Jack,
The nice thing about the Westgate II phase (Linda Lane as opposed to Westgate Drive) in addition to the fact that they were built after Westgate I, is that they are far away from the trains. They too have their own pool complex, and the builders changed some of the designs (for example: balconies are different and the retaining walls are concrete not wood.) Looking at the pictures of the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) they certainly did a nice job in the kitchen and the views are lovely, however it is still close to the trains.

That being said, here is a link of the homes in the same general vicinity of the FSBO, (nearer the trains) with pictures of their interiors, list prices and sale prices. You can come to your own conclusion if the asking price is fair based on these. I also suggest you drive around the complex and see exactly where the units are and wait for the train. Some people love it, some hate it, some don't care either way. http://msx.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=704122988&s=MSX&t=MSX

Because they are newer and farther away from the trains, Linda Lane units tend to sell higher than Westgate Drive. There were 5 closings of listed units in Linda Lane since February. They were from $350K (June), $361K (March), $365k (June), $370K (June) and $385K (March). As of this post, there is one unit available listed with the MLS (in addition to the FSBO's) at 51 Linda Lane listed at $378,900.

There were 8 closings on Westgate Drive ranging from $315K (April) to $359K (March). There are currently 7 units available on the MLS ranging from $349K to $369,999.

I am very familiar with the development, have been in most of the units currently on the market, under contract, and/or in attorney review, and would be happy to help you out if you are interested in seeing any of the properties. I can certainly email you the rest of the units currently on the market if you'd like.

Mary Petti

Earlier today

Hi Jack,

Linda Lane is under contract as mentioned in Cheng's post of 7/3/2008. Linda Lane is part of Westgate II and was built in approx 1992. The ask price on this property was 379K; we will not know the sale price until it closes. Three properties on Linda Lane (Westgate II - built 1992) have closed this year at 350K, 365K and 370K

In comparison, the properties on Westgage Drive (Westgate Square) were built in the mid 1980's with that project are completed around 1986. Sale prices on Westgate Drive this year in MLS have ranged from 315K to 359K. There are 2 properties in MLS showing under contract at this time on Westgate. We won't know the sale prices until these properties are closed. They were offered for sale at 338K and 345K. There are 6 units currently for sale on Westgate Drive (Westgate - Built Mid 1980's) - ranging from 349K to 364,999.

I have not been in this unit at 284 Westgate, but the pictures look nice. It is priced higher than any of the other units offered. It is offered for sale by owner.

The current owners purchased this unit in June, 2005.

If you would like the details for any listings or futher analysis on this unit, please feel free to contact me.

Regards,
Deborah Madey - Broker
Peninsula Realty Group
732 530-6350
Deborah@PenninsulaFirst.com

Yesterday, 21:16

This is a very interesting thread...I like the back and forth by Cheng & Victor. Very interesting perspectives, both informative and amusing at the same time.

Anyway, I thought will check with you experts on a unit that just came on sale...saw the sign over the weekend at the Westgate Square entrance # 284 and interestingly they even printed a website address for the unit (http://www.284westgate.com)...and the asking was $388,000.

I am looking to buy a ready to move-in unit and thought this town home has a good view and a lot of upgrades....is it worth it?

Yesterday, 20:28

154 Linda Ln 2br 2hba townhouse just sold under attorney review at $379,000 7-4-08

Thu Jul 3 2008, 21:07

wow! This street view of #109 is great! http://www.trulia.com/homes/New_Jersey/Edison/sold/521189-10… now wonder it is sold right away ...

Trulia is getting more powerful!

Fri Jun 13 2008, 20:46

#115 just sold not long ago, and it is just closed!!! this is fast! may be trying to catch to low mortgage rate that seems to coming back up ...

Fri Jun 13 2008, 14:18

Also, if you want to sell your westgate unit and move up to bigger home, you may consider Heidi 908-391-0134 http://msx.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1508652005&s=MS… who just live right next to Westgate and whose father own Westgate too, know it very well and very cost effective to show and hold open house.

Use a listing agent who lives close is very important these days since gas price is very high, if listing agent lives far away, or not in town, it will be less likely for the agent to show your unit as fast as it should be, and many prospective buyers may have to move on or simply get stuck ...

Mon Jun 9 2008, 05:32

By the way, this #109 also listed with Trulia http://www.trulia.com/property/1059437907-109-Linda-Ln-Ediso… ...

So, as I said, Trulia is very powerful and will be more and more powerful ...

Mon Jun 9 2008, 05:09

That is old info, Helen, the newest today is 109 LINDA LANE 2br 2hba townhouse just sold under attorney review at $399,900 ...

Sun Jun 8 2008, 21:20

115 LINDA LN 2br 2hba townhouse just sold under attorney review ... $378,900

Can't believe it! Trulia is so powerful!!!!

Sun Jun 8 2008, 21:16

59 Linda Ln 2br 2hba townhouse just sold under contract at $385,000...

Fri Jun 6 2008, 05:37

306 Westgate Dr 2br 2hba townhouse just sold under attorney review ...

Wed Jun 4 2008, 10:25

544 Westgate Dr just sold under attorney review ... It seems Westgate is going to be sold out soon ...

Tue Jun 3 2008, 03:46

Dear Victor,

I do not blame you because you did not know I went to UC Berkeley both under and graduate major at EECS/CS. Website is so-called Web 1.0, and these days, forum like this is called Web 2.0, but my research is involved with Web 3.0 that even Google won't have in 10 years from now.

