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  1. Winter Is Here.... How's Your Snow Shovel?

    Amazingly enough winter is here once again.  Didn't it just end a few weeks ago?  With winter comes cold and snow so it's time to check  the condition of your snow shovel.  I ran across an informative article and I'm passing it on to you....  http://bit.ly/15TFyYW

  2. How Easy Is It To Install and Use a Wireless Thermostat?

    Wireless thermostats promise to fine-tune your heating and cooling temps for comfort and savings. We check out the newest one on the block: The Lyric Thermostat.Read more: http://bit.ly/1qIRTTB

  3. Are You Carving Your Pumpkin Soon??

    If you are getting ready to carve the traditional Jack-o-Lantern you may want to read this article about how pumpkin pulp can do harm to your plumbing and garbage disposal.  The recommendation is to put the pulp in the garbage.... but be sure to separate the seeds so you can salt and roast them....  http://bit.ly/1phx3tV 

  4. Building Code Violations

    Having been on literally hundreds and hundreds of home inspections I have become pretty familiar with building code violations.  Some are more serious than others and some are plain old common sense.  The old Federal Pacific boxes come up often although they're not actually a code violation.  Toilet seals, water leaking into electrical boxes, wood destroying insects found behind the ...

  5. Is Your Home Older Than Its Years?

    Would you throw away $20,000? You are if you’re letting your home age faster than it should. Here’s a simple maintenance strategy to keep your home young.  Read more.... http://bit.ly/1qh91TA

  6. How Is Your Water Bill?

    Do you remember the days back when when you got a quarterly water bill that totaled about $20.  It doesn't really seem that those days were that long ago.  Now we get monthly water bills that in the summer are running some big numbers.  If yours are like mine they are approaching $70-$80 a month while using the underground sprinklers for the lawn and watering the flowers and vegetables. ...

  7. Can You and Your Canine Friend Survive In the Same Yard?

    A very interesting article recently appeared on the HouseLogic website.  The article brought up some great ideas as to how to coexist with your dog as it pertains to sharing a nice backyard.  If you enjoy having a usable back yard with landscaping and like to share it with your dog the article is well worth a read.  The entire article can be found  here...

  8. John Paulson Still High On Real Estate

    Billionaire John Paulson is still touting Real Estate is the best investment out there.  Low financing rates and return on investment are his big pluses which really can't be argued with.  Check the article....  http://bit.ly/1rmNV49

  9. Nagging Home Repairs

    If you're like me you most likely have a laundry list of small but required repairs to do around the house.  I just ran across an interesting article on the subject that I think you will find to be both useful and interesting.  http://bit.ly/1mBcjzh

  10. Owning A Home Is Still The American Dream

    The American dream of home ownership is alive and well even after the battering prices and budgets took during the housing crisis, according to a survey by Chase. A total of 87% of respondents said owning their home is something they have always wanted. “Owning a home is at the heart of most Americans’ dreams,” said Chase Mortgage Banking CEO Kevin Watters. “And people are saving as much as possible ...

  11. Never Cut Your Grass Again

    Americans have long had a soft spot for lawns. Turf grass covers nearly 47 million acres in the U.S., according to the Lawn Institute. But there’s plenty that’s not green about all that green. For starters, the average household dumps 60 gallons of water a day on conventional lawns. Toxic lawn herbicides and pesticides run off into lakes and streams. Gas-powered mowers spew pollution into the air. ...

  12. Reduce Stress on Pipes So You Can Avoid Plumbing Leaks and Costly Replacements

    Long-term stress on pipes can result in plumbing leaks. And replacing plumbing in a 1,500 sq. ft. home is an expensive proposition ($2,000 to $15,000). Instead, preserve the integrity of pipes and avoid plumbing leaks by checking water pressure and installing a water softener. Reduce water pressure to prevent plumbing leaks As nice as high water pressure can be when you’re taking a shower or filling ...

  13. Home Snow Removal: Tips on Choosing the Right Snow Blower
    Home Snow Removal: Tips on Choosing the Right Snow Blower

    Home Snow Removal: Tips on Choosing the Right Snow Blower The song says “let it snow” but for home owners, that snow has got to go! For home snow removal tasks, electric and gas-powered snow blowers are just the ticket. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right snow removal tool for your area. Read Visit houselogic.com ...

  14. Help For Those In Need

    The article below appeared on the website RealStoryNJ.com.  It offers lots of information for those struggling with their mortgage payments.  Be aware that there are many unscrupulous and opportunistic individuals out there.  *** Many New Jersey families are struggling to meet their monthly mortgage payments and reports indicate that New Jersey currently ranks 11th in the nation ...

  15. New Jersey Real Estate Prices Continue to Rise 1st Qtr. 2010

    According to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®' (NAR) 2010 First Quarter Metro Home Prices/State Resales report released on Tuesday, May 11, a growing number of New Jersey's metropolitan areas are experiencing price gains from a year ago. Existing home sales in the Garden State have shown increases in four consecutive quarters and are 14.5 percent higher than last year. New Jersey is also among ...

  16. Community Shredding Day This Saturday, May 15

    WHAT:   Prudential New Jersey Properties’ New Providence and Summit offices will be hosting a “Community Shredding Day.”  A shredding truck will be on-site for anyone interested in destroying private household papers to help protect against identity theft.  The items that can and cannot be shredded include:                            ...

