New Jersey 6-12-17 by Top Agent Magazine

NEW JERSEY EDITION

CREATIVE MEDITATION for the Real Estate Professional Why Millennials are Now the HOTTEST SEGMENT OF THE BUYER'S MARKET FEATURED AGENT

APRIL BLOUNT COVER STORY

CARLOS M. TURNER

5 Simple Mindset Shifts That Will Help You ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS How to Recognize TRUE LUXURY PROPERTIES

NEW JERSEY EDITION

CARLOS M. TURNER

APRIL BLOUNT

CONTENTS 4) HOW TO RECOGNIZE TRUE LUXURY PROPERTIES 13) WHY MILLENNIALS ARE NOW THE HOTTEST SEGMENT OF THE BUYER'S MARKET

20) 5 SIMPLE MINDSET SHIFTS THAT WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS 22) CREATIVE MEDITATION FOR THE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL

Phone 888-461-3930 | Fax 310-751-7068 mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. Published in the U.S.

Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

How to Recognize True Luxury Properties What to Consider Other Than Location When luxury home buyers are looking for a new abode, they are often advised to pay most of their attention to location, location, location. And it’s true that good locations often have better properties, but if you’re only looking at location then you might be forgetting what it is in a luxury property that makes it luxury. You could view a property in a great location, and because you completely ignored any of the other factors that make a property high end, you might find that once you move in, you aren’t as pleased with the actual house itself as you thought you would be. Here are the other things you should look out for when purchasing a luxury home: • Architectural Uniqueness: The simple fact is that good

architecture retains its value. Do your homework on architects and find the ones that have a good track record of designing beautiful, but practical homes. Don’t simply pay attention to how the building looks today. Consider how it will look in a few decades. Keep an eye out for the “bones” of the building, and decide whether they will stand the test of time or not. Things such as a solid foundation, high-grade materials, unusual details, and artistic components are good aspects to consider. Will the structure hold up well or will it degrade and crumble without constant upkeep? That funky molding may look artistic today, but in ten years will it be considered artistic or just plain weird?

Top Agent Magazine

• Practical Layout: Make sure you have enough room to live

in comfort. As a buyer of luxury property, you probably have quite a busy social schedule. You want to make sure that the layout will lend itself to helping you maintain clear separation between your social areas and private ones. You don’t want guests having to go back into your bedroom to use the bathroom. Look out for places with stairwells, awkward columns, long hallways, and other wastes of space.

• Unobstructed Views and Light: You want to live in

a home that gives you lots of natural light, such as one that is open to the outdoors. That natural light will improve your mood, as well as the resale value. The openness of a space filled with natural light will make you feel more comfortable and happy in your new home. What about the view? Do you see a Do you park, a bridge, a river, or a skyline? Is the see a park, fantastic view out your window protected? a bridge, You’ll need to understand the surrounding air a river, or a rights and zoning allowances of neighboring buildings to understand the possible risks. skyline?

• Windows: Windows are the primary source of losing heat and

cooling. Make sure they are double-paned with good insulation that will protect your home against weather and noise. Unless the windows are already like this, it is unlikely that the condo or co-op board will allow you to install your own.

• Ceiling Height: Consider the cubic footage of the property.

You want to look for high ceilings that increase the openness of a room. Of course, you don’t want to go too high. Above 14 feet will get you diminished marginal returns.

• Storage: If you’re a woman, you will understand this one. We need

lots of closets and additional storage room to fit all of our clothes, shoes, jackets, hats, purses, etc. However, lucky for you, your potential home’s existing closet square footage will not limit you from putting in more storage space. Custom closet companies can create any kind of storage

Top Agent Magazine

space you desire. You will have to, however, make sure that your new home does have an area that you can turn into this storage space. • In-Unit Laundry: In-unit laundry has become necessary for

any luxury home or apartment. Do you really want to have to trek down flights of stairs to use the basement laundry? If you still consider it wasted space, you can convert it into more closet space.

