Judith Weiniger of RE/MAX Premier in Warren Township, NJ has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by “distressed” homes in the foreclosure process.

Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

“This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales,” said Weiniger “It is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure.”

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as Judith Weiniger with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.

The Distressed Property Institute opened in January 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.

For more information about CDPE designation or to talk with Judith Weiniger directly about your situation, call her at 908-295-3913 for a confidential appointment.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/snapshots/CS3476940.html

I live here myself and do love it for many reasons. My husband agreed to let me lead the house and town search when we decided to move from West Orange in 1998 (my childhood hometown). I chose Warren Township in Somerset County (not to be confused, like many do, with Warren County) as the community for our family to settle. I was moving to the “country” with its rural feeling. I love its rural mailboxes and the picturesque country roads without traffic lights. I did find it quite strange at first, driving on the local roads with no street lamps to light our path. Now, I don’t even notice it. For me, having the convenience of shopping nearby was important. We have so much surrounding us with Rt. 22 commerce about 10 min. away, a local Costco about 12 minutes, Bridgewater mall about 15 minutes… all I could need! I remember a friend telling me, that if I move to this town and I needed a gallon of milk, it would be an 8 minute trip to downtown Warren from my home to get to our local A&P or Kings Supermarket. I really thought that sounded like a long commute back then coming from Essex County. But of course now, 5 min. versus 8 minutes, what’s 3 minutes?

Having easy access to highways and train/bus transportation was an important factor as well. My husband needed to commute to NYC’s financial district and being so close to Rt. 78 was a huge selling point to us. Other things that were importa nt to me were the feeling of open space and farms, homes on larger lots (averaging about 1.5 acres in many of the neighborhoods that had interested me and were in my budget), having residents with similar beliefs willing to promote and support a strong school system, having fabulous recreational opportunites both on the rec and travel level in a multitude of sports, having a local synagogue for my family but also the fact there are many religious choices here, and a growing, diverse, multi-cultural population.

Although my intelligent side knows that being chosen #6 in the whole country this year is pretty arbitrary, as there are so many great towns across the US to live. Yet, for this moment in time, before the next “best find” comes out in 2010, we Warren Township, NJ (and yes, that is Warren Township off of Rt 78, not Warren County ) residents can enjoy the notoriety as being a very desirable place to live.

And while I hope this gives a boost to the lackluster real estate activity in Warren, I don’t take this ranking too seriously. But if you want to check it out for yourself, give me a call. I’d love to show you around our great town.

For those of you who want to renovate your home, please, head my warnings…get proper permits from your townships.

Many people think you will save time/money to just have the work done without the town getting involved, but the truth is, when you go to sell your home, it can be a disaster. All towns are a bit different, but if a town actually requires that they come in, check that all work in the home is to code and permitted, you could be help up for months. The town will make you undo the work, so they can see it was done in a safe manner. It may take a bit more time/money now, but in the long run it will save you a big headache. Plus, do  you want electrical work done, for example, in your home without the knowledge it was done correctly/safely?

In Plainfield, $15,000 worth of work had to be done in order to get the town to issue a C/O More importantly, it took so much time and aggravation !!–4 months.

In Warren, a client of mine had to start the permit process when she decided to list her home. It took a couple of months to have all the inspectors in. Fortunately for the homeowner, no fines were given.

If you have any question about this, please give me a call. Glad to help advise you on the process to get your permits.