  17. Prudential New Jersey Properties Career Night - Don't Miss It!

    Have you ever considered a career in real estate sales? Even if you have, you might think today’s real estate market is the last place for you to find a successful new career. Well, you should think again. Give us one hour. We’ll open your eyes to what it takes to succeed in real estate sales and explain how your previous work experience, diverse skills set or technology aptitude can ...

  18. Summit Street Fair and Craft Show

    Please join us on Sunday, April 25 from 11am until 5pm.  Our booth will be located directly in front of our office at 428 Springfield Avenue.  Stop by and say hello and enter to win one of our great prizes donated by local merchants such as Monster Sushi, Eco-Friendly Cleaners and Stahl Del Duca Gallery of Flowers.  All proceeds are being donated to The Sunshine Kids who sponsor activities ...

  19. Real Estate Career Night on April 28th and You're Invited

     Prudential New Jersey Properties is hosting a companywide Career Night on Wednesday, April 28th from 7:00 to 8:00pm, at office locations throughout northern and central New Jersey. Have you ever considered a career in real estate sales? If managing your own business, working hard and maintaining a flexible schedule, AND earning an income in direct proportion to the amount of time, energy and ...

  20. Prudential New Jersey Properties Home Buyer Seminar

    Where:  Creative Wallcoverings and Interiors, 560 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ Date: March 3, 2010 Time: 7:30pm–8:30pm Prudential New Jersey Properties will host a FREE evening seminar at Creative Wallcoverings on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7:30 pm. Find out whether you qualify for the latest tax credits for both First-Time Buyers and Existing Homeowners. Attendance ...

  21. New Jersey High Schools Ranked Among Nation's Best

    US News and World Report has issued its 2010 list of the best high schools in the nation, and 41 New Jersey schools have ranked among the best. Almost 21,000 public high schools nationwide were eligible for the study, which evaluated the schools by their ability to prepare students for college coursework. High Technology High School in Lincroft, Academy of Allied Science and Health in Neptune and ...

  22. Timing Couldn’t Be Much Better for First-time Homebuyers--Be Sure You Make the Right Moves

    First-time homebuyers dominated the U.S. real estate market in 2009, accounting for roughly half of all residential transaction, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. That trend is likely to continue well into the new year. That’s because interest rates are hovering near all-time lows, home-price affordability is near all-time highs and a third factor – Congress’ ...

  23. Foreclosures Decline for Fourth-Straight Month

    Foreclosures declined 8 percent in November compared with October, but were still up 18 percent from November 2008. This was the fourth-straight month that U.S. foreclosures have declined since hitting an all-time high in July, according to online foreclosure marketer RealtyTrac. Default notices, an indicator of coming foreclosures, also were down 8 percent from October, but up 22 percent from November ...

  24. SENATE COULD EXTEND FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TAX CREDIT & OFFER NEW INCENTIVE TO EXISTING HOMEOWNERS!

    Breaking News: The Senate has reached a compromise on extending and expanding the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. Confirmation of the new proposal is pending votes in the full Senate and the House. In addition to the first-time home buyers incentive, a new credit of up to $6,500 will be made available to some existing homeowners who have been in their current residence for five ...

  25. First Time Home Buyer Seminar

    Prudential New Jersey Properties' local offices will host Seminars for First-Time Homebuyers on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at 7:30 pm. The Summit and New Providence offices are hosting their seminar at the Westy Storage Facility at 15 River Road in Chatham.  In order to qualify for the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit the property being purchased must close title no later than November 30, ...

  26. What Happens If Prices Fall But Interest Rates Go Up?

    The attached link opens a document that quantifies the cost of waiting for lower property prices.  A slight increase in mortgage interest rates can offset the perceived gain of a lower property price.  It will be obvious that the cost of waiting could be substantial... even if prices come down further. The Cost of Waiting

  27. Selling A Home - From Start to Finish

    You've decided to sell your home ... and now you need to address some complex, challenging issues.  "Selling a home can be a daunting process, because it's a major financial transaction involving multiple steps," notes Michael Del Duca, manager of Prudential New Jersey Properties' New Providence office. "From selecting a sales professional and marketing the home, to negotiating with buyers, ...

  28. First Time Home Buyer Seminar to be Offered

    Join us at PNJP's COMPANYWIDE First-Time Homebuyers Seminar! Mark your calendar! June is "First-Time Homebuyers Month" at Prudential New Jersey Properties and we're celebrating with a Companywide Seminar on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:30pm. Designed to provide the information you need to navigate the first-time homebuying process, our FREE and INFORMATIVE presentation will be hosted by PNJP's ...

  29. Window Treatment Dilemmas... Solved

    This week, the Washinton Post's home and garden section features a massive Q&A with designer (and window-treatment expert) Claire Schwab. This extensive and informative article covers everything from decorating decisions to what kind of mounting hardware to use...and when to call in a pro. The accompanying slideshow catalogs some popular window treatment choices, and even illustrates many different ...

  30. Great Press for New Providence

    In the Real Estate section of the April 5 New York Times an article appeared with regard to housing affordability in New Jersey.  The first paragraph of the article states "Home prices have declined so much in the state that average buyers can actually afford to buy houses."  According to analyst Jeffrey G. Otteau, housing is very affordable and interest rates remain low.  There are ...

  31. What Is the Reality?

    The whole world is in a funk.  I don't really believe anyone has a clue as to what's going on with the economy, real estate and everything else related to them.  Anyone who claims to know where the bottom is and when the recovery begins is guessing at best regardless of their credentials. Here is something I do know....  We need to look at the 'big picture'.  It is a reality that ...

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Mike Del Duca

Mike Del Duca

Branch Office Manager
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