St. Gabriel's Carnival

It's time for family fun at St. Gabriel's Carnival. Thursday to Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m. All are welcome to enjoy food vendors and more than 15 rides. Admission is free, and families can pay one price for all rides. On Sunday, the carnival will be open at noon and feature an antique and custom car show. Friday night entertainment will be by the band Third Sun, and Saturday night by the band Backbeat. 100 N Main Street, Marlboro, NJ 07746 Located near the intersection of Rt 520 and Rt 79    

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS SEMINAR IN KEYPORT

Make your dreams of owning a home a reality!  Thursday May 10th, Better Homes Realty in Keyport will be hosting a FREE First Time Home Buyers Seminar here in town at a local coffee house called Esspresso Joe's. There will be a variety of speakers and Real Estate professionals on hand to answer all of your questions and concerns in todays very challenging market.  Information on Monmouth County Grant Funds and Short Sale advice will be available! Preview available properties for Keyport, Hazlet, Aberdeen and Middletown. The meeting will start at 6pm and for more information please contact the Keyport office directly at 732-264-9593!!!

The Preserves at Matawan

Only five units remain at the Preserve in Matawan MATAWAN - The Preserve at Matawan offers the perfect blend of luxurious condominium living and commuting convenience. ... And while all these new constructions units are available for a quick delivery, only five remain. Located only two miles from the Aberdeen-Matawan train station, each unit features two bedrooms and two baths, roomy interiors with open floor plans, a private balcony or terrace and complete freedom from exterior maintenance. The park-like setting off Ro ute 79 is minutes from shopping, parks, beaches and major roadways. Buyers can also feel confident in the record of Preserve builder, American Properties. For over 40 years, American Properties has been a leading development, investment and management company in New Jersey. Not only has the builder constructed over 10,000 homes, apartments and condominiums, American Properties has also completed over 1,000 hotel rooms and 3 million square feet of commercial space. Currently, American Properties has active projects throughout New Jersey with prices ranging from $199,990 to $1,700,000. Headquartered in Woodbridge, NJ, American Properties is one of the first builders in the state to obtain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification, as well as multiple awards from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). American Properties has also been awarded with the highest honors f rom the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA). For more information or to schedule an appointment to view of one of the units at The Preserve, contact Anita Kazmierczak from Better Homes at 732-547-2710 or email her at Anita@BetterHomesUS.com   [caption id="attachment_4900" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="The Preserves @ Matawan"][/caption]    

National Open House Weekend Tips!

ATTENTION BUYERS!! The time has come to get your comfortable shoes on, grab a water bottle and get the car keys, it's National Association of Realtor's Open House Weekend and in Monmouth County the balloons will be everywhere!!! Here are some handy tips that you may want to keep you from getting overwhelmed by it all. First, make it an occasion to spend some quality time with your significant other by getting a babysitter so you can see as many as possible and look forward to lunch or dinner after 4pm when most of them end. Second, have a plan! Know which areas you are most interested in based on school systems, access to work or family members, Hazlet, Middletown and Holmdel are among the most popular. Try to determine the exact style of house that you like such as a Colonial, Ranch, Split, Bi-Level or Cape. Research these different styles so you have an idea of what they look like from the street and try to resist the temptation to look at any that you know will not be your dream house so will have time to preview the right one.  Establish if you definitely want a garage, this will cut down on the amount of homes you would be tempted to preview on your drive by. Bring a pen and make notes on the print outs offered by the Realtors so you will be able to refresh your memory at the end of the day. And finally, remember to have fun and get excited about the prospect of buying your next home! Joanne Schiffres, http://joannes.betterhomesus.com Better Homes Realty, Hazlet 732-757-5013    