• The Gym: Having a fitness area nearby is an amenity that is especially

important, particularly in winter when you don’t feel like walking to the gym a few blocks down. One thing to consider is the Do you really want of the gym in relation to have to trek down size to the size of the building in flights of stairs? light of common area fees. • Move-In Ready: I’d advise against buying time-consuming and

frustrating fixer-uppers no matter how much you want to add custom kitchens, finishes, fixtures, and other characteristics. Choose a property that already has all of these amenities taken care of. These properties have already had the same designers you would hire fashion the house at a fraction of the cost you would pay to have them do it after you move in. In this light, it is worthwhile to pay a little extra for the move-in ready home.

• Reputation: Pay attention to the reputation of the building. A

property that has a good reputation tends to retain its value. You can easily find this out online on posts, and established locals are likely to have an opinion.

If you want to buy luxury property that is really worth it’s price, then I would suggest adding these points to your list of things your new home must have. If you want to get a high quality home that is a true luxury, you’ll want to watch out for these aspects as well as the location. Some properties might claim to be luxury based on their location, but when compared against this list, they don’t make the cut. So, don’t be fooled by imposters, and make sure you find a true high-end property. 6

Top Agent Magazine

CARLOS M. TURNER Top Agent Magazine

Carlos M. Turner epitomizes the meaning of humility. He chose his career and he does it well so that others can achieve their goals. He’s slow to praise himself quick to commend his teammates for any success they may have. And after 10 years in real estate, Carlos has earned a solid reputation for his approachability, dependability, his honesty and his professionalism. “I always have the mindset of completing the mission thoroughly without skipping steps,” says Carlos, a Marine Corps veteran who previously worked as a police officer and a fireman. For many years before becoming a REALTOR®, Carlos was interested in real estate. 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Representing buyers and sellers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Middlesex, Union and Essex Counties out of his office with Re/Max Properties Unlimited in Westfield, NJ, Carlos enjoys the support and camaraderie of a team. “I have a team of nine people here at RE/MAX,” he says. “I like the structure of a team. because of my military background; everyone has their area of expertise and we don’t miss any detail.” From buyers’ agents to administrative staff, the team eagerly goes wherever their referrals take them. “If a client wants something done, we’ll get it done,” says Carlos, explaining that his work ethic, honesty keep clients coming back to the Top Agent Magazine

team and referring their friends and family. “It’s never worth it to hide anything. We’re straight-forward, trustworthy, reliable and willing to help.” To Carlos, service means continually raising the bar and exceeding his clients’ expectations. Buyers and sellers applaud his professionalism, saying that they initially expect real estate transactions to be stressful and are delighted when Carlos makes the process smooth and enjoyable. For instance, when marketing listings, Carlos thinks outside the box. One seller listed with Carlos after other agents wouldn’t take the listing because of the home’s proximity to a train. “For Carlos, this wasn’t a problem at Top Agent Magazine

all,” says the client. “He worked hard, found our buyer and got us close to asking price.” His longtime familiarity with the New Jersey communities he serves provides an edge both to new buyers in the area and to sellers. With an eye for each home’s ideal buyer, Carlos advertises on all real estate websites in addition to magazines. “I place ads with buyers holding a Sold sign showing our success,” he says. “People are happy to do that and new clients notice it.” Having visited or lived in various countries through his military career and personal travel, Carlos can relate to the diverse pool of buyers coming to New Jersey. “Real estate, I Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

Top Agent Magazine

“I have a team of nine people here at RE/MAX—everyone has their area of expertise and we don’t miss any detail.” guess, is my favorite thing to do,” he says of his career, which, given his love for it, often does not feel like work. “I used to travel a lot and I’ve all around the world – to places like Brazil and Thailand – for recreational and for the military,” he says, noting that he recently left his long military career. Among more than half a dozen real estate specializations, Carlos is a Military Relocation Professional (MRP). He is also a Real Estate Negotiations Expert (RENE), a Pricing Strategy Advisor Top Agent Magazine

(PSA) and a Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR). “I’m a team guy, though,” he says. I don’t want to stand above and beyond anyone else. Carlos applies the many mottos of the Marine Corps to both his life and his work. Through real estate and through life, he cherishes his ability to collaborate with his team in order to help make a difference for people. “Without a team you’re not going to finish anything!” Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

To learn more about Carlos M. Turner visit facebook.com/carlosmturner email carlosturn@gmail.com or call 908.230.5547 www.

