Weekend Open Discussion

This is the time and place to post observations about your local areas, comments on news stories or the New Jersey housing market, open house reports, etc. If you have any questions you wanted to ask earlier in the week but never posted them up, let’s have them. Also a good place to post suggestions, requests for information, criticism, and praise.

For readers that have never commented, there is a link at the top of each message that is typically labelled “[#] Comments“. Go ahead and give that a click, you might be missing out on a world of information you didn’t know about. While you are there, introduce yourselves to everyone.

For new readers that have only read the messages displayed on the main page, take a look through the archives, a substantial amount of information has been put online in the past year. The archives can be accessed by using the links found in the menus on the right hand side of the page.

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231 Responses to Weekend Open Discussion

  1. grim says:

    From the FDIC:

    First American Bank, Elk Grove Village, Illinois Assumes All of the Deposits of Town Community Bank and Trust, Antioch, Illinois

    The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $17.8 million. First American Bank’s acquisition of all the deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s DIF compared to all alternatives. Town Community Bank and Trust is the second FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Illinois. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Independent Bankers’ Bank, Springfield, on December 18, 2009.

    First State Bank of St. Joseph, St. Joseph, Minnesota, Assumes All of the Deposits of St. Stephen State Bank, St. Stephen, Minnesota

    The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $7.2 million. First State Bank of St. Joseph’s acquisition of all the deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s DIF compared to all alternatives. St. Stephen State Bank is the third FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Minnesota. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Prosperan Bank, Oakdale, on November 6, 2009.

    FDIC Creates a Deposit Insurance National Bank of Kaysville, Utah to Protect Insured Depositors of Barnes Banking Company, Kaysville, Utah

    The cost to the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund is estimated to be $271.3 million. Barnes Banking Company is the fourth bank to fail this year and the first in Utah. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was America West Bank, Layton, on May 1, 2009.

  2. Pat says:

    Looking around, carefully.

    Don’t tell anybody. Let’s just you me and Justin hide out in here.

  3. Justin says:

    What has my life become. Put my kid to sleep. Now I am just sitting back, trackin’ NJRERE, and drinking a Guinness.

  4. Pat says:

    Me, too. She’s finally taking her own shower, but I have to stand there and say, “stop playing, get moving. rinse.” It’s down to 20 minutes.

    I’m imbibing in a glass of some kind of crappy wine my husband picked up on the way home from work.

  5. gary says:

    Does anyone know where I can find a blog that discusses economics and North Jersey Real Estate?

  6. Justin says:

    I am looking forward to those days. My one and a half year old is still very dependent on me for every aspect of his life. It’s fun when he’s awake but it’s even better when he’s asleep :-)

  7. willwork4beer says:

    Just got back to NJ and hitting.the Mad Elf stash hard. Too much traveling today.

  8. John says:

    Tosh

    a personal favorite of mine

    http://tinyurl.com/ycuh5ab

  9. willwork4beer says:

    Last night’s weird beer name of the night: Moose Drool Ale by Big Sky. Stuff was actually prettý good. Malty with a little hop finish to balance it out. Nice stuff.

  10. Al "The Thermostat" Gore says:

    Gary,

    Economics: The wheels are coming off the wagon. Should be a good show. Preserve capital in non US dollar denominated assets or watch it become worthless. You have until approximately July. Pay attention to details.

    North Jersey RE:
    POS Cape. Overpriced, ugly, massive taxes ta boot.
    POS Split level era 76′, aluminum siding, chain link fence. Overpriced, ugly, massive taxes ta boot.

    Macro view: The feminization of the US male continues. While every grown man should be at their local armory and range this weekend. Most will be plucking their eye brows and watching dancing with the stars reruns while their wives work overtime and their pot bellied kids play X box.

  11. Pat says:

    Sounds good. Wish I were still a beer drinker.

    Are you two having fun?

  12. gary says:

    BTW, Some of the listings I’ve been getting recently are finally showing some drastic price reductions. I think the rubber bands, 2 X 4s and make-shift supports are giving way to some sizeable leaks in the dam. The contrast is noticeable, very noticeable. When bilevels were hitting the $400,000 level back in 2003 and 2004, I was convinced that this thing was totally out of control. It’s amazing how many people got bilked and for the length of time it went unchecked.

    For years… years… and now all those resets are coming in bigger and bigger waves as the con switches to a new game. How the f*ck did so many people get bilked out of so much money? Wow! I’m seeing those same bilevels now drifting slowly back to the 400K level. Imagine that, BACK to the 400K level. That’s how inflated the price scam became. We still have a looooong way to go on this cleansing. And the industry has the b@lls to say that prices are going to actually rise this year! LOL! Do they actually believe their own words or are they that f*cking stup1d?

  13. Al "The Thermostat" Gore says:

    Gary,

    The only way real estate prices will rise is if we go into a true hyperinflation scenario. Helicopter Ben will print there is no doubt in my mind. Hes already monetizing > 70% of treasury sales while we send wheat/grain to the Chinese to get them to buy treasuries.

  14. gary says:

    Poor Graydon and Ellery, Mommy and Daddy had to do a short sale on the over-priced box they pretended to own since Daddy got sliced from his wannabe investment job. As a result, they went from private tennis lessons at L’enclave Exclusive to group swimming classes at the Boys and Girls club in Garfield! LOL!!

  15. gary says:

    Al Gore,

    People bought over-priced sh1tholes with toxic, twisted mortgage terms and barely stayed alive with a 5 year, option ARM. All of a sudden, they get their next payment in the mail and the monthly nut just jumped $1700. F*cking d@mn! How the f*ck are these people going to survive? Impossible. Now they have to bail, they’re $150,000 in the hole and no one with a shred of sense is gonna touch the f*cking dump until real estate becomes as popular as the swine flu. It’s unbelieveable how this industry f*cked over so many people.

  16. safeashouses says:

    I got my statement today from my previous employer on the street. This is too funny. I exercised all my in the money options when I quit in 2003 and sold to cover. The stock became restricted stock and I had to hold it for 5 years. Well the market melted down in 08 before they vested so I didn’t bother selling after it vested. The stock dropped so low that the firm charged me a $50 account fee in December 09. They funded that by selling my shares. Well guess what the balance is in my account? This is a company I worked at for over 5 years. Are you ready. 11 cents. That’s right 11 cents.

    I am going to call them on Tuesday and ask they send me a check for 11 cents. I am going to tell them I want to buy a house through them with no money down, roll the closing costs into the loan, but I need the 11 cents to pay for part of the stamp to mail in my application.

  17. relo says:

    AP: Haitians in country illegally can stay.

  18. chicagofinance says:

    That is so nasty…in an extremely unpleasant way…I curled by toes so hard that my nails fell out ;(

    11.John says:
    January 15, 2010 at 9:18 pm
    Tosh
    a personal favorite of mine

  19. chicagofinance says:

    by = my NOT bi :(

  20. chicagofinance says:

    beer: was in Missolu for a week in the Summer of 2001 and lived on that…doesn’t it have a picture of a moose standing in a stream while slobbering in the water…then it makes some claim about fresh water for the brew?

    They also had Fat Tire there which sucked as$ by comparison…

    12.willwork4beer says:
    January 15, 2010 at 9:21 pm
    Last night’s weird beer name of the night: Moose Drool Ale by Big Sky. Stuff was actually prettý good. Malty with a little hop finish to balance it out. Nice stuff.

  21. chicagofinance says:

    Missoula

  22. safeashouses says:

    I don’t think that is John at #11. Doesn’t sound like his style of writing, and it is also posted way past his bed time.

  23. Al "The Thermostat" Gore says:

    19. Yeah, I saw it in 2004 while heavy in cash and wanting to move out of a condo. I had one of those ARM’s in 2003 at 4% flat and a piggy back loan of 20k ta boot. I was flat ass broke but was working hard. Got rid of the piggy back loan within a year. Once the ARM rolled over it went up to 6% but that was the peak of the RE market. No way was I buying a POS cape/bilevel for 400k. Eventually I locked in at 6% on that mortgage with no upfront cost. A year later I sold (2008) and bought my current place initially with a 5.87 30yr fixed. Refinanced last year to 4.62 30 yr/fixed and was rolling the savings into extra principal payments.

    Then I woke up to reality. Now my extra savings go into tangible assets like precious metals ie lead. Eventually everyone will wake up, but it will be financially more painful for some. Those on this blog have the opportunity to dodge the clown shoe waiting to knock them out. Some will continue to shave their eyebrows while others get ready for the ride.

  24. sas says:

    ” Haitians in country illegally can stay.”

    why not? where are they going to go?
    should eliminate/free the ones whom also might be facing deportation. (if there only crime is being illegal).

    SAS

  25. njescapee says:

    sas, I agree, we have a haitian community in key west. these folks need a break. many of the navy personnel stationed here at the NAS are being deployed there this weekend.

  26. Punch My Ticket says:

    Pat [7],

    She’s finally taking her own shower, but I have to stand there and say, “stop playing, get moving. rinse.” It’s down to 20 minutes.

    In my house, there’s a valve in the basement on that hot water line. When it’s long enough, that valve gets shut. Rinsing your hair in cold water tends to get the message across.

