Property taxes are a major part of the cost of owning a home in New Jersey—and the terminology and timelines can feel confusing. I’m sharing this New Jersey Homeowner’s Guide to Property Taxes as a quick, plain-English refresher on how a home is assessed, how your tax bill is calculated, and where those tax dollars go. If you’re buying, selling, or simply want to feel more confident about your next property tax bill, this is a great resource to keep handy.

CLICK TO READ MORE (Courtsey of NJ REALTORS)

NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO PROPERTY TAXES

Reach out to me to discuss the details of your particular property, anytime.

Eileen O’Driscoll, CIPS, CRB, MIPAV(OS)

CENTURY 21 Concept 100

30 Kinderkamack Rd Oradell NJ 07649

139 3rd Ave Westwood NJ 07675

m: 201.220.0579

e: eileen@c21concept100.com

Early this month, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a major win for the real estate community and American homeowners alike.

The bill includes several important tax benefits that the National Association of REALTORS® has long fought for. These include an improved deduction for small business owners, stronger deductions for state and local taxes (SALT), and continued protection for the mortgage interest deduction—a key benefit for many homeowners at tax time.

The legislation also locks in lower individual tax rates and increases the child tax credit, steps that could make it easier for more families to afford a home and manage the ongoing costs of homeownership.

In short, this bill helps protect the value of your investment and may put more money back in your pocket.

READ ON: links.nar.realtor/s/vb/p6CM6eLgYD7fF4pSepic6P09tyDOfZZZGz84lkjwl_d8_6clt60jE4idEAfn9qKAr1OkShKPKTuEwfLhxNa7BmDQpcqsNew9PuMWS_D3P6LJhvjcnPlBPIpbs3OIOUrW18zL64IUE5U-v3L4RO4/Iictda4J14mFha5QTmmXOltzCfB34JUo/9

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International MLS Forum 1st panel discussion MLS CULTURE

MLS Culture – My Panel. It was all about culture, and we discussed and answered many questions, led by our moderator, John Heithaus. Each of us addressed our questions from our own perspective. My experience in this realm includes working as a productive broker, mentor, and coach to the agents who choose to partner with me. It also involves leadership governance roles within our REALTOR Association and our Multiple Listing Service. To say that this topic or question had many facets to explore is an understatement—and, of course, that’s why we have moderators on these panels, keeping us from going outside the rails, bless their hearts.

My fellow panelists brought their own history and experience within this business to the discussion, from executive directorship to staging yourself and your product for sale, and back to MLS governance as a broker.

My brain broke this topic into three parts:

1. The individual cultures of the many nations of the world.
2. The culture within the working spaces of our industry.
3. The culture I provide, which can be translated to “my brand.”

Expanded:

1. The individual culture of the many nations of the world includes their religious routines and the philosophies they live by. It’s theirs, they own it. Respect. Then comes the best part—when all is said and done, when it comes to housing, we all want the same thing for ourselves and our families: a roof over our heads to host and enjoy those families. We all live in our own respective lives, and our job, for those of us who work in this space, is to bring it down to: What do you need? Listen, and proceed accordingly. When that path is set and a strategy is in place, then there’s room to enjoy human connections. Just remember what comes first.
2. Addressing the culture within the working spaces of our industry: Managing administrators, technology providers, and real estate professionals all in one space at the same time certainly has its challenges. Each of these roles attracts a different mindset, and each is valuable in bringing the best results to the consumer, who is the ultimate beneficiary and should be the focus of all discussions in these spaces. Let’s face it—without a need on their (consumer) end, none of us have jobs. Those who do this well are rockstars!
3. Addressing the culture I provide: This is on a more personal level and is often translated as someone’s individual brand. Personally, I prefer the word “culture.” How should someone feel in my presence? Do I have their best interests at heart in this fiduciary relationship? Have I listened to them and what they need? Am I confident in my skills to provide the best service to them? Do I have the ability to set a personalized strategy for them, recognizing that we are all individuals with unique needs and wants? Do I truly like what I do, and does it show?

Pulling it all together, in any environment, First build the trust, by allowing everyone in the party to have a say and listen. Leaders need the skill to identify the mindsets present to take the next steps.

Next: Find the “why”. This becomes your mission. Every issue, problem, decision should solve part of the mission.

Have the skill in place that is needed to execute.

And, finally, the ultimate outcome of any scenario is peace of mind that you explored all options, were educated through the process and you have peace of mind that you made the best decision possible at the time for yourself/your group/your organization.

