North vs. South - New Jersey Style

North vs South. While New Jersey never had a state civil war, there are two distinct geo-political spheres and it's almost like having two separate states. New Jersey is roughly divided between North and South along county lines (Click here to see county map of NJ, southern counties are colored cyan). [Note: When convenient, such as in school sports competition, it is frequently divided into North/Central/South areas.]

In North Jersey, which has generally higher population density, more heavy industry and congestion, you will have your entertainment, news and sports oriented more towards the New York City metropolitan area. In South Jersey, with less dense areas and most of the vacation shoreline, you tend to be oriented towards the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley metropolitan area for your entertainment, news and sports. The term, "South Jersey", has it's own cultural, social, marketing and economic identity, separate from the rest of the state.

This difference also extends into how Real Estate transactions are done: in the North, all Real Estate transactions require lawyers for both sides; in the South, standard transactions involving residential homes, or multi-family dwellings with 4 units or less, rarely involve a lawyer (although there is an automatic 3-day attorney review period during which either or both sides can consult a lawyer).


Click here for more New Jersey facts



See my personal web site for more local New Jersey information and resources:
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Is That Home Historic Or Just Old?

Owning a piece of history What distinguishes an old house from an historic house? More than just price.

October 7, 2004: 4:20 PM EDT

By Sarah Max, CNN/Money senior writer

SALEM, Ore.- Longtime residents of Salem, Ore. may not know Tami and Brad Bingenheimer, but chances are they know their 1914 Craftsman Style house.

"We have people stop all of the time and say it's their favorite house in Salem," said Tami. That hasn't always been the case.

"There were nine apartments in this house, and it was in horrible condition," said Tami. "Then in 1993, skinheads threw a firebomb into the basement window and killed two of the tenants."

After a second fire further damaged the building, neighbors bought the house and started the long process of renovating the 3,900-square-foot house.

"It's a miracle that some of this stuff is still here," said Tami, who bought the house in 1996 when the house was in its final stages of renovation. "The banisters were hidden in a wall and leaded glass doors were in a loft in the garage."

Now that the house is for sale, its history seems to be as much a selling point as its pocket doors, wood floors and thick molding.

"We have a couple flying in from California to see it tomorrow," said Tami. "They told their Realtor they wanted a house with character."

Historic or just old?

Although individual states and cities often have their own designations for historical property, the National Register of Historic Places is the official list of "places worthy of preservation."

There are currently about 78,000 listings of historic areas and properties on the register, and about 1,500 new ones are added each year, according to Paul Lusignan, a historian with the register.

A building may be considered historic if it is associated with trends in history, a historically significant person, or a type of architecture or construction method. The Bingenheimers' house, has been on the register since 1987 because, among other reasons, its neighborhood is one of the oldest in the city.

Of course, the definition of historic is constantly evolving. "Now we're getting into the postwar suburbs," said Lusignan. Arapahoe Acres in Englewood, Colo., has been added to the register because its 1950s houses were thought innovative at the time. And two California neighborhoods designed by Joe Eichler are currently being considered, according to Lusignan.

To add a property or area to the register, a homeowner, neighborhood or other "interested party" must research the property's history and submit a nomination form to a state's historic preservation office. Once approved by the preservation office, the nomination goes to an advisory committee and, finally, to Washington D.C. for review by the National Register.

Anyone can submit a nomination, said Christine Curran, National Register Coordinator for Oregon, but the owner must consent to initially having the property listed on the register.

Once, a property is on the register, however, it's there to stay.

Perks and pains of preservation

Bragging rights and a nifty plaque aren't the only perks of owning historic property.

Historic property that generates income, such as a bed and breakfast, is eligible for a 20-percent federal tax credit for rehabilitation costs. In some states, federal grants are available to homeowners of historic property who need help paying for such things as a new roof or cracked foundation.

In Oregon, homeowners can apply for a special assessment program, which freezes the value of their home for property tax purposes for 15 years. The Bingenheimers' house, for one, is assessed at $57,450 and will continue to be assessed at the value for another five years even though the house is on the market for about $385,000.

In exchange for the tax relief, the Bingenheimers are obligated to open their house to the public for four hours once a year. "We don't mind at all," said Tami. "We like to show it off."

The National Register is an honorary program with very few rules governing what owners can and cannot do with their property, said Lusignan. But local governments may require that owners of get approval for changes made to the home's exterior and, in some cases, the interior.

Staying true to the period can add months to the project and in some cases double the cost, according to Ralph Gillis, of Gillis Previti Architects in New York. Windows and doors need to be custom-made, brick needs to be matched and fixtures need to be replicated.

"You are using construction techniques that not everyone knows how to do," said Gillis.

Plus, not everything is worth preserving, said Michael Litchfield, who is currently working on his third edition of "Renovation," to be published by Taunton Press in 2005.

Lead paint, drafty windows, coal-guzzling furnaces, sparse bathrooms and tiny kitchens, he said, belong in the history books.

Real Estate Cyber Tips - October 2004

TRICK #1 FREE CONFERENCE CALLING -- REALLY! www.freeconferencecall.com We'll hold our breath to see how long this remains without cost -- but for now you can set up unlimited conference calls including up to 96 callers from anywhere in the world where calls to the US can be made. And on top of that you and your family, friends or even business connections can talk for up to 6 hours on any call. The only cost is for each participants normal long distance connect charges. If you are the one setting up the conference call you'll be happy to know that each of the participants pay for their own call. This special conferencing service uses your regular telephone, your own phone service and is not run using VoIP on your computer and the internet. These nice folks tell us that they can do this without any cost because they hope to sell some of their other services. They also claim to have a squeaky clean privacy policy. It works - it's easy - and the price is right!

TRICK #2 #1 CREATE YOUR OWN BLOG!www.Blogger.comStrange word -- but neat idea! Using a personal or business Blog short for web log)allows you to share small bits of information with the internet world -- along with your comments.A Blog is like a journal or newsletter online that is updated chronologically at will. It can contain links and photos and others can join in if you wish.Now you can easily set up your own Blog in about 3 minutes without any cost thanks to those creative folks at Google. Creative stuff from these very creative people!

GREAT PLACES!GREAT PLACE #1 TEST YOUR COMPUTER AGAINST HACKERSwww.hackerwatch.orgWant to see if your firewall is doing its job? This great place is a community dedicated to shutting down hackers and helping individuals and businesses protect against these predators. Here you will find a test that probes the ports on your computer to see if the rascals can get in to do their mischief. This quick test will tell you which ports are protected and if any are vulnerable to attack. We'll bet that if you are practicing safe computer you'll pass this test with ease. If not you'll know that you have to tweak your firewall or, heaven forbid if you don't have one set up, that you need to get one installed pronto!

GREAT PLACE #2 SEARCH YOUR HARD DRIVE IN A MILLISECOND! www.copernic.comTired of staring at the windows search box while it grinds away trying to find that one document or e-mail that you need right now? If so visit this great place and get their desktop search software -- yours without cost.This neat helper will first index your hard drive so when you need to search for the letter or e-mail with the word "shazam" mentioned -- you'll have it in the blink of an eye! You'll also be able to search image files, music and video files along with various internet information residing on your hard drive.Great time saver -- and the price is right!


The information contained in Real Estate CyberTips is believed to be true and correct but no warranties or guarantees are provided and readers should rely solely on their own information and advisors in connection with any sites, services or products reviewed.

All content Copyright 2004, RECS. All rights reserved.

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