Real Stories

Woman Sees 21 Homes in a Week; Buys Home in North Brunswick

With her lease on a rental almost up and housing prices more affordable, Piscataway resident, Sharon, was determined to buy a home of her own.

“I decided to begin looking in the middle of February 2009, and my lease was going to expire on March 31st,” said Sharon.  “It was a short timeframe but I knew it wouldn’t hurt to try.  I also wanted to take advantage of low interest rates.”

She signed on with a REALTOR^®, Jackie, and looked at 21 homes in one week. 

At the start of her search, Sharon saw a North Brunswick townhome that did not have a garage or built-in fireplace – two home features on her wish list – but was in a good location.  Many open houses and tours later, she realized the home’s value and figured that she could compromise.

“I dismissed it, but the house had a lot going for it.  It was recently painted, near a major highway and many restaurants, and needed no renovations,” said Sharon. “When I saw it the second time, I could picture the way I might decorate it because it was staged so well.”

Because she was restricted in time and the owners of the home were anxious to move, they negotiated quickly.  However, before she could make an official offer, Sharon learned that her REALTOR^®, Jackie, would be on vacation.

To keep the process moving, Jackie brought in another REALTOR^®, Dinyar, to fill in.

“At first I was leery, but I was assured by both of them that I would be taken care of,” said Sharon.

Dinyar was able to help Sharon with her official offer and set a closing date that worked for the sellers and Sharon. 

Sharon closed on her home at the end of March – both Jackie and Dinyar were with her – and was out of her apartment before her lease was expired.  She was able to obtain her first-time home buyer tax credit this year and used it to buy furniture and shelving for the home.

“Buying a home made me more educated about the market in general,” Sharon said.  “I learned that if you have enough money and job security, it is not hard to find the right home.”

Sharon is looking forward to making the townhouse her own, with her furniture and decorations. 

“I wish I’d done it years ago,” she said.  “I trusted my own judgment about which home to buy and now I have a great house to make into my own home.”