Being a smart homeowner in 2011 Tip of the week:

These tips are to help save you money No matter what the economy is doing!

How is that budget going?
Tip of the week


Lawn Care On A Budget

You do not need to spend a lot of money on a lawn care service. You can do it yourself. Besides saving money, it can be very therapeutic. I have found a very helpful website that will email you the schedule for your lawn, there are videos and articles. The website is www.Scotts.com Check it out I am sure you will find it as helpful as I did.
Here are some tips for lawn care.

Mow grass to a height of 2-3 inches.
Leave the clippings on your grass, it’s good for the earthworms who naturally aerate the roots and is a good source of nitrogen.
Start a compost pile of unwanted growth to put use as mulch around flowers.
Apply organic fertilizer.
Water deeply, at least one to one and a half inches per week.
Patch bare areas with seed or sod.
Aerate where needed.
Control thatch by “vertical” mowing.

Being a smart homeowner in 2011 means…
1) Saving Money
2) Saving energy
3) Saving the environment
4) Being a more responsible consumer
You can still live within your means and not miss out on anything! Each week tune in to our tip of the week and see how to save money while still enjoying life.

So for this week, keep up with your budget & check back next week to see more tips.
The Tom Smith Realty Group - Thomas J Smith & Amanda Nichols – RE/MAX At Barnegat Bay – Manahawkin Call/text Tom 609 709-1429 Email: Tom@Sellertom.com or Amanda Call/text 848-992-1783 Office: 609-971-5111 Email: Amanda@Sellertom.com

Welcome to Episode 16 of Life And Living At The Jersey Shore. April 27, 2011



It is filled with Real estate tips, trends, statistics, fun things to do in southern ocean county. The web cast is funny, informative with lots of Tom’s wisecracks.

In this edition:

Here are this week’s market stats:
This week’s stats reflect what’s happening in Stafford Township (they include: Manahawkin, Ocean Acres, Beach Haven West, Mallard Island, Cedar Run, Beachview and Deer Lake Park.) There are currently 517 homes and condos for sale in Stafford. In the last year 312 have sold. That’s funny, last week the Barnegat/Waretown solds were 315. So there seems to be a steady stream of buyers. But we still have to get the numbers up from the 300’s to the 500’s. That’s when we’ll see a serious turnaround in the market.

Fun stuff in Southern Ocean:
With all this great weather I thought it would be fun to visit some of the local historic sites in Southern Ocean County. Most sites have scheduled hours during peak season and you can call for hours or check the Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce web site at http://www.visitlbiregion.com/ for special events. The southern ocean county historical sites are:
• Barnegat Heritage Village, East Bay Avenue Barnegat
• Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Barnegat Light
• Barnegat Light Museum & Edith Duff Gwinn Gardens 5th Street, Barnegat Light
• Giffordtown Schoolhouse Leitz Blvd & Wisteria Lane, West Tuckerton 609 296 2598
• Heritage Park, Old Stone Store and Historic Train Station on Hwy 72 & Rt 9 Manahawkin
• Lacey Schoolhouse Museum, Rt 9 Forked River,
• Long Beach Island Historical Museum, Engleside & Beach Aves Beach Haven
• Museum of NJ Maritime History, 528 Dock Road Beach Haven
• Stafford Township Museum in the old Baptist Church Rt 9, Manahawkin
• Tuckerton Seaport Rt 9, Tuckerton

Our real estate glossary:
Adjustable Rate Mortgage or ARM:
Is a mortgage in which the interest changes periodically, according to corresponding fluctuations in an index. All ARMs are tied to indexes.

Fixed Rate Mortgage:
Is a mortgage in which the interest rate does not change during the entire term of the loan.
ARM’s are Bad Fixed are Good!

A Smart Home Seller:
Being a smart home owner means knowing what kind of paperwork will be involved in your sale. Here are just some of the forms you’ll be dealing with:
Property disclosure form.
Purchasers access to premises agreement.
Sales contract.
Sales contract contingency clauses
Pre- and post-occupancy agreements.
Lead-based paint disclosure pamphlet.
Consumer Information Statement
Bulk transfer form.

