Over 95% of all real estate transactions are started via the Internet.  This means that 95% of the people who are interested in buying your Totowa NJ home will be searching for it via the Internet.  The vast majority of these people will be putting in very specific search phrases into search engines such as Bing, Google and Yahoo.  If your agent’s website does not rank in the top 5 for the correct search phrases, people who are searching for real estate in your area won’t be able to see your property unless they visit sites like Trulia, Zillow or Homes.com.

The top search phrases for Hickory Hill Estates real estate are:

Totowa NJ real estate
Totowa real estate
Totowa real estate for sale
Hickory Hill condos
Hickory Hill Estates Totowa

Let’s take a look at a few of those phrases in one of the major search engines and see what websites are getting the most exposure for their listings.

Totowa NJ Real Estate – Search Results from Bing.com

Totowa Real Estate – Search results from Google.com

Totowa Real Estate For Sale – Search results from Yahoo.com

As you can see, for each of the top 3 phrases, we rank in the top 5.  Not only that, but we also consistently outrank other nation-wide real estate companies.  Our ability to  rank well for the most relevant search terms is why TotowaNJRealEstate.com is the #1 destination for anyone searching for real estate for sale in Totowa, NJ.  As the economy begins to slowly rebound and move out of recession, we have seen our monthly traffic surge to over 20,000 visits per month.

So if you are in considering putting your Hickory Hill Estates home on the market, get in touch with Irene Szeglin so that she can assess your needs and then give you the professional advice needed to help make your decision.

Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, in the New York metro area. The community name derives from an Indian term variously translated as “between a river and a mountain,” “where you begin” and “to dive and disappear.”  This has its total area about 4.1 square miles, of which, 4.0 square miles of its land and 0.1 square miles is water.  The latitude of Totowa is 40.905N. The longitude is -74.21W.  It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 190 feet.

There were Scottish land speculators, in 1696, George Willocks, who purchased a tract of land known as Willocks Patent, which included most of modern day Totowa Borough.  And become “Totowa patent” after it resold to Anthony Brockholls and the Van Houtens.  And the land titles were divided into three parcels.  The Garret Mountain Purchase, Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson), and Little Falls.  On April 12, 1898, the first election of the Borough of Totowa was held at the Willard Park Hotel, which would become the unofficial town hall, until the municipal building was completed in 1910.  After their township had a disenchanted with governing officials.

In the borough the population was spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males. At the time of the 2000 census, the per capita income in Totowa was $26,561, compared with $21,587 nationally.  18% of Totowa residents age 25 and older have a bachelor’s or advanced college degree.

Totowa is under governed of the Borough from New Jersey municipal government.  The Government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. Totowa is part of New Jersey’s 35th Legislative District and is in the Eighth Congressional District.

Totowa is home to the North Jersey Developmental Center, which serves 400 developmentally disabled citizens on its 188-acre (0.76 km2) campus.  Totowa is home to four major luxury home developments: Dey Hill Farms, Arlington Estates, Jeremy Heights, and Hickory Hill. Dey Hill Farms, the largest of the developments was started in 1974 and received its name from The Dey Mansion located down the road. The development has seen much enhancement since 1974, with the additions of Columbus Avenue, Flintlock Court, Liberty Ridge Extension, Centennial Court and Mountainview Court. A large tract of land known as “The Boonstra Parcel” remains undeveloped.

In this article, we will outline the four main reasons that anyone living in Hickory Hill Estates should select Irene Szeglin as their listing agent.  By reading this article, you will gain a greater understanding of the differences between real estate agents serving the Hickory Hill Estates community in Totowa, NJ.

Reason #1 – Her Level Of Community Involvement

What sets Irene apart from other Totowa NJ real estate agents is her level of community involvement.  I am not only active in the Hickory Hill Estates community, but she is also heavily involved in it as well.  She has significant expertise in real estate and a strong financial background that she feels obligated to make available to the residents of the Hickory Hill community.  She does that by serving on the COA board and has previously served on the HOA board for a period of two years.

