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Posts tagged ‘Union County’

JUST SOLD! 1473 Burnet Avenue, Union

JUST SOLD!

1473 Burnet Ave, Union is a beautiful ranch with a bright and airy floor plan. Walk into a foyer which leads to a sunlit living room.  The kitchen leads to three bedrooms and 2 full baths. The home also features a great backyardand tons of garage and basement storage.

This charming home in Union sold for $210,000.

If you have a property and you want to get it sold, call Team Zuhl at 908-917-4189. Everything we touch turns to sold!

For more information on Union, NJ, properties:

Real Estate Market Looking Up In Union, NJ - 10/26/12

How do additional bathrooms or bedrooms affect market value in Union? - 10/13/12

Virtual Tour of 1473 Burnet Avenue, Union - 09/17/12

Free Market Analysis of Union, NJ - 08/01/12

Union NJ Market Report for the First Half of 2012

Union NJ Marketing Trends - 03/18/12

How to save on your Union County-NYC Commute

Union County commuters to NYC – get ready to pay more! You may have missed the news, like we did. But the bridges and tunnels raised their tolls last week.

Here are the new rates:
……………..EZ Pass Off Peak        EZ Pass Peak          Cash

Car                        $8.25                             $10.25            $13.00

Motorcycle             $7.25                             $9.25               $12.00

File:George Washington Bridge, HAER NY-129-68.jpg

You can save on your commuting expenses by registering in the Carpool Plan and/or Green Pass.

What is the Carpool Plan?

You can save $4.00 off peak and $6.00 peak if you are a member of the Port Authority Carpool Discount Plan – pay only $4.25 per trip, on or off peak. To apply for the Carpool plan, call  800-333-8655 (New York Service Center) or 888-288-6865 (New Jersey Service Center). Be sure to have your account number or tag number and PIN when you call.

The discounted rate is only in effect if you have 3 or more people in your vehicle and if you use a staffed “Cash EZ Pass” lane. You must come to a complete stop so the toll collector can verify that you have 3 or more people in your car.

What is the Green Pass?

Low emission vehicles that  are certified to the California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standard and achieve a United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) highway fuel economy rating of 45 miles per gallon or more can travel off-peak and save. The toll for qualifying vehicles is only $4.75 off peak. All vehicles on New York’s Clean Pass Program Vehicle Eligibility List are eligible for the Port Authority Green Pass Discount Plan. To enroll in the Green Pass Discount Plan, call 800-333-8655 (New York Service Center) or 888-288-6865 (New Jersey Service Center) and be sure to have your account number or tag number and PIN for account access.

Cash customers are not permitted on the lower level of the George Washington Bridge overnight (11pm-6am Sundays through Thursdays, 11pm-7am Fridays and Saturdays). Tolls collectors may accept bills up to $100 but will not accept checks, money orders, credit cards, or traveler’s checks.  They will also not accpet currency other than US, nor will they accept small change, pennies, or wrapped coins. They can give you a receipt, but only if you ask.

For more information, please click here.

Where are the Red Light Cameras in Union County?

Where are Union County’s red light cameras? Two sources we were able to find are this list and this interactive map.

Traffic Light

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that nearly ¼ of all traffic accidents in the US are caused by drivers running red lights, killing roughly 800 people costing roughly $7 billio­n dollars in property damage, medical bills, lost productivity and insurance hikes.  As a result, many local towns are installing red light cameras which are automated devices to collect evidence the authorities need to prosecute drivers who run lights. The red light camera system measures the speed of the vehicle using loops in the pavement and then uses that speed to determine if the vehicle will be able to stop before the intersection. The camera takes two photographs – one of the vehicle just before entering the intersection with the light showing red and a second photo, taken one or two seconds later, showing the vehicle in the intersection. The photographs are date and time stamped and include data such as the speed of the vehicle and the amount of time that passed between the light turning red and the vehicle entering the intersection. If a camera catches a driver running a red light, the police will mail them a ticket, along with a photograph of you running the light. Worldwide, red light cameras have been in use since the 1960s and in the US since 1990.

New Jersey suspended its red-light camera program over questions about the accuracy of the devices. Under national standards, yellow lights are expected to stay lit one second for every 10 mph — or 3.5 seconds in the case of an intersection where the speed limit is 35 mph. In NJ, the speed must be determined by the speed at which 85% of the road’s traffic move rather than the actual speed limit – this is the strictest timing provision in the country. Cameras that have been tested to be accurate are still in use, and cameras that have not tested accurate are not in use, according to the State Department of Transportation. The Courier Post reports that the State DOT identifies 63 of the 85 red light cameras in NJ have not been tested to ensure that the yellow lights were timed correctly.