So to find out more about these and other forms you’ll need call us or go to our web site at: www.SellerTom.com

My 2 Cents:
I generally don’t read newspapers. I think they are silly and mostly filled with bad information. But, this Sunday I happened to catch a glimpse of page E5 in the Asbury Park Press and it had me R.O.T.F.L. (rolling on the floor laughing). Taking up most of the top half of the page is a graphic silhouette of a bunny and a head line: “ Please Don’t Eat The Easter Bunny”. Below that was a photo of a young girl kissing her cute, white, fluffy rabbit. The caption said it was of a 4-H club member kissing her pet rabbit.
The column immediately to the right of that article was a recipe (I’m not kidding) titled “Old Fashioned Rabbit Stew”!!!!
To quote Larry the Cable Guy, “Now that’s funny!)

Home of the week:
Our home of the week is 124 Reel Ave. in the Ocean Acres section of Manahawkin. It’s a 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch featuring beautiful hardwood floors under a vaulted ceiling with an open kitchen and great room with a wood burning fireplace. The great room leads to a gorgeous deck overlooking a very private and beautifully landscaped yard. This home also features tiled baths and a 2 car garage. This home would be perfect for the first time home buyer OR the downsizer. An extremely well kept home you would have to do nothing to do but move right in! And – it’s priced below assessed value.
Just for fun we had one of our mortgage bankers work up a payment scenario: This home qualifies for a USDA mortgage – that means NO MONEY DOWN. Based on the asking price of $229,900.00 the total monthly payment for this property (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance) would be only $1,706.85
Now that example of course is for qualified buyers. The payment is based on 4.75% interest rate on a 30 year fixed rate 0 points. Interest rates subject to change.
I doubt we would find a rental in that location in that good of condition for that price. And no money down!

Happy Homeowner Anniversaries:
Here are a few more families we’ve had the pleasure of helping find the home of their dreams.
Charles – 4/11/02 Little Egg Harbor
Chuck and Yvette – 4/13/06 Manahawkin
Peter – 4/14/05 Manahawkin
Carol – 4/15/10 Whiting
Linda & Mark – 4/19/02 Haven Beach
Sandy & Jim - 4/23/01 Manahawkin
Blaire – 4/25/08 Manahawkin
Josh and Kara – 4/30/10 Tuckerton
Contrats!

If you like our show, friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and pass the show on to your friends. Thanks or viewing and have a great week!
Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group,
Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols.
For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com

Here are this week’s market stats:





This week’s stats reflect what’s happening in Stafford Township (they include: Manahawkin, Ocean Acres, Beach Haven West, Mallard Island, Cedar Run, Beachview and Deer Lake Park.) There are currently 517 homes and condos for sale in Stafford. In the last year 312 have sold. That’s funny, last week the Barnegat/Waretown solds were 315. So there seems to be a steady stream of buyers. But we still have to get the numbers up from the 300’s to the 500’s. That’s when we’ll see a serious turnaround in the market.

So check back next week for more market stats.
Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group,
RE/MAX At Barnegat Bay 31 North Main St, Manahawkin
Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols.
For more information call/text 609 709-1429
visit: http://www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com

Here is This week's episode of "Life and Living At The Jersey Shore" Episode 15, April 20, 2011
This is Webisode 15, April 20, 2011. It is filled with Real estate tips, trends, statistics, fun things to do in southern ocean county. The web cast is funny, informative with lots of Tom’s wisecracks.






Here are this week’s market stats:
This week’s stats include Barnegat Township and Ocean Township (Ocean Township is better known as Waretown). There are currently 456 homes and condos for sale in Barnegat and Waretown. In the last year 315 have sold. Looks like things are popping. Maybe the market is finally starting to turn around.

Fun stuff in Southern Ocean:
How about visiting WELLS MILLS PARK in Waretown?
The Nature Center at Wells Mills Park offers a great display floor, a library, and the third floor "Elizabeth Meirs Morgan Observation Deck" which is dedicated in the honor of a very active naturalist and conservationist in Ocean County. Wells Mills Lake has trails winding around it, perfect for hiking through the 900+ acres of Pine Barrens located within Wells Mills County Park. There are several marked trails which range from easy to advanced, varying in length and difficulty.
In season, canoe rentals are also available at a nominal cost. Canoe lessons are also available during summer months. Wells Mills Lake covers 34 acres, and is a perfect place to learn how to navigate a canoe!
Wells Mills County Park is located on Route 532/Wells Mills Road in Waretown (Ocean Township) in Ocean County. It's 2 1/2 miles west of the Garden State Parkway exit 69, five miles west of Route 9 and 3 miles east of Route 72. Phone: 609-971-3085.