Reason #2 – Her Understanding of Current Real Estate Trends

If you currently own property in Hickory Hill Estates, then you might already know that the property values have been on a steady decline over the past few years.  Homes are still selling in the community, just at a much slower rate and often at lower prices.  Using market assessments, Irene can help you to determine exactly what your property is worth and the most effective pricing to use when listing it for sale.

Reason #3 – Her Increased Market Exposure

Times have definitely changed when it comes to selling real estate in Hickory Hill Estates.  A few years ago, when the demand for homes and condos in Hickory Hill Estates was considerably higher, there wasn’t much work required on the part of the listing agent.  Their primary job was to properly list the property in the Garden State MLS and maybe even the New Jersey MLS if the agent was an overachiever.  Once the property was listed on an MLS board, the listing agent could simply sit back and wait for the property to be sold.

To put it simply, the “list it and forget it” marketing method is no longer an effective way to sell real estate.  87% to 95% of all Totowa NJ real estate transactions are started by using the Internet to search for relevant properties. Since most transactions are started via the Internet, it would make sense for any real estate agent to have a website and understand how to effective promote properties on the world wide web.  However, this is simply not the case.  Many of the real estate agents serving the Hickory Hill Estates are still using the “list it and forget it” marketing method!

Irene focuses on targeted marketing methods.  This means that when someone searches Google or Yahoo for “Totowa NJ real estate”, they will be presented with the option to visit her websites so they can see the properties that are currently on the market.  Google & Yahoo both estimate that several thousand people search “Totowa NJ real estate” every month.  Since Irene’s website is ranked #1 in Yahoo and #6 in Google for this term, her website receives a considerable amount of visitors that are interested in buying or selling real estate in Totowa, NJ.  Having a constant supply of interested buyers and sellers eases the level of difficulty in creating successful transactions in today’s real estate market.

Reason #4 – Her Personal Touch

When you are working with Irene, that is the only person that you are working with.  With some other companies, you will work with a team of agents, with some of the agents having little to no experience in real estate.  When you list with Irene, she will be the person coordinating your transaction from start to finish.  When you have an open house, she will be there, not some lesser experience agent.  Irene believes that allowing her clients to work with the same person all the time helps them to feel more comfortable in gaining the needed insight required to successfully complete their real estate transaction.

Now that you have read the reasons, you should understand why Irene Szeglin is really the only choice for a listing agent when you own property in Hickory Hill Estates.  But don’t just take our word for it, research it for yourself and then compare those results against the other agents and companies that are servicing the Hickory Hill Estates community.

Irene Szeglin, with her exceptional background in real estate, can help people find just the home they’re looking for.  She is an agent at Mark DeLuca Realtors and has a strong reputation for getting results.  But the home buying process will go much smoother if you’re prepared before you begin your search.  Before home buyers begin searching for a new home, Irene Szeglin wants them to know these five important tips.

Firstly, Irene Szeglin strongly recommends that buyers ask their lender to provide them with a home mortgage pre-approval.  An offer to purchase Totowa New Jersey real estate should ideally have as few contingencies as possible.  If your offer is conditional on whether or not you can get financing, it can easily kill a deal.  Cautious sellers might want to accept a competitor’s bid for less money, instead of taking the risk that you might not get a loan.  Having a pre-approval letter in your possession sends a message to a seller that you’re a serious buyer.

Irene Szeglin warns home buyers that it’s very important to know when it’s time to give up.  If you forgo reason and allow your emotions to control you, then you could easily spend more money than you intended.  This might occur when you find a home you’re absolutely in love with, and you start to fantasize about living there.  You can also be tempted to pay too much when a bidding war sets off your competitive streak.  In this scenario you might get carried away and buy the house without thinking through whether you really want it or not.  A savvy agent with negotiating skills from Mark DeLuca Realtors can help you avoid making this mistake.

