
• MOVE IN READY
• PARTICULAR PRICE POINTS
• Of course…LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

If by some chance a home had all of these components, the home lasted only days on the market and often received multiple offers.

Yet it was certainly a scary year in Real Estate. National media and newspapers wrote about a declining National Real Estate market. We learned terms like “SHORT SALE,” “BANK HELD PROPERTY,” “FORECLOSURE”. Listening to National news, some people forgot the basics: ALL REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL! So some Buyers held on to their money…and some Sellers held to their prices. By the end of 2009 we saw luxury home Sellers and Buyers relaxing a bit on price positions and so SALES HAPPENED!

And so from these lessons, 2010 has become the year for TRADING UP – a year of new opportunities for Buyers and Sellers. Sellers of luxury properties have adjusted their thinking and their motivations as reflected in the current prices. Prices have never been better, and the smart Buyers are out there seriously looking. Beach Block and Bay Front properties are now an attainable goal, and for many it is the right time to TRADE UP from their current home. With an ever strengthening economic environment and a mortgage market that is providing some of the lowest rates ever seen, smart home owners are recognizing that this is a window of opportunity which will enable them to make that jump from that first beach getaway to the dream home they have always wanted.

People often talk about “the good old days” when you could buy a beach block home for a great price. Well, I am here to tell you that in Real Estate,

“THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS!”

The New Year Starts with A BANG!!!

WOW!...The week really went by fast. I have been VERY optimistic about 2010 and if this week is any indication of how the new year will be then things are going to be terrific.

This week I listed 9 new properties and I also relisted 9 previously listed properties at new prices! 18 great properties at great prices. Check them out on my website at www.MarkAtTheShore.com.

I also had two settlements...both homes in Margate...one representing the Buyers...one representing the Sellers.

Congratulations to:

Steve, Robin & Josh K. on the purchase of their home in Margate

Diane G. & Jeffrey G. on the sale of their home in Margate (AT FULL ASKING PRICE IN 14 DAYS)

This weekend we are beginning our first Open Houses for the New Year.

Open Houses

Saturday - January 9 - 12-2Pm - 30 N. Delavan Avenue, Margate

Sunday - January 10 - 12-2PM - 105 N. Lancaster Avenue, Margate

Please come by and see these great homes or stop by to talk to me about your Real Estate needs.

End of Year Wrap Up!!!

Some people are still under the impression that after the summer is over, the Real Estate market dies at the shore. It just is NOT true. SMART Sellers still have their homes on the market, and even smarter Buyers are STILL looking for that right fit for them.
Across the country homes sales have been consistently on the rise for the past three months. In addition, last month mortgage rates, dropped again to an all time low. Smart Buyers locked in and made a purchase.

I am happy to report my 20 closings over the past 3 months.

OUR NEW SALES IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER and DECEMBER!!!
Please join me in sending out congratulations to the Buyers and Sellers I represented in the past few weeks in successful transactions:

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Gene & Rita L. on the sale of their home in Ventnor

Albert & Mary Beth R.& Kristin C. & Patrick R. on the purchase of their home in Ventnor

Cindy & Gregg G. on the purchase of their condo in Margate
Mark G. on the sale of his investment property in Ventnor
Debbi B.on the sale of her investment property (house) in Margate

Tami S. on the sale of her home in Margate

Gregg & Carrie S & Drew & Christine S. on the sale of their home in Ventnor

Mary C. on the sale of her condo in Margate

Lila B. on the purchase of her investment property (house) in Absecon

Remi & Jerry T. on the purchase of their home in Margate

Alan & Nancy E. on the purchase of their home in Ventnor

Michael & Brenda S. on the purchase of their home in Margate

Laraine F. & Bill M. on the sale of their home in Ventnor

Jessica & Bennett B. on the purchase of their condo/townhome in Atlantic City

James & Karen W. on the sale of their condo in Atlantic City

Ilene B. & Debbi B. on the purchase of their investment property (house) in Ventnor

Mark H. on the purchase of his investment property (duplex) in Ventnor

Jackie M. on the sale of her condo in Egg Harbor Township

Eric & Esther on the purchase of their investment property (condo)in Egg Harbor Township

Betty & Jerold R. on the sale of their home in Longport

UPCOMING SALES!!!

2010 is already off to a terrific start. In addition to these completed sales, I currently have 11 more properties under contract and scheduled to close in the coming weeks. Please be sure to check out my web site http://www.markattheshore.com/. In addition to my current listings I will be adding some very exciting new homes and condos.

Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

HAPPY 2010!!!

November Home Sales SOAR 7.4 %

There was a great story filed four days ago by Alan Zibel of the Associated Press.


I thought I would share it with my readers.


WASHINGTON — Home resales surged last month to the highest level in nearly three years, reflecting an extraordinary level of federal support that has pulled the housing market back from the worst downturn since the Great Depression.
Buyers were racing to complete their sales before the original expiration date of a tax credit for first-time buyers that was scheduled to expire Nov. 30. Last month, Congress decided to extend and expand the credit to ensure the housing market could sustain its recovery.
"Things are stabilizing," said Pete Flint, chief executive of real estate Web site Trulia.com. "There is a significant amount of buyer interest out there."
About 2 million homebuyers have taken advantage of the credit so far, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. The group forecasts that another 2.4 million will use it by the middle of next year. First-time buyers made up about half of all transactions last month, driving sales up 44 percent above last year's levels, a record jump.
"In the short run, its an effective stimulus," said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics. "If you give someone money to spend on something, they will spend it."
November's sales rose 7.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.54 million, from a downwardly revised pace of 6.09 million in October, the Realtors group said. It was the highest level since February 2007. Sales had been expected to rise to an annual pace of 6.25 million, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
Sales are now up 46 percent from the bottom in January, but down 10 percent from the peak more than four years ago. The inventory of unsold homes on the market fell about 1 percent to 3.5 million. That's a healthy 6.5 month supply at the current sales pace, the lowest level in three years.
The median sales price was $172,600, down 4.3 percent from a year earlier, and up 0.2 percent from October.
The housing market recovery, however, is still facing strong headwinds.
Unemployment is high and employers are going to be slow to rehire because economic growth is weaker than expected. The economy grew at a pace of 2.2 percent in the third quarter, which was lower than the initial 2.8 percent reading, the government said Tuesday.
What's more, mortgage defaults are still setting records, and lenders are regularly rejecting applications from borrowers who don't have good credit or enough money for a down payment.
Many experts warn that hundreds of thousands of foreclosed properties have yet to be put up for sale. Plenty of traditional sellers are also keeping their homes off the market, hoping for a better price.
"When they start thinking they can sell them, we could see a surge in homes for sale," wrote Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors.
In the meantime, home buyers can take advantage of record-low mortgage rates, deeply discounted prices and federal incentives. Besides the existing tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers, homeowners who have lived in their current properties for at least five years can now claim a tax credit of up to $6,500 if they relocate. To qualify, buyers must sign a purchase agreement by April 30.
Analysts expect that the new tax credit deadline means sales will drop during the winter months and recover in the spring.
Without the looming deadline, "buyers have no sense of urgency now," said Gary DeRosa, an agent with ZipRealty Inc. in Seattle.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Merry Christmas!!!