2012:

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Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

June 28, 2012

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TWO WEEKS' RENT, TAX FREE: Did you know you can rent your shore home for up to 14 days, tax free? As long as your house is rented 14 or fewer days, the rental income does not even have to be reported on your tax return. Take advantage of one of the best tax breaks around: rent your house for two weeks and use the income to pay expenses, or to take a trip elsewhere. Interested? Please call me!
 
SEA ISLE'S JITNEY SERVICE has been popular since it began recently, prompting discussions among officials about bringing the jitney service to Avalon and Stone Harbor. While many are in favor of the idea, much needs to be worked out, including routes, regulations, and licensing.
 
 
An Avalon lifeguard boat rests next to the bay beneath a blue sky and puffy white clouds.
 
BAYFRONT DINING!  Looking for a treat? Treat your family to breakfast or dinner on the bay at The Marina at Avalon Anchorage! Now under the ownership of my colleague, Travis Marshall, The Marina at Avalon Anchorage is a delightful spot with beautiful water views--and fantastic food! Catch breakfast on the bay from 7am to 1pm on weekends (7am to 12 noon weekdays), plus dinner and raw bar from 4pm to 9pm. You'll be glad you did!
 
CAP ON USER FEES: proposed legislation in New Jersey would limit increases in user fees to 2 percent annually. That's a major concern for shore towns that use revenue from parking meters, beach tag sales, and other fees to help offset the cost of providing services to summer visitors. Property tax increases are already capped at 2 percent annually, and opponents of the newly proposed cap say it would leave shore towns unable to fund the services their residents and visitors expect. 
 
THE B.L ENGLAND POWER PLANT in nearby Beesley's Point will be converted from a coal- and oil-burning plant to natural gas, as announced by Governor Chris Christie's administration. The plant is one of the oldest in New Jersey, and converting it to natural gas will lower nitrogen oxide emissions by 98 percent, and sulfur dioxide emissions by 99.9 percent, reducing acid rain and haze.
 
June 21, 2012

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MORTGAGE RATES are about 3.75% for 30-year loans to $417,000, and about 4% for loans over $417,000.  Buyers, think about it...you could purchase a property now, at a reduced price, and lock in unbelievably low financing for the next three decades! So often the purchase price is the buyer's primary concern--but a low interest rate has more of an impact on your carrying costs than the purchase price. Interested? Call me to discuss your goals, and I'll put you in touch with a reliable lender who can tell you exactly what you can afford to purchase. Sales are picking up, and your dream of a shore house may be closer than you think!
 
GOOD BYE, COOL AND DRY, hello summer! The official arrival of summer on Wednesday ushered in the first heat wave of the season. Temperatures are expected to be in the middle to upper 90s, through Thursday, and in the upper 80s over the weekend. The hot, humid weather comes as a complete change to the cool, dry weather we'd been enjoying for several days. Fortunately, afternoon relief is expected in the form of a seabreeze.
 
IT'S TURTLE SEASON, and diamondback terrapins can be found crossing local roads as they look for locations to lay eggs. The terrapin shown below chose a spot between driveway pavers and landscaping to lay her eggs. The terrapin returned to the bay a few moments later, after burying her eggs.
 

A diamondback terrapin chose this spot to lay her eggs before returning to the bay.
 
LIBRARY RECOMMENDATION: Stone Harbor's special library committee issued a recommendation on where the borough's new library ought to be built. They recommended placing the new library on Second Avenue at 93rd Street. However, the committee was not unanimous, with one member preferring the beachfront location at 95th Street. Borough Council will vote to decide the library location at the regular council meeting July 3rd. 
 
GET 'EM READY! Rental property owners, give your property one last thorough check before your tenants check in. Is the cable TV on? Are the carpets clean? Is the air conditioner working? Be sure to deliver a quality product to your tenants! For recommendations on contractors or other service providers, please email or call me. They're all busy, though, so don't wait!  

June 14, 2012

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SOLD OUT? Not quite, but we're getting close for peak rental weeks in late July and early August. Availability is better for other weeks, but don't delay--call or email me to get started!
 
