Five days is all it took for this Hoboken brownstone to go under contract for $350,000 more than its asking price.
The six bedroom, four full and one half bathroom home was listed March 7 for $3.3 million. It closed last month for $3.65 million.
“It was insane,” said Kaja Bolton of Christie’s International Real Estate, the listing agent. “I think we had 70 groups come through. That’s more like suburb kind of activity. But right now there’s not a lot on the market so we get a lot more people. Normally, 40 groups would be amazing.”
The 4,000 square foot single family home on tree-lined Garden Street, a premiere area in Hoboken, is the highest-priced single family home to sell in Hudson County this year.
The previous highest sale was of a four bedroom, four bathroom Jersey City home that closed on March 12 for $3.25 million.
The Hoboken home had some primping before it hit the market, Bolton said.
“I did a ton of staging and I think it paid off,” she said, adding that she painted the whole house and “put in furniture that I felt would appeal to someone looking for that type of property.”
In the kitchen she painted the cabinets, changed the countertop on the island, replaced light fixtures and changed the cabinet handles. “I think it softened it up and made it warmer.”
The primary bathroom was also renovated.
“I don’t think people can imagine what a house could be,” Bolton said. “If you help them see that, they’re willing to pay more.”
The home got eight offers.
Jim Ristagno, of Coldwell Banker Realty, was the agent for the winning bidder.
“This was a unique property because it’s 21 feet wide,” he said. “For Hoboken terms that is huge — and it’s a 4,000 square foot home.”
Homes in Hoboken typically range from 12.5 feet to 24 feet wide. “Getting to 20 feet wide is really rare,” Ristagno said.
The home also has 11-foot ceilings on the parlor level, original trim and it sits on a large 21 foot by 100 foot lot, giving it a larger backyard.
Hoboken, a one-square-mile city, is desirable because of its walkability, restaurants and bars, multiple modes of transportation including the PATH train, bus and ferry into New York City and additional train lines for people who want to travel west into New Jersey or toward the Jersey Shore.
The city is also not as populated as its neighbor, Jersey City. “Hoboken has done a great job maintaining the neighborhood feel,” Jim Ristagno said. “You don’t have the big 40 to 50 foot towers like Jersey City.”
Are you an agent, buyer or seller who is active in this changing market? Do you have tips about New Jersey’s real estate market? Unusual listings? Let us know.
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Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.