Towns where at least some of the existing red-light cameras will be temporarily suspended are: Newark, Linden, Wayne, Palisades Park, Union Township, Springfield, Roselle Park, Rahway, Englewood Cliffs, Pohatcong, Piscataway, Edison, East Windsor, Lawrence, Cherry Hill, Stratford, Monroe, Brick, Glassboro, Jersey City, and Woodbridge. The 22 cameras that are in compliance include 12 in Jersey City (all but the one at the intersection of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue), three in Woodbridge (all but the one at Route 1 and Avenel Street), four in Gloucester and one each in East Brunswick, New Brunswick and Deptford.

The Courier Post reported this week that rear end crashes have increased by 20% since the cameras have been used. The suspicion is that drivers who are nervous about being caught on camera may be stopping at intersections too quickly.

 

 

 

Fourth of July Fireworks in Union County!

Where can you go to see Fourth of July Fireworks in Union County?

Clark – Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School, 365 Westfield Ave – DJ and vendors in front of town hall beginning at 7:30.

Cranford – Nomahegan ParkFile:Fireworks4 amk.jpg

Elizabeth – Veteran’s Memorial Waterfront at the intersection of Front Street and Elizabeth Avenue.

Mountainside – Fields behind Our Lady of Lourdes and Deerfield School. Free ice cream for the kids!

Roselle Park – Herm Shaw Field at Roselle Park High School on West Colfax.

Springfield – 5:00 pm rides, petting zoo, pony rides, trackless train ride at Meisel Field; 7:30 concert; fireworks at dusk.

Summit – rides and amusements all day, concert at 7:45, fireworks at 9:15.

Union – Biertuempfel Park concert followed by fireworks at 9:00.

Happy Fourth of July!

Day Trip to NYC!

Those of us in Union County have access to some of the most diverse cultural experiences in the world by taking a bus ride into New York City.

File:American Museum of Natural History New York City.jpg

If you haven’t been to the American Museum of Natural History in a few years, it might be time to go again! We were there today – it was too hot to stay home – and had a fantastic time touring the 46 permanent exhibits.

Of course we made a trip to the Hayden Planetarium and to the Rose Center. I love the time line from the Big Bang to today and I love the size comparisons of everything from the known universe to the size of a proton.

Image

3.2 million year old Lucy

Image

1.7 million year old Turkana Boy

The meteorite hall is always a favorite, as is the Hall of Human Origins where you can visit casts of the skeletons of Lucy and Turkana Boy.

Everyone’s favorite is always the fourth floor where the dinosaurs are housed. AMNH  has Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a Brontosaurus, several mammoths and ancient horses, a Triceratops, a Stegosaurs, and thousands others.

To see some more photos of our trip, check out Team Zuhl’s post today!

File:AMNH-TRex 5.jpg

Dear TZ – What’s a good price to offer on a house in Union County?

DEAR TZ – HOW MUCH SHOULD I OFFER ON THIS HOUSE IN UNION COUNTY?

Dear TZ,File:Welcome mat 2.jpg

We’ve been looking all over Union County and finally found a house in Clark that we love! How much should we offer on it?

Bob and Bernice Buyer

Dear Bob and Bernice,

Congratulations and welcome to Clark! You’re going to love it here!

When you put an offer in on an house, your agent will show you some comps which are comparable homes that have sold in the area.

You’ll also want to look at the ratio of sale price to list price for similar homes. In Clark for example, the average home sells for 95% of list price.

So what do you offer?  Well, you really need to make an offer that you can afford and one that you think is a fair offer to the homeowner.  So if their list price is accurate, you may want to come in close or at list price.  If they’re priced competitively you may even want to come in above list price.

Your REALTOR(R) can offer advice, but ultimately the decision is YOURS.  Put yourself in the seller’s shoes and think how you would feel if someone offered what you’re going to offer on the house.

Lastly, you may want to take a few minutes time to pen a handwritten letter telling the sellers about you and your family and how you’re looking to forward to making their home yours.   Make it personal, tell your story.   It may make the difference if a similar offer comes in.

Best of luck!

- Wayne and Jean

Dear TZ – What happens after the home inspection?

Dear TZ,

We found the perfect house! It’s exactly what we want, and we can afford it. We made an offer and it was accepted! Our lawyer told us to have a home inspection, and the inspection report came back with some problems. The roof is old and needs to be replaced, and some of the plumbing is corroded. What do we do?

Ivana HomenowWoman With Magnifying Glass

Dear Ivana,

First thing you’ll want to do is go over the home inspector’s report.  Speak to your home inspector if you have questions.   Then you’ll want to discuss what your options are with your attorney.  In many cases you’ll be able to work out a situation through the attorney’s where the seller may do the repairs or have them done.  Alternatively, they may opt to give you a credit for the repairs or a part of them at the closing.

No matter what you’ll want to cosult with your attorney either way.

