Permit & Parcel

The Permit & Parcel journal

The Property
Notebook.

Better questions. More informed decisions.
A closer look at New Jersey homes and the records behind them.

Latest articles

From the team at Permit & Parcel

Buying a home

Mortgage Rates Hit 7.28%. Six Things to Check Before You Make an Offer

At 7.28%, there's less room in the budget for surprises. Here are six public records to check on a New Jersey house before you make an offer, and where to look each one up for free.

Leo Betancor · 5 min read
A hand holds a red magnet against a galvanized water pipe, above four scratch-test swatches showing how lead, galvanized steel, copper, and brass look when scraped.

Environmental checks

Does My House Have Lead Pipes? Here's How to Check

A magnet and a coin can tell you a lot about your water service pipe. Here's how to check for lead, and why copper or galvanized isn't the whole story.

Leo Betancor · 5 min read
White vinyl siding buckled and rippled below a window, with the distortion concentrated in one section of the exterior wall.

Home maintenance

Why Does Vinyl Siding Melt? 3 Causes Most Homeowners Don’t Expect

Vinyl siding can warp or look melted even without a fire. Here are three causes I look for during home inspections: BBQ grills, reflected sunlight from Low-E windows, and siding painted an unsuitable dark color.

Leo Betancor · 5 min read