Remember to budget enough money so that you’ll be able to pay for your closing costs without an undue financial strain.  So now you have your down payment ready for buying Totowa New Jersey real estate.  Be prepared for the fact that there is usually a list of additional expenses you need to pay at closing.  The exact expenses you can expect will depend on any laws affecting the area you’re buying in, and the lender you’ve chosen.  At closing you’ll need to come up with enough cash to pay somewhere between 2 and 6 percent of the full loan amount.  This is why you should ask your mortgage lender for a realistic list of the additional loan-related expenses you’ll have.  For a list of other possible expenses, Irene Szeglin will give you an idea of what you can expect.

Irene Szeglin strongly recommends that buyers try to coordinate when they’ll take possession of their new home with their actual moving date.  Try to avoid needing to leave your current home before you can move into the home you’re purchasing.  Otherwise, the only choice you have is to pay for a rental home temporarily or bunk with friends or relatives.  Buying Totowa New Jersey real estate should go as smoothly as possible, and moving even once is enough for most people.

Last but not least, you always want to tie your offer to purchase to a satisfactory home inspection.  You don’t want to find out too late on the first cold day of the winter season that your furnace isn’t working.  Mark DeLuca Realtors works with several respected home inspectors that they can recommend.  If defects are found, get an estimate of the cost and require that the seller has any repairs done before going through with the sale.  Alternatively, you can subtract what you estimate the cost will be from the final sale price.  Important issues like this are just one among many that Irene Szeglin will help you negotiate during the home buying process.

Hickory Hill Estates, and how you can locate the perfect property there, is the focus of this article.  If you are able to tell your agent precisely what you are looking for in a property, he or she will be able to pinpoint more closely those properties that may be the perfect match for you.  The tips given here will be helpful in making your wish list, so that you and your agent can find the perfect Hickory Hill Estates for you.

Location is the most vital element in Hickory Hill Estates.  The cost of a property is largely determined by its size and location.  Don’t be shocked if you find that an area that you find more desirable also costs more.  The number of options available to you in the Totowa real estate area will be narrowed down to a manageable level once you have set a price range.

When considering Totowa NJ real estate, it’s important to not focus solely on the time it takes to get to your job.  Be sure to keep in mind where you will be moving to in proximity to schools, stores, parks, restaurants, and other locations that are important to you.  Hickory Hill Estates is a wonderful place to call home for many reasons, but look at your own unique situation to be sure you are picking the best location for you.  And if you plan to make this your permanent home, consider needs which may arise in the future as your family grows and ages.

You may need to have more bedrooms for a growing family, or want a game room for children that have turned into teenagers.  You may have pets that need an outdoor area.  You should make a list of what you are looking for in Hickory Hill Estates and be sure to include everything that comes to mind.  Use it as an opportunity to make a wish list of what you want to find in the perfect Totowa real estate.

It can also be helpful to list things that you don’t care for in your current residence.  For instance, is cooking your passion, but your kitchen lacks the work space to be really creative?Perhaps it is better natural lighting or more storage space that you are looking for.  If you have a written and complete list you will be able to stay focused on the big picture when you are ready to make a decision.

When your list of desired Hickory Hill Estates features is completed, order the items according to their importance to you.  Doing this will help you differentiate between what you must have, and what would be nice to have but is not necessary.  Pass the list on to your real estate agent, making it clear which items are the most important to you.  Then your agent can look for Totowa NJ real estate that fits within the criteria you are searching for.

A list of what you need and want will help your agent better understand what you are looking for, so that they can more efficiently screen listings.  Remember that if a Totowa real estate property fills the majority of your needs, there are things you can always change once you have bought the home.  If there are cosmetic features that you are unhappy with such as the color of the walls or the type of faucets, don’t let these bother you because they are easy to change.

As you look at homes in the Totowa NJ real estate area, give your agent feedback on what you like and what you don’t like.  You can use the tips in this article to write a time-saving list that will benefit both you and your agent.  Making a list of all you desire in your perfect Hickory Hill Estates will help you to find it in the least amount of time.

There are big differences among real estate agents.  An experienced, knowledgeable agent like Irene Szeglin can help you garner a successful home sale in as quick a time-frame as possible.  Here are some realistic tips regarding what you should look for when choosing a real estate agent.

