Home Connection

Why Your First House Should Be A Multifamily

With inflation steadily creeping up as of late, it is becoming harder and harder to buy a new house. Not so long ago it was property tax that was the biggest factor to consider in your monthly mortgage payment, outside of the principle of course. Now, interest rates are creeping steadily towards a double digit nightmare, and purchasing power is crashing harder than trying to use Windows ’95 to mine for Bitcoin after a binging on Redbull.

So what’s the answer? Just keep renting forever and watch as other people get rich? No, of course not. That is why we have a few suggestions for why you should make your first home purchase a multifamily property.

1 - You Can Cut Your Mortgage Payment in Half

If you purchase just a two-family house, you can drastically reduce how much you actually have to shell out of your pocket every month. Let’s say each unit is a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment, and your mortgage is $2,000 per month. If you can rent out one of those units for $1,000, suddenly you only need to cough up half of what you would if that $2,000 was going to pay for a one family home you were living in.

2 - You Can Live for Free or Make Money

If you can manage to find a three or four family house, things can get even sweeter for you. Let’s say you find a four-unit house and you have that same $2,000 payment. If one-unit rents for $1,000 and the other two rent out for $500 each, now you have to pay exactly zero for your mortgage every month. If you choose the smallest of the four units, and one-unit rents for $1,000 and the other two rent out for $700 each, now you aren’t just living for free, you are actually making $400 per month. .

3 - You Can Write Off Half Your House

Since multifamily houses are considered businesses, the half (or whatever percentage you aren’t living in) is considered the “business” side of the house, and thus, repairs and upgrades are tax deductible investments into your business. This may not seem like a big deal, but over time, those kinds of deductions can add up to huge savings

4 - Your Resale Value Will Be More Stable

Unlike single family houses that are primarily based on comparable homes in the same area by the opinions of third-party appraisers, multifamily house values are based significantly on how much income they generate, and thus, can retain more of their value even in the worst of times.

So, while there isn’t a lot any of us can do about the increasing interest rates or the state of the financial market as a whole, all is not lost. You might also not be able to buy as much as you could have only a short while ago, but none of those reasons are reason enough to not be able to become financially successful with real estate. You just have to be smart about how you use your money, and a multifamily home as your first purchase is about as intelligent a decision as it gets.

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Interlaken • $2,699,000 A Rare offering nestled along the lake front in the charming town of Interlaken. This home is situated on meticulously landscaped grounds with extensive plantings on over a third of an acre. Rear yard is large enough for a pool. This light filled home has hardwood floors throughout and an updated kitchen which boasts stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and wood cabinets.The living room flows seamlessly into the dining area, Lake views can be enjoyed from every angle. Features include 5 bedrooms 3 full baths, large rear deck plus various sitting areas. 2 car garage, newer concrete driveway, fencing and roof. Plus a full basement, boat dock and a fireplace.

idyllic lake views all year round.

Little Egg Harbor • $689,900

This absolutely stunning **Waterfront New Construction** could be your home here in the Great 08087! The attention to detail shows through the amazing craftsmanship and design of this home. The home’s ground floor is all garage/storage with flood vents, windows, a garage door, a front door and a rear door. There is an interior stairway leading to the main floor of the home. The main floor has an open free flowing floorplan featuring a gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops and center island, subway tile backsplash, soft close cabinets and drawers, stainless steel appliances and upscale lighting. The kitchen/dining area are open to the living room with the built in gas fireplace being a center point for both. There is a full bedroom on this level which can easily be your home office as well as a the laundry room and a half bathroom. The shadowboxing on the walls throughout the first floor is just gorgeous. This level also features luxury vinyl plank flooring. Just off the kitchen and living room through the sliding glass doors is the fiberglass deck with incredible views of Mystic Island. On the 3rd level you will find a nice open hall area, perfect for reading chair, two nice sized bedrooms, Jack and Jill style, that share a full bathroom with double sinks and granite counter tops. The rear bedroom has a sliding door which takes you to the upper fiberglass deck. Each bedroom has great closet space. The Master Suite is stunning with its size, ceilings, walk in closet, full bathroom with tiled walk in shower and granite countertops. There is a sliding glass door to give access to the upper fiberglass deck, this deck has views to forever and then some. There is a built in elevator shaft which is pre wired and right now is presented as 3 large closets, one on each floor. This home features economical gas heat, central air and has public water and sewer. This is truly a must see home, bring the family and your water toys! There is plenty of room for both!

www.donnatwilson.kw.com

Little Egg Harbor • $249,900

This absolutely adorable ranch style Farmhouse located in the heart of the Great 08087 could be the next place you call home. This completely renovated home features 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, newer kitchen with farmhouse sink, granite countertops, a center island and stainless steel appliances. The dining area is beautiful and overlooks the living area. New HVAC, flooring, barn style doors, kitchen bathroom and more! Located within walking distance to public transportation and the Little Egg Harbor Twsp. Community Center and its new skate park!