Beyond that you may want to look into purchasing a Home Warranty.  Most warranties sell for less than $500 and they will cover every major appliance and system in the home for a year or more.  This way if something was missed in the inspection you’re covered down the road.  Ask your REALTOR(R) about how to purchase your home warranty.

With some negotiating by the attornies and some patience, most of the major issues should be resolved before you close on the house.

Best of luck!

- Wayne and Jean

Please note that all information is reliable but not guaranteed.  Please consult with your Real Estate professional and/or attorney before making any Real Estate decisions.

Wayne and Jean 

Dear TZ – How can I commute to New York City from Union County?

DEAR TZ – CAN I COMMUTE TO NYC FROM UNION COUNTY?

Dear TZ,

I have a job in New York City and I don’t want to move to Union County if the commute is going to be too difficult. What are the commuting options into the City from Union County?

Thanks,

Subway SalFile:New Jersey Transit GE P40DC 4800.jpg

Dear Sal,

Obviously the ease of your commute will be a huge factor in your decision about where to move.  Fortunately for you Union County is ideal for the NYC commuter.  In fact many all the towns in the county have easy access to NYC either by rail or bus.

The current downside is that the rail line (the Raritan Valley Line) only runs to Newark during the week. But a quick train change in Newark (either NJT or PATH) and you’re in the city in no time. There is talk of a new type of locomotive that will allow the trains on the Raritan Valley Line to go to Penn Station. The current issue is that the Raritan Valley trains are Diesel powered and all trains going thru Penn Station are powered by electicity. The new locomotives being proposed run on diesel (when there’s no power lines) or electicity. So when the plan is approved the trains will be diesel powered to Newark and then electically powered to NYC. When that does happen you won’t need to change trains. There has not been a date or funding approved for the dual mode locomotives at this time.

There are also a multitude of bus stops that will bring you to Port Authority near Times Square.  From there you can walk, take a cab or subway to your destination.

Both trains and buses are operated by New Jersey Transit.

Ask your REALTOR(R) for an Transit schedule and map to assist you in your search.

Best of luck!

- Wayne and Jean

Dear TZ – When should I sell my Union County Home?

Dear TZ,

We’re ready to move out of our home into a retirement community. Some people told us that summer is the worst time to sell a house, and we’re afraid that all of the buyers will be away on vacation. Should we wait for fall? Does the season of the year matter?

Suzie and Bill Snowbird

 

Dear Suzie and Bill,

While the “spring rush” is a real thing, the truth is that there are buyers buying houses all year round.  There could also be financial benefits to NOT waiting to sell.  

While the market appears to be “nearing” the bottom, we’re not really there yet, so by waiting the market will continue to soften and chances are you will not sell your home for as much you could by listing TODAY!  

The pool of buyers is less in the summer months, but that pool may only be 10% less than in the “spring rush”.  So if you price your home competitively it will sell at ANY time in the year.   

You may want to consider getting a pre-appraisal and listing your home BELOW the appraised value.  By doing this you’ll most likely create huge excitement amongst the buyers and in many cases a bidding war can occur.  Usually with a bidding war, the home will sell ABOVE list price.

So don’t hesitate, get on the market NOW!

- Wayne and Jean

 

Please note that all information is reliable but not guaranteed.  Please consult with your Real Estate professional before making any Real Estate decisions.  

Dear TZ – Can I buy a home without a lot of money to put down?

DEAR TZ – CAN I BUY A HOME WITHOUT A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT DOWN?

Money GraphDear TZ,

After reading all of your advice, we’ve decided it’s time to buy a home. We don’t have a lot saved, but we earn enough to qualify for a mortgage. Can we still buy a home? How much money do we need to put as a down payment?

Thanks!

- Doug and Dina Downpayment

Dear Doug and Dina,

You’d be surprised at how little you actually need to put down.  In fact if either of you are or have been in the military, you might even qualify for a $0 money down loan.  Most FHA products require at least 3.5% down.

In addition to this you will want to have money for closing costs (could be up to $10,000 or more in rare cases), like your attorney, home inspector, survey, title insurance, tank search, etc..  In this part of NJ closing costs usually run less than $5000.  Although some loans will include closing costs as an option.

You could also negotiate for a sellers concession.  This would be an addendum to your puFile:Mortgage-green-bay.jpgrchase contract that states the seller will pay a certain dollar amount at the closing.  These funds can then be used to at your discretion to cover closing costs.

Of course if you have more than 3.5% you can put more money down.  If you can afford to put down 20% or more you will avoid paying PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) which is removed when you have 20% equity in your home.  An appraisal may be required at that time to determine that you have the equity in your home.

Regardless of what you do, you’ll want to discuss this with your REALTOR(R) as well as your Mortgage Representative.  You may also want to consult with your accountant as well.

Best o luck!

- Wayne and Jean

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