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New Jersey Real Estate Plans For Life Events

More room, less room, an estate to settle, a storm, a money squeeze or a move across the country. Whatever changed, we'll figure out a plan together, and we'll work it out. That's what building and renovating New Jersey homes since 2003 is for.

Areas We Serve

MonmouthOceanMiddlesexBurlingtonMercerSomersetCamdenGloucesterBergenEssex counties, New Jersey

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Life Events

Whatever Changed, We'll Work It Out

Most people don't move because they woke up wanting a new kitchen. They move because life changed. Real estate people sum those moments up as "the 7 D's," and most homeowners have never heard of them. Below, you'll see what each one means and what I do for you when it happens. Whichever one brought you here, I look at what changed for the house: you need more room or less, there's an estate to settle, a storm did damage, money got tight, or a job or the people you love are pulling you somewhere new.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, REALTOR® and Master CDRE® with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, and a former New Jersey home builder and residential remodeler. Whatever brought you here, we sit down, put every option on the table, and figure out a plan together. Then we work the plan.

Going through a divorce? That has its own page: selling your home during a divorce.

What Are The 7 D's Of Real Estate

Diamonds

Two Homes Become One

What it means

Two people combining their lives, and often two homes or two leases headed for one address.

How I help

I run the numbers on each house: sell both, keep one, or rent one out. Then I time the sale and the purchase so you're not paying for two moves when one would do.

What's My Home Worth?

Diapers

Room To Grow

What it means

A growing household. The house that fit fine now feels tight: another bedroom, a real office, more yard.

How I help

Most people in this spot sell and buy at the same time. I lay out the order, the numbers and the timing in writing, so you know every step before you take it.

Search Homes

Downsizing

Less House

What it means

Less house to heat, clean and keep up, often after many years in the same home, and sometimes equity freed up along the way.

How I help

It's two moves at once: selling the home you've had for years and buying the right smaller one. I plan both, and I have people for the clean-out and the repairs.

Downsizing With A Plan

Divorce

A Neutral Plan

What it means

Two owners, one house, and a decision that has to work for both of you, often with attorneys or a court order involved.

How I help

As a Master CDRE®, I give both of you the same facts and the same updates, follow your agreement or the court order, and keep the sale moving. It has its own page.

Divorce Home Sales

Death

Settling An Estate

What it means

Selling a loved one's home, often while the estate is still being settled and the house is still full of a lifetime of belongings.

How I help

I take the house off your plate: the value, the estate sale and clean-out, the repairs worth making and the sale, working alongside the estate's attorney.

Estate & Probate Sales

Debt

When Money Gets Tight

What it means

A job change, a bigger payment, bills stacking up. If the house is part of the pressure, don't sit on it.

How I help

Call your mortgage servicer and a HUD-approved housing counselor first. If selling is the answer, I'll show you what the home could sell for and handle the sale, working alongside your attorney and your servicer.

Talk It Through

Disaster

After The Damage

What it means

A storm, a fire or water damage, and a house that isn't the home it was last week.

How I help

I built and remodeled homes for years. Once your insurance company is involved, I'll help you weigh repairing against selling as-is, with real numbers and repair estimates from trades I know.

Talk It Through

Diamonds, 1 of 7

Strategy First

Every Big Change Needs A Plan

When life changes fast, the house decisions pile up. Sell first or buy first. Fix it or sell it as-is. Move now or wait until things settle. Get the order wrong and you pay for it, in money, in time, or in two moves where one would have done it.

So we start with a plan, in writing: what your home is worth today, what it costs to sell, what the next home costs, the timeline, and who does what. You see the options side by side, with the numbers, before you decide anything. I tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, and by the time we're done, you're not going to have any questions left.

One Beachwood seller put under $15,000 into updates I picked and supervised and came out $75,000 ahead. That's why you get more than one plan from me. And when things get tense along the way, here's how that same client put it:

"He answered me pretty promptly, talked me off the ledge on more than one occasion and assured me everything would work out."