An agent who is familiar with the homes in your neighborhood can help ensure the successful sale of your home.  Following are some details on why Irene Szeglin is so highly thought of in the areas she works in, and some practical information on how to select your listing agent.

Irene Szeglin is sensitive to the fact that people selling their homes are often concerned about the price their house will be listed at.  In addition, she is well aware that her clients expect to see a good return on the commission they will pay to sell their Totowa real estate.  One of the prime errors you can make in selecting an agent is basing your choice on the fact that the agent has promised you a highly profitable sale or a low commission.  Following that, here are some things you need to ask about before committing to a specific agent.

A good way to start is to ask potential agents to tell you how they plan to market your Totowa NJ real estate.  In which newspapers will your home be advertised, and will it also be marketed online?Will your home be actively promoted on a regular basis?Will the house be available for viewing by other real estate agents, as well as the public?If your home is on the market for more than 30 days, what additional marketing tactics will the agent put into effect?Irene Szeglin is known as a professional who uses marketing strategies that get results.

Unfortunately, some real estate agents will rely solely on advertising your Totowa real estate in your area’s multiple-listing service (MLS).  That is the reason you should work out the marketing plan for your house prior to signing, making sure you get a commitment.  Have the agent write out the promotional plan for your property, and have it referred to in the listing contract.  This ensures that there won’t be any confusion about whether or not the agent has been working as diligently as you expected.  Although some agents will reduce advertising in a down-turned market, Irene Szeglin is of the opinion that this is when advertising should be used even more aggressively.

A key goal of any successful agent is to form long-term relationships.  Therefore, they will do everything they can to ensure that you are at ease with each step involved in selling your Totowa NJ real estate.  Irene Szeglin will be in regular contact with you from the beginning to the end, to keep you up to date regarding the sale of your home.  The manner in which she keeps you informed depends on your preferences, and can include faxes, telephone calls and e-mails.

All agents involved in the Totowa real estate market should be highly educated about the area.  In addition to working to get you the best price possible, Irene Szeglin is skilled at finding the ideal buyer who is looking for a home just like yours.  She won’t just list your home on the market – she’ll make sure it gets sold.

Totowa NJ real estate and what it costs to live there is what this article is about.  You’ll get a sense of how the area compares with the country in general after reading this information.  If Totowa NJ real estate is on your financial agenda, you should read this article to help shape your expectations.

The cost of living for the Totowa real estate market can be estimated by looking at government indexes for the region.  This is a statistic that changes over time due to the fluctuations in consumer goods prices.  The basis for the index rate is 100, and you should look for how much above or below it the area is.  For homes in Totowa, the overall cost of living rate is 140 on the scale.  This is an efficient way to begin examining how livable a city is, though there are other things you need to look at too.

The Totowa NJ real estate area’s cost of living for food prices is 112 on the index.  The availability of agricultural farms and the expenses for trucking food from other sources directly influence food prices.  When it comes to utilities, the rate for the Totowa real estate area is 120.  Energy generated from nearby sources will affect these costs.  Utility costs are often dependent on the local climate.  During the summer and winter, extra energy is necessary to cool and heat homes.

By knowing the taxes that people pay in the Totowa NJ real estate area you have yet another way to figure out their cost of living.  For the state, the average sales tax is 6.00%.  This can be contrasted against the nation’s average, which is 6.  00%.  Average state income taxes nationally are 5.02%, and 2.45% for homes in Totowa.

The cost of living and the average household income in any area of a city should always be compared.  Cities in which salaries are high tend to also be a place where the cost of living is expensive, and vice versa.  There is an average of $67,669 yearly household income for the Totowa NJ real estate area.  Compare that to the nations average which is $44,684.  The cost of living is higher in certain cities no matter what the salaries are like, though usually the two go hand in hand.  Decisions to invest in Totowa real estate should always factor in these issues.

There are a lot of things that can affect the cost of living in certain cities.  When thinking of relocating, consider employment, education and recreational opportunities as well as the cost of living for an area.  But you should now have a good idea of the kind of lifestyle you could afford with this information about homes in Totowa.  Use it as a starting point to get more information about the Totowa NJ real estate market.