    Kids are so innocent. Plus it’s a great story to tell at weddings twenty years later.

  27. Jim says:

    8. gary says:
    January 15, 2010 at 9:08 pm
    Does anyone know where I can find a blog that discusses economics and North Jersey Real Estate?
    ———-

    Gary,
    In the past real estate was discussed here. Since the market tanked most talk revolves around love affairs, sports, guns, wine, cameras, cars, sex and illegal aliens. I would imagine that once the market picks back up around 2020 the discussion will once again turn to real estate and economics.
    Jim

  28. willwork4beer says:

    ChiFi 25/28

    Yup, that’s the stuff. You nailed it. BTW, I was offered Fat Tire but passed. I figured that an ale named Moose Drool had to be good

  29. grim says:

    Game Changer? Disruptive Tech?

    From the NY Times:

    ‘Dual Agency’ Under Scrutiny

    “IT’S a buyer’s market — everybody knows that, right?” said Paul Howard, an agent for NJHomeBuyer.com in Cherry Hill. “So how come so many buyers get frustrated when the seller seems to be holding more cards?”

    It is because they often do, Mr. Howard said, that he has established himself as a buyer’s agent, representing buyers only and taking no listings from sellers. The concept is still new in New Jersey.

    Even though buyers use agents, those agents are paid by the seller. And Mr. Howard asserts that a real estate agent’s first loyalty is always going to be to sellers, because they are the source of the agent’s fee.

    New Jersey is among the states that permit “dual agency representation,” in which a seller’s agent may also represent a buyer who simply shows up at an open house or calls the telephone number on a sign without already having found his or her own agent. That, in Mr. Howard’s view, leaves the buyer with little or no leverage.

    A bill that could at least provide buyers with a better cash deal was passed by the state Legislature earlier this month, and is awaiting the governor’s signature.

    The bill clears the way for brokers to pay buyers a negotiated “rebate” once a sale goes through, as long as the deal is made in writing at the start of the transaction. The notion behind it was to stimulate deal-making in a difficult market, according to Assemblyman Nicholas P. Scutari, a Democrat from Linden, who sponsored the measure. It is unclear how agencies or individual brokers would handle the situation if the measure became law. Many brokers said they had been barely aware of the bill.

    “Home sellers already have the ability to negotiate their fee,” as Roberta Plutzik Baldwin noted before the bill was passed. She is a Montclair-based broker with Keller Williams Towne Square.

  30. grim says:

    A bill that could at least provide buyers with a better cash deal was passed by the state Legislature earlier this month, and is awaiting the governor’s signature.

    The bill clears the way for brokers to pay buyers a negotiated “rebate” once a sale goes through, as long as the deal is made in writing at the start of the transaction.

    Buy-side representation can do this today, we can cut our portion of the commission and take the difference off the top.

    I’ve done it before, to bridge the gap between buyer and seller.

    I’ve never had the sell-side match my commission cut though.

  31. grim says:

    From the Star Ledger:

    More than 28,000 N.J homeowners receive modification aid

    More than 28,000 New Jerseyans have enrolled in the Obama administration’s $75 billion plan to hedge against residential foreclosures, according to a U.S. Treasury report released Friday.

    But, as of last month, only 2,027 struggling state borrowers have received permanent modifications.

    Nevertheless, homeowners and housing counselors say navigating the bureaucratic maze often seems impossible.

    “Servicers are doing these modifications in steps,” said Gail Davis, housing counseling supervisor at East Orange-based Tri-city Peoples Corp.”They are giving these people trial modifications without really determining if they are eligible.”

    Davis added that after a three-month trial, some lenders are then telling applicants they aren’t ‘income eligible.’

    In the meantime, foreclosures have only recently begun leveling off. And, they are still a far cry away from levels seen before the most recent recession.

    Lenders sent foreclosure filings to 63,208 commercial and residential properties in New Jersey, about 1 percent more than in 2008, according to Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac.

    The number of filings in New Jersey sky-rocketed in 2008. In 2007, the number of properties that received foreclosure filings was 31,071. In 2006, it was 21,794.

  32. freedy says:

    anyone with any brain power at all, will see
    in about a day or two what a scam the
    loan mod program is.

    the banks are not on the side of the consumer,and to make it worse the employees of the banks are for the most part stupid
    themselves.

    i’m betting they will introduce,,, lower interest, 40 year, and reduced principle

    only way they can continue ,, kick it down
    the road.

  33. freedy says:

    i dealt with chase and they should be shamed
    by the behavior. but when you think about
    it,, its all about making a buck.

    the current kids running the admin are so
    lightweight that’s its sad. moreover, socialist will always try to convince the sheep , we’re here to help.

  34. grim says:

    Why not just push it to 50?

    Think of all the interest the banksters can collect.

    $400k loan, 5.5%, 30 years, $2271 monthly – $417,616 in total interest payments

    $400k loan, 5.5%, 40 years, $2063 monthly – $590,280 in total interest payments

    $400k loan, 5.5%, 50 years, $1959 monthly – $775,630 in total interest payments

    Banksters can help you cut $300 off your monthly payment, no brainer! Win-win for everyone.

    Even if you don’t need the lower payment, it makes sense. You can use it for new jeans, or to lease an even nicer car! A shopping trip to Xanadu? You DESERVE it!

  35. sas says:

    Loan modification? Aide?

    another Jedi mind trick.

    so called “modification” is nothing but ploy to drain the sucker as much as they can before they walk, cause its inevitable.. the person will eventually have to walk wether today, tomorrow, or 5 years from now… walk… they will…
    because, no matter hoe you slice, person bought more than they could afford. (Fraudulently induced is a different topic).

    so called “aide” is nothing but tax dollars. i.e your money, from your paycheck, and mine too. and sorry you sucker sap, I don’t want to help you. I’ve got my own bills to pay, let alone your bills. and these so called “aide” isn’t to help you, its to make sure the banks get their loot. which in turn.. they will reward the politicians in the form of campaign donations or back door kickbacks.

    The time is now for you to get out of the pajamas, brush your teeth, and quit being a slack jaw sap.

    SAS

  36. sas says:

    the more I see of omama, the more I think of the battered wife syndrome & abusive husband relationship.

    Omama will slap you around today till you are black & blue, but next day dress up nice, give you flowers and tell you in his real smooth talk… I love you. next week… nothing changed, more abuse.

    The omama followers, get smack, but still come back and say “i love you” I know you didn’t mean to throw me down the stairs… I know you didn’t mean to… give me a black eye….

    I love you omama.
    SAS

  37. sas says:

    but to be fair, I can’t just pick on abusive husband omama.

    most pols act in this manner.

    I love you George Bush. you are man on honor & Integrity.

    “There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.” —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

    SAS

  38. freedy says:

    i had a conversation last night with a man.

    we discussed among other things loan mods,
    and the haiti situation.

    amazed is all i can think of , the stupid
    american can not figure this out. many think
    the gov. will do the right thing.

    it’s no wonder tv shows like idol are popular. its the easy way out.

  39. sas says:

    PS. better dig up the casket of Ken Lay… cause he ain’t in there.

    SAS

  40. Essex says:

    SAS….you sir….are amazing.

  41. freedy says:

    i’ve actually forgot. anybody here know who
    owns Chrysler Motor Credit? I get to deal with them on an off lease . i though
    they were now part of GMAC.

  42. Essex says:

    40. Scary isn’t it? The price paid for the “dream”….which has of course become the nightmare.

  43. sas says:

    Frank is correct.
    What recession?

    “Three top election aides to Mayor Bloomberg walked off with $400,000 each in extra pay as the mayor doled out a record amount in bonuses in a record-shattering $108.4 million campaign that narrowly gave him a third term, it was disclosed yesterday.

    Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/paid_to_elex_aides_qKYur39dFNoycwk8Y1NYrL#ixzz0cmQXJlyw

  44. freedy says:

    its even worse. many people still think real estate is a good deal.

    grim: see the article from the NYT, today
    on walking away

  45. Mr Hyde says:

    holsy cow!!!!

    someone in the MSM actually ppints out a few bits of reality!!!!

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/opinion/15brooks.html?hp

    -The first of those truths is that we don’t know how to use aid to reduce poverty. Over the past few decades, the world has spent trillions of dollars to generate growth in the developing world. The countries that have not received much aid, like China, have seen tremendous growth and tremendous poverty reductions. The countries that have received aid, like Haiti, have not.

    -The second hard truth is that micro-aid is vital but insufficient. Given the failures of macrodevelopment, aid organizations often focus on microprojects. More than 10,000 organizations perform missions of this sort in Haiti. By some estimates, Haiti has more nongovernmental organizations per capita than any other place on earth. They are doing the Lord’s work, especially these days, but even a blizzard of these efforts does not seem to add up to comprehensive change.

    -Third, it is time to put the thorny issue of culture at the center of efforts to tackle global poverty.

  46. sas says:

    another thing you blokes should keep in mind when it comes to “aide”.

    ask yourself, is the money going to an agency or organization that is in compliance with audited & transparent financial statements.