Open House, Hazlet NJ

Open House, Sunday April 29th, 1pm-3pm 17 Belfast Ave, Hazlet NJ. Four bedroom, 2.5 bath Center Hall Colonial waiting for new owners. Professional landscaping,paver walkway and newer front door give it great curb appeal. Fully fenced Backyard perfect for BBQ's. Large formal living room & formal dining room with hardwood floors. Large Family room has built in bar. Mud room is also being used as an office. Newer roof with 30 yr warranty. A must see!!! $339,500.00 Call Patricia Florkowski for more information 732-406-5680 [caption id="attachment_4848" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Center Hall Colonial"][/caption]

Just for Toddlers Now open for registration

Registration is under way in Middletown for the Just for Toddlers preschool playgroup for children ages 18 months to pre-K. Arts & Crafts, stories,music, numbers, letters, colors & many other activities will be featured. The affordable program is managed by Middletown Recreation Department & held at the Tonya Keller Community Center, located at 50 Bray Avenue. all classes run from September through May, and consist of three 10 week sessions. Call 732-615-3230 for more information and to register. Info from Independent News. Posted by Lisa Alaimo, Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885 x451  www. SearchHomesInNJ.com  

Your Realtor Is A Valuable Resource

Realtors are more than just "door openers".  An experienced full time agent has established and maintained great industry relationships over the years in order to serve his or her clients when it comes to the largest purchase they will ever make. Your Realtor's sole purpose should be to make your transaction as seemless as possible. That is why they should be the first person you go to when you need an important referral such as an attorney, home inspector or most importantly, a mortgage representative. Real Estate transactions are only as good as the people involved in order to move things along in a timely fashion and open communication between those related industries are most important when difficulties arise. Why wouldn't you, the buyer or seller, want all parties involved in your transaction to have your best interests in mind and make this experience one of excitement and joy rather than something else entirely! Joanne Schiffres  http://joannes.betterhomesus.com Better Homes Realty 732-757-5013

HIREAVETERAN Career Fair

Tuesday April 24th 11am - 4pm Merri Makers Reception Center  PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel All Branches of military service are invited to attend. bring resumes and meet with representatives from  the following organizations: (just to name a few) Centenary College, Open Road Auto Group, Magyar Bank, Creative Financial Group of NJ, Dr. Rotem, Merri-Makers, Prudential Financial, Riva Networks Inc. Primerica Financial Serv., Patuxent Enginerring LLC, USBGC, Rutgers University, Sysco Metro New York, Set Focus, Greenway Mortgage, Earle Asphalt Company, MetLife/Bridge Financial Group and many other. Info by: Independent Newspaper: Posted by Lisa Alaimo Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885 x451   www.SearchHomesInNJ.com  

Townwide Yard Sale in Lincroft!

Lincroft Village Green Association is sponsoring its eigth annual  Lincroft Community Yard sale from 8am to 3pm April 21st at homes through out Lincroft. Yard sale registration is free to LVGA members and includes a sign , advertising and a listing of your address and items for sale in the free Seller's List Booklet. (view on line: www.Lincroft.org) info provided by Indepedent News posted by Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885 x 451  www.SearchHomesInNJ.com  

Indulge & Relax Ladies Night

AsanaNJ.com is hosting a Fundraiser for One Small Wish, while enjoying an evening of relaxation and indulging in Dove Chocolate Discoveries. The evening will include a Basic Flow Yoga Class, along with a 10 minute massage. Refreshments will be offered. Registration for the fundraiser is required. Click the link to register: http://asananj.com/site/event/indulge-relax-ladies-night-fundraiser/ info by: Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885  x451

Garden State Film Festival 3-22 thru 3/25 2012

The 10th Annual Garden State Film Festival at the Paramount Theatre and other area venues. See over 190 current independent films from around the globe. This fun-filled weekend includes a special FREE screening of Michael, open talent casting call, professional panel discussions, parties, and more. Special Screening:  "I want My Name Back" Sat March 24th 9PM Wonder Mike & Master Gee of Rappers Delight, followed by a historic reunion concert with special guests. GSFF Only happens once a year.. Get tickets at the venues or GSFF.ORG source: APP  posted by Lisa Alaimo Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885 x451  www.SearchHomesInNJ.com  

Kaboom Fireworks on the Navesink?

