With the spring home-buying season approaching, Realtors across New Jersey are showcasing inventories of homes for sale and celebrating the second year of Open House Weekend. On April 2 – 3, the New Jersey Association of Realtors (NJAR) aims to trump the success of last year’s event by featuring hundreds of participating Realtors and thousands of listed homes on display.

People who are considering buying or selling a home are urged to take advantage of this statewide event by either hosting an open house or visiting those that are open for viewing.

“Momentum is building, as Realtors across New Jersey are working with their clients to prepare listed homes and help map out buyers’ routes for Open House Weekend,” said NJAR President Allan “Dutch” Dechert. “This event makes home shopping easier for those looking to sell their properties and find a new place to live.”

With mortgage interest rates still at record lows, Dechert stated that housing in New Jersey is more affordable than it has been in years. Customers can benefit by capitalizing on the opportunity to purchase a larger house or one in a more desirable neighborhood.

“Open House Weekend serves as a one-stop-shop for anyone in or on the market,” said Dechert.

Sellers have much to gain from participating in the event. Rather than arranging showing appointments according to potential buyers’ schedules, they can simply make their homes available for the weekend and encourage a lot more traffic. This creates the opportunity for sellers to get out and view available homes to purchase.

Prospective home buyers will also see many benefits by taking advantage of Open House Weekend, as they can view many houses in a short period of time. Buyers can avoid the need to call ahead for an appointment by participating in this event.

Among the additional benefits:

* It’s a good starting point in the home search, since it will promote realistic expectations of what house-hunting is like.

* If you’re looking for a summer house, you can visit many properties in one weekend.

* You can see all available homes in one neighborhood, so you can get an idea of what the surrounding area is like.

For information, visit www.REALstoryNJ.com.

* By visiting numerous homes, it can help you determine what features you’re looking for in your next home.

* No appointments necessary!

* If you’re not already working with a Realtor, utilize this event to meet a real estate professional who can guide you through the process.