    So, i give a dollar, but the agency takes about 70 cents for itself through “off book” records, and just spits out 30 cents for the purpose or reason it got the money in the first place.

    Do I have to spell it all out for you in further detail?

    SAS

  47. gary says:

    SAS,

    Do I have to spell it all out for you in further detail?

    No, this board understands it perfectly. It’s the f*cking m0rons who allowed themselves to be bilked, scammed and hoodwinked; they’re the ones who don’t have a clue.

  48. WHYoung says:

    safeashouses

    RE the 11 cent check… Wow.

    Do you think that there are a lot of others in a similar position?

  49. Pat says:

    Yes.

    My concern for safe is that he understand the tax ramifications of his check. Cashing out a retirement plan is a serious decision, and should be made only after appropriate consultation with qualified advisor(s).

  50. Pat says:

    sorry, didn’t mean to answer for safe.

    He may think he’s the only one in this boat.

  51. Pat says:

    bairen, you know I was goofin on you, right?

    I just got one for like $175 bucks from a backdating issue and it’s prolly gonna cost me more to process it and make the trades than it’s worth to cash it.

  52. Pat says:

    Maybe I’ll cover it in feral cat poof and mail it to Tom Kean.

  53. NJCoast says:

    Hey BeachBum-

    This Bradley Beacher is approaching your price range.

    4th house from the beach-104 Lareine
    MLS#21002148

    Orig. list-4/27/08-$929,00
    Current list- $539,000

    Tax assessed- $670,400

    Note: Realtor is DIL of the seller.

  54. crossroads says:

    44 freedy

    “it’s no wonder tv shows like idol are popular. its the easy way out.”

    I think most people just read the headline and don’t delve any deeper into an issue. I’m amazed at how many people think real estate is poised to take off and have that it only goes up mentality when we have %10 unemployment and a good portion who can’t afford the house they’re in. where the fcuk is the $$ coming from?? and I’ll be blown away by all the people running out and buying a house this spring in fear of missing out on a lousy 8k that does nothing in NNJ. I guess omama will buy a 4 bdrm house for everyone so they have a place to put all the trophies they received for a last place finish!!

  55. gary says:

    I’m tempted to list my house with a tagline that says, “Hurry and get the $8000 tax credit before it’s too late!”

  56. Sean says:

    re: #60 Gary I drove by a development the other day with just such a billboard out front.

  57. confused in NJ says:

    N.J. firms go to bat for drug benefit
    By Venuri Siriwardane/The Star-Ledger
    January 16, 2010, 9:00AM
    Five large New Jersey employers are petitioning lawmakers in Washington to drop a provision in the House and Senate health care reform bills that would change the tax treatment of payments for retiree health benefits.

    In a letter sent yesterday to the state’s congressional delegation, Public Service Enterprise Group, Verizon Communications, MetLife, Avaya and New Jersey Natural said the provision — which would end a tax subsidy the companies receive — would hurt their ability to provide prescription drug benefits to their retirees.

    Under a 2003 law that created a prescription drug benefit known as Medicare Part D, the 28 percent tax subsidy — worth about $600 a year per retiree — was created as an incentive for companies to keep providing such benefits on their own. Hundreds of major companies took advantage of the subsidy as a way to reduce their retiree health liability.

    “These corporations, which stepped up to the plate five years ago to continue prescription drug coverage, will experience an immediate income loss and weaker balance sheets,” the letter warned.

    Newark-based PSEG, the parent firm of Public Service Gas & Electric, said it may drop prescription drug benefits for retirees if Congress passes health care legislation containing the provision. It has about 10,000 retirees and dependents in the state who receive the benefits.

    “It would be pretty difficult for us to absorb these taxes in these economic times,” said spokeswoman Jennifer Kramer.

    Democrats included the provision as a way to help pay for the health care overhaul, with those in the Senate saying it would raise about $5.4 billion over 10 years.

    But in an unlikely alliance, unions and large corporations say the change would actually drive up the cost of care by compelling employers to drop those benefits and push more retirees into public-sponsored benefit plans.

    If at least a quarter of the 7 million retirees who depend on employer-sponsored benefits turn instead to Medicare, the provision would cause a net revenue loss for the government, said James Klein, president of the American Benefits Council, a Washington-based group that advocates employer-sponsored benefits.

    Many firms consider the provision their chief complaint against the health-care bills, though most said they support health-care reform.

    “Companies are getting more and more nervous,” especially as health-care reform entered its final negotiation phase this week, with high-ranking members of Congress and White House officials working out the details behind closed doors, said Andrew Mekelburg, Verizon’s vice president of federal government relations.

    “You either take the retirees out of that benefit plan or the company has to take a large financial hit,” he added. “Both scenarios are bad for employees, bad for jobs, bad for New Jersey.”

    Verizon provides prescription drug benefits to 16,000 retirees and their dependents in the state.

    Klein said most lawmakers had been unaware of the provision’s consequences until recently and were instead preoccupied by other health-care reform battles.

    “It’s frustrating that a provision with such obvious negative consequences to corporate America and retirees has not yet been fixed,” Klein said.

    Many of the companies that would be affected are unionized and offer better retiree health benefits than those available under Medicare, said Chip Gerrity, president of a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

    “The sad thing is that we’re trying to hurt the employers who are doing the right thing in an effort to try to help the employers that haven’t done anything at all,” he said.

    Democratic leaders are rushing to finish the health-care package in time for President Barack Obama to tout the achievement in his upcoming State of the Union address, expected to be held later this month or in early February.

  58. Sean says:

    Re: Walking Away.

    Here is one that calls it a patriotic duty to default.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/mortgage-defaul-is-a-patriotic-duty-2010-1

  59. crossroads says:

    5 pat

    this is from the link you posted. it would be nice to see the pre bubble #’s Does anyone know where to find that info?

    Annual
    Property Tax Percentage
    Above
    National
    Average Median
    Household
    Income Median
    Home
    Value
    Midwest
    Lake County, Ill. $6,052 413 $80,240 $297,400
    Kendall County, Ill. $5,087 331 $79,839 $258,000
    DuPage County, Ill. $5,082 331 $77,441 $327,000
    McHenry County, Ill. $5,002 324 $77,681 $260,300
    Kane County, Ill. $4,919 317 $68,969 $250,800
    Northeast
    Westchester County, N.Y. $8,404 612 $80,297 $581,900
    Hunterdon County, N.J. $8,347 607 $100,947 $465,100
    Nassau County, N.Y. $8,306 604 $93,579 $507,500
    Bergen County, N.J. $7,997 578 $82,354 $491,000
    Rockland County, N.Y. $7,798 561 $84,105 $496,900
    South
    Loudoun County, Va. $4,844 311 $110,643 $529,300
    Fairfax County, Va. $4,616 291 $106,785 $556,100
    Arlington County, Va. $4,557 286 $96,390 $586,200
    Collin County, Texas $4,404 273 $81,200 $197,000
    Fort Bend County, Texas $4,193 255 $81,456 $169,800
    West
    Marin County, Calif. $5,233 343 $88,101 $912,100
    Santa Clara County, Calif. $4,437 276 $87,287 $743,200
    San Mateo County, Calif. $4,208 257 $84,684 $823,900
    San Francisco County, Calif. $4,198 256 $71,957 $821,800
    San Benito County, Calif. $3,851 226 $72,228 $650,900

  60. Wag says:

    Needs a bit of care to bring it up to date, but an interesting, early work by Meier: http://www.devonbydesign.com/

  61. Essex says:

    66. Thanks that was amazing, I have seen his designs, one in New Harmony, IN — he is a rare talent.

  62. PGC says:

    Clot

    Twitter post of the day.

    From Jag021 on Twitter: “Nottingham Forest chanting ‘Are you watching Liverpool?’ Painful. Benitez has turned us into a laughing stock. Rafa out!”

  63. yikes says:

    Devil’s Advocate:

    So the “modification program” helps 2 upper middle class families in your neighborhood stave off foreclosure. let’s just say both husbands had lost their jobs and both families had nearly tapped out all their savings.

    and – still playing devil’s advocate – in a couple months, both husbands are able to secure jobs (at 50k less than what they used to be making, but still a paycheck).

    couldn’t one make the argument that those 2 houses avoiding foreclosure thanks to the mod program were “good” for your neighborhood?

    /ducks

  64. freedy says:

    by the time most americans figure out
    how they have been had by the banks on
    this housing Shanda, that has gone on
    the country may have tent cities set up,,kinda like all car dealers now have
    a used car showroom. Why, cause the bottom
    fell out of the new car business.

  65. Essex says:

    74. All the baptist gals love a rebel.

  66. Shore Guy says:

    So, on Friday, we were looking at some lakefront places up in the NY Fingerlakes. We found a place we liked very much. It was kind of a family compound, 10 acres, decent sized main house (around 2500 sq ft.), and two guest houses right at water’s edge (they were around 1,500 sq ft.). The asking price was reasonable and I got the impression there wasa willingness to deal.

    Kicker number one, the taxes were aboyt what one might have expected on a place many times more valuable. It is a rural area and homes in more built up areas, greater services, etc. are paying FAR lower rates.