The Kaboom Executive Committee announced on Feb. 15 that Red Bank's 2012 July 3 fireworks display would not take place due to soaring security costs and insurance premiums, coupled with the difficulty of monitoring public safety. A 50 year tradition which has become victim to its own success. It has become so large, it attracts 100,000-150,000 people to town and that does so much for local restuarants and retailers. Fore more info visit: www.gmnews.com details by Kristen Dalton of Independent newspaper. Posted by: Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885 x451  www.SearchHomesinNJ.com  

Real Estate Social Media

There’s a URL for That

By JILL P. CAPUZZO

LARRY VECCHIO, a Monmouth County real estate broker, was ahead of the curve in the late 1990s when he started buying up a number of generic-sounding Internet domain names that he thought might come in handy one day. The URLs he first went after were “Homesin(fill in the blank).com,” the blank being the names of the 20 towns his agency, based in Hazlet, served. Once he saw how easy and cheap it was to make these purchases — for a one-time flat fee or annual rentals — Mr. Vecchio started buying up every similar-sounding URL (Uniform Resource Locator) he could get his hands on. “I just thought, if you were going to look for a house, what would you type in?” he recalled. “So I looked up ‘homesin...’ and nobody had them.” Among those he learned were available were HomesintheUnitedStates, HomesinNorthAmerica and HomesinNewYork. (One that had already been spoken for was HomesinNewJersey, which was owned by someone in the Canadian town of New Jersey, from whom he was able to buy it for $1,500.) Today he owns 1,300 URLs, including “Homesin...” and “Condosin...” for just about every municipality in New Jersey, as well as towns throughout the country. He also owns the domain names, meaning that by adding a backslash and the name of any town in the United States, he has a network of some 35,000 URLs. As the vast majority of house hunts happen over the Internet, Mr. Vecchio’s URLs have a colossal resale value — far exceeding what he paid for them. For instance, he said he had been offered $100,000 for “HomesinForeclosure.com.” But this 54-year-old Web visionary has bigger plans for his holdings. Until recently, most of the Homesin... pages have had little or no content. But Phase 2 of Mr. Vecchio’s plans for HomesinYourTown.com envisions the URLs as the go-to real estate search-and-information site for anyone looking to buy a home in New Jersey and beyond. He has recently bought access to real estate listings nationwide, at a cost of $4,000 a month; he plans to populate his Web sites with these by the end of February. This will put him on similar footing with many other national real estate search sites, like Zillow.com, Trulia.com, the Multiple Listing Service, Realtor.com and Homes.com. But what he is hoping will make his sites more valuable are the “town leaders” he is trying to get to host each site: local agents or mortgage officers who will blog about area homes, schools, businesses and other community news in exchange for being the featured real estate professional on the site. By combining this hyperlocal reporting with real estate listing information, Mr. Vecchio said, he has developed “the first social media real estate site.” At the 2011 Tri-State Realtors Convention in Atlantic City in November, agents were competing for blogging rights on the URLs of some towns, said Christopher Sheridan, a real estate marketer who is signing up the local bloggers for Mr. Vecchio’s sites. “If you snooze, you lose,” said Mr. Sheridan, who has thus far signed up 180 town leaders, most of whom are paying the company $50 a month for that privilege. “If somebody wanted a town, I told them they better take it, or at least put something down.” Judith Weiniger, a Somerset County agent, recently signed on to be the featured broker on the HomesinWarren.com and HomesinWatchung.com sites. She described her venture as part of her overall commitment this year to embracing social media as a selling tool. “I’m a big believer in this hyperlocal social media strategy,” said Ms. Weiniger, an agent with Re/Max Premier in Warren Township. “People are more apt to trust a person or a business if they know someone else trusts them. I’m looking to build continued good will.” National Web-based real estate sites, too, are adding social media elements to their offerings, with blogs, links to Facebook and Twitter, and user apps. Patty McNease, the marketing director for Homes.com, said her company’s site was now posting a blog almost every day on some general-interest real estate topic. As far as localizing the information goes, Ms. McNease said, the site offers a question-and-answer section allowing readers to post queries about a given market, and “they’ll be bombarded with answers from local realtors within a few hours.” The goal at Homes.com — the country’s fourth-largest Web-based real estate site, according to comScore.com, a digital data analyst — is to “try to capture and keep visitors at our site as long as possible,” Ms. McNease said. Ian Lazarus, a broker with the Landis Company in Sea Isle City, signed on to host the Homesin... sites in Sea Isle City, Cape May and Avalon. He said he had been slow to embrace the blogging component of real estate sites, which in recent months had provided him with 50 to 60 leads, the majority of them people living outside of New Jersey. “He’s got 1,300 URLs, and every one is linked to the others,” Mr. Lazarus said of Mr. Vecchio. “That’s a lot of juice. And for me it’s important, because it’s something I can never build.” [caption id="attachment_4389" align="alignnone" width="190" caption="Real Estate Social Media"][/caption]