Top Agent Magazine

Why Millennials Are Now the Hottest Segment of the Buyers Market

and How You Can Attract Them to Your Home There are many factors when it comes to knowing how to sell your home to the Millennial generation. Millennials are becoming an important part of the buyer market, and to fail to cater to their needs will cut you off from a large and important segment. But, why have Millennials all of a sudden become interested in buying houses when they were perfectly content to rent for the rest of their lives? Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

A number of factors contribute to what has recently made Millennials the hottest segment of the Buyers market. One factor is the improved job outlook for Millennials. Millennials took a serious blow during the recession. Unemployment in this group soared to 14 percent, compared to the 9.6 percent for the population as a whole. But, in recent years that number has been decreasing, with unemployment for Millennials being 9.3 percent this past year. Rising rents are also contributing to making Millennials more interested in purchasing homes now. Rents have risen so much that buying a home now just makes more sense. Half of all renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Millennials are becoming increasingly stressed over the constantly increasing financial obligation to something that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even theirs to own. The near-historic low mortgage rates are luring Millennials towards purchasing a home with their promise of affordability. When compared with the skyrocketing rental rates, buying a house looks even more enticing. Another factor helping Millennials get over the hump of purchasing a house is the lower down payment requirements. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now offering new loan programs that require as little as a 3 percent down payment. This may just be the last push the Millennials needed to turn toward buying a home rather than rent. So, now that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established that Millennials are finally joining the Buyers market, the next thing that it is important to understand is what exactly Millennials are looking for in a home. What kind of floorplans do they prefer? What locations are they interested in? Here are some of the essentials that Millennials are looking for in a home: â&#x20AC;˘ Updated Kitchens and Baths: Almost everyone wants to buy a

home with new kitchen and bath fixtures, but this is especially true for Millennials Buyers. Millennials are going to spend most of their savings on the down payment and furnishings, leaving little room to update the Kitchen and Bath, which are also the most expensive parts of a home to

Top Agent Magazine

• Less Maintenance: Many Millennials work different schedules that

don’t conform to the 9 to 5 workday, as well as full social calendars. This doesn’t leave them much time to clean a big house. Lawn services and low-maintenance front yards are particularly appealing, as they take less responsibility to still keep the curb appeal high.

• Energy-Efficient Appliances: Millennials have been educated on

keeping the Earth clean from the time they were born. They want to do their part to help the environment and appreciate the long-term cost savings that come with it. Energy-efficient appliances and greener ways to heat and cool the home might end up being the tipping point that makes them choose one house over another.

• Hardwood Floors: Millennials don’t have the time or patience to clean

dirty carpets, especially those that own pets. Hardwood and laminate flooring is easy to mop up if there’s been a mess. The more time they can conserve, the better.

• Good Location: Millennial buyers are looking for homes that are in

proximity to public transportation and have a good walking score. Young Millennial buyers without children are more likely to want a location closer to the action of the city, while Millennials with children would prefer more residential areas.

• Technology: Technology rules the Millennial’s life. They do work on

their computers through an Internet connection and solely use cellphones for communication. They are going to ask about how strong the cell service is and about the Internet service provider. While these amenities are out of the seller’s hands, Millennials are still going to ask these questions, and you will need to know how to answer them.

Knowing what Millennials are looking for in a home will ultimately help you make the necessary changes that will attract these buyers to your home. Since they are the a serious segment of the market now, updating your home to fit their needs will lead to more buyers and better offers. So, get with the times and embrace the Millennial buyer. Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

update. Millennials who are on a budget simply won’t have the money to sink into those areas. An updated Kitchen and Bath is sure to bring in a younger crowd. • Big Kitchen with Open Floor Plan: For Millennials, the kitchen has

become the room where they hangout in addition to the family room. This is why having an open space that can transition easily from the kitchen to the TV room is high on the list of things Millennials are looking for in a home. Along a similar vein, Millennials are attracted to an open floor plan rather than one that compartmentalizes the home. This has to do with how Millennials entertain. Millennials want their guests to flow through the rooms and mingle together, rather than be sectioned off in different rooms.

• Home Office: More than 13 million Americans now work from home,

and if you look at the trend, that number is only going to increase as the time goes on. With technology steadily increasing, more Millennials than ever have the flexibility to work from home. But, the home office isn’t just for someone working from home full time. Having a separate space dedicated to work helps people concentrate and focus on work while they are at home. They can separate themselves from the activities going on around the house and have a quiet space where they can set up their workday, plan a presentation, hold a meeting on Skype, or even pay bills.

Top Agent Magazine

APRIL BLOUNT 17

APRIL BLOUNT After a successful career in the mortgage business, April Blount made the transition into real estate and has never looked back. “Real estate is my 24/7, and I am very passionate about helping my clients achieve their home buying goals and dreams,” explains ® April, a REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New Jersey Properties. As a current Jersey City resident, April primarily focuses on Hudson and Bergen County, but her network reaches far beyond her surrounding area. Some agents can only juggle small networks or one particular type of real estate, but April has the versatile knowledge and invaluable business experience to sell a wide range of properties across several markets. “I’ve been able to successfully manage a variety of listings–from single family homes in the suburbs, to multi-families and condos along the Gold Coast,” she says. April’s extensive footprint is largely thanks to her strong relationship building and her prior experience in mortgages. “My knowledge and experience with both sides of the business definitely helps me create and maintain relationships while providing holistic service to all of my clients,” says April. This approach to real estate has resulted in April being in the Circle of Excellence for the past consecutive 3 years from when she originally

started. She’s also in the top 7% of her network and continues to win leading honorary society awards. As a power producer, April provides a personalized touch for each of her clients that helps her keep in close touch with them. “I’m very hands on-and communicative when it comes to my clients. I make sure they feel empowered and well-informed during their entire home buying and selling process.” In addition, she handles properties in several different price ranges and serves a wide variety of clients including first time home buyers, experienced sellers, investors and a large portion of repeat clients. April makes a point of using the latest, highest technology and VHT Photography to keep her listings up-to-date and accessible. She creates seamless video tours, which are produced after she puts her staging hand to work. “I’m staging-certified and I know how to present a home. If a home needs some work, I’ll take the time and give it a more personal touch.” Outside of her action-packed schedule, April enjoys managing her personal real estate investments and getting involved in her area through local charity events, community service, and fundraisers. She also has a lively passion for travel and enjoys exploring new places both in and out of the country. April is also currently pursuing her Brokers license and looks forward to expanding her business to continue to provide the very best service and exceed her clients’ expectations and desires.

To learn more about April Blount, visit bhhsnj.com/april.blount or email april.blount@bhhsnj.com, or call 718 - 309 - 5861 www.

Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

5 Simple Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is one of the key steps to achieving success. It’s very easy to let negativity bring you down and oftentimes, people end up quitting at the first set back. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a negative person, you’re probably doing numerous things you don’t even realize are holding you back. Recognizing these negative mindsets, and then implementing simple mindset shifts, are sure to help you not only create a more positive outlook, but a more successful outcome to whatever goal you’re trying to achieve. 20

Turn jealousy into admiration

It’s very easy to look at someone who has what you want, and feel envious, which quickly turns into criticism and excuses about why you weren’t able to get what they seemed to get with ease. This is something successful people never do. Instead, they recognize that the only thing keeping them from success is themselves. If you want what someone else has, you should look to them as a role model. What

Top Agent Magazine

are they doing that you aren’t? There’s probably more to their story than you’re giving them credit for. Someone else’s success doesn’t hinder your ability to do the same, but constantly having a ‘life’s not fair’ attitude definitely will.