    Kicker two, I express a bit of surprise to the agent about the tax level and she replies: Our
    taxes in this part of NY may be are higher than other states, in fact we’re known for it. But, typically our property values are less which tends to compensate for it.

    Humm, lower value AND higher taxes. That should work for car dealers, eating establishments, etc: Come on down to Dan’s where we give you less and charge you more than anyone else in town. Guaranteed.

  67. pricedOut says:

    Grim:
    What does the “SB”, “BB” and the “TB” stand for in the listing agent’s area on an MLS report?
    Thanks in advance…
    pricedOut

  68. A.West says:

    Shore,
    The purchase price is just what you pay to rent from the government, which owns everything. It’s only fair, you know.

  69. gary says:

    [66],

    Is that an industrial parts manufacturing plant? Very bland, very sterile, zero charisma.

  70. Essex says:

    tsk tsk tsk Gary…..

  71. Mr Hyde says:

    surprised to see this in the NYT…

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/opinion/15brooks.html?hp

    The Underlying Tragedy

    By DAVID BROOKS
    Published: January 14, 2010

    On Oct. 17, 1989, a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck the Bay Area in Northern California. Sixty-three people were killed. This week, a major earthquake, also measuring a magnitude of 7.0, struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Red Cross estimates that between 45,000 and 50,000 people have died.

    This is not a natural disaster story. This is a poverty story. It’s a story about poorly constructed buildings, bad infrastructure and terrible public services. On Thursday, President Obama told the people of Haiti: “You will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten.” If he is going to remain faithful to that vow then he is going to have to use this tragedy as an occasion to rethink our approach to global poverty. He’s going to have to acknowledge a few difficult truths.

  72. Mr Hyde says:

    Stu,

    a novice skater here. know where i might find a second hand pair of size 13 hockey skates?

  73. NJGator says:

    Mr Hyde – Stu is on his way to Atlantic City (have I mentioned here that I am a very good wife?) so he will have to reply sometime tomorrow.

  74. Wag says:

    lisoosh (73) – Classic, love the grounds.

  75. Wag says:

    gary (79) – Less is more.

  76. Wag says:

    Visited MLS 2713146 in Harding Twp. Can not speak to the provenance(Jaffe), but a very unique home. Presentation of this home does not do it justice at all.

  77. ruggles says:

    77 – selling broker, buying broker, transaction broker

  78. pricedOut says:

    thank you ruggles

  79. confused in NJ says:

    Obama may have to seize the Wall Street Bonuses to pay for rebuilding Haiti. Should be close to the correct amount.

  80. ruggles says:

    89 – “Obama may have to seize the Wall Street Bonuses to pay for rebuilding Haiti.”

    Why, did the middle class finally run out of disposable income?

  81. Shore Guy says:

    “Think of all the interest the banksters can collect.

    $400k loan, 5.5%, 30 years, $2271 monthly – $417,616 in total interest payments

    $400k loan, 5.5%, 40 years, $2063 monthly – $590,280 in total interest payments

    $400k loan, 5.5%, 50 years, $1959 monthly – $775,630 in total interest payments

    Banksters can help you cut $300 off your monthly payment, no brainer! Win-win for everyone.”

    And how many years would it take before one paid off even 10% of their loan?

  82. Shore Guy says:

    “Obama may have to seize the Wall Street Bonuses to pay for rebuilding Haiti.”

    No need to touch the “important people when the ones in the $200m-$500m/year crowd still has anything to squeeze.

  83. lisoosh says:

    Whenever I feel a little down I just look at listings for 3 bed 1950’s splits asking $750k and thank my lucky stars I’m not as smart and sophisticated as people in prestigious Bergen county.

  84. Mr Hyde says:

    Q for the collective

    rough guess…. what is a 3bd 1.5 bath actually going to sell for in the lebanon township/hunterdon county area nowadays. comps seems scarce lately?

    anyone want to take a wild guess?

  85. Pat says:

    http://www.gti.net/mocolib1/realty.html

    Here are the counties that upload.

    Click on the county, like Morris. Then go to SRIA’s and hit for multiple fields. Select your twp or locale, and then property class residental from the drop-down.

    I think you can get this at the library for hunterdon.

  86. Pat says:

    Oh…sort on year column.

  87. Commanderbobnj says:

    “.The Second Shot Heard ‘Round the World”

    Martha Coakley (D)-vs-Scott Brown (R)

    I Don’t know if anyone here is watching the Massachusettes Senate race for dead Kennedy’s seat. The election will be this tuesday. It may very well be an UPSET in favor of the Republican-Conservative Scott Brown. What is really funny in my opinion that there are not enough Brown lawn signs to go around so other Brown supporters are stealing them for their own lawns….Too Funny, never ever heard that before.
    Some posts in a Boston Newspaper:
    AMAZING !
    CommanderBob
    —————————————-
    CambSection8

    Call up the Brown headquarters. They will tell you how you can print up your own signs. Better than nothing. Save them after because they will be collector’s items.

    Posted 2 days ago
    the_quay

    Boston is the very cradle of our freedom and liberty.
    Our grandfathers fired the first shots of that struggle right here, and they were victorious. How fitting that it should be Massachusetts who steps up to protect that hard won freedom when it counts the very most, when anyone, anywhere in the country, including us, never believed it would happen again here. Make sure you take a friend or two to the polls with you Tuesday. THIS is what American pride is all about.

    Posted 2 days ago
    eastieboston

    Martha Coakley took all the voters for granted and assumed because she won a moonbat primary that the Senate seat was hers…that is why she went down to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to accept millions from corporate lobbyists and pick out an apartment in the capital. Don’t measure the drapes yet, Martha, the people are speaking up with their $10 contributions and we are saying that we want SCOTT BROWN!!!!!

  88. PatientWife says:

    Living in Hillsborough. Every home in the town is going through a “reassessment” of property. Do you have to legally let them in your home?

  89. ruggles says:

    94 – quiet road, decent condition still 300k to 335k
    busy road or needs work 230-300k
    busy road and needs work 170-230k
    wait til the 8k is gone. (if it goes, which it won’t)

  90. PGC says:

    Sign O the times

    NJ sent me a tax notice for a discrepency of $40 between what I said I paid in property tax and what Jersey City reported to them. More likely JC or my tax accountant f-ed up.

    The kicker is that this is for taxes filed in 2006. On top of that the Custormer Service number says that all correspondance must be in writing. They will not address this over the phone. So do I just pay the $40 for an easy life. Shout at the Accountant and generate another bill from him. Or start digging through the paperwork and take a few trips to Jersey City Town hall to get it strightened out.

    The state must be taking a fine tooth comb to all returns withing the SoL.

  91. PGC says:

    #97 Commanderbobnj

    Long time, no hear.

    A few of my GOP friends are calling her the Leon Lett of politics. They are salivating but I wonder how far they have to go up there to cross the isle?

  92. PGC says:

    isle = aile

    Loading up Turbo tax always make me think of Ned Flanders.

    Ned Flanders on Taxes
    Oh, January 1st! Better get going on those taxes, Neddy!
    — Ned Flanders wakes up at midnight, “The Trouble With Trillions”
    % The hours are getting on now, and Ned is finishing up his taxes. Todd
    % enters.
    Todd: Daddy, what do taxes pay for?
    Ned: Oh, why, everything! Policemen, trees, sunshine! And lets not forget the
    folks who just don’t feel like working, God bless ’em!

  93. Jayne says:

    Grim….thanks for dinner, you got some tight pants.

  94. Taylor says:

    Bednar, just want to say you look phenomenal in tight velvet.

  95. relo says:

    31: SAS, yes agreed, let ’em stay. My issue is that this is a segue into a larger, systematic treatment of illegals.

  96. confused in NJ says:

    100.PGC says:
    January 16, 2010 at 9:21 pm
    Sign O the times

    NJ sent me a tax notice for a discrepency of $40 between what I said I paid in property tax and what Jersey City reported to them. More likely JC or my tax accountant f-ed up.

    The kicker is that this is for taxes filed in 2006. On top of that the Custormer Service number says that all correspondance must be in writing. They will not address this over the phone. So do I just pay the $40 for an easy life. Shout at the Accountant and generate another bill from him. Or start digging through the paperwork and take a few trips to Jersey City Town hall to get it strightened out.

    The state must be taking a fine tooth comb to all returns withing the SoL.

    I paid State $37 for similar 2006 situation. In my case I moved mid year and declared property tax on two different domaciles in 2006. They were only showing final domiciles taxes for all of 2006. Was not worth fighting with them for $37.

  97. confused in NJ says:

    Thousands protest sheriff’s immigration efforts

    Ten thousand immigrant rights advocates marched in front of a county jail in Phoenix Saturday in a protest that was aimed at Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigration efforts and was marked by a clash between a small group of protesters and police officers.

    Organizers say the protest was meant to show officials in Washington that Arpaio shouldn’t handle immigration enforcement, and that Congress and the Obama administration need to come up with a way for immigrant workers to come to the country legally.

    The three-mile walk that started in a west Phoenix park ended by afternoon at the Durango Jail Complex, a collection of five jails, where officials played music, including a record by singer Linda Ronstadt, to drown out noise made by protesters. Ronstadt took part in Saturday’s protest.

