Lena Pesso - Suburban Properties

09/08/2026

You’ve made it through the inspection, the negotiations, and more paperwork than you care to count. Now the keys are almost yours. 🔑

Before you get them, there’s one more visit to make. The final walk-through is your chance to look for changes, check the repairs you agreed on, and make sure the appliances and fixtures included in the sale are still there.

Lena

09/03/2026

A house is sitting on the market for a while. Is this an opportunity or a red flag???

Read more on my blog.

Lena

A home that has been listed for weeks could either be a red flag or a negotiating opportunity. Here’s what buyers should investigate before making an offer.

08/31/2026

Do you know where your renovation paperwork is?

The receipt might be in an old email, the warranty in a drawer, and the contractor’s number saved under a first name you barely remember.

If you’ve replaced the roof, finished the basement, renovated the kitchen, or taken on another major project, buyers will ask for the related records when you sell.

Lena

Organize the renovation paperwork buyers may ask for before you sell, including permits, warranties, receipts, service records, and documentation for major systems and improvements.

08/26/2026

Montclair, NJ takes the #2 spot for the HOTTEST town in all of America.

I break it all down in my latest blog.

Lena

Montclair, NJ continues to attract extraordinary buyer demand. Learn why 07042 is one of America's hottest zip codes from NYC access and restaurants, to walkable neighborhoods, architecture, culture, and lifestyle.

08/25/2026

Nationwide, there are more sellers than buyers.

Real Estate is of course local - hyper local - so this doesn't apply everywhere, and certainly not at every price point.

Here are 7 signs a home seller may be willing to negotiate.

Lena

Learn seven signs that a home seller may be willing to negotiate on price, closing costs, repairs, mortgage rate buydowns and other terms.

08/24/2026

The evenings are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and it's officially that time of year when we try to keep all that warm, vibrant summer energy inside with us. 🌿✨

Before you move your patio plants indoors or run to the nursery for a fall home refresh, there are a few rules you need to know to keep them alive (spoiler: stop watering them so much!). From the un-killable beginner plants to styling your pots like a pro interior designer, I'vve got all the tips in my late-summer transition guide.

Lena

08/17/2026

"Let’s just price it high and see what happens. We can always drop it later." 🫣

It sounds safe, but this is one of the most expensive mistakes a seller can make.

When you test an inflated price, you aren't just waiting, you're paying thousands in unnecessary mortgage, tax, and utility payments while buyers pass you by. By the time you drop the price, buyers assume something is wrong with the house.

I just wrote a quick post breaking down the cost of overpricing a home.

Lena

Learn what happens when you overprice your home, from missed buyer interest and longer market time to appraisal issues and added costs.

08/10/2026

Tax season is great for writing off business expenses - that is until you try to buy a house and your lender looks at your net income instead of your total revenue.

If you’re self-employed, freelancers, or business owners, the mortgage rules are just different. Lenders want to see stable, 2-year history and specific paperwork like P&L statements. But don't panic, you have options like bank statement loans.

Are you trying to plan your home purchase for this year or next? Drop your timeline in the comments, and let’s chat.

Lena

Self-employed and planning to buy a home? Learn what lenders review, how income is calculated, and why you should prepare before touring.

08/04/2026

Some people love being landlords. Others are fine with it until the next late-night repair call.

If the property has become more work than you want, selling may be closer than you think. You don’t have to wait for years or keep renting it out because that’s what you’ve always done.

Start by having an agent walk through the home. You may learn that it needs less work than you expected, or that another landlord would be interested in buying it with the tenant still there.

My new article will help you prepare for that first conversation.

Lena

Learn how an existing lease and the tenant’s plans can affect your timing, showings, and possible buyers when selling a rental property.

08/02/2026

The Livingston, NJ market in the past 30 days. Explained in plain English. 😊🏡