Waretown, NJ

This .96 Acre Lot on Route 9 in Ocean County is Available for Lease. Ther is a 384 square foot building that has 2 offices and a bathroom. This heavily used road is on the corner of Rt 9 and Main Street and is Zoned C1. It has been a used car lot and is still allowed by the local government. The property has many other possibilities; convenience store, quick service restaurant, gas station, farmers/garden market, etc.

“SICA Custom Built at The Jersey Shore”

Interested in Modular Homes?

The Complete Job... From Design

SICA is a fourth generation company whose family has been building homes from the same location for over 70 years. During that time we’ve maintained our reputation for quality and integrity. A reputation reflected in every home we’ve built and every family we ever served. That’s why SICA is a builder you can rely on and a name you can trust.

• COASTAL CONSTRUCTION EXPERTS • The Jersey Shore’s Oldest and most experienced Custom Modular Home Builder!

FIVE STEPS TO STAGING YOUR HOME

When you finally decide to sell your home, there are a lot of factors to consider. Things like, how much to ask for, where you’re going to live next, how much equity do you have saved up, and what sorts of repairs do might need to be done to allow it to be sold legally? But, before all of that can happen, you actually have to go through the process of entertaining potential buyers with things like individual showings and open houses. Normally, with an individual showing, your agent will contact you with a day and time the potential buyers want to come see the house and you can say yes or no. Open houses are typically a weekend day that the house can be seen by anyone for a specific amount of time. Both have their merits, but more importantly, is that you make sure your house is in the best possible shape, and presents well enough to get maximum value. The process of making a house look its best for sale is called staging, and here are five steps to help get the best return for your efforts.

1) Start Outside

You’ve probably heard the term ‘curb appeal’ before. It means the impression a house gives looking at it from… you guessed it, the curb. A house might be completely renovated and spotless on the inside, but if the outside of that same house has kids broken toys, weeds growing up the side of the house, a fence that is half torn down, and patches of grass missing like the front yard has been used for amateur golfball driving, then very few people are going to even bother to get out of their cars. As in most things in life, the first impression you make on someone new matters quite a lot. So, clean things up! Put toys away, keep the lawn mowed, get rid of weeds and leaves around the house. Go for a ride around your neighborhood and see which houses strike you as exceptionally nice and follow in their footsteps. Trees and shrubs should be trimmed, fences should be mended, and your lawn needs to look presentable. It might take a little bit of elbow grease, but all of these things can be done with minimal financial investment and will easily pay for themselves when it comes time to close.

2) Declutter Living Areas

Whether you’re selling a two bedroom ranch, or a seven bedroom mansion, buyers want to see their potential purchase with as much space as possible. They want to be able to visualize their own belongings, and bring their own layout ideas to their new nesting ground. So in order for make it easy for them to do so, it is important to tidy up living and dining rooms, as well as bedrooms too. Keep only what is necessary for you to live there, and/or whatever is too heavy to move until absolutely necessary. Keep toys and clothes off the floors, organize book shelves and entertainment centers, and keep doors to closets and pantries shut to show just how much room each room really has.

3) Fresh Paint

While the idea of painting sounds daunting to some, this can be one of the best things you can do to get your asking price, or more, depending on the market. Painting is labor intensive, and if you have never done it before, it might be best to enlist a good contractor. But, think of it from your buyers perspective. They are about to drop thousands of dollars on a down payment, uproot their life and unload their world into this new dwelling. But if the paint is old, faded, outdated, chipped or just ugly, then they have to delay that entire process even longer. Also, if you are selling to a first time buyer that is using an FHA loan, there can be no chipped or peeling paint anywhere, and if there is, it must be repaired or the bank cannot issue the loan. It is also worth noting that the old idea of needing to keep things neutral is fine, but not quite as mandatory as once believed. A splash of color can give your home a memorable characteristic, and it is far more important that the paint be fresh than an indifferent color.

4) Depersonalize & De-Pet

Along the same lines as decluttering, it is important to allow your buyers to visualize their life in your house more so than yours. While family photos and your grandmothers wool blanket are priceless to you, they can be distracting to a family trying to start their own traditions in the same house. Beyond that, if you have a collection of dead preserved butterflies or an affinity for Guns & Ammo magazines, it might be best to keep those things hidden away as it can cause a strong reaction in some people. Speaking of animals, the same goes for your pets. While highlighting the fact that you have a fenced-in back yard is awesome, you don’t want it to smell like a kennel when you walk into the house. So this means getting carpets cleaned, investing in some deodorizing agents and air fresheners as well. If you have a pet snake or tarantula, again, it might be best to let a friend or family member keep an eye on them at least during showings and open houses.