    Protesters chanted “Joe must go” as they approached the jail complex. One person carried a sign that said “We are human” and bore a picture of a lawman with a wolf’s face. A family of five wore T-shirts saying “Who would Jesus deport?”

    For his part, Arpaio said he wasn’t bothered by the protesters and that they should be directing their frustrations at Congress because it has the power to change America’s immigration laws.

    “They are zeroing in on the wrong guy,” Arpaio said. “They ought to be zeroing in on the president.”

    The demonstration was peaceful until police say protesters near the end of the procession started throwing water bottles at officers. Phoenix Police Lt. Pat Hofmann said officers used pepper spray as they tried to separate protesters from an officer who was trying to take away the bottles.

    People poured water onto the faces of several protesters whose eyes were irritated by the pepper spray.

    Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill added that one demonstrator struck a police sergeant on the head and chest with a flagpole. And he said an officer on horseback was assaulted as her horse was mobbed, punched and pushed. He didn’t say whether any officers were injured.

    Phoenix police said Saturday night that five people were arrested during the protest and taken to Maricopa County Jail. Three were booked for aggravated assault on police; another was booked for aggravated assault on police and disorderly conduct. The fifth was booked for disorderly conduct and aggravated assault on police.

    Though the scene of the disturbance was cleared within minutes, the aftermath was chaotic. Protesters yelled obscenities at police officers in riot gear. One officer shook his pepper spray canister as he ordered people to keep moving. One protester wore goggles, and several others wrapped bandanas around their mouths.

    Critics have accused deputies working in Arpaio’s immigration efforts of racial profiling, which the sheriff denies. He says his deputies approach people when they have probable cause to believe they had committed crimes.

    Ten months ago, Arpaio learned he was under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for alleged discrimination and unconstitutional searches. He says the investigation was prompted by his immigration efforts, although federal authorities haven’t provided details.

    Since early 2008, Arpaio has run 13 immigration and crimes sweeps involving officers who flood a section of a city — in some cases heavily Latino areas — to seek out traffic violators and arrest other violators.

    Arpaio’s power to make federal immigration arrests was stripped away three months ago by officials in Washington, but he continues his immigration efforts through the enforcement of two state laws.

    A federal grand jury also is investigating Arpaio and his office on allegations of abusing his powers.

  98. NJGator says:

    98 Patientwife – Technically no, but it is in your best interests to do so. State law allows the town to assume the highest level of finish to your home if you do not allow an inspection. So if you do not allow the inspectors in they will assume you have all high end brand new kitchens, bathrooms etc and hit you with the highest possible assessment.

  99. db says:

    Steve Colber said it best .The answer is not to change your lawn sign from for sale to “f**k it”. A mortgage, remember folks is a sacred obligation. ….

    You see, ladies and gentlemen, when you sign that mortgage, you gave your word. And your word is who you are. Ergo, you are your mortgage. And I think, I think this is a question of honor. The banks thought your honor was worth something. And they gave you a mortgage in exchange for your honor.

    Your honor was so precious to those banks that they bundled your honor with other people’s honor and cut that honor bundle into securitized honor derivatives, that were then sold to Wall Street honor speculators. And in an attempt to get more honor to sell they mixed your honor with the honor of people who did not honor their honor and eventually the honor bubble burst.

    But that doesn’t mean that they’re responsible….

  100. db says:

    Steve Colbert said it best .The answer is not to change your lawn sign from for sale to “f**k it”. A mortgage, remember folks is a sacred obligation. ….

    You see, ladies and gentlemen, when you sign that mortgage, you gave your word. And your word is who you are. Ergo, you are your mortgage. And I think, I think this is a question of honor. The banks thought your honor was worth something. And they gave you a mortgage in exchange for your honor.

    Your honor was so precious to those banks that they bundled your honor with other people’s honor and cut that honor bundle into securitized honor derivatives, that were then sold to Wall Street honor speculators. And in an attempt to get more honor to sell they mixed your honor with the honor of people who did not honor their honor and eventually the honor bubble burst.

    But that doesn’t mean that they’re responsible….

  101. db says:

    Steve Colbert said it best .The answer is not to change your lawn sign from for sale to “f**k it”. A mortgage, remember folks is a sacred obligation. ….

    You see, ladies and gentlemen, when you sign that mortgage, you gave your word. And your word is who you are. Ergo, you are your mortgage. And I think, I think this is a question of honor. The banks thought your honor was worth something. And they gave you a mortgage in exchange for your honor.

    Your honor was so precious to those banks that they bundled your honor with other people’s honor and cut that honor bundle into securitized honor derivatives, that were then sold to Wall Street honor speculators. And in an attempt to get more honor to sell they mixed your honor with the honor of people who did not honor their honor and eventually the honor bubble burst.

    But that doesn’t mean that they’re responsible….

  102. db says:

    Steve Colbert said it best .The answer is not to change your lawn sign from for sale to “f**k it”. A mortgage, remember folks is a sacred obligation. ….

    You see, ladies and gentlemen, when you sign that mortgage, you gave your word. And your word is who you are. Ergo, you are your mortgage. And I think, I think this is a question of honor. The banks thought your honor was worth something. And they gave you a mortgage in exchange for your honor.

    Your honor was so precious to those banks that they bundled your honor with other people’s honor and cut that honor bundle into securitized honor derivatives, that were then sold to Wall Street honor speculators. And in an attempt to get more honor to sell they mixed your honor with the honor of people who did not honor their honor and eventually the honor bubble burst.

    But that doesn’t mean that they’re responsible….

  103. willwork4beer says:

    Hyde 94

    I agree with Ruggles (99). Maybe I would have estimated just a little higher on the low end but prices continue to trend downward so its a wash.

  104. ruggles says:

    113 – you are right, my guestimate inc 3bed 1baths. a lot of houses under 280k don’t have that extra half bath.

  105. crossroads says:

    112 db

    Mayor Bloomberg said something like when you sign a mortgage your signing a legal document that binds you to the agreement your signature is your word and makes that individual responsible.

    I haven’t heard anything similar from anyone else. It seems individual responsibility is out the window on this subject there are too many other parties to blame

  106. freedy says:

    i would not worry to much about what bloomberg says. guys worth about 17 billion.

    walk a way is the new normal. survive

  107. Mikeinwaiting "Bicep" says:

    Can anyone provide info on GSMLS # 2701025. Sales history that is.

  108. 115 Crossroads

    Bloomberg doesn’t keep his word. It’s pretty hypocritical for him to make a statement like that.

  109. ruggles says:

    115 – “Mayor Bloomberg said something like when you sign a mortgage your signing a legal document that binds you to the agreement your signature is your word and makes that individual responsible.”

    1. Had the bank given you the money because they were your friend and wanted to help you out and didn’t do due diligence, assess risk/reward, appraise, etc. because they trusted you, then yes you are a jerk if you default and not do everything in your power to make the situation right.

    If the bank was making a business decision and had the financial and legal acumen to understand what is written in a contract that they designed, then F’em. They’d do the same thing if they had to.

    2. Tell Bloomberg to make that same statement to Morgan Stanley. Or STFU.

  110. Mocha says:

    119

    I dig it!

  111. crossroads says:

    I used Bloomberg as an example because he was one of the only public figures to hold an individual responsible in this situation mind you this was at the very start of the bubble bursting and I don’t know his latest stand on the issue he also has a vested interest in keeping wall st happy being the mayor of nyc.

    my point is I don’t need my tax dollars bailing out anyone who played the game. let them all (borrower and lender) suffer the consequences from the decisions they made. let the laws in place play out. all involved are pointing the finger at each other and the tax payer is on the hook. why? the banks the regulators and the borrowers should be on the hook. not me and not my grandchildren.

  112. freedy says:

    crossroads: go have a problem with a major
    bank and try to talk or make a deal

    when they have you bent over, they show
    no mercy, you have to screw them before they
    screw you. and believe me they will.

  113. crossroads says:

    123 freedy

    I will try not to put myself or my family in such a situation.

  114. ruggles says:

    Dear Bergen County,

    RE: http://ntcallaway.com/property/6559615/

    Kindly keep your trash out of Hunterdon.

    Love,
    New Jersey’s formerly beautiful countryside.

    PS, the hairball my cat threw up last week is more architecturally interesting than this “sophisticated” attempt to recreate a Russian prison.

  115. relo says:

    Too late. That ship has sailed.

    I don’t need my tax dollars bailing out anyone who played the game. let them all (borrower and lender)

  116. scribe, The Princess of Paramus says:

    John, #11

    What is a T girl?

    I’m not willing to click on the “enter site” button to find out for myself.

  117. Outofstater says:

    #125 LOL!

  118. NJGator says:

    Christie to N.J.: Get ready for the pain

    Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie believes the public is hungering for clear and decisive leadership — even if it hurts.

    “I think people are ready for the pain,” Christie said during an interview with The Record on Friday. “It doesn’t mean they are going to like it, but I think they’re ready for it.”

    Christie, the 46-year-old Newark native set to become New Jersey’s 55th governor Tuesday, said he will use the Newark-focused inauguration ceremonies as a statement of the Catholic-rooted principles and values that shape his blunt Jersey-guy style of leadership.