Looking for an FHA-approved condo or townhome in Tinton Falls? Call Erica Herbst (732) 850-0944 for

There are FHA approved 1-3 bedroom condos and townhomes available from $179,000-$300,000. (Tinton Falls and surrounding area.)   Fantastic location, minutes to parkway, route 18, shopping & beaches!  Contact Erica Herbst 732-850-0944 or eherbst11@yahoo.com.  

Let's Buy Something Together...

Buying A Home With Past Credit Problems Buying a home can be both exciting and stressful but, for those with past credit problems, the process may also seem intimidating.  The good news is that many lenders have adapted to the idea that many hopeful homeowners simply need a second chance, which means that past credit problems no longer have to define your future. Credit Blemishes When life unexpectedly takes a turn for the worst, it’s not always possible to come out without a few bumps and bruises. Every day, people are faced with late or missed credit card payments, mortgage foreclosures, bankruptcy proceedings, auto repossessions and even civil judgments that will affect their credit reports for years to come.  Whether it’s from a job loss, injury or just a simple case of temporary hardship, credit blemishes are often a part of life.  The good news is that they no longer have to prevent you from becoming a homeowner. Give Yourself A Little Credit After experiencing a credit problem, most lenders will want to see an attempt to rebuild your credit through a steady payment history with a new account.  This can be accomplished by applying for a credit card and maintaining a responsible use of the account.  If you aren’t approved for an unsecured card, you can always apply for a secured credit card. Either will rebuild your credit over time and will help to show lenders that your past credit problems are just that - in the past. Clean Up Your Credit Report Before applying for a home loan, make sure that you check your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Every 12 months, consumers can request a free copy of their credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. If anything is incorrect or found to be inaccurate, filing a dispute with the credit reporting agency can help to get the information corrected before speaking with a lender. When you apply for a home loan, the lender will access your credit report for the purpose of determining your creditworthiness. In an effort to ensure that you have the best possible chance at being approved for the loan at the best possible interest rates, making sure that your credit report is accurate is a must. Save Up For A Down Payment Some homebuyers often qualify for a mortgage with down payments as low as five percent (three and one half percent for FHA loans), but those with past credit problems may be required to shell out up to 35 percent or more for a down payment on their new home.  A buyer who pays a larger down payment obviously has more vested interest in the home and may, thereby, be less likely to default on a loan.  If you have past credit problems, check with your lender about specific down payment requirements and start saving! Creative Financing Options If you’ve exhausted all of your conventional efforts and are still turning up empty, don’t give up just yet. Alternative financing is an option that many homebuyers use to purchase a home.  Your REALTOR® can provide you with details regarding any lease purchase and/or owner financing properties, which may require no credit check, no bank qualifying, a low down payment and competitive interest rate options.

Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty Hazlet selected as "2012 N.J. Five Star Real Estate Agent"!

