Looking for what's new and what's now in the real estate world. The Jersey Group and Bob The Broker have joined forces on this blog dedicated to all aspects of the real estate business.

Real Estate Internet Marketing is gaining much importance nowadays, as it is highly important for those who are engaged in selling real estate online. According to a survey conducted by a top-rated magazine, more than 75% of people lean on the internet to buy their dream home. Whether it is 75% or 84% or anywhere in between, one thing is clear, it is more important than ever if you are a Realtor, to have an internet presence.

Since many Realtors have their own sites on the web, with features such as pictures of properties as well as floor plans, it has enabled the potential customers for hassle-free home buying. A website not only enables to promote a Realtor’s properties but also to promote the services they render.

But, there are such a great number of real estate-related websites that it has now become an overwhelming process for a particular real estate website to get ranked high among the search engine results. Here comes the role of real estate internet marketing.

Where does a Realtor begin…with REALTOR.com, Yahoo! Real Estate, Zillow.com, Trulia, Google and so many others. You could spend so much time in front of a computer that you fail to prospect new clients. You could hire a marketing consultant, but who wants to spend that kind of money.

As a mortgage broker I have found that this is the perfect opportunity to help the Realtor’s that I work with. It’s incredible; I have found that many Realtor’s do not know the first thing about the internet. Many do not have the time to deal with it! That is fine, if they have good trusted partners they can focus their efforts on what they do best, sell houses! I, in turn focus on getting their listings found on the internet. I make sure their listings are posted to Craigslist regularly. I become their marketing department.

I know that I cannot get all my Realtor’s referrals, but I can help their business in other ways. The most interesting part about it, when I meet new Realtors and tell them some of the things I do, they get very defensive and make sure I know they already work with a Mortgage Advisor. You are not the only Realtor I work with; I do not expect to be your only Mortgage Advisor. All I ask is an opportunity to show you some of the things I can do to help you with your business!

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.valuedlender.com/

If you are in need of a mortgage advisor in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

Having an internet presence these days has to be a part of the marketing plan for every business, including anyone in the real estate business. Such a large part of our business comes from referrals, why not take advantage of social networking? Yes it can take up a lot of time, and often addicting. But used properly it can be a large and inexpensive piece of any marketing plan. I came across this list of 50 social sites that every business needs a presence on. It is a great list, here are a couple of my favorite:

1. LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a popular networking site where alumni, business associates, recent graduates and other professionals connect online.

2. Ziggs: Ziggs is "organizing and connecting people in a professional way." Join groups and make contacts through your Ziggs account to increase your company's presence online and further your own personal career.

3. Ma.gnolia: Share your favorite sites with friends, colleagues and clients by organizing your bookmarks with Ma.gnolia. Clients will appreciate both your Internet-savviness and your ability to stay current and organized.

4. Sphinn: Sphinn is an online forum and networking site for the Internet marketing crowd. Upload articles and guides from your blog to create interest in your own company or connect with other professionals for form new contacts.

5. Wetpaint: If you're tired of blogs and generic Web sites, create your own wiki with Wetpaint to reach your audience and increase your company's presence online. You can easily organize articles, contact information, photos and other information to promote your business.

If you would like to see the entire list, go to http://www.insidecrm.com/features/50-social-sites-012808/

What sites have you found useful for your marketing plan?

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.valuedlender.com/

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

101 Fun Things to do in New Jersey

I recently read an article in New Jersey Family that listed 101 fun things to do in New Jersey. I have lived in this state most of my life and I must admit I have done very little on the list. Here are some of the things I want to do:

- Tickle your taste buds at the 8th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival (7/17; Toms River; 732/946-2711).

- Cruise on the historic schooner A.J. Meerwald, New Jersey’s Official Tall Ship (Port Norris; 856/785-2060).

- Visit a wetland. And don’t miss the 28th Annual Wings ’n Water Festival at the Wetlands Institute (9/17–19; Stone Harbor; 609/368-1211).

- Celebrate the cranberry at the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival; New Jersey ranks fourth in the U.S. in cranberry production (10/16–17; 609/698-2501).

- Dance with wolves at the Lakota Wolf Preserve. The Gray wolves will be resplendent in their winter coats (Columbia; 877/733-9653).

- Stroll under Newark’s historic cherry trees at the 35th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival (973/268-3500).

- Walk a steel girder, avoid the big blue nose, and take the Wildlife Challenge at Liberty Science Center (Liberty State Park, Jersey City; 201/200-1000).

- Learn the old-style European method of crafting cheese from sheep’s milk at the Valley Shepherd Creamery (Long Valley; 908/876-3200).

- Savor fresh strawberries at the Annual West Cape May Strawberry Festival (6/4/11; 609/884-9325).

I hope you found these to be fun. For the complete article go to http://njfamily.com/en/news/101_Fun_Things_to_Do_in_New_Jersey.aspx

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.valuedlender.com/

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

I am always looking for easy ways to save my clients money. When a friend showed me this last week I thought it was great and wanted to share it. Granted, 5-10% a month isn't loads of money, but for 5 minutes of time and no obligation or contract, to me it seems like a no brainer.

*You can reduce your electric bill every month risk free.

It's FREE to switch and it takes less than 5 minutes. You still receive the same single bill from JCP&L or PSEG. The switch is completely transparent to you, only you're paying a lot less. Since 1999, the NJ utilities are not allowed to profit from selling you electricity. So they encourage you to switch.

Your reliability and emergency repair remain the responsibility of JCP&L, PSE&G or ACE and are 100% unaffected. There is no risk to switching. This does not affect your budget payment plan at all.

Viridian has one low, all inclusive, rate. No hidden fees or "introductory" rates.

To make the switch, all you'll need is a copy of your electric bill and 5 minutes. Simply go to www.viridian.com/responsiblesolutions

Click on "Become a Customer" in the upper right hand corner of the webpage. In just minutes, you'll be saving money every month, AND making a contribution to the environment at the same time. It's your RIGHT to choose! Don't pay "retail" for your energy any more.

If you want more info, check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/viridiancustomer

For more tips on how to save money on your electric bill, check out David Krichmar's blog from a couple weeks back. David always has extremely useful information. I highly suggest following his blog.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1733800/10-ways-to-reduce-your-electric-bill

I hope this has been helpful.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.valuedlender.com/

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

Did you know that if you are a New Jersey property owner you may be eligible for a grant or loan for the removal of your underground oil tank?

The Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation, Upgrade and Closure Program provides loans and grants to eligible applicants to help finance project costs for the closure and replacement of a non-leaking residential underground storage tank (UST) on or after August 2, 2006

Am I eligible?

Applicants with a non-leaking residential UST are eligible for funding for closure/removal and closure/removal/replacement of the UST. Applicants with a leaking residential UST are also eligible for funding.

What are the limits of funding available?

• Up to $1,200 for the closure/removal of a non-leaking UST
• Up to $3,000 for the closure/removal/replacement of a non-leaking UST
• The applicant is responsible for costs above these limits.

What are the requirements?

The applicant must provide:

· Their last three years Federal Income Tax

· Completed Personal Financial Statement (can be found on njeda.org)

· Non-refundable $250 Application fee payable to the NJEDA

How Do I Qualify?

The following criteria must be met:

· Annual taxable income of less than $250,000

· Net worth, excluding applicant's primary residence and pension (401K, IRA), of not more than $500,000

· A determination of financial hardship based on whether and applicant can reasonably expect to repay, if the funding were to be awarded as a loan.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.valuedlender.com/

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

Yesterday Congress approved an extension of the first time homebuyer tax credit.

Don’t get too excited, as this is only for those who were already under contract before the previous deadline of April 30^th, they now have until September 30^th to close and receive the tax credit. This extension is from an original close date of June 30^th. The real winners in this extension are those involved in a Short Sale transaction. There are still a large number of Short Sales that have been under contract since before April 30^th but are not scheduled to close before the end of June.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

The Senate voted 38-0 to approve the bill. It was approved 67-8-2 by the Assembly on May 20. It now goes to the governor for his consideration.

The bill (A-1678) would establish the New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program under the New Jersey gross income tax for home purchases made within a year of the bill's enactment. Refundable tax credits would be allowed for up to $15,000 or 5 percent of the home purchase price, whichever is less, for homebuyers of new and previously owned homes.

The total credits available would be capped at $100 million, with $75 million allocated for purchases of newly constructed homes not previously occupied and $25 million allocated for purchases of previously occupied homes. The determinations of credit eligibility would be provided to interested homebuyers in advance of their purchase through an automated, convenient and prompt process to be administered by the Division of Taxation.

These determinations will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis and the claiming of the credit for personal income tax filing purposes will be divided into three equal credits claimed over three taxable years. The home would have to continue to be occupied as the taxpayer's principle residence for three years.

This would be an amazing tax credit if passed by the Governor. Once again, I will keep you updated.

Call me with any questions.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, Middlesex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

The business sure has changed over the last couple of years.  It used to be that anyone could get a loan, so having a pre-qualification wasn't really that big of a deal.  Then as things tightened up most realtors realized that spending too much time with a client that wasn't pre-qualified could be a real waste of time.  From my experience most realtors would give the client a couple hours looking at houses before they pushed the subject, although I know plenty that wouldn't even go that far!  Of course they had a mortgage person that could get their client pre-qualified and on the road looking at houses in 20 minutes!  Yes that still holds true and if you are in a rush to get looking at houses it's not a big deal.  That being said, if you want a smooth purchase from beginning to end you should push your client to sit with a mortgage advisor and spend some time discussing the process.  There are some pitfalls that can be avoided by an early consultation with a good mortgage advisor.  Here is the perfect example of the latest change that could affect your closings (This comes from an email I sent clients last week):

If you're thinking about applying for a home mortgage, here's some important news: Beginning June 1, your lender is likely to order a second full credit screening immediately before closing.

The last-minute credit report will be designed to find out whether you have obtained -- or even shopped for -- new debt between the date of your loan application and the closing. If you've made applications for credit of any type -- for furnishings and appliances for the new house, a car, landscaping, a home equity line, a new credit card, you name it -- the closing could be put on hold pending additional research by the lender.

Just one of the many changes that could cause issues with your closing if your clients are not well advised!  If you would like to see the complete email please feel free to contact me.  If you would like to meet to discuss some of the other topics I review in my initial consultation please let me know.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

 If you need a trusted Mortgage Advisor in Morris County, Middlesex County, Essex County, Sussex County, Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call.

Legislation that would create a tax credit for home purchases made in 2010 was approved Thursday by the Assembly.

The bill would establish the New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program, under the state gross income tax, for home purchases this year. The program would offer refundable tax credits for up to $15,000 or 5 percent of the home purchase price, whichever is less. The home purchased must be used as the taxpayer's principal residence for three years after the purchase date.

The tax credits would be capped at $100 million - with $75 million allocated for new-home purchases and $25 million for purchases of previously occupied homes - and be available during one year or until the total credit amounts are claimed.

The tax credit will be divided in equal amounts for three consecutive taxable years, beginning in the taxable year of the home purchase.

The bill has now been referred to the Senate for a final vote, which could take place as early as the June 10 session, according to the state Legislature.

This would be an amazing tax credit if passed by the Senate. I will kep you updated.

Call me with any questions.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net

If you are in need of a mortgage in Morris County, EssexCounty, Sussex County or anywhere in New Jersey please give me a call!

FHA - Temporary Waiver of Property Flipping Regulations in Morris, Essex, Sussex County and the rest of New Jersey

I have been fielding a lot of emails and phone calls from realtors regarding the temporary waiver of property flipping regulations. For those realtors that work with investors and builders, this is good information to know!

The waiver allows borrowers to use FHA insured financing to purchase HUD-owned properties, bank-owned properties, or properties resold through private sales.

The waiver is effective with sales contracts dated on or after February 1, 2010 and is limited to sales that meet the following conditions.

• The transaction must be an arms-length transaction with no identity of interest between the buyer, seller or any other party participating in the transaction.

• If the new sales price is 20% or more above the seller’s acquisition cost the waiver will only apply as follows:

· The increase in value is justified by supporting documentation in the loan file and/or a second appraisal which verifies the seller has completed sufficient legitimate improvements, repair and rehabilitation work on the subject property to substantiate the increase or, if no work was performed the appraiser provides appropriate explanation of the increase in property value since the prior title transfer, and

· A property inspection is obtained which addresses the overall condition of the property, both interior and exterior including structure, foundation, roof, plumbing, insulation, etc. The property inspector must not have any interest in the property or have any relationship with the seller of the property. The inspector may not receive any compensation for referring or recommending contractors for any repair work deemed necessary by the inspection.

Please call me with any questions.

Robert Snyder

Mortgage Advisor

Jacob Dean Mortgage
Cell: 973.495.8925

Fax: 973.966.1063

Bob@bobthebroker.net

www.bobthebroker.net