    “We are an argumentative type of people, I think,” Christie said at the West Orange offices of David Samson, the Republican lawyer heading up his transition. “What they want you to do is take a stand, they want you to fight for what you believe in. That’s what they’re going to get out of me.”

    Already Christie has showcased his combative style during the 2 1/2-month transition period. He tangled with outgoing Governor Corzine in a public spat over appointments, vowed to break the political grip of the New Jersey Education Association, the powerful state teachers union, and has warned lawmakers that deep cuts in services and aid will be needed to close a potential $10 billion budget deficit.

    “I think they know we can’t continue this way any longer,” he said.

    Changing Trenton in a way that solves the state’s massive fiscal challenges and fixing the other major problems, including high property taxes, is no easy task and Christie concedes he may not be able to change everyone in government.

    “My fear is that if people are unwilling to listen because they’re so in cement on the traditional positions and the partisan divide, and all the rest of that, that we won’t be as successful as we should be,” he said.

    And he understands the dismissive cynicism of the people who come up to him on the street saying, “Do what you said you were going to do.”

    “The only way to defeat that kind of cynicism is to confound their expectations,” he said. “Their expectations are that you are going to be just like the rest of them and if you confound them, even in a small way in the beginning, I think you get a disproportionate amount of credit from [everyday] folks.”

    Inaugural ceremonies will begin with an 8 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, presided over by Newark Archbishop John J. Meyers. Christie will go to Trenton for an 11:30 a.m. swearing-in ceremony at the War Memorial, where state Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, a former colleague of Christie’s at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, will deliver the oath of office.

    Christie will take the oath using a Bible his late maternal grandmother brought home from the Vatican as a gift for his ninth birthday.

    “I can tell you, at the time, I wasn’t thrilled,” he said.

    A buffet-style inaugural ball at the Prudential Center in Newark will kick off at 7 p.m. Bruce Springsteen turned down Christie’s request to perform, so planners settled for the “B-Street” band, a Springsteen cover band.

    Ridgewood’s Laurie Gayle Caliguire, a former Broadway actress and wife of former Bergen County Freeholder Todd Caliguire will perform the national anthem.

    Christie doesn’t believe his victory last Nov. 3 was a referendum on Barack Obama and the Democratic Party’s national leadership. Instead, it was determined by “Jersey-centric” issues, Christie said. And that, he explained, is why no national GOP luminaries are scheduled to attend Tuesday’s ceremonies with the exception of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who stumped for Christie and, ironically, proclaimed that Christie’s victory marked growing discontent with Obama’s leadership.

    Christie will not make a dramatic policy announcement during Tuesday’s speech as past governors have done. Instead, he plans to stress how he will lead the state forward with a firm hand, something he thinks New Jersey is looking for after four years of Corzine, who was perceived as timid and compromising.

    And he will bring an attitude that he said served him well as prosecutor, where the office motto was: “Tear off the rearview mirror. We’re going forward.”

    http://www.northjersey.com/news/81909577_Christie_to_N_J___Get_ready_for_the_pain.html

  119. yikes says:

    california, still a hot mess

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704586504574654673186751100.html

    It now costs more to insure Californian municipal debt against default than it does bonds issued by the government of Kazakhstan, the central Asian country satirized in “Borat.”

    That is neither a joke nor hyperbole. Californian munis cost 2.6% of face value per year to insure, reports CMA DataVision in London, which tracks bond insurance data. Kazakh bonds: Just 1.8%. It is “now less expensive to insure Kazakh debt than that of Greece, California and various other entities,” confirms CMA spokesman Simon Mott. (Crisis-stricken Greece, incidentally, costs about the same as California).

  120. NJGator says:

    Came down to Marlboro yesterday to help Father Gator with his informal meeting to discuss his new assessment due to the Marlboro Revaluation.

    If your town is getting revalued by Realty Appraisal BEWARE. These guys are very slick. The assessments are all under market value, yet the first thing they said to my father was “You really think your assessment is higher than the market value of your home?” They refused to share my father’s property record card with him prior to the meeting – so he could not review the card in advance to confirm there were no mistakes or prepare proofs in case they were. In fact even at the meeting, they started to read from the card, but not show it to us. I had to demand it, and they wouldn’t give us a copy of the card to take with us. They said he could request a copy from the township AFTER the town certified his new assessment to the county.

    My folks actually had a flood in their basement after their initial inspection, ruining their finished basement. We were there with photos (which the gentleman who made the appointment over the phone told my father he didn’t need). They actually did not want to change the assesment because “maybe you’re gonna finish it again”. I politely said that there were no plans to finish the basement in the future, but if they did they’d have to file a permit. It’s not like they can tax you today on a kitchen renovation that you will do 5 years down the road.

    My folks were lucky because there were no mistakes on their card. Their neighbors, however, were assessed for a finished basement and fireplace they don’t even have.

    The sad thing is, most homeowners will see the new assessment, believe they got a “deal”, never go check out their property record card and then pay too much in taxes for the next 15 years.

    Be on your toes if these guys come to your town!

  121. NJGator says:

    Also re 131 – in the valuation letter sent out to taxpayers, the new 2009 equivalency tax rate was NOT the full tax rate – so they are trying to make people think your new assessment would result in lower taxes than they actually would – i.e. the rate in the letter is 1.897, yet the man we met with in person acknowledged it didn’t include fire and a few other things and the real equivalent rate would actually be over 2.00! Very misleading.

  122. Kettle1: Used skates are a tough find in New Jersey since we don’t have a Play It Again Sam. For used equipment, I usually look for stuff on Ebay as there are lots of adults who think they will play hockey, buy $600 worth of equipment, play one day or one season and realize that it is much harder than it looks. For ice skates, just run out to the Sports Authority when they have one of those 20% off coupons and buy the entry level Bauer 1000s. Should be able to get them for $40 or so and I’ve been playing on my 1000s for 7 years. Just wipe the bottom of the skate with a towl before you put them in a bag and the rivets won’t rust out. Then when you get home, never leave them in a bag.

    If you are not serious about playing, go to a local rink, rent hockey skates for a public session and take ’em home. :P

  123. Gator,

    CC sounds a lot like JC did before he officially started. Doesn’t he have to deal with the assembly as well? Wake me up when he announces the massive furloughs that get paid back when the economy recovers. Don’t expect a single cut. They are all the same!

  124. yikes says:

    Anyone had a bad experience at Raymor & Flanagan?

    Saw a sectional we liked at JC Penny. Great deal. They were tossing in an armchair.

    went to R&F, and they had a sectional that was slightly more comfortable, maybe $350 more, but wouldn’t toss in a free armchair.

    im fairly blunt with the R&F lady: “if you toss in an armchair, it’s a done deal. All things being equal, that’s the deal breaker.”

    R&F lady: “absolutely not.” Then she backpedals and says she’ll get her manager. MGR comes over with 2 bottled waters (whatever) and says she’ll wipe out the delivery fee ($75).

    again, i ask about the free armchair. “I couldn’t do that, we’d be out of jobs.”

    i had to laugh and say, “ok, let’s not go overboard here. i guess you guys don’t want the sale that bad.”

    went with the Penny sectional.

  125. gary says:

    yikes [135],

    F*ck em, let them eat cake. I’ve said this time and time again, the buyer dictates, not the seller. They claim they’d be out of a job? So be it. Nothing is more true than when it comes to buying a house. A buyer has a certain price tag which means jack sh1t. You price the house based on long term fundamentals and trend and that’s what you offer. And for the naysayers out there, f*ck you, because I have better than 60% equity plus a cushion on the side. And you know why? That’s because I watched where the herd was moving and went the other way. Oh, and this is for you realtors –> http://tinyurl.com/6g2r2j

  126. d2b says:

    yikes-

    Not sure if you are pissed off at R&F. Sounds like you had a deal that they could not match. The fact that they let you walk demonstrates that. The sectional at JC Penny could have been last years model. One store could have needed the numbers or have been overstocked. Everybody in sales has had to walk away from a deal that they could not do.

    My only rule with furniture is that I will never, ever leave a deposit. Too many stores and manufacturers go in and out of business in that industry. The also never seem to meet deadlines. We canceled LR that was supposed to take 8 weeks after 12 weeks. I’m glad that I did not have to chase them to get money back.

  127. Gary is so right.

    You should not feel guilty about a seller saying no. They have their price, you have yours.

    What really sucks though, is how many people overpay, financially tap out and then leave us, the responsible ones, with the bill. Meanwhile, when we go looking for a play to buy, we keep getting out bid by these morons. So be it!

  128. Mr Hyde says:

    Stu,

    re skates: thanks, my son has really gotten into skating and constant renting is a waste of money.

    Rugggles, WWFBeer

    thank you!

  129. Mr Hyde says:

    Scribe 127

    careful that john link is a Transvest1te website

  130. Mr Hyde says:

    SHore,

    the panacea of the milimeter wave body scanner has been popped already,

    (in german)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrKvweNugnQ

    SHore,

    I wonder if anyone has addressed potential safety issues with this tech since the energy is in the microwave frequency. not saying its dangerous but i would suspect there are potential safety issues if not used properly 9 and we are talking about the TSA)

  131. 127 Scribe

    A T-girl is a transvestite.

