| 2013: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
January 31, 2013
DUNE GRASS PLANTING: Volunteers are needed for dune grass planting in Avalon on Saturday, April 20th. Volunteers can report to Community Hall at 30th Street & the beach at 8:30am for coffee, donuts, and a demonstration on how to plant dune grass. Special tools and transportation to the dunes will be provided. A complimentary lunch will follow. Help keep Avalon's dunes strong and beautiful! Rain date: Sunday, April 21st.
MEDICINE DROP: Stone Harbor has announced Project Medicine Drop, allowing the public to dispose of unwanted or expired household drugs safely, around the clock. A lockable metal box has been installed in the police lobby at Stone Harbor Borough Hall at 95th Street & Dune Drive. Simply drop your medications there, allowing for their safe disposal.
AVALON'S POLICE DEPARTMENT has launched a Facebook Page. The new page will allow the Avalon Police to stay in touch with the community, and vice versa. Learn More
THE CENTENNIAL BOOK PROJECT continues! Stone Harbor will publish a photo book in 2014 in honor of its 100th Anniversary. Have an old Stone Harbor photo? Share it, please! There are three ways to share your photos:
1) Drop them at the Borough Hall. Your photos will be scanned, and you will be contacted when
they are ready for pick up.
2) Post them on Facebook. Log into your Facebook account and search for "Stone Harbor
Centennial Book Project" to post your photos.
3) Email your scanned or digital photos to stoneharborbook2014@gmail.com.
A dredge in Townsend's Inlet has been pumping sand onto Avalon's north-end beaches.
Check out the beaches the next time you're in town!
THE BIG THAW: Just a few days ago temperatures were in the teens and ice had formed on the back bay. The past two days have seen a rapid warm up with daytime temperatures in the upper fifties, and chunks of leftover ice being carried away by the outgoing tides. In case you're thinking about joining Sea Isle City's upcoming Polar Bear Plunge (see Upcoming Events below), consider this: the ocean water temperature along the beach is a chilly 39 degrees!
January 24, 2013
SALES UP, INVENTORY DOWN: last week's chart showed the 39% sales increase in 2012 versus 2011. That increase dramatically reduced the number of available properties to 422 at year end, down 23% from 2011. If you are contemplating selling your property, take advantage of less competition--contact me to list your property now!
READY FOR YOU! Local officials have stressed that Avalon and Stone Harbor are open and ready for you! While being sensitive to the damage sustained in Northern New Jersey and New York, local officials want visitors to know that Avalon and Stone Harