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Welcome James “Jimmy” Colgan
The Green Team is proud to announce that James “Jimmy” Colgan has decided to join our Vernon, NJ team.
This is James Colgan, he is new to the Green Team New Jersey in Vernon. Venturing up from New York City where he was an agent for the past couple of years. Jimmy recently moved up to Sussex County in NJ. James was a resident of Warwick for 15 years and has spent 2 years doing Real Estate in New York City but has decided to join our team because of the small, friendly, and helping atmosphere. He loves the experience of being able to help others find a new home and making the process easy for them!
Please Welcome James “Jimmy” Colgan to Green Team New Jersey Realty!
2020 Team Player and Citizen of the Year Awards
Thursday, February 11, was the second night of Green Team Realty’s 2020 Awards Celebration. Like many events occurring in 2020, it took place on Zoom! The first night celebrated Sales Awards. The third and last night was for the Momentum Builder Award. And this night was to announce the Team Player and Citizen of the Year Awards.
Team Player Award
Geoff Green, President of Green Team Realty, stresses the importance of elevating those around you. .Focusing on winning each day creates a winning culture, a Green Team Core Value. The recipients of this award do all that. In addition, they are deemed most reliable, and positive. Furthermore, they are dependable, work well with others, and have great problem-solving skills.
Before the winners are announced, a word from our Broker Managers
The Broker Managers were instrumental in selecting the Team Player Award Recipients. Lucyann Tinnirello, Broker Manager of the Warwick office, said this about her selection:
“The person selected has a lot of the attributes described above. Furthermore, sales associates in the office had a say in the selection and hit the nail right on the head!”
Kim Lasalandra, Broker Manager of the Vernon office, had this to say:
“This person is always very reliable and always seems to be around at the right time. If not out with clients, then she’s in the office helping other agents.”
And the Team Players of the Year are…
Tiffany just celebrated her second year with Green Team. She had set business goals for herself, which she achieved for 2020. However, she had no idea that she would be named Team Player of Green Team New York Realty. When Lucyann called to tell her, she was overwhelmed with emotion. Tiffany summed up her feelings on teamwork with one of her favorite quotes:
“Teamwork divides the tasks and multiplies the success.”
Cathie loves the truly positive attitude that exists at Green Team New Jersey Realty. She has found a sense of comradery at Green Team that was missing in other offices she has been with. Cathie loves being part of the Green Team and is grateful to be here.
Geoff, in turn, told Cathie how much he appreciates her positive attitude and willingness to help others. He stressed how important connection with others is, especially now. The team players are the ones that help provide that connection, something he is grateful for.
Citizen of the Year Award
Geoff began the presentation of this award with a quote by George Elliston, American Journalist and Poet, 1883-1946:
“How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.”
Recipients of this award have made outstanding contributions to our local communities. Many of the sales associates in each office are very involved in the community, making the decision a difficult one. However, in the end, there were two very deserving individuals who received this award.
According to Lucyann, Carol has a dedicated heart. It takes a special person to be so kind. In addition to being a loving mother, devoted wife, doting grandmother, and busy real estate professional, Carol makes time to give to her community. Carol has been a driver for Meals on Wheels for over 12 years now. It’s been hard during COVID since she hasn’t been able to chat with the seniors she is delivering to. She misses that connection with them as much as they do.
Carol and her husband have always been involved in the community. They raised their children to give back, and are now raising their grandchildren to do the same. Lucyann commented that at Christmas, Carol was at Shoprite, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army with her granddaughter. As Carol says,
“Volunteering is good for the soul.”
Another Green Teamer who believes in the power of volunteering is:
Kim stated that Alison is also a dedicated wife, mother, and fabulous real estate agent. She also spends a lot of her time helping the school and the community. Alison is currently the current President of SCA (School Community Association) at Vernon Township High School. She was the treasurer for 2 years. Before that, the secretary. Last year, both the president and vice president vacated their positions. Alison stepped up to become President. What’s more, her mother stepped up to take on the treasurer role.
Basically, the SCA raises a lot of money through different programs to assist the school. 2020 was a difficult year. The usual fundraisers are social events. Therefore, they could not be held due to COVID. An online auction is being planned to raise money for scholarships for high school seniors. The organization also helps senior citizens, and local children through the Giving Tree project.
A surprise ending to the evening…
Geoff was moved by the work that these volunteers and their organizations are doing. Furthermore, upon hearing the difficulties that non-profits were facing raising funds due to COVID, he decided right then to do something special. Each Citizen of the Year Award recipient will receive $500 to be donated to the charities of their choice. Geoff went on to say, when all is said and done, these are the things that will matter most. Family, and helping others.
Congratulations to our Team Players and Citizens of the Year!
Welcome James (Jimmy) Colgan
The Green Team is proud to announce that James (Jimmy) Colgan has decided to join our Warwick, NY team.
James has been a resident of Warwick for 15 years and is in the process of owning a townhome in New Jersey. James spent 2 years doing Real Estate in New York City but has decided to join our team because of the small, friendly, and helping atmosphere. He loves the experience of being able to help others find a new home and making the process easy for them!
Please Welcome James (Jimmy) Colgan to Green Team New York Realty!
Heidi Hyland has always gone above and beyond.
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Geoffrey Green, President of Green Team Realty received this letter from Naveen Sharma, a client of Heidi Hyland, Broker/Sales Associate of Green Team New Jersey Realty.
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“Throughout my years of owning a condo in the Vernon area, Heidi Hyland has always gone above and beyond. She has made certain that my interests were being met and at many times exceeding them. Heidi is not just your normal real estate agent. She has become a trusted advisor and friend. Heidi’s knowledge of the real estate market, the local community and her list of contacts has been a comfort to me when making decisions from afar. I relied on her consistently. And, without fail, she always delivers. This isn’t just a one time thing or a small sample of services Heidi provided. Rather, it’s over a 10 year period which is what makes this impressive.For those fortunate enough to work with Heidi Hyland, you know this is her norm. Thank you Heidi!!!”
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It’s always great to hear from clients about their experience working with a Sales Agent. Great job, Heidi!
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May 2020 Housing Market Update
Geoff Green, President of Green Team Realty, welcomed everyone to the May 2020 Housing Market Update. The webinar was held on Tuesday, May 19 at 2 p.m. And, according to Green, “These are interesting times we live in,” to say the least. Geoff shares both national and local stats. Furthermore, he checks in with those who have “boots on the ground.” Sales Associates from Green Team New York Realty and Green Team New Jersey Realty share what’s happening in their respective states and communities. There are different regulations for the real estate industry in New York and New Jersey. Thus, there are differing impacts on what is happening in each state.
If you missed the webinar or would like to view it again, it’s available here:
Meet the Panel
The May 2020 Housing Market Update panel shared their observations, experiences, and expertise in this Covid-19 market. Keren Gonen and Kristi Anderson with Green Team New Jersey Realty talked about Vernon and the Sussex County NJ market. Nancy Sardo and Angela Murphy, with Green Team New York Realty, discussed Warwick and the Orange County NY market. Summer Mangels, Home Loan Consultant with Valley National Bank, shared her experiences with financing and refinancing in a Covid-19 market. Watch the above video to hear what the experts had to say.
Something everyone is talking about is:
When is the economy going to fully recover?
The Chairman of the Federal Reserve recently said that recovery is going to take longer than most people expect. However, several major financial institutions are calling for recovery in the second half of 2020. They include Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo. And, although unemployment numbers are historically high, they are trending down in terms of the number of new filings. As the country starts to reopen, we will hopefully see unemployment numbers go down.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data on the professions and categories most impacted by unemployment. In our April 2020 Housing Market Update we discussed those categories making up the largest majority of unemployed. Service and Bartending were the biggest category then. That number has come down a little as of May 8. Hopefully, as more and more businesses are able to reopen, people in these industries will be able to return to work.
Impact of Covid-19 to Real Estate Showings in North America
Data from ShowingTime provides analytics on the impact of Covid-19 on real estate showings. In March, showings plummeted. However, in mid-April, they started to shoot back up. When thrust into shut-down mode, there was panic and uncertainty. But as time has gone by, we’re learning how to more comfortably deal with the challenges with safety in mind. The reality is people still need homes. People still need to find homes when relocating. Life goes on. And we’re adapting to the rules and regulations as they change.
Homeowner Equity
Another important factor is the percentage of homeowner equity. If you have no mortgage, you will probably be calmer about current financial challenges and uncertainty and be more willing to spend. However, if you have a high debt to equity ratio, things will be tighter and you’ll probably have to hold back on spending. 42% of homeowners in the United States have no mortgage. 58% of all homes in America have at least 60% equity. And the average equity of mortgaged homes is $177,000. These stats show that homeownership offers many Americans some financial stability.
Years for the unemployment rate to return to the pre-crisis level
National and Local Stats on Units Sold & Average Sales Price
On the national level, the chart shows existing home sales for March (pre-COVID). At that point, home sales were a little lower than the previous few years. Prices were on an upward trend pre-COVID. The months’ supply of inventory is showing a seller’s market, with the lack of inventory available.
What is especially interesting is what is going on in Orange County, NY versus Sussex County, NJ. These are bordering counties in different states, with different COVID regulations. In New York, realtors cannot physically show homes to buyers. In New Jersey, they can. Sales in Orange County have plummeted. April numbers were substantially lower than in previous years. However, average sales price was not impacted. In Sussex, April was a good month. They held firm as far as units sold. And prices are continuing to rise.
“Housekeeping” Details:
To reach any of the May 2020 Housing Market Update panelists,
April 2020 Housing Market Update
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Covid19 has caused economic turmoil, health crises and uncertainty. However, a historical perspective may help us manage emotions and enable us to see what is happening in the housing market and navigate it accordingly. Below is a recording of the Housing Market Update as well as a summary of the most important discussion points.
National – Historical Perspective
Will this be like 2008, the start of the great recession?
The Housing Market was greatly impacted at that time because it was the catalyst that caused the Great Recession. Home price changes during last 5 recessions indicate that recessions do not necessarily impact the housing market. In 3 of the last 5 recessions, housing markets actually increased.
Housing and Mortgage Crash
In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the annual home price depreciation was significant. However, at the time we were dealing with sub-prime lending, etc. However, looking further back, to the Dot.com crash and 9/11 market crash, there was a significant S&P 500 stock market correction. Yet prices in the housing market continued to increase. There were good fundamentals in place.
Annual Home Price Appreciation
In any marketplace, you have to look at overall values. Are assets undervalued or overvalued? With the run-up to 2008, from 2000 to 2005, there were major price increases year over year. 6.5% was the lowest increase, with the highest being 12.5%. However, since 2014, 6.4% has been the highest increase. We haven’t gone back to those major subprime lending issues that happened before.
Mortgage Credit Availability and Affordability
The Great Recession required mortgage industry restructuring. That, in turn, led to qualified buyers not being able to borrow. This time around, it’s a different landscape. We don’t have a subprime lending bubble in the residential housing market. Loans will be processed for good buyers with good credit. Mortgage requirements are tightening a bit, but not to an unreasonable level. Another analytic compares total home equity cashed out in the years 2005-2007 and 2017-2019. People were using their homes “like ATMs” during the former period. The leverage people are putting on their homes has dropped from $824 Billion during 2005-2007 to $232 Billion during 2017-2019. 53.8% of all homes in America have at least 50% equity.
The percentage of median income needed to purchase a median-priced home has dropped from 25.4% in 2006 to 14.8% today. Affordability is in much better shape, largely due to mortgage rates being very low.
The Impact of Unemployment
Concerns about job losses are very real. A breakdown of the April 3 Unemployment Report shows the different sectors affected. 59.5% are from restaurant services and drinking places. The accommodation industry, retail trade, temporary help services, child daycare workers, health care office workers and construction workers make up most of the balance. In other words, these are jobs that should be coming back as soon as these businesses can operate again. It may take some time until people are confident and comfortable enough to get back out there. The next numbers come out on May 8, 2020 and will be discussed during the May HMU.
Unemployment rates and home sales do not seem to have a direct relationship. Current Unemployment Rates were compared to past financial crises. In 1933, during the Great Depression, unemployment rates were at a high of 24.9%. Goldman Sachs is predicting unemployment to be 15% in 2020. They are also predicting that number to go down to 6-8% in 2021, 5% in 2022 and 4% in 2023.
Based on data from the US Department of Labor accessed by Haver Analysis, the current employment situation is more like a natural disaster than a recession. The problem is how long this natural disaster, Covid19, is going to last. There are many unknowns, and no answers. We’ll be tracking what happens as parts of the economy reopen.
Historical look at Existing Home Sales Price
The market was hot the first two months of 2020, with average home sale price higher in January and February than those months in the preceding four years. It will be interesting to see what the numbers show over the next several months.
The above analytic shows Existing Home Sales Prices from January 1999 to January 2020. Even if you bought at the peak of 2007 or 2008, as Geoff did, just before the housing market plunged, it took 8 years for the market to recover. Historically speaking, people moved after an average of 6 years. That number is now inching up to 9 years. The average homeowner generally doesn’t buy or sell during a period of up or down. They want to wait and gain equity in their home. However, if you are not going to buy, what will you do? Rent? If so, you’re not building equity, you’re not getting tax write-offs, and other benefits of home ownership.
Inventory
In 2007, there were 8.2 months of inventory. Right now there are 3.1 months of inventory available. The market is much hotter now than in 2007 (leading into the Great Recession). Geoff believes that now is a very good time to buy, and not a bad time to sell, either, as inventory levels are so low. Historically, 6 months of supply is an average market. We are now down to 3 months of inventory. He does not see this number climbing anytime soon. Many sellers are not putting their homes on the market now, wanting to wait and see what will be happening. And, while people have to weigh their options, the low inventory can benefit those putting their home on the market.