Our real estate glossary:
Easement
A right of way giving persons other than the owner access to or over a property.
Encroachment
An improvement that intrudes illegally on another's property.

A Smart Home Buyer:
One way to be a Smart Home Buyer is to insist on a home inspection.
The first really cold day you spend in your new house is way too late to find out that the furnace doesn’t work. The one condition you should always include in an offer to purchase is a home inspection. Find out how much it will cost to fix any defects and determine if you’ve negotiated the deficiencies in the agreed sale price or if you have to ask the seller fix them or possibly deduct the estimated cost from the final sale price. If the seller won’t help bear the costs, and you want to go ahead with the purchase, make sure you can afford the necessary repairs on top of your mortgage. And in NJ home inspectors must be licensed.

Home of the week:
This week our Home of the Week is 135 Autumn Oak Lane, Manahawkin. It’s a really cute center hall Colonial in the highly desirable “Oaks of Stafford” neighborhood in Manahawkin. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac with tree lined streets with sidewalks and underground utilities, this 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home features hardwood floors, formal living room, formal dining room, a kitchen that opens to dining area with bump out windows, a family room plus a Florida room off the family room overlooking a fully fenced yard and patio.
There are three large bedrooms on the second floor. The spacious master bedroom features a full bath and large walk in closet. There is a ton of storage in this home in a one car garage with an attic with pull down stairs. The home also features central air, gas heat, in ground sprinklers. Own your dream home today for only $239,900.00. And, this home qualifies for 100% USDA financing - - that’s no money down!

My 2 Cents: from Tom
If you like our show, friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and pass the show on to your friends. Thanks or viewing and have a great week!
Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group, Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com

Being a smart homeowner in 2011 Tip of the week:

These tips are to help save you money No matter what the economy is doing!

How is that budget going?
Tip of the week

Energy Saving Tips Landscaping

Trees that lose their leaves in the fall (i.e., deciduous) are the most effective at reducing heating and cooling energy costs. When selectively placed around a house, they provide excellent protection from the summer sun but permit winter sunlight to reach and warm your house. The height, growth rate, branch spread, and shape are all factors to consider in choosing a tree.

Vines provide shading and cooling. Grown on trellises, vines can shade windows or the whole side of a house.

Deflect winter winds by planting evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west sides of your house; deflect summer winds by planting on the south and west sides of your house.

Being a smart homeowner in 2011 means…
1) Saving Money
2) Saving energy
3) Saving the environment
4) Being a more responsible consumer
You can still live within your means and not miss out on anything! Each week tune in to our tip of the week and see how to save money while still enjoying life.

So for this week, keep up with your budget & check back next week to see more tips.

Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group
RE/MAX At Barnegat Bay, 31 North Main Street, Manahawkin NJ 08050
Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: www.Sellertom.com Email: Tom@Sellertom.com Amanda@Sellertom.com

This Week's Southern Ocean County Real Estate Market Stats





This week we are featuring Lacey Township which includes: Lanoka Harbor, Forked River and Forked River Beach. There are currently 291 homes and condos for sale in Lacey. In the last year 197 have sold. Now that’s a great sign. That brings us down from a 2 year supply to a 17 month supply

So check back next week for more market stats.

Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group,
RE/MAX At Barnegat Bay 31 North Main St, Manahawkin
Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: http://www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com

WELCOME TO LIFE AND LIVING AT THE JERSEY SHORE.
This is Webisode: # 14



Here are this week’s market stats:
This week we are featuring Lacey Township which includes: Lanoka Harbor, Forked River and Forked River Beach. There are currently 291 homes and condos for sale in Lacey. In the last year 197 have sold. Now that’s a great sign. That brings us down from a 2 year supply to a 17 month supply .