Great News!!! Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty Hazlet Branch is one of the recipents of the 2012 New Jersey Five Star Real Estate Agent award. She is among a group of fewer than 7% of real estate agents in the New Jersey area. New Jersey Monthly asked Five Star Professional to conduct research with clients, peers and industry experts to determine the r.e. agents in N.J. area who rated highest in overall satisfaction. Winners will be listed in the March 2012 issue of New Jersey Monthly. Congradulations Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty Hazlet, N.J. 800-531-2885 x 451    www.SearchHomesinNJ.com

Luxury Waterfront Properties Offer Discounted Closing Prices!

Mark the Date!!! Your Residential Real Estate Questions Answered.

Live Chat on Ustream.tv  by Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty.  Present will be Michael J. Weber of Weber Law Offices in Howell, NJ.  Chat live and ask you real estate questions.  All Residential real estate questions and RE Legal Quesions. Re-sale, short sales, bank owned, foreclosure, condo's, town homes & rentals. Mark the date... March 1, 2012 at 7:PM You can email your request prior, we will respond on live chat and email you back with answers. Email to : LAlaimo@BetterHomesUS.com See you there... Channel Name:  BHRLisaalaimo or search on ustream.tv  NJrealestateagent   or just click the link below and save to your favorites. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/njrealestateagent Lisa Alaimo.. . .www.SearchHomesinNJ.com     for Michael Weber of Weber Law offices...  www.WeberLawOffices.com

Avoiding Foreclosure (Government information)

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/avoiding_foreclosure Call me with any questions. 800-531-2885 x 451 or email me at:  LAlaimo@BetterHomesUS.com  Better Homes Realty   Lisa Alaimo

Hazlet Recreation Programs

Preschool Open House Feb. 23rd 9:30-11:30 at the Cullen Center. Accepting Registrations for the Fall 2012-2013 school year.  Childrens Programs: Beginner Karate: Starts March 17th starts Sat. 8 one hour sessions, 10-11am, $45. for ages 4-12 yrs, held at Amatos on Palmer Ave. $30. uniform purchase at Amatos prior to start. Gymnastics Begins March 5th Mon & Wed- 8 weeks, 16 sessions, $68. Grades k-8, Session times are 5:40, for boys and girls kindergarden to 8 years, and 6:50 girls only K-8 years, and 8pm for ages 9 & up girls only. Chinese classes April 1st, 10 classes, Sundays, 3-5 pm $150. Adult Programs: Art Monday, 7-8:30pm, $45/5 weeks begins Feb 27th-----  T'ai Chi Feb 22nd. Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm, $135./8weeks Cardio Kickboxing- March 12th, Mon-Wed, 7-8pm $90./8weeks, 16 sessions Body Conditioning March 13th, Tues &Thurs 9:30-10-30, 8 weeks, 16 classes $90. Zumba Tuesdays March 27th  7-8 pm, 10 classes $80. Bus Trips Lion King  Sunday April 22nd, $110 pp, rear mezz, bus leaves @ 12pm, 3 pm show Call Hazlet Recreation Programs for more details: 732-739-0653  info from Community Messenger/entered by Lisa Alaimo Better Homes Realty 800-531-2885 x451 or 732-241-4588

Pricing your home to sell.

How to use comparable sales to sell your home.. Click the link from houselogic..  http://buyandsell.houselogic.com/articles/how-use-comparable-sales-price-your-home/ Lisa Alaimo/Better Homes Realty   800-531-2885 x451  www.LISAALAIMO.com   email me at: LAlaimo@BetterHomesUS.com

How much Mortgage can you afford?

4 good tips.. Click the link for info: http://buyandsell.houselogic.com/articles/4-tips-determine-how-much-mortgage-you-can-afford/ Lisa Alaimo/Better Homes Realty:   www.LisaAlaimo.com   email me: Lalaimo@BetterHomesUS.com   or call me at: 800-531-2885  x451

The Costume Shop in Keyport is Closing it's doors!!! Everything MUST GO!

