A conversation with Jesse Halliburton, Broker of Record and President of Halliburton Homes in Hoboken, NJ

Directly across the Hudson River from New York City is Hoboken, NJ; Hoboken has breathtaking views of midtown and lower Manhattan. Known as the Mile Square City, Hoboken actually covers two square miles, if you include the land beneath the New Jersey side of the river. The population is approximately 50,000, and the population density is the fourth highest in the nation.

The city’s modern history began in 1609, when Henry Hudson and the men on the ship “Half Moon” saw the city – then an island – from their vessel. Other notable moments in Hoboken’s history include the playing of the first recorded baseball game in 1846 and the birth of Frank Sinatra in 1915. Hoboken is home to Carlo’s Bakery, featured in the TLC reality show “Cake Boss”. Legend has it that Hoboken has more bars per capita in one square mile than in any other city in the United States.

 

 

The People

According to the 2000 Census, Hoboken has 19,418 households and 6,835 families. More than 50% of the population is between the ages of 25 and 44. With its plentiful bars/restaurants and easy access to Manhattan, Hoboken is definitely a haven for young professionals. In 2008, CNN voted Hoboken the “Best Town for Singles over 30”.

Our Town

Some fun facts: 1) America’s first brewery was built in Hoboken in 1663; 2) In 1930, Thomas Edison drove the first electric train on the Lackawanna Railroad from Hoboken to Montclair, NJ; and 3) the floats for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade are stored in a warehouse in Hoboken.

Economy and Prices

We don’t know of a market that hasn’t been impacted by the economy. However, because of our close proximity to Manhattan and the desirability of our location, we’re still stronger than most areas. We’ve rebounded very quickly.

Going Green

Our real estate office is LEED-certified, which means that our construction meets the standards dictated by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. For a full list of all the “green” features in our office, click here (http://www.halliburtonhomes.com/responsibleliving).

The Garden Street Lofts, a new building located uptown on Hoboken’s Garden Street, is New Jersey’s first LEED Certified mixed residential high-rise building in the state of New Jersey. In the construction of this building, a modern, zinc-clad addition was incorporated with a century-old renovated warehouse that once housed coconut processing and storage.

In addition, the Committee for a Green Hoboken is a segment of the Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving life for Hoboken’s residents. The goal of the Committee for a Green Hoboken is to improve education and awareness regarding things like the environment and climate change.

Also, in an effort to reduce the number of cars in Hoboken the city of Hoboken is offering $500 in rewards to any Hoboken resident who surrenders his or her parking permit.

Bottom Out

Although there’s much more buyer confidence at the moment, and we’ve seen homes sell for around or above asking price, we don’t believe we’ve seen the bottom. However, we don’t expect much more of a decline in town. I think the important thing is to consider is that if you’re ready to own a home and find a suitable home to buy, then you should do so. Waiting may result in a slight decrease in prices, but it also means that you could miss out on a great home. Since the purchase should be a long-term investment, “waiting for the bottom” (which is hard to identify) isn’t the best approach.

The Future

According to the 2010 Census data, Hoboken experienced a population surge of 30% in the past 10 years. In an article for The Jersey Journal, Mayor Dawn Zimmer stated, “Hoboken used to be a transient place where people would live for a few years and then move out, but now more people are choosing to stay…There has been significant amount of development … Everyone loves Hoboken.”

Words of Wisdom

At Halliburton Homes, we have an in-house home staging expert who offers a consultation as part of our marketing package. She advises home sellers about how they can rearrange furniture or adjust accessories to create a more favorable impression during showings. Keep things simple and clean. The best kind of buyer is a buyer who either understands the market or is eager and willing to learn about the market. We also like a buyer who is well qualified and has realistic expectations.

Realtors and Technology

We have a very strong online presence and invest a significant portion of our marketing budget in online marketing. We advertise our listings on Facebook and Twitter, through e-mail marketing, on our company website, and via real estate websites like Trulia and Realtor.com. Our agents use real estate related phones apps like myAgent by IDX and the Realtor.com apps. These days, in the interest of time and money, buyers are spending more time “shopping” online for their perfect home.

Preparing to Buy

Think about your wants and needs. Understand what you’re qualified to buy/your finances. Before looking for a property, find a Realtor first. Work with an agent who is both knowledgeable and experienced.

Personal Experience

Some buyers think it’s still a down market, and they base their overall expectations on what they hear. They think it’s still a market where buyers have a major advantage. In reality, we’ve seen a lot of bidding wars in Hoboken. Condos and homes sell at or above ask price. All homes are priced differently and by different people.

About Jesse Halliburton: Jesse Halliburton, the broker of record and founder of Halliburton Homes, has been immersed in the Hoboken and Hudson County real estate market since 1993. An expert in identifying opportunities to maximize salability and achieve optimal asset value, Jesse has developed a comprehensive marketing platform that consistently outperforms the competition and delivers an unparalleled level of service.

Through his expertise in comparative market analysis, his clients enjoy a competitive advantage in establishing a price and formulating a course of action for selling their home. From the initial stages of bringing a home to market and closing the deal, Jesse’s talented team of marketing specialists leave no stone unturned.

A resident of Weehawken, where he lives with his wife Cindy, Jesse is active in supporting the community, and founded the Follow Me Home Campaign to aid those in need. He is an active member of The National Association of Realtors, Liberty Board of Realtors, and The U.S. Green Building Council.

Contact Jesse:
Halliburton Homes
254 First Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
201.792.4300
http://www.halliburtonhomes.com/

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This guest post is part of our Realtor Thursday Series. We invite realtors from towns and cities all over the country, big or small, to participate. Our goal is to “travel” to as many towns as we can in every state. Every town is unique and wonderful to our readers. If you would like to showcase your town, your neighbors and your talents as a realtor, please contact us at liz@dalesiegel.com