Real Stories

Family Heads South for More Space, Homeownership 

With their children growing, and their rental apartment seeming to get smaller and smaller around them, Jennifer and Jeffery decided it was time to buy a home with more space.

After looking casually at homes near their rental in North Jersey, they decided to move to a more affordable area in Monmouth County.

“We have family in Monmouth County and had always liked it,” said Jennifer. “We found the homes in the northern part of the state too small, and we wanted to live somewhere that is open and spread out.”

Jennifer and Jeffrey signed on with a REALTOR®, Sharon, in June 2009 and began to look seriously at homes in Monmouth County. As soon as they began their search with her, fears they had felt previously about home buying subsided. For example, when they considered buying in 2007 and 2008, they were fearful about their ability to find a home they could afford. The homes they found this time around in the current market in Monmouth County were new and spacious, located in tight-knit communities, and the area was known for good schools.

The couple was also motivated by the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit.

“The tax credit opened opportunities for us, and a sense of relief came over us,” Jennifer said.

The couple saw a home they liked in Ocean Township during their first round of searching, and they put in an offer right away. The negotiation process took two months and they looked at more houses in the meantime because they weren't sure whether the sellers would come down to a price they could afford. By August though, they agreed on a price with the sellers and went into contract; they closed by the end of September. Jennifer had the tax credit on mind throughout the process.

“I knew there was a deadline to qualify for the credit, so we pushed to close before then,” said Jennifer. “I think the tax credit should be extended so more [families] could have the opportunity and buyers wouldn’t have to rush to qualify.”

“We felt like we hit the jackpot with this home, in terms of all our needs,” Jennifer said. “It’s triple the size of our old apartment, has new appliances, central air, hardwood floors, and is close to shopping and restaurants. I love the cathedral ceiling and contemporary feel.”

Jennifer’s favorite part of the house is her large walk-in closet.

“It’s amazing that we found a house with everything we wanted,” said Jennifer. “We just need to find the best pizza place in the neighborhood and we’ll be set.”