The Connection Bridgewater-Somerville Edition Dec 2018/Jan 2019

www.theconnectionsnj.com 908-236-7997 Fax: 908-236-7686 1260 Rt. 22 West • Lebanon (only minutes off Rt. 31, 78, 287, 202 & 206) www.capconnections.com WHATEVER THE WEATHER… WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! CAP Connection The TRUCK CAPS & TONNEAU COVERS Tool Boxes • Bug Shields • Hitches • Running Boards • Bed Liners Push Bars • Vent Visors • Floor Mats • Fog Lights • Ladder Racks Gift Certificates Available! We Carry a Full Line of Washes and Waxes for your Vehicle! JERACO, ACCESS & OTHER QUALITY BRANDS The media pays a lot of atten- tion to “millennials” and their influence on the housing mar- ket. News articles insist that younger adults, working in their first jobs or recently finishing school, are choosing to live with their parents or rent, rather than purchasing a first home. Explanations are the high cost of living, student loans, and a desire for a debt-free or pick-up- and-go lifestyle. This philosophy is meant to provoke fear: if mil- lennials aren't buying small con- dos or starter homes, home- owners worry that they won't be able to move up when they outgrow their current homes. In our area, we are seeing lots of younger adults entering the housing market. Some choose to live with parents for a few years, to save money for their eventual down-payment. We see parents gifting their adult chil- dren, to help them purchase a home now, instead of waiting to inherit. Overall, there are many millennials, raised in this area or elsewhere, who are working and feeling confident about their ability to invest in home ownership. The real estate market in a well-kept suburb with great schools benefits from a natural cycle of home ownership. The taxes we are paying today to support our highly-rated schools, whether or not we have children currently attending them, main- tain strong home values for everyone. Much appreciation is due to our educators and civil servants for their work in keep- ing our towns desirable. Raising well-educated children in a safe town encourages them to make home ownership a priority. Investing in a home, and even- tually upgrading if more space or a better location is desired, keeps the cycle moving. Empty- nesters or retirees may choose to downsize, whether to reduce expenses or the responsibility of maintenance, or to travel freely. This provides inventory for move-up buyers. My partner, Sandy O’Keefe, and I have been honored in recent years to work with many second-generation clients. When a past client trusts us enough to send us their grown children, we accept the compliment and take it very seriously. The guidance we give to first-time home buy- ers is tailored especially to each situation. When we are able to assist a young person or couple to marshal their resources, and negotiate wisely in making that first home purchase, we all achieve a special sense of pride. Johanna Wiseman, of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals in Bridgewater, can be reached at 908-705-0652. “Millennials” and Home Ownership By: Johanna Wiseman See ad on page 3 Different Kind of Service from a Different Kind of Lawyer: Holistic Legal Planning For Families and Businesses Specializing in: Life and Legacy Estate Planning, Kids Protection Planning, Small Business Planning and Franchise Law Kelly M. Brown, Esq. 973-909-0999 www.kmbrownlaw.com email: kelly@kmbrownlaw.com Only 5 Appointments for a FREE Life and Legacy Planning Session (worth $750) or a FREE Business Planning Session (worth $1,250) expires 12/31/18 Certified life coach and an interfaith minister who brings a holistic approach to legal counseling (www.soulfulmind.com). We plan for your whole life and business, not just your money and assets. Are you ready to protect your family and assets? home & design PAGE 56