April 2020 Local Stats
Orange & Sussex Counties
In Orange County, Units Sold were actually better in March than in February. Average Sales Price was way up. In Sussex County, Units Sold and Average Sales Price both coming out at a good solid pace. It will be interesting to see what the stats reflect when we take a look at our next Housing Market Update. At that time we’ll see the impact of Covid closures and stay-at-home regulations.
Housekeeping Items
Panel Discussion
Geoff Green was joined by Ken Flood of Quest Financial Services and Ken Aulicino of Family First Funding LLC. Vikki Garby and Carol Buchanan of Green Team New York Realty and Keren Gonen of Green Team New Jersey Realty represented the real estate agents’ points of view. Discussion ranged from the current state of commercial and residential real estate markets. There was positive feedback on how agents are adapting to the Covid19 regulations and are still able to assist clients and close deals. All three agents spoke of strong, serious buyer interest. Ken Flood discussed the financial market and Ken Aucilino the mortgage industry. Because of the wealth of information and graphics as well as the fascinating panel discussion, it is highly recommended that you watch the webinar. Click here to view the April 2020 Housing Market Update.
Remember to sign up below for the next Housing Market Update
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Meet Kathryn (Kate) Vega
Green Team New York Realty would like you to meet Kathryn (Kate) Vega. Before entering the world of real estate, Kate Vega earned an Associates Degree in Business. She was a corporate Administrative/Executive Administrative Assistant for 12 years, working with many professionals of all levels, Kate was (and is) detail oriented with a focus on financials, analytics and accounting.
Kate Vega finds her passion for real estate
Her interest in real estate began when she helped her husband, John, sell his condo (off the market). She then assisted in the purchasing of their first home. After that she was hands on in selling that first home And purchasing their current home in Warwick. Kate’s ability to identify and highlight pros and cons of various homes had her becoming a resource for several friends working through their first home purchases.
Interest may actually be too mild a word to describe Kate’s feelings about real estate. In her own words, “I felt that buying, selling and remodeling my homes were the most emotional and exciting times of my life (besides marriage and having babies).” She even admits that she was distracted during her honeymoon with the construction of their first house. And then, while in the hospital having her second child, she requested photos of work being done on the house!
Kate feels that home ownership is a huge component of most people’s portfolios. In addition, it’s vital for the health of a community. She has always been interested in finances, and real estate is one of the largest and most crucial aspects of the economy. Furthermore, she’s conscious of the ups and downs that come with the biggest transactions of most people’s lives. And Kate knows she’ll be able to offer the support her clients need during the process and be sensitive to their needs.
It’s all about family
Kate and John have three children: Johnny, Tommy and Lexie. The family attends Warwick Reformed Church. The children attend Warwick schools. And they’re involved in sports: football, baseball, basketball, wrestling and soccer! John is on the football board, and Kate is the PTA Treasurer for Sanfordville Elementary School.
Green Team Realty’s Launch 2020 is about to take off!
It’s an annual “start the year off right” tradition for Green Team Sales Associates. And so Green Team Realty’s Launch 2020 is about to take off . Launch is a “friendly little competition” designed to enhance skills that will lead to excellent client service throughout the year. Therefore, even for those not on a winning team, it’s still a win-win situation.
It’s a new kind of competition this year!
This year Geoff Green, President of Green Team Realty, has created a totally new format. There are still two teams in each office (Warwick and Vernon) battling it out for first place. However this year’s Launch requires team members to attend training sessions, one a week, for ten weeks. After each session there will be a ten question quiz. The team in each office with the highest cumulative score will earn a place on the Launch perpetual plaque. In addition, they’ll receive a prize budget to be spent on a team event of their choosing. Of course, we’ll also have a blog post and press release created for our winning teams.
This year’s team captains and names are:
Green Team New York Realty
- Karen Gauvin, EMPIRE!!
- Tiffany Megna, Dream Makers
Karen and Tiffany are first-time team leaders, and both are very enthusiastic about the upcoming competition.
Green Team New Jersey Realty
- Keren Gonen, Gonen’s Greenies
- Cathie Witte, Witte’s Wonders
Keren and Cathie’s team’s had a tight competition during 2019 Launch, but Witte’s Wonders took the prize. We can expect another very close race and great results from these teams.
Five… four… three… two… one
Launch 2020 is taking off, providing Green Team’s Sales Associates with up-to-date knowledge about the industry, marketing, social media, technology tools and training and more. And that is definitely a win-win situation. For our Sales Associates and for their clients.
