Real Stories

Couple Goes Back Home to Jersey

New Jersey natives, Alisa and Jon, had been living in New Orleans for six years when they decided that it was time to move back to the Garden State. They missed their friends and family, and made the choice to get back to their Jersey roots and settle down close to their loved ones.

“There wasn’t anything in particular that sparked us to make the move, but we knew we would be able to do it,” said Alisa. “Jon works from home and I thought I could switch jobs easily. We had been missing everyone too much, and we saw a great opportunity in the first-time home buyer credit.”

The couple moved to a rental in Rutherford in May 2009 and began their house-hunting search with their REALTOR®, Simone. They looked at homes in Northern New Jersey because their friends and family lived in that area, paying particular attention to lake-front towns. Simone emphasized four categories of a home’s qualities – location, condition, price, and space – that the couple should think about when deciding which home to purchase.

“We looked at a ton of houses and were impressed by a lot of them,” said Alisa. “We even made offers on two homes, but our offers weren’t accepted.”

Although the rejection of their offers made Alisa a little stressed, Simone explained that it was nothing to worry about and that they would find the right home soon.

“I looked at those set-backs as a sign that those houses weren’t meant to be and that it would work out in the end,” said Alisa. “I became relaxed soon and decided we should just take our time.”

By the end of August, the couple put in an offer on a home in Lake Hopatcong that was accepted. The house was right by the lake, had a modern kitchen, four bedrooms, and did not require any renovations. Although it was a one-hour drive to Alisa’s job in Livingston, she was able to accept the longer commute for the tranquil feeling of being on the lake.

Simone educated Jon and Alisa about the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit and the mortgage approval and closing process, so they knew what to expect. By October, they closed on the house.

“The process as a whole went smoothly and we weren’t surprised by anything,” said Alisa. “We’re excited to take advantage of everything the house has to offer – from the local shops and restaurants, to the community feeling Lake Hopatcong gives us, to being near the water.”

The couple was even able to adopt two puppies, which they weren’t able to do while renting. They hope to use their backyard to hold parties for the friends and family that they came back to be closer to. They also plan on putting in a dock to the lake and eventually purchasing a boat using their $8,000 tax credit.