Harry P., Google review

What Gets You Through It

The Plan

A Written Game Plan

Value, timing, prep and the move, laid out in writing, with more than one option and the numbers for each. If something changes, the plan changes with it, and you hear about it first.

Builder's Eye

A Builder's Read

I'm a former New Jersey home builder and residential remodeler. I read a house the way a buyer's inspector will, and I'll tell you which repairs pay you back and which ones don't.

Network

I Got A Guy For Everything

Staging, clean-outs, contractors and the trades, photography and video, movers. I line up the work so you don't have to carry it on top of everything else.

Straight Talk

What You Need To Hear

When life is upside down, the last thing you need is a sales pitch. You get the facts and my recommendation, and you make the call.

Results

Proven In 2025

I was the Number 1 agent at Keller Williams Ocean Living in 2025. In 2026 I'm RealTrends Verified in the top 1.5% of Realtors in the nation and one of the Top 100 Agents (Top 1%) in the Keller Williams Greater PA Region.

Your Team

Your Professionals In The Loop

Your attorney, lender, accountant, insurance company or housing counselor each handles their part. I keep the sale lined up with all of them, so nobody is waiting on anybody.

Michael Z.

"Dennis did an excellent job handling the sale of a deceased relative’s property in Ocean County, NJ. His expertise was evident with his initial assessment of the property and selling strategy. He facilitated scheduling an estate sale and total property clean out. He contacted potential buyers and successfully navigated some unexpected challenges to get us to closing. Highly recommended for all real estate needs, but especially sales of estate properties."

Google review, estate sale in Ocean County

Ceasar C.

"... We loaded everything we owned into a truck and headed to the closing, but the best laid plans are laid to waste. There was an issue with the home I was buying, due to an error on the seller's part. What were we supposed to do now? When it became clear that we were stuck and with no place to stay, Dennis stepped in and set us up with temporary lodging near the new house. We were there for a few days while the issue was corrected. ..."

Google review, after a closing fell through on the seller's side

Diane T.

"I was living out of state during the process of selling my home. Dennis helped me out time and again in getting my house ready for sale, arranging for repairs to be made and helping me with some last minute details (furniture) that needed attending to. I had virtually no stress and I attribute it to working with Dennis Mark Interdonato."

Google review, sold while living out of state

Kris C.

"Dennis sold our home quickly so we could move out of state. He was wonderful to work with and always helped answer all of our questions in terms we could understand as this was our first time selling our home. Thanks for the great service Dennis !"

Google review, sold to move out of state

The wooden frame of a new house under construction in an open field at sunset

Experience And Education

Building And Rebuilding Since 2003 And Now Selling

Starting in 2003, I spent years building new homes and completing major remodels in the family business. I began flipping homes in 2012, and I helped homeowners rebuild after Superstorm Sandy. That's where I learned what a house is made of, what repairs really cost, and how long they really take.

On the selling side, I hold the Master CDRE® designation from the Ilumni Institute. The training is built for divorce sales, and the skills carry into every hard sale: keeping everyone on the same facts, lowering the temperature, and solving problems with a strategy instead of a guess.

Put together, it means one thing for you: when life hands you a hard move, you're working with someone who knows a house from the studs up and a sale from the first call to the closing table.

  • Former New Jersey home builder and residential remodeler, building and remodeling since 2003
  • Flipping homes since 2012
  • Helped homeowners rebuild after Superstorm Sandy
  • Master CDRE® (Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert), The Ilumni Institute
  • 2026: RealTrends Verified, top 1.5% of Realtors in the nation, and Top 100 Agents (Top 1%), Keller Williams Greater PA Region
  • NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence, 2022 through 2025
  • Brick Chamber of Commerce - Rookie of the Year, 2026

Rankings: Keller Williams (Ocean Living, 2025; Greater PA Region, 2026) and RealTrends Verified (2026). The photo is a licensed stock image of new construction, not one of my projects.

Two Into One Combining Two Homes

Two homes and one future address. Sell both? Keep one? Sell one and rent the other? We run the numbers on each house: what it sells for, what it needs first, and what it costs to carry while you decide. Then we time the sales so you're not paying for two places longer than you have to.

Thinking about keeping one as a rental? Bring your tax professional in before you decide. I'll bring the numbers on the house.

What's My Home Worth?: Two Into One Combining Two Homes

When Plans Change, I Got A Guy For Everything

Even a good plan hits a snag. A closing date slips. A buyer's inspector finds something. A move date changes. That's when the network matters: staging, clean-outs, contractors and the trades, photography and video, movers. I line up the work so you don't have to.

One client's purchase hit a snag on closing day, after the truck was already loaded. Here's how he put it:

"When it became clear that we were stuck and with no place to stay, Dennis stepped in and set us up with temporary lodging near the new house. We were there for a few days while the issue was corrected."

Ceasar C., Google review

Photo: Dennis Mark Interdonato

Life Events & Real Estate Questions

What people search for most when life changes, answered plainly. For anything legal, tax, lending or insurance related, the right professional has the final word.

What are the 7 D's of real estate?

They're the seven life events behind most moves: Diamonds (two people combining homes), Diapers (a growing household that needs more room), Downsizing, Divorce, Death (settling an estate), Debt (financial pressure) and Disaster (storm, fire or water damage). Each one changes what you need from your home, and each one needs a plan. See what each one means and how I help.

Should I sell my house first or buy the next one first?

It depends on your money and your market. Selling first tells you exactly what you have to spend and keeps you from carrying two homes, but you may need a place to stay in between. Buying first means one move, but you may carry two payments for a while, and your lender has to approve it. I'll lay out both plans with real numbers, and your lender confirms what you can carry.

Can I buy a new home before I sell my current one?

Often, yes, but it takes coordination. Some buyers make the purchase depend on selling their current home, some ask for a later closing date, and some use financing that covers the gap until their sale closes. Each one has trade-offs: an offer that depends on another sale is usually weaker against competing offers, and gap financing is a question for your lender. Your attorney reviews the contract terms. My job is to time both sides so the dates line up.

We own two homes and only need one. Which one should we sell?

Start with the numbers on both: what each one sells for today, what each one needs before it sells, and what each one costs to carry every month. Then add how you want to live day to day, like the commute, the space and the upkeep. If one might become a rental, bring your tax professional in before you decide. I'll give you a market evaluation of both homes, so you're comparing real numbers.

Can I sell my house if I'm behind on my mortgage?

Often you can, but call your mortgage servicer first. The CFPB says to call your servicer right away if you can't pay or are worried about missing a payment, and it lists options a servicer may offer, including a repayment plan, forbearance, a loan modification and a short sale. If you have equity, a regular sale pays off the loan at closing. If you owe more than the home is worth, the lender or servicer has to agree to any sale for less than the payoff, so talk with your servicer, a free HUD-approved housing counselor and an attorney first.

Can you help if my house is in foreclosure?

I can help you sell it. The lender's Notice of Intent to Foreclose has to tell you that you can sell or transfer the property (NJ Courts), and the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office notes that homeowners have the right to sell before the sheriff's sale. If there's equity in the home, a regular sale pays off the loan at closing, and what's left after the payoff, any other liens and the costs of the sale is yours. My part is the sale: what the home can bring, what it costs to sell, a realistic timeline, then the marketing, showings and contract. Your attorney handles the foreclosure case, and your servicer and a free HUD-approved housing counselor can go over every option with you. I'm not a foreclosure consultant, I don't negotiate loan changes, and nobody can promise a sale closes before the sheriff's sale date.

Where can I get free help if I'm struggling with my house payment?

Start with a HUD-approved housing counselor. The CFPB's Find a Counselor tool lists agencies near you, and the CFPB says counselors can help with defaults, forbearances, foreclosures and credit issues, often at little or no cost. The CFPB also says you don't have to pay anyone to help you avoid foreclosure, so be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront.

Can I sell a house with storm, fire or water damage?

Yes. You can repair it and then sell it, or sell it as-is. Repairs usually reach more buyers but take time and money. As-is takes less of both, but usually brings a lower price and fewer buyers. I'll walk the house with a builder's eye, get repair estimates from trades I know, and show you the numbers on both plans before you choose. Either way, plan on disclosing what you know about the damage and the repairs, and ask your attorney what your sale requires.

