Hi Jersey Girl,
I am April Williams a real estate agent in Jersey City, New Jersey. All the other agents advice is head on. However, have you thought about a real estate auction. Have your agent let other agents bring their clients to your house. Start low and have each agent leave there offer at the house. Then have your agent and you go through each one to decide whos offer is higher. Let all the agents know what the highest bid is and, bid over if the bid is not high enough. People hate to lose. Good Luck

How about offering a 2-1 buydown. The buyer would receive a 2% drop in interest rate the first year, 1% the second year and today's market rate from years 3-30. They would still qualify at today's rate but it let's them start out with a very affordable payment.

Dear Jerseygurl,
You mentioned that there were no offers on the property. Have there been many showings? There is an old saying that if there are showings and no offers, then probably buyers feel that the price is too high and will not bother to make an offer until the price is closer to "market" price. If there are few or no showings of the home, then the price is so high that the real estate agent community won't even bother to show it or suggest it to their buyer clients! Ask your real estate agent if they have asked for feedback from all the agents who have shown the home. What do they say? Ask your agent to hold a "Brokers Open House" to solicit feedback on the price, suggested improvements and any other ideas they may have to get your home sold. Good Luck.

In addition to all the great posts - I would just add that if you do make any adjustments to the price - or stage your home or emphasize any other desired features of your home - make sure the exposure is out there to reflect the "change" to the listing. Once a property sits in the MLS - any changes done without another big marketing boost may never get back to the agents/buyers that glanced at it already. I am a big fan of advertising not only to all the public sites to draw buyers, but sending e-flyers to all agents in a surrounding area to remind them of the listing and "show-off" the changes.

When having a time deadline to sell, the key is pricing it competitvely enough to be the "better value" but not underpricing so that people don't give it a chance and assume something's wrong with it.

Definitley review everything with your agent so they can assist you with the details...

Christine Markow
ERA Statewide Realty
christine.markow@era.com

Hi there Jerseygurl

I agree with all the good advice that has already been given.

I can hear your frustration, and we all wish we had magic wands to wave when homes aren't selling!!

You say you and your realtor are on the same page price-wise.......well.....maybe it's time to turn that page, and try a new price!

The "quick" way to sell it is....... reduce (and not a puny reduction - a reduction that makes buyers pay attention) until you get an offer. I didn't say it would be painless..........just quick (as you asked)!

No matter how it shows or where it is or whatever the issues might be.....when all is said and done.....price trumps everything.

Best wishes to you...I hope things work out for you soon
Debbie Rose
Pridential NJ Properties

Hi Jerseygurl, I would only add to the prior posts that there is only one thing that will cure all other issues - and that is price. And so if condition and location are not optimal, price is the answer. It may be that you are priced right, but the high level of inventory is causing your home to get lost in the pack. Talk with your agent and review your pricing - after doing this, I like to then sit back and reflect on where our price would put us among the comparables. Have your agent print out the grid that would appear on her screen, or any agent's screen, of comparable properties. These are what buyers will be considering. You want your price to cause your home to "pop".

I would also urge you to act and adjust your price quickly. The Federal Tax Credit deadline is coming up quickly and it is in your best interest to try to catch a buyer that is motivated by the deadline - if you are in a first time buyer price point, they are out there my friend and you want to be the home that catches their eye.

Good luck to you!

Best,
Jeannie Feenick
"Unwavering Commitment to Service"
Search the MLS at http://www.feenick.com

If you are selling you home in Iselin, the number one marketing feature should be its proximity to the Metropark Train Station. Properties that are either in walking or bicycling distance to the station are in high demand. If your property fits that criteria I would make sure that your real estate agent has that fact prominently displayed in the marketing materials. Currently there are 81 single family homes on the market in Iselin and on average, 8 houses have been selling each month over the last quarter which equates to a 10 month supply of homes in that market - a heavy buyers market. If your property has had no offers and it has been on the market for more than 1 month the problem has got to be price, condition, location or a combination of the 3. You have to be able to differentiate your home from the rest of the pack.

What has been the feedback that your real estate agent has been given from the showing agents? There has to be a common theme as to what is holding your property back. Given the competition you are facing in your market you need to address the items you can control - price and condition. Make sure that the list price positions your property so that it will be one of the first listings an agent brings his clients to. Also, as has been previously mentioned, you have to make sure that your home is in tip top showing condition at all times and staging can make a big difference.

It sounds like you have to sit down and have a heart-to-heart conversation with your real estate agent. If they are doing a good job they should be able to tell you what is preventing your property from getting an offer.

Hey Jerseygurl,
You are on the same page with your realtor and this is good. Here at Prudential we utilize Variable Range Pricing to get buyers interested in homes to purchase. This gets folks in the door and offers on the table. Then, it is up to your trusted real estate agent to work on your behalf and get the home sold. This is not rocket science and it works.
My Pleasure...My Business!

Jerseygurl,
Sounds like you are doing everything right... Got a Realtor, understand the price for the market issue (did you get a CMA?), so what's left is the marketing. Make sure your property is easy to find when looking for houses in your area on the internet, I'm sure your Realtor has placed your listing ads all over, but still check it out. If you can't find it, others won't either. And again, check what's selling, what's on the market and compare the prices.
Good luck!

Have you tried staging it, and having an open house?