On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of prospective buyers (to be precised, over 200,000 prospective buyers came to my Web 3.0 real estate network, and I referred them to Trulia. That is to say, Trulia will continue to be more and more powerful and productive. Why wasting playing phone tags with realtors and hide and seeks with the real market info?

This is science, NOT politics, whether one votes me or not, I am correct, and you shall see in the future for yourself.

Also, be aware that hundreds of prospective buyers looking to buy Westgate at Edison http://msx.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=335238131&s=MSX&t=MSX will be redirectted to this forum and see all the first hand info about Westgate community, and all the Open Market Analysis@. That is to say, any intention trying to behave uncivilized will later find out they saying bad language over a huge microphone.

Any realtors posted irraltional comments here, you will find prospective buyers will see them...

Cheng

Fri May 16 2008, 11:31

This is serious comic relief. Thank you Cheng for just being you and thank you Victor for calling out most of his BS. I'm amused.

Thu May 15 2008, 17:54

Cheng I can make a website today, publish it tomorrow and it's traffic will have increased over 300% in a few weeks!!! ;-)

Trulia is a good site but it's only one tool of many that should be used in your marketing of a home for sale.
Online marketing should not be your only marketing either, its big but not the be all end all.
Depending solely on this site to sell a home is just plain ignorant or stupid, whichever you prefer?

Here are a few other online sites to consider advertising on:
realtor.com, homes.com, trulia.com, zillow.com, gsmls.com, msx.mlxchange.com (Middlesex county mls) (Your local mls), craigslist, googlebase, point2nls, realtor.com, zillow.com, backpage.com, clrsearch.com, nytimes.com, city cribs, homescape, oodle.com, hotpads.com, condo.com, vast.com, house.com, live deal, yahoo real estate, clickablecitydirectory.com, cyberhomes.com, thehousingpages.com, videohomes.com, ebay real estate, realestatejournal.com and many more but lets not forget their local MLS systems which will give the most coverage to qualified, you hope! Buyers...


LOL... Cheng sounds like he sells real estate fliers LOL.... now I think I'm beginning to see why someone who is not a realtor or mortgage rep or related to the real estate industry would have such an obsession with this site... lol...lmao...... very...funny....
LOLOLOLOlolololol,...... Haha.... ohhhh Boy!!!!

Cheng, once again I disagree with you...
Most sellers are NOT looking to buy bigger! Especially in this market, where do you get that info from?
This is a market perfect for first time buyers and investors, good for upgraders as well but not MOSTLY people upgrading, that is a ridiculous statement. It would be a good time for them to upgrade however we're not seeing a whole lot of that going around due to the human factor.

Most home sellers only look at the amount they may be "losing" compared to if they sold when the market was at its peak. Trying to convey the message to sellers that they are still making out compared to when they first purchased is not always such an easy task.

Want To Be "Real Estate Professionals" / "Marketing Pros" are very amusing to me ;-)

Have you ever seen a professional mechanic get ticked off when the back yard do it yourselfer who doesn't know his @ss from his elbow tries giving advice to the pro while he's working?
It's like watching a train wreck waiting to happen.

Well same goes for real estate...
I have access to ALL the data which SOME people like to post incomplete parts of and guess about the rest.
I do this full time for a living while others DO NOT!!!
I sell more houses than those who don't work as a Professional Realtor giving contradictory advise...
I love what I do for a living full time as a career, others posting will actually make comments like, "Get a Real Job!"
I Welcome your comments and will still sit down and have a drink with you like a friend but don't take BS from anyone...

By the way, I love how "Dr. Cheng" writes the articles which "Cheng" comments on and then gets credit for best answers! lol... ;-D

Cheers!
Peace, Love and Happiness...

http://www.Realrep.com

Thu May 15 2008, 17:00

Wow! Can you believe 5 more units at Westgate just sold under attorney review? http://msx.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=335238131&s=MSX&t=MSX (Thanks, Mary) and only 6 left, then it would be completely sold out!

Don't you think it is the power of Trulia?

According to USA Today, top 20 real estate websites was evaluated last 2007, and although realtor.com remain the #1 visited website, the traffic dropped 10%, Yahoo real estate was #2, and traffic increase 48%, do you know how much traffic Trulia increase in 2007? 135%!!! Of course, many other websites have decrease on visit traffic.

Although I am not the CEO of Trulia, but don't forget I specialized at Performance Analysis, and I went to UC Berkeley both under and graduate major EECS/CS, so I have my own set of performance analysis tools to measure.

So, if I were a realtor with cost effective marketing strategy to help my clients, I would do ONLY on Trulia in addition to required MLS. NOTHING ELSE. Before open house, I would get Jose 732 979-9100 (cell) to deliver 1,000 invitation flyers to Prospective Buyer Communities@ where there are hundreds of anxious buyers could not get out of the maze of dozens of real estate website out there.

By continue providing Open Market Analysis@ for a community such as Westgate like Mary did to post CMA Grid with A,AR,U and C status for past 12 months like this one http://msx.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=335238131&s=MSX&t=MSX I can assure you that all the units would be sold very quickly. And, don't forget, most sellers are looking to buy bigger homes, and you would not only help sellers, you also help buyers ...

How do you think?

Thu May 15 2008, 13:16