5) Focus On The Important Rooms

When it comes to prioritizing, spend less time on the hall closet and focus on the rooms people care most about: the kitchen and bathrooms. Bedrooms are basically four walls, a window and a closet or two, while the kitchen can be a true deal maker or deal breaker. Take time to fix cabinets, repair or even install a new backsplash if the one is missing or damaged, and possibly even invest in some new appliances. When selling, you can stipulate that you are or are not including certain things like refrigerators, washers and dryers. Typically it is assumed that these things will be sold with the house, but they don’t always have to be, and so if you buy a new stainless steel fridge to replace the loud, stained, 30 year old one you have now, you could just take it with you when you leave, assuming you disclose that before sale. But even if you don’t, investing in your kitchen is a great idea within reason. Don’t do any major projects, but cleaning up the stovetop grease, cleaning the microwave and countertops, as well as getting rid of any non essential knick-knacks (like that juice you never use) to show off how much counter space you have, will go a long way.

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BERKELEY TWP. • $349,000 HOLIDAY CITY HEIGHTS (55+)

This clean & well maintained Manhattan A model offers 2 LRG BRs/ 2 BAs, Lrg LR/DR Combo w/Cathedral Ceilings, E-I KIT w/sliders to Covered Patio for comfortable outside living. Home has many energy efficient improvements including newer siding, windows & doors, stamped concrete driveway & covered front porch. U-G Sprinklers w/newer well, HWBB Gas Heat, CA & Low Monthly Maintenance.

CALL TO SEE TODAY!

BERKELEY TWP. • $369,000

HOLIDAY CITY CAREFREE (55+)

BERKELEY TWP. • $354,900 HOLIDAY CITY HEIGHTS (55+)

This freshly painted 1,440 SF Amsterdam A model ranch w/heated 2 CAR GAR has 2 LRG BRs, 2 BAs, LR w/ vaulted ceiling, KIT/Den w/granite counters, newer SS APP & extra Cabinets; LRG 4 Season Room, Patio overlooking wooded yard- Paver Driveway & Walkway. Newer Roof & AC, Gas HWBB heat w/high efficiency boiler.

TO SEE TODAY!

SPACIOUS

BERKELEY TWP. • $402,000

HOLIDAY CITY SOUTH (55+)

This spacious updated Dawn Meadow model ranch offers 1,601 sq. ft. which includes 2 BRs/2 Full BAs, LR/DR combo, wood floors, updated E-I KIT w/center island and granite counters and updated BAs. Large rear deck and shed for added storage.

CALL HELEN MARZIARZ @ 732-600-9267 TO SEE TODAY!

CALL HELEN MARZIARZ @ 732-600-9267 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! REMODELED

BERKELEY TWP. • $325,000

This popular Lakeview model ranch is being updated and remodeled to include newer Roof, Driveway, Waterproof Floors; Replacement Windows, Updated KIT w/new Appliances & Quartz counters, new Garage Door & epoxy GAR floor. Privacy trees to be planted to complete the package.

BAYVILLE • $874,900 GLEN COVE

Boater’s location; seconds to open bay! Young waterfront home w/views from each level! First flr w/9’ ceilings features HDWD floors & custom crown molding. Open KIT w/granite counters, loads of cabinets, BB, & SS appls. Upper level master suite w/W-I closet & full BA. The 2 car deep garage offers storage space; vinyl bulkheading completes this waterfront gem! CALL HELEN MARZIARZ @ 732-600-9267 TO SEE TODAY!

HOLIDAY CITY BERKELEY (55+)

Just pack your bags and move into this Yellowstone model ranch offering 2 BRs/1 Full BA, LR, DR and E-I KIT which has new Cabinets, Quartz counters and SS appliances. Beautifully remodeled Bath, new vinyl waterproof flooring throughout and LRG 3 Season RM backing to private yard.

CALL FLO LUCAS @ 848-448-4671 TO SEE TODAY!

OPPORTUNITY

BERKELEY TWP. • $259,900

HOLIDAY CITY SOUTH (55+)

Opportunity knocks with this 1,601 sq. ft. Dawn Meadow ranch in the active adult community of Holiday City South. A most desirable lot location backing to a lovely wooded area with a home waiting for your updates. This home is being sold as is!

CALL HELEN MARZIARZ @ 732-600-9267 TO SEE TODAY!

BERKELEY TWP. • $385,000 HOLIDAY CITY WEST (55+)

SALE / LEASE

This detached property offers an abundance of parking spaces, two floors and a basement. Remodeled several years ago and shows like new, this space offers two large offices, conference room, 2 BAs, small KIT and is handicap accessible. Located on a busy highway & close to GSP. This property is for sale, lease or lease w/option to purchase. CALL PAUL CALTAGIRONE @ 732-740-2698 FOR ENTRY DETAILS FOR

TOMS RIVER • $539,000 COMMERCIAL RENTAL • HWY 37 & THOMAS ST.