The International MLS Forum is a prime example of this process in action. As I see it, it provides the space, physical and intellectual, to allow this process, and it is working. Witnessing the exploratory stage that some are on to the existing systems that see a need to pivot and change and the standardization of data that binds it all together, it truly is an exciting time for real estate worldwide. All of this, along with the technology that is available, the brokers and agents who provide a service and, the consumer they serve, can look forward to the benefits ahead.

Escape to your own private sanctuary! This stunning bi-level home in the highly sought-after Twp of Washington offers the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Nestled on a generous 75×175 lot, this property boasts a serene backyard complete with a refreshing inground pool, making it the ideal retreat for relaxation and summer enjoyment.

Step inside and be greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere. The main level showcases a cozy living room with a gas fireplace, a formal dining room with sliding glass doors leading to a charming deck, and a modern eat-in kitchen adorned with skylights, filling the space with natural light. Retreat to the master bedroom suite for a tranquil haven, while two additional bedrooms and a full bath provide ample space for family or guests.

The ground level of this home offers even more living space, featuring an extended family room with a fireplace and convenient sliding glass doors that open up to the backyard oasis. You’ll also find a full bath, a laundry room, a utility room, and a 2-car attached garage, providing both functionality and convenience.

Don’t miss the opportunity to make this captivating bi-level home your own. With its enticing features, including the refreshing pool, spacious lot, and well-appointed layout, it offers the perfect balance of relaxation and entertainment. Start living your dream lifestyle in this remarkable home today!

When residential agents venture into the realm of commercial real estate, it’s akin to entering a foreign country without studying the language. They might manage to navigate using a few phrases or rely on the locals’ patience and guidance. However, they won’t fully reap the benefits without proper preparation. Alternatively, they may choose to remain in the familiar territory that aligns with their expertise and limitations. As advice, it’s recommended to either educate yourself extensively or collaborate with a commercial agent through referral or partnership to effectively serve your clients.

Our closing schedule was interrupted because of an open electrical permit from 2014. It happens. We found this out when we submitted our application for the Certificate of Occupancy. S0, we called in an electrician and he set to work, completing all of the requirement needed by the town to close that particular permit. We were ready for the the next step – town building inspecting and our appointment was set for anytime between 9am – 12pm on this particular Friday. In the meantime the sellers had moved out and the home was vacant, broom clean and we were ready to close except for this certificate. Everyone was waiting patiently for it.

The inspector came and everything “passed” except for the fire extinguisher – it was outdated. Of course I made a personal note to myself to check this myself in the future. I was instructed to get the new fire extinguisher, mount it and send a picture to the inspector as proof that it was completed before he would add the Certificate to the system. I got a hold of my assistant and we went to Home Depot, purchased a Fire Extinguisher and came back to the property to install it. He opened the box only to find that it was missing the mount. Who takes the mount from the box and what are the chances that we picked the box without the mount? There’s a math problem for all of you statisticians out there. Back we go to Home Depot, get a new fire extinguisher, back to the property, install it, take a picture and send it to the inspector. Our Certificate was published to the system to the delight and appreciation of our clients – 3 hours later.

To all of you hardworking REALTORS out there and homeowners selling your home, check the date on your fire extinguisher before the inspection, and if you have to replace, check the box before leaving the hardware store.

#allinadayswork #thelifeofarealtor #lovewhatIdo #theramblingsofarealestatebroker

On a Sunday afternoon, I received a panic call from a Buyer’s Agent. She just showed a property I have listed and she called to tell me that one of the cats had escaped and was hiding under the backyard deck and, the buyers were on their hands and knees trying to coax the cat back into the house. She apologized and asked what else she could do. They had been trying for the last 10-15 minutes.

I thanked her for her call and truly appreciated it. I acknowledged her professionalism in doing so and spoke the words that such a call is a rare thing. We’ve had doors left open, lights left on, no shows on appointments, late arrivals and the like, without a peep.

I took responsibility for the situation from that point on, told her I would get in touch with seller right away and let them know – they weren’t too far from the home that day. I told her that the cats were outdoor cats also and that if we didn’t want the cats left out at all I would have put such instructions in the MLS listing sheet.

We have responsibilities when entrusted with the care and sale of our client’s homes, those of us that list the homes for sale and those of us showing the homes. What a pleasure it is when working with true professionals. #thecreamalwaysrisestothetop #thankyouforyourprofessionalism