  132. 127 Scribe

    A T-girl is a transvest!te.

  133. NJCoast says:

    Gator-

    I’ve known the Rubenstein family (owners of Realty Appraisals) for years. The stories I could tell you….

  134. Mikeinwaiting "Bicep" says:

    Lost saw that house with the red counters today. Not as bad in person, actually nice over all. As it is a short sale will wait for it to go to bank if not there will be others. No hurry, for 50 k less I’d bite. Just hang where I am, not hard to take.

  135. 146 Mike
    Keep me posted on that. What was the price again?

  136. silenttilnow says:

    Hello, to all members of this site:

    Wondering if what the guy in this video claims, that unemployment numbers only include those unemployed for the first 26 weeks of benefits, is tru? Any thoughts from anyone?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjlq1eMQjVg

  137. Jim says:

    Yes, I would say the unemployment numbers are totally fudged. It is all smoke and mirrors at this point.
    Jim

  138. freedy says:

    somebody jumped this am from the tea building . any details yet

  139. db says:

    Massachusetts R’s have been running this video all weekend ….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcBaSP31Be8

  140. freedy says:

    i see where they are flying Haiti into NJ already. suprised it took this long.

    Welfare office open tomorrow?

  141. Mikeinwaiting "Bicep" says:

    Lost 148, 192k short sale, taxes 5k. We shall see, will do.

  142. Practic-Al says:

    Gary (#136) – Why so hostile? Is real estate worth getting so hot over? I don’t understand.

  143. Practic-Al says:

    Gary (#136) – Why so hostile? Is real estate worth getting so hot over? I don’t understand.

  144. Shore Guy says:

    “Is real estate worth getting so hot over? ”

    It depends on the size of the, um, “dormers.”

  145. gary says:

    Practic-Al [157],

    1) “This town expects a certain type here… perhaps you should consider looking in a different town or out of State.”

    2) “Oh no, you’re wrong, this town will never see prices go down.”

    3) “You should consider buying now or be priced out forever. And besides, interst rates are supposed to rise drastically by the summer (2006).”

    4) “You should think about buying as much house as you can as real estate only goes up and it’s the best investment you can have.”

    5) “Take out a HELOC and use that to buy the home so you don’t lose it in a bidding war, considering that you have to sell your current house first. But, don’t tell the bank what you’re really using the money for.”

    6) “No, I’m not showing you the current listings, let me show you what I have here exclusively.”

    7) “There not making any more land here you know, so the steady increase in population is only going to drive up the prices for at least the next 10 years.”

    8) “This town is just bleeding wealth.”

    Actually, my favorite was when a realtor physically walked away from us when my spouse was in mid-sentence when she found out we really weren’t interested in the house. You get the picture yet or should I give you about 20 or 30 more?

  146. gary says:

    Shore Guy,

    Is Sela Ward in the dormers? ;)

  147. Morpheus says:

    159:

    Gary, Gary, Gary. . . you forgot:

    9.) you are pre-approved for so much more, why are you offering such a low price (Because you dumb bitch, I can guarantee that if the bank is stupid enough to loan me that amount of $$$, I will not be able to repay it!)

    10.) You should raise your offer. . .that’s insulting to the seller!

    11.) Prices and sales are not falling. What do you mean a real estate bubble? There is no such thing

    12.) Are we wasting our time? I have shown you X number of houses and you still have not placed an offer or you will not bid what I think you should bid.

  148. Morpheus says:

    Now for something completely different. kegged the ESB at 6.01% ABV. Bought 55 lbs of grain for brewing. If the axe falls on me, at least I will be able to brew beer for a year.

  149. Stu says:

    “somebody jumped this am from the tea building . any details yet”

    Corzine?

  150. freedy says:

    johnny moved

  151. Cindy says:

    http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/news/la-fi-harney17-2010jan17,0,7677056.story

    How has the new HUD good faith estimate policy been working since the beginning of the new year? Would you believe they found a loophole?

  152. Cindy says:

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121875404

    NPR – From TBP – JOBS – Interactive 2008-2018. Cool

  153. db says:

    watch Haiti developments because the Obama has made Haitians of all Americans–only it is just not yet apparent. America is the most indebted nation on the planet.
    http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/0

  154. Cindy says:

    J-J-J- JJ and the Jets….NYJ 10 SD 7
    4th quarter

  155. NJGator says:

    Cindy – it’s only fitting that the Jets won tonight. This enables them to break our hearts in the biggest possible way next week.

  156. Pat says:

    Cindy, as long as you’re around, and nobody’s doing re today, can you help me with an age 8/age 9 behavior control?

    I often have 3 kids together. Couple times a week. Various combinations of two always seem to do rude things to the other. More and more, it’s shutting one out/ostracizing.

    Today, in the back seat of the car, one kid pushes the other sitting in the middle facedown to the knees says, “You can’t listen.” She has to tell the other a secret. Whisper. I say “Excuse me, stop that, we are together, today.” It happens again. I VERY loudly and firmly proclaim, “This is my car, not yours, not hers. I DO NOT ALLOW RUDE BEHAVIOR! Whispering in front of others is rude. You may wait until the two of you are alone, or you may loudly state what you are saying so that I can hear it.”

    Kid gets offended and pouts the rest of the way home.

    I know they do this at recess and in front of the other parents and are not corrected. Yeah, it’s a chicken peck/order thing. It happened all afternoon at a birthday party today, with one defined ringleader, and none of the parents corrected it.

    My kid already knows she has to call the pushed-down kid and apologize tomorrow.

    Am I fighting an uphill battle against the natural order of things?

  157. Cindy says:

    173 – Hi Pat…

    “Am I fighting an uphill battle against the natural order of things?”

    It is natural – that is the age 8 or 9 with girls – but the battle has to be fought.

    Grades K-2 Everybody is your friend…3rd grade/sometimes 2nd – “You can be my friend, and you – but not you”…very age-appropriate.

    I totally teach “To have a friend – be a friend.” “Do unto others….”
    It has to be taught.

    I ask the kids. “How does it feel when you are left out?” We discuss that we are all friends, we may disagree now and then but we need to respect each other.

    Respect – in large letters – is my only classroom rule.

    Yourself, others, teachers –

    So my opinion, answer is two-fold: Yes it is an uphill, age-appropriate battle and I fight it every day….You have to.

    It gets easier. If you have the talks and lessons now, they will last forever. To pass up this “teachable moment” will only buy you grief later on.

  158. Jim says:

    Pat,
    I don’t know anything about those little kids but I do know that the Jets are going to get whipped by the Colts pretty bad. The Jets seem to implode at the end of every season. I would love to see a Vikings/Colts SuperBowl.
    Jim

  159. Mocha says:

    Local section of the record today has an article talking about stopping side yard trash pick up in Allendale to help close a budget gap. The article goes on to say that Allendale public employee salaries will increase 1% and health benefits will increase 22%. In order to close the gap Allendale will have to raise taxes (4% is the maximum) and then some(5% is needed if the budget shortfall is 12% but Christie has told towns to prepare for up to 25%).

    I can’t wait to see what happens to property values when towns try to raise taxes while mortgage rates start inching up. Not to mention the outrage over increasing salaries and benefits for public employees.

  160. Pat says:

    Jim, that lol’d me for the night.

  161. Pat says:

    Cindy – why do you think the recess monitors and the other parents look the other way?

  162. Cindy says:

    Pat – Truth is – Following through is hard work….

    Lousy answer – huh..

  163. Pat says:

    And I couldn’t figure out why the chick John posted was so gross and fascinating, either, CF.

    Didn’t notice the T thing.

  164. cobbler says:

    mocha [176]
    If town desires so, it could create an authority to deal with the trash pickup (and make you pay outside of your municipal tax), or quit it all-together and make you contract with the private hauler. In principle, the municipal portion of your property tax bill is not a major one (for me, only 17.5%) – so even if they jack it up it still will be small v. BOE extortion.

  165. cobbler says:

    There are only two ways to retain middle class in this country (1) via serious protectionism and (2) via big time redistribution of income. From the current troubles of the administration one could conclude that the path (2) is barred – that is, the middle class will disappear sooner than its [former] members realize the the American dream no longer exists. Path (1) is interesting in its affording more egalitarian (=generally, happier) society though at a price of a slower GDP growth and reduced overall consumption. The question is if the populism of the tea party movement could be channeled into support for the domestic industry; I hope yes – but again, people want to keep more of their incomes to be able to buy more junk, and protections make junk more expensive.