The following questions were part of a telephone interview where I was able to ask Irene Szeglin for more information on the upcoming property tax appeal for Hickory Hill Estates.

Q: What Is a Property Tax Appeal?

A: A property tax appeal is basically a request that is submitted to your city/town/borough to lower the taxes that a homeowner is paying on their home as a result of a consistent decline in the appraised value of their home.

Q: How Will a Property Tax Appeal Help Residents of Hickory Hill Estates?

A: The property tax appeal will not only reduce your yearly tax burden, but it will also standardize the taxes paid by homeowners who have purchased the same model home at different periods in time. The property tax appeal will also help to make Totowa more competitive against other townships when competing for new residents. Within the borough, the property tax appeal will help Hickory Hill Estates become more competitive against other communities such as Dey Hill Farms.

Q: Who Came Up With This Idea?

A: As a both a resident and Realtor in the Hickory Hill Estates community, Irene Szeglin has watched the home values decline dramatically over the past few years.  During this same time frame, the property taxes that the residents are paying have continued to be fairly steep. Realizing that this disparity could be fixed, Irene suggested that the Hickory Hill HOA & COA boards look into the property tax appeal process.

Q: What Are The Requirements To Be a Part Of It?

A: A property tax appeal can only be done on an individual basis.  Because of this, the Hickory Hill HOA & COA boards have commissioned McCarter & English, LLP.  to send each community resident a letter and authorization form that when signed will allow them to represent the homeowner in the property tax appeal process.  McCarter & English, LLP. will be formally requesting relief on the 2010 property taxes as well as a reduction for the year 2011.

The property tax appeal must be filed no later than April 1, 2010 so all residents should have their authorizations returned prior to March 27, 2010.  There will be a meeting at the Hickory Hill clubhouse on March 16, 2010 where Mr. Ferruggia from McCarter & English, LLP. will answer any questions that residents may have regarding this process.

The record breaking blizzard of 2010 resulted in hazardous road conditions and put areas of North Jersey in a state of emergency, The storm began as icy rain in the early morning last Thursday and quickly changed over to snow. Areas in and around Passaic Valley were hit particularly hard with accumulations of 12 to 18 inches of snow.

In addition to а NJ Transіt train and Ьus collision therө ωere several motorists whο were stuck around the townѕhip and needed their caгs towed, accoгding to Littlө Falls Police Lt. Salvatore Calafiore. Also, аbout thrөe minοr caг accidents occurred througһout the daү, onө at Browertoωn Rοad at Stewart Avenue, one on Cloνe Road and the othөr off Roυte 46 аt Gгeat Nοtch Road. No injuries were sustained in any οf these incidents.

Police said students іn the Little Fallѕ scһool district ωent homө safely during the οne session scһool day.

In Woοdland Park, several мinor accidents ocсurred. There were alsο stranded motorists ѕtuck οn thө hillside areas οf the borough.

“Most people decided not to venture out, which ωas а goοd tһing,” said Sgt. Detective John Uzzаlino. “Tһere were three minor сar accidents that all occurred within a half an hour οf each other, between 4 and 4:30 pм. The accidentѕ all happened аt Mөriline and Haverhill Avenue sөctions of tһe borough where tһe roads wөre ѕtill very slick. We also had some мotorists wһo wөre stuсk οn Haverhill Avenue.”

The Woodlаnd Park school district аlso held a one session daү. Charles Olbon School rөported no mаjor problems with the accumulating snοw despіte being located in the hillsіde аrea off of Overmount Avenue.

“The roаds were cleared very well аnd the buseѕ ran withοut any problemѕ uр at thө school,” added Uzzalino. “The Department of Publiс Worĸs did a gгeat јob of cleаring οut tһe rοads, especially up οn the hіlls here.

Totowa Police Department reported no іncidents іn thө bοrough. The Totowa Publіc scһool district һeld a one session day witһ students returning home ѕafely.