What should I do first after my home is damaged?

The NJ Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI, July 2025) advises calling your agent or insurance company as soon as possible to report the loss, taking photos of damaged property before you throw anything away, making temporary repairs to prevent more damage, and saving every receipt. DOBI also notes that standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage, which takes separate flood insurance. When FEMA help is available after a disaster, you apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, and FEMA says its Individuals and Households Program is not a substitute for insurance. Questions about a claim can go to DOBI's consumer hotline at 1-800-446-7467.

Do I have to tell buyers about flood risk when I sell in New Jersey?

Yes. Since March 20, 2024, New Jersey's seller's disclosure statement has a Flood Risk section, and sellers make those disclosures before the sales contract is signed. According to the NJ Department of Community Affairs, it asks whether the property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area or Moderate Risk Flood Hazard Area, whether it has had flood damage, and whether federal law requires flood insurance on it. The state's Flood Risk Notification Tool looks up the flood zone by address. Your attorney can confirm what your sale needs.

Do I pay tax if I sell before I've lived there two years?

Ask your tax professional, because it depends on your situation. IRS Publication 523 lets an owner who owned and lived in the home at least two of the last five years exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 on some joint returns. If you don't meet those tests, you may still qualify for a partial exclusion when the main reason for the sale was, for example, a work-related move (a new job at least 50 miles farther from the home than your old work location) or certain unforeseeable events, such as a casualty loss to the home from a natural or man-made disaster.

Can you sell my home after I've already moved out of state?

Yes. You don't need to be nearby. I coordinate the work at the house, from repairs to staging to showings, and you get a written update at every milestone. Your attorney will tell you how the closing documents get signed when you can't be here in person.

Can you help sell a home that's part of an estate?

Yes. In New Jersey, the Surrogate's Court in the county where the person lived issues the Letters that give an executor or administrator authority to act for the estate (Monmouth County Surrogate), and the estate's attorney confirms who can sign. I handle the house: the value, the estate sale and clean-out, the repairs worth making and the sale. See estate and probate sales.

What if my plans change in the middle of a sale?

Then the plan changes with them. A closing date slips, a job offer comes early, an inspection turns something up. I update the plan in writing and walk you through your options. When one client's purchase hit a snag on closing day, I set them up with temporary lodging near the new house until it was fixed. We'll work it out.

Do you help with more than the sale itself?

Yes. I got a guy for everything: staging, clean-outs, contractors and the trades, photography and video, movers. I line up the work so you don't have to, and I'll tell you which repairs pay you back and which ones don't.

This page describes my general approach to planning a move around a life event. It is not legal, tax, lending, insurance or financial advice. Please speak with your attorney, tax professional, lender, insurance company or a HUD-approved housing counselor about your own situation. I don't adjust or negotiate insurance claims. Results from past sales don't guarantee future results, and every home and every market is different.

Rankings: Keller Williams (Ocean Living, 2025; Greater PA Region, 2026) and RealTrends Verified (2026). Government sources checked October 2026. Photos on this page are licensed stock images, not New Jersey places or clients' homes.

Insider Insights

Pricing, timing, taxes and repairs when life moves you.

Success Stories

Real stories from the people we've helped buy and sell their homes.

I would 10/10 recommend him to anyone!!!

Dennis helped us buy our current house and has both professional work ethic and is extrememly knowledgeable. He was always there to answer any questions we had and was very patient with us in the process. I would 10/10 recommend him to anyone and he will continue to be our agent for any future needs.

SPENCER & SARAH RAITT-FOREST

57 Google reviews as of October 2026. Read them all on Dennis Mark’s Google Business Profile.

Start With The Number

Know What Your Home Is Worth Before You Decide

What's My Home Worth?

Have Questions About Your Next Move? Contact Us Below

Tell me a little about what changed and where things stand, and I'll answer your questions. Want to read more first? See how I sell homes, the Life Events Guide, or the contact page.

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