    The key implication of the disappearance of the middle class for the residential RE in NJ is that the currently existing housing is totally unsuitable for the society having 5% rich, 10% reasonably well-off, 60% poor and 25% trash. Newly poor (I ignore the mortgage debt which I believe will eventually disappear via inflation or fiat) will not be able to afford even the utilities + maintenance of the average SFH (and, communities will not be able to afford the support of the stretched towns’ infrastructure). OTOH, newly rich and well-off will strive for the lifestyles typically found at their peers’ homes in say India or Brasil (adjusting for the climate difference) – that is, with live-in maids, cooks, gardeners, etc. whose required pay suddenly becomes affordable for the house owner. However, most today’s luxury homes (except super-high-end) are not really suited for this; also, extent of geographical isolation from the future proles’ habitats, and physical security of the high-end communities, are inadequate. That suggests that the bulk of the housing we’ve currently got will be abandoned within the next 30-50 years and replaced by a totally different set-up – probably high-rise blocks of small apartments (like the projects of the 50s and 60s, but with much tighter and more visible police presence) and walled estate communities at a distance precluding easy access by foot or bike from the apartment blocks.

  166. scribe, The Princess of Paramus says:

    kettle, yikes

    T girl = transvestite

    yikes

    Isn’t that a bit much, even for John?

  167. chicagofinance says:

    Ever see the commercials on Robyn Byrd for CWD?

    Bad experience with a buddy of mine while waiting for a stoplight on 10th Avenue about 20 years ago. The old open the kimono (i.e. mink coat) not solicited….I invented the term “red lights are optional”.

    180.Pat says:
    January 17, 2010 at 8:53 pm
    And I couldn’t figure out why the chick John posted was so gross and fascinating, either, CF.
    Didn’t notice the T thing.

  168. Pat says:

    I’ve had only good experiences, on the other hand.

    There was this guyrl who hung out every night at Katmandu in Trenton back in the 90’s.

    Always wore this Marilyn Monroe light blue sweater. I seriously wanted to borrow that sweater.

    And I hope he’s O.K. today.

  169. chicagofinance says:

    175.Jim says:
    Jim: The Jets hung with those guys a month ago before the Colts tanked the game. I am not saying the Jets will win, but it is more likely than not that they will hang close. The the Jets are within a touchdown at halftime, then they have a pretty good shot. If they are up at the half, I almost guarantee that they will smoke the Colts.

    January 17, 2010 at 8:29 pm
    Pat,
    I don’t know anything about those little kids but I do know that the Jets are going to get whipped by the Colts pretty bad. The Jets seem to implode at the end of every season. I would love to see a Vikings/Colts SuperBowl.
    Jim

  170. chicagofinance says:

    To be clear, the Colts are a better team across the board than the Bolts, but the Jets just shut down a better offensive team than the Colts today.

  171. chicagofinance says:

    Where is lurkerpret to needle me about not buying the HTB? I can’t imagine a worse place in the whole complex to have a splat! Right in the middle of the main entrance….someone in the sales office must have fcuked the person over for them to want exact such a penalty on the place…

    163.Stu says:
    January 17, 2010 at 5:47 pm
    “somebody jumped this am from the tea building . any details yet”
    Corzine?

  172. chicagofinance says:

    Rex Ryan quote…

    “Who won this week? Three home teams and the fcuking Jets!”

  173. chicagofinance says:

    From kannekt:

    Re: did someone jump out the window #23
    Anonymous On a serious note Toll and management need to do a better job at screening tenants. This renter could have landed on an innocent person exiting the building. I wonder what spin the gals at the sales office will give on this one. Views to die for and our windows are so large the last person to occupy this unit fell out. We are charging a premium on this unit as it comes with a tortured sprit that wanders the unit. Of course we will perform an exorcism on the unit but that will cost an additional 10,000 as we have to fly our exorcist in from our headquarters.

  174. Pat says:

    I told you higher floors command a premium because there’s no need for a rider for rehab or therapy.

  175. yikes says:

    don’t gimmie this ‘x is the better team than y.’

    that’s all subjective in the NFL. Chargers on paper were a Super Bowl contender at the start of the season. and in the middle. and at the end.

    now, they’re at home.

    jets were never a PLAYOFF contender. now, they’re one game from the Super Bowl.

    strategy is simple, and everyone knows it: safe throws from Sanchez, lot of runs, lots of blitzing by the defense. much more difficult to stop.

    worth noting: Chargers were 20th against the run. Jets rushed for 169 yards.

    Colts are 24th against the run.

  176. chicagofinance says:

    yikes: The Jets O-line also wears down a defense…it’s why Shonn Greene has broken big runs late in games…

  177. chicagofinance says:

    The Jets were running all first half to little result, but the punishment is important to exact, because it adds up over the course of the game.

  178. Shore Guy says:

    A littlc chuckle from a listing on Key Biscayne:

    $985,000
    4 Bed, 3 Bath | 1,580 Sq Ft | 7,500 Sq Ft Lot
    Single Family Home
    Perfect starter home on great street! 4/3 with white tile floors

  179. Shore Guy says:

    “T girl = transvestite”

    Which reminds me of a funny thing that happened to one of the guys from our team when off at a bowl game. Oy! At practice the next day, it was brutal for him. Even worse when the other team found out and used it in a skit at the banquet before the game.

  180. Shore Guy says:

    NJ Escapee,

    Any word on where things stand with Keys RE? How far above final selling prices are you seeing? Any advice ot things to seek/avoid down there in the way of an occasional use place?

  181. sas says:

    went to Hallmark store today to by a birthday card.

    Clerk tell me they are closing this shop and a few others on the 24th of feb. I asked if they are going to relocate or find another opening for you.

    She says “nope”

    SAS

  182. sas says:

    yes, it was fun to see the Jets win.

    I’d like to see Minn take it all.

    SAS

  183. cobbler says:

    sas [198]

    Hallmark stores had been getting emptier every year, the only reason they stayed in business was the humongous mark-ups that the few customers they had were paying.

  184. Shore Guy says:

    Cobbbler,

    Who sends cards anymore?

  185. gary says:

    I want you to click on the link below and study the chart closely for 60 seconds. Tell me exactly what you see. I then want you to predict where the economy and house prices will stand two years from now.

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pMscxxELHEg/S0zEYEpaFyI/AAAAAAAAHPo/gLfcUyq6xJo/s1600-h/AmherstOptionARM.jpg

  186. njescapee says:

    Shore, I think pricing is more realistic and taxes have come down as well. Anybody’s guess if there is gonna be another leg down. There are some nice places in the lower keys. A buddy of mine, a retired jersey shore town cop has a place in Baypoint with a million dollar view on the open water. He has about 125 ft on the Atlantic with a small sand beach and boat ramp. a place like that probably can be had for maybe 400k or so. I live at the golf course where 2009 saw something of a turnaround over 30 units sold at 2000 prices. I’m noticing folks from Europe, moving into the neighborhood.

    Hey, you still playing guitar. I started playing a lot during the recent cold spell. getting my chops back. doing a lot of fingerstyle stuff.

  187. lisoosh says:

    I have a just turned 8 y/o girl.
    I always tell her that she doesn’t have to like everyone and doesn’t need to be their friends, but she HAS to be polite and treat them with respect and good manners.
    So far she’s a pretty kind kid, likes to stick up for the weaker ones although she is succeptable to peer pressure.

    Cindy/Pat – thoughts?

  188. PGC says:

    #202 Gary

    True answer after 60secs.

    When was that graph compiled. At what point does the graph go from, this is what happened to, this is what is in front of us. If this is the same graph from two years ago what portion of the Option A was refied.

    Is this saying that all the 2007 subprime was pushed down the road into Option ARMS?

  189. njescapee says:

    Shore, prices have dropped drastically along with tax assessments. This has made occasional use places tax levy nearly level with homesteaded less the 25k exclusion. I’m guessing that taxes will stay near these levels for a while. We have a lot of tea baggers here in the peoples republic of the florida keys.

  190. cobbler says:

    shore [201]
    I guess your question had been rhetorical – though my wife does buy a couple of cards a year there, when we need to run somewhere and suddenly find we don’t have a card to go with the gift. Hallmark was making most of the money not from the cards but rather all sorts of useless knickknacks, which now could be bought at TJMaxx next door for 75% less.

  191. Shore Guy says:

    OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Looking at a place a block from the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. In 2006, the current owner purchased it for a bit over $1mm, it is on a lagoon, and is now currently listed for below 300m.

  192. Shore Guy says:

    NJE,

    How are things like food, electric, gas, flood insurance, insurance down there? Also, do you fly back to the NY area often? I aam trying to get your long view on air fares.

    How is beach access? We are early morning and evening beach walkers.

  193. Shore Guy says:

    Cold spell in the Keys?

  194. Mikeinwaiting "Bicep" says:

    PGC 205

    From Fitch ratings: “Overall, prime RMBS 60+ days delinquencies rose to 9.2% for December 2009, up almost three times compared to the same period last year (3.2% in December 2008). The 2006/2007 vintages combined rose to 12.7% from 4.3%.” They’re talking about residential mortgage backed securities, which of course are pools of residential loans.
    From Lender Processing Services:

    “Total delinquencies, excluding foreclosures, increased to a record high 9.97 percent, representing a month-over-month increase of 5.46 percent and a year-over-year increase of 21.29 percent. Loans rolling to a more delinquent status totaled 5.01 percent compared to 1.52 percent of loans that improved. Of loans that were current in December 2008, 4.37 percent were either 60 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure by the end of November 2009, a rate higher than any other year for the same period.”

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