Tackle the things you dread doing first

We all procrastinate to some extent. Usually it’s things we don’t want to do. But when you put something like that off, it creates a serious cloud over your whole day. Experts recommend getting those things out of the way first. Not only do get it crossed off your list, but you will feel energized by your accomplishments and tackle the day with even more force.

Don’t make decisions based on emotion

Reaching goals, especially long term ones, can have a lot of ups and downs. The key to achieving them is to stay level-headed during setbacks, really focusing on your plan and how the setback fits into your long term vision. If you have a solid plan in place, you could be destroying months of hard work with one rash emotional decision, that is probably coming from a place of panic. When you’re feeling emotional...wait. It really is that simple. Wait it out until Top Agent Magazine

you’re back in a rational state of mind and take it from there.

Learn to love feedback

It’s very easy to be thrown off by negative feedback or constructive criticism. No one likes it. But when it comes to achieving your goals, you need to be able to hear it, assess it and then make an unemotional decision about what it means to you and your success. In fact the business world’s most successful leaders are there because they not only take in that feedback, they actually constantly ask for it. Fresh perspectives on what you’re doing are always valuable. When you’re in the thick of it, it can be hard to see what needs improvement. Asking a trusted peer or advisor can be instrumental in keeping the momentum on reaching your goal going.

Replace a fixed mindset with a growth mindset

You might be wondering what the difference between the two are. A fixed mindset thinks that growing intelligence or skills is impossible, while a growth mindset thinks those things can be developed. People with a growth mindset are more likely to expand beyond their comfort zone, since they really believe almost anything is possible with hard work. And if it isn’t? They’re willing to give it a try. Being willing to try and fail, is a key element to reaching even the most lofty goals.

Top Agent Magazine

Creative Meditation

for the Real Estate Professional The real estate world can be an industry of intense emotional and psychological pressure. Deadlines, meetings, employee needs, client needs and a hundred other items on which one needs to focus on a daily basis can create an environment that is not only not conducive to mental well-being, but can be outright detrimental. Learning to quiet the mind has been the focus of meditation for millennia. While those not familiar with the concept of meditation may instinctively think of yoga mats, incense, and chanting when the word “meditation” arises, there are in fact, many forms of meditation that can integrate quite 22

easily into the daily hustle & bustle world of the busy real estate agent. First, think about when you are alone each day. Here are some possible times to practice mediation during the work day: • When driving to the office in the morning • When driving to a showing or to meet a client • Before your open house begins • After the open house • Driving home in the evening Top Agent Magazine

Repeating a mantra can be very calming, particularly when you are trying to rid yourself of negative, self-defeating thoughts. These are just five examples of times when you can take advantage of meditation techniques to quiet your mind and, by extension, increase productivity. A calm mind is a more thoughtful, better tuned instrument. Here are some examples of meditations you can try.

For when you’re driving, download and listen to any number of audio Guided Meditations available on the internet. YouTube has a generous selection of these, many of which are geared towards success in business.

2 Repeating a mantra can be very calm-

ing, particularly when you are trying to rid yourself of negative, self-defeating thoughts. It doesn’t matter what words you choose, as long as you feel good about your choice. “I am a success” or “I will approach all of my clients with love today” are two examples. Whatever works for you and gets you into the desired mindset.

Top Agent Magazine

3 Something as simple as listening to pleasant music in your car can be considered meditation, provided it brings you to a place of comfort as opposed to one of spiritual discordance.

4 The most important thing, however, is to take time to find gratitude in everything you do. Count your blessings, be grateful the exciting career in real estate you have built for yourself.

Once you’ve mastered some of these techniques at quieting your mind, you can attempt to find some that work even better for you. Walking, plain silence, or even exercise can have meditative qualities and benefits if practiced on a regular basis. When you’re truly feeling calm, your clients can sense this. And with this comes the feeling that you can be relied upon to stay focused and calm in any unforeseen circumstances. And in the world of real estate, that’s a highly prized commodity. 23

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine