Headlines

New Jersey Realtors® won a significant victory for tenants and the rental industry when the court held that municipalities are limited in the licensing fees they can charge for apartments. In the case, Timber Glen Phase III, LLC v. Township of Hamilton, the Appellate Division held that municipalities can only impose a licensing fee with regard to residential rental units if they are rented for a term of less than 175 consecutive days by a person having a permanent residence somewhere else. As a result, a licensing fee that was…

Safety is always a main concern, especially for Realtors® whose livelihoods depend on often meeting with clients on a one-on-one basis. Every September, the Realtor® community places extra emphasis on Realtor® Safety and the methods real estate professionals can integrate into their businesses to better protect themselves.   To help ensure you're up-to-date on the latest safety techniques, we invite you to join us on Thursday, September 10 at 10 a.m. for an informative webinar hosted by MyForce and featuring Tracey Hawkins…

Ida M. Petkus, ABR, of Keller Williams in Medford — and the New Jersey Realtors® 2014 Good Neighbor Award recipient — has been announced as a finalist for Realtor® Magazine’s 2015 Good Neighbor Award.   Petkus, who is cofounder and executive director of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Center, is one of 10 finalists from around the country. Realtor® Magazine will be collecting votes from Aug. 25 to Sept. 25, and the winner will receive an extra $1,000 grant for his or her charity.   Vote now at realtor.com/goodneighbor…

Investing in the Realtors® Political Action Committee is more important than ever. As one of the main methods of ensuring that Realtor® issues maintain relevancy, RPAC’s nonpartisan efforts at all levels of government help achieve legislative outcomes that protect private property rights, as well as the livelihoods of Realtors® in New Jersey and across the United States. NJ Realtors® would like to recognize those members who have already invested in the future of the industry by supporting RPAC.   The list featured in the PDF…

When it’s comes to buying and selling homes, first impressions start on the sidewalk. Though a home’s interior is profoundly important — and where new residents will spend a vast majority of their time — the significance of a home’s exterior cannot be negated. Curb appeal is real. And it’s important. In the second part of this two-part article, we cover additional elements of your home's exterior that should be tended to.   Driveway If a driveway is littered with oil stains or cracks these might be eye sores worth addressing…

When it’s comes to buying and selling homes, first impressions start on the sidewalk. Though a home’s interior is profoundly important — and where new residents will spend a vast majority of their time — the significance of a home’s exterior cannot be negated. Curb appeal is real. And it’s important.   Front Door   A home’s front door is often a focal point and should be treated as one of the best ways to make a positive impression. Any signs of peeling paint or rusted hardware should be replaced to reveal a fresh, new…

RealtyTrac® has just released its Q2 Residential Loan Origination Report for 2015 which shows a 23 percent increase from a year ago.   “The rise in loan originations particularly the sharp rise in FHA purchase originations indicates the FHA premium reduction at the end of January really is having a big impact, pushing people off the fence to purchase,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “The average loan amount for FHA purchase loans increased from $187,718 in the first quarter of 2011 to $197,315 in the second…

Every year, the National Association of Realtors® conducts a study of homebuyers and sellers throughout the country of diverse age groups, locations, and income levels to gain insight on how different generations view the process of buying and selling real estate property.   The graphic below illustrates some key data from this year’s report, including how buyers start their search for a new home, which generation tends to move the farthest, and how large of a down payment buyers in varying age groups can generally afford.  

Are you involved in charitable work in your community? Do you have a colleague who is? You could receive a monetary donation toward the charity you are involved with if you apply for the New Jersey REALTORS® Good Neighbor Award. This award recognizes REALTORS® who have made an extraordinary commitment to community service on the local, national and/or global level.   Entries for 2015 must be received by the September 18, 2015. Applications must be typed.   Download the 2015 application here.   Three winners are chosen…

The National Association of Realtors® has announced that it has selected the Boston-based agency Arnold Worldwide to handle creative, digital, brand activation and strategy.   As reported in AdWeek, the trade association, one of the nation's largest, with more than 1 million members, spent slightly less than $50 million on ads last year, and $14 million in the first quarter of 2015, per Kantar Media.   Arnold's selection marks a major shift for the client, which has worked with the incumbent, Most, an independent agency…