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Author: Kevin Hill

Suburban New Jersey home with rising payment arrow, symbolizing HELOC payment shock and mortgage stress.

HELOC Payment Shock: The Next Mortgage Wave Homeowners in NJ Need to Watch

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HELOCs Are Quietly Becoming the Next Mortgage Crisis Most people assume that mortgage delinquencies start with first liens—the main mortgage on a home. But according to TransUnion’s latest data and commentary from asset managers on Wall Street, the real stress is coming from somewhere else: home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). Jason Lewis, CEO of … Continued
Illustration of a New Jersey home being crushed under blocks labeled mortgage rates, insurance, taxes, and utilities to show rising homeownership costs.

The Rising Cost of Homeownership in New Jersey: When Insurance, Taxes, Utilities, and Rates Push Families to the Breaking Point

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The Affordability Crisis Has Many Faces When people talk about housing affordability, most of the conversation stops at mortgage rates 📉 and home prices 💰. But for New Jersey homeowners, the pressure does not end there. A full stack of rising costs—insurance 🛡️, property taxes 🏦, and utility bills 💡🔥💧—is making it harder than ever … Continued
Millennial man playing Xbox on a futon in his parents’ basement with wood paneling and hot water heater, while parents peek down the stairs.

Fewer Young Adults Reaching Life Milestones: Why Homeownership and Raising Kids in Bergen County Feels Impossible 🏡👶

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A U.S. Census Bureau working paper shows a dramatic generational shift. Less than one in four adults aged 25 to 34 have reached traditional adulthood milestones like moving out, getting married, or having kids. Fifty years ago, nearly half had achieved these benchmarks. The reasons are clear. Rising student debt, soaring rents, and record home … Continued
Cartoon of a shocked New Jersey homeowner holding a power bill showing a 20% increase, with money being vacuumed out of her pocket.

Another Bill Shock: Why New Jersey Power Costs Just Jumped ⚡💸

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If you thought property taxes and home insurance were already crushing your budget, here comes another hit. As of June 2025, electricity bills in New Jersey jumped between 17 and 20 percent. Some New Jersey residents are claiming even higher. For homeowners in Bergen County and North Jersey, this means another drain on their finances … Continued
Split-screen illustration showing a foreclosed home labeled “Auction Block” on the left and a newly sold home labeled “Fresh Start” on the right

From Auction Block to Fresh Start: How North Jersey Homeowners Can Sell Before Foreclosure 🏠💡

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If you live in Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, or Essex County and have fallen behind on your mortgage, you’re not alone. The latest sheriff’s foreclosure dockets show dozens of homes scheduled for auction every week between August and October 2025 📅. From Newark to Ridgewood, Paterson to Montvale, and Sparta to Livingston, distressed properties are hitting … Continued