Fun stuff in Southern Ocean:
On April 16th Stafford Township Arts Center and the OceanFirst Theater will present The Artspower National Touring Theater’s production of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Experience this great musical program for young audiences grades 2 and above with the entire family. The show is based on a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published in 1908.
Curtain is at 4 pm. Tickets are – $10 for Adults and Senior Citizens…. $5 for Children (12 & Under)
The box office is located at 1000 McKinley Avenue, Manahawkin and is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9am to 2:30pm and two-hours prior to curtain time.
Our real estate glossary;
This week I’d like to break down the four different types of insurance that we typically come across in real estate:

1. Home owners - aka hazard insurance

2. Title Insurance

3. PMI or MIP insurance

4. Flood Insurance

A Smart Home Seller:
You don’t necessarily need a pro to assess your property’s energy deficiencies. With a little elbow grease, you can get a good sense of where your home might be leaking hot or cool air.
Inspect exposed ducting. They may not work efficiently if they’re dirty, have small holes, or if they pass through unfinished portions of the home and aren’t insulated or if they have leaking joints.
Since ducts are typically made out of thin metal that easily conducts heat, uninsulated or poorly insulated ducts in unheated or cooled spaces can lose 10 to 30 percent of the energy used to heat and cool your home.
Look for stains on insulation. These often indicate air leaks from a hole behind the insulation, such as a crack in an exterior wall.
Check your home’s exterior envelope. Hold a candle or stick of incense near windows, doors, electrical outlets, range hoods, plumbing and ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and ceiling fans in bathrooms. When smoke blows, you’ve got a draft that may need caulking, sealant, weather stripping, or insulation.

Tom’s shameless plug:
This week I want to plug my friend and Banker, Pete Glowacki at Sovereign Bank. Whether you are looking for a checking or savings account or online banking I really want to tell you about the customer service we receive from Pete and Sovereign Bank.
He goes so far out of his way to make sure our business and personal accounts are being handled correctly that he even calls us once a month just to see if we’re being treated right!
I can’t tell you how much that means in a world where the big banks don’t know – or want to know – who you are.
So, If you are looking for old fashioned customer service and a warm local bank feeling give Pete Glowacki a call. He runs several branches in Ocean County but you can usually find him asleep at his desk at the Route 37 branch in Toms River (near Mule Rd).Pete’s phone number is (732) 240-2500 – Tell Tom Smith said he was probably bored and wanted to talk…

Home of the week:
Our home of the week this week is 7 Andrew Drive, located on the water in the Beach Haven West Section of Manahawkin out near the bay in the East Point development. This 4 bedroom Waterfront Vacation Home is in fantastic, move in condition. 3 of the bedrooms and a full bath are conveniently located on the first floor and adjoin a great room overlooking lagoon. The upper level is a private master suite with full bath, large closet and great views.
Outside you can relax on the deck overlooking the lagoon; dock your boat out back and cook up all the clams and crabs you caught in the bay! The lowest priced house in East Point! Only $349,900.00
By the way, you can see tons of photos and the actual floor plans for this house on our web site: www.sellertom.com
My Two Cents

If you like our show, friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and pass the show on to your friends. Thanks or viewing and have a great week!
Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group, Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com

This Week's Market Stats April 7, 2011



This week we are featuring Long Beach Island which includes the towns of Beach Haven, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light: There are exactly 600 homes and condos currently for sale on LBI. In the last year 338 have sold. So that’s still about the same ratio as the rest of Ocean County. I would have thought it would be different. So check back next week for more market stats.

Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group, Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 Tom@Sellertom.com, http://www.Sellertom.com

Life and Living At The Jersey Shore Episode 13, April 6. 2011



This week’s webcast features include:
Real Estate Market Stats for Long Beach Island
Real Estate Glossary – “Assessment”
This Week’s Smart Home Seller Tip – Offer buyers a 12 month home warranty
Tom’s Shameless Plug – Kean Electric
Home of the week – 362 Frog Pond Road, Little Egg Harbor
Tom’s 2 Cents
Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group, Thomas J Smith & Amanda Nichols
RE/MAX At Barnegat Bay, 31 North Main Street, Manahawkin NJ. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com