AVALON'S MOBILE PET SHELTER was unveiled last week by Mayor Martin Pagliughi. A used 53-foot trailer was purchased by the borough and retrofitted with 70 pet cages, a wash basin, and a veterinary station. The mobile pet shelter is among the first anywhere, and can be used during evacuations, power outages or other emergencies. Residents have often refused to leave their pets behind during an emergency or evacuation; now they won't have to. The mobile pet shelter could also be offered to other areas of the state in the event of an emergency.
 
AND THE PASSWORD IS? If your rental property has a wireless network for internet access, please be sure to post your network password in your house so tenants can access the internet easily. If you provide it to me, I'll keep it on file here at the office, too. Also, if your router and modem aren't readily visible (some are in closets or behind televisions), make their locations known in case they need to be reset after a power failure.
 
SUMMER TIME 'TO DO' LIST: we've all got fun things planned for the summer months. Here's one more fun activity to consider: take a ride on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry as a foot passenger. The delightful ride across the Delaware Bay is just over an hour, and you're likely to see dolphins, sailboats, ships, and more. On the other side of the bay, take the five minute shuttle ride to the town of Lewes, where you can shop and have lunch. On the return ferry ride, kick back and relax as you watch the sun disappear over the Bay!
 
GRAHAM NASH, of the band Crosby, Stills & Nash, will have artwork on display at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor June 28th through July 8th.  Nash's never-before-seen artwork will be for sale, and Nash will be on hand Sunday, July 1 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm, to sign purchased artwork.
 
CASHLESS TOLLS?  The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is considering eliminating cash toll collection along the Garden State Parkway. Such a move would necessitate the use of EZPass for all motorists using the Parkway. Plenty of drivers, including many from out of state, don't have EZPass, so the idea needs further study, but a switch could come as early as next summer, when the Authority's current contract with toll collectors expires.
 
KENNY CHESNEY IN WILDWOOD: another famous singer will be in the area, but this one will stick to what made him famous: singing. Country star Kenny Chesney will be performing a beach concert in Wildwood on June 20. The concert will be free, however tickets are required for entry.


June 7, 2012

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BUYER ACTIVITY REMAINS STRONG! Through the first five months of the year, 168 new purchase contracts were written in the local market, up 37% from the 122 contracts written during the same time last year. The first five months of 2012 were the strongest start of the year since 2005! Thinking about buying? Time to jump in!
 
A POLL on potential library locations was conducted by the Stone Harbor Realty Owners Association. 328 members responded to the poll. 57% voted for the library to be located at 9301 Second Avenue, 39% voted for 95th Street and the beach, and 4% voted for 120 97th Street (Seng Place). The Realty Owners Association shared the poll results with borough council.
 
GOTTA SEE IT! Aviation fans won't want to miss the F-16 Fighting Falcon that has been donated to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum. The jet is a two-seat training model that was used at Sheppard Air Force Base, and was recently deemed surplus and given to NASW. The jet arrived on a flatbed with its wings removed, but will be reassembled, then restored and put on public display. NASW is a great place to visit for kids young and old!
 
THE NUMBER THREE ZOO in the country is right here in Cape May County! Trip Advisor has ranked the Cape May County Zoo #3, behind only the Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska and the St. Louis Zoo. With more than 250 species and over 500 animals, plus an adjoining park area, the Cape May County Zoo is another hidden treasure just a few minutes away.
 
TURTLES: GIVE 'EM A BRAKE!  It's turtle season, and nesting turtles are often seen crossing local roads and highways, seeking higher ground. Turtle fences have been reinstalled along Avalon Boulevard (after recent construction), but crossings are still occurring along non-fenced roads. Keep an eye out for the turtles and give 'em a brake!
 
POST-MEMORIAL DAY, PRE-FOURTH OF JULY is a delightful time here on the Island! Just this week we've been treated to blue skies, puffy white clouds, 70 degree temperatures, and gentle breezes. Crowds are light, as schools are still in session, yet everything's open for enjoyment. Take advantage of the next few weeks and enjoy the very best of the shore!