The Chen Agency

The Chen Agency

10/07/07 / The Record / Real Estate

End of the run for 'Anything Goes'

By: Mary Amoroso

In the boom market, investors and renovators were snatching up properties in virtually every neighborhood in North Jersey. You couldn't lose if you renovated down the studs or tore down the old house and put up a brand-new, 5,00 square foot home. Now, the slow market is here for a while and some are struggling to sell homes priced way above the value of other residential properties in town. A couple of weeks back, we looked at the least expensive homes in the most expensive towns in North Jersey. Today, we'll look at the most expensive towns in Bergen County. With buyers focused on "location, location, location" and "never overpay," how do you market these houses? What motivates a buyer to purchase such house? In Little Ferry, where the median home sale price for the first five months of 2007 was $358,750 and there are 47 homes for sale, the most expensive home in town lists at $800,000. It is truly a beautiful home of five bedrooms and three baths, built in the last couple of years, with a columned formal dining room, the best finishes of stone, marble and granite, and a huge, tiered back yard. Listing agent Nelson Chen of The Chen Agency in Fort Lee said, " I was really doubtful about this house initially because it's so much higher than the median price in Little Ferry - there's nothing even close. But being the highest-priced house is a huge advantage because it really stands out. To some degree, it might be easier than marketing a house of $500,000. Chen said that online photos have been a big draw. He's also put together a fancy print brochure and e-brochure. He tells prospective buyers the story of the house - that it was built by a young family in the stone business who had access to the best stone and stone masons, and that the family is moving into a multi-generational home with parents, which is a big trend today, Chen said. There have been a number of offers on the house, getting closer to asking price. Initially, the bidders were from Little Ferry, now, he said, the bidders are coming from a radius of 10 miles, including Hudson County. "These are people who are not looking for a brand-name town, but who want the kind of house they would get in a brand-name town," said Chen. "This house would be $1.2 million in Paramus." In Rochelle Park, where the recent median sale price is $375,000 and there are 51 homes for sale, the highest priced home is $739,000. The renovated home has a full finished basement with kitchen, recreation room and full bath. It contains all the must haves of a new home: hardwood floors, crown