Sad to say but.... The Costume Shop in Keyport is closing its doors..  Everything MUST GO!!!!  Feb. 29th 2012 it's gone! 50% off all Retail Costumes, Masks, Wigs, Make-up. Fixtures etc. also for sale.. Maybe early for Halloween, but not early for a great deal... Stop by: 41 Division St. Keyport, NJ 07735   PH: 732-264-5115   Hours: Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri 10-6  & Sat 10-2 information provided by Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty... Call Lisa for a complimentary Market analysis. 732-241-4588 * 800-531-2885 x 451

Avoid Foreclosure!!! Call Lisa Alaimo 800-531-2885 x451

Avoid Foreclosure!  For a Confidential consultation please contact: Lisa Alaimo of Better Homes Realty at:   732-241-4588   or     800-531-2885  x 451 email at: LAlaimo@BetterHomesUS.com December 2012 is the EXPIRATION of the " Forgiveness Act"..  Know your rights.. call for info. NJ Real Estate Attorney can be present at consultation. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act was introduced in Congress on September 25, 2007, and became law on December 20, 2007. This act offered relief to homeowners who would formerly owe taxes on forgiven mortgage debt after facing foreclosure. The act extends such relief for three years, applying to debts discharged in calendar year 2007 through 2009. (With the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, this tax relief was extended another three years, covering debts discharged through calendar year 2012.) info: wikipedia.. Contact Lisa Alaimo now!  732-241-4588  or 800-531-2885 ext. 451 Better Homes Realty..

Looking for Middletown Parking Permit

Middletown's main parking lot on Church St. next to the train station no longer has a wait list. At the half year mark, parking permits for the main lot are on sale now for $200. for residents and $225. for non residents. Permits are good through June 30. Contact the office of the Township Clerk at 732-615-2015 from 9am -5pm. Monday through Friday for more information. information courtesy of Independent news entered by Lisa Alaimo/Better Homes Realty

When one conjures an image of Independence Day, they gravitate to thoughts of beautiful weather, hot dogs, family friends, bar-b-cues, and FIREWORKS. As the annual celebration of America, grilling, and pyrotechnics descends upon us one would be wise to celebrate in Monmouth County, NJ. Here in the quintessential shore community towns are gearing up for their salute to America, everyday this weekend one can sample something from the veritable smorgasboard of all things Americana. My first stop of the weekend will actually begin tomorrow night In Atlantic Highlands. The Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair is this week; running from Tuesday to Saturday. The highlights are Wednesday night's Fire Fighter night and Friday Nights Fireworks. All festivities are located at the Atlantic Highlands harbor found at the end of First Ave. KaBoom Fest in Red Bank will encompass the 1-3rd culminating is undoubtedly the finest fireworks spectacle in New Jersey. I love these fireworks, it gets crowded so get there early. I recommend taking the train in, parking gets to be an issue (price/availability/traffic). Contact the rivercenter for dining and shopping specials. Finally we have Oceanfest in Long Branch, this celebration of America and the Atlantic is celebrating its 21st year of existence. For those who prefer fireworks actually happening on the 4th, this is the place to go. I would stop in Sea Bright this evening and catch both the Long Branch and the Sea Bright Fireworks simultaneously. Sea Bright provides the musical stylings of the Tim McLoone Band, plus great beachfront restaurants and moderately better parking that the beach at Long Branch. Come on down the shore and celebrate your independence!

Poker This weekend

If any one is free this Saturday night, May 14th, please stop in the Lincroft Fire Company for a night of Texas Hold 'Em. We are bringing in dealers and hosting a multi-table No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em tournament. Buy-in is a $100 donation, with plenty of chances for re-buys and bonus buy opportunities. Please E-mail either Mark SanPietro @ welby803@yahoo.com or Anthony Russo @ russo57@verizon.net. Checks, Credit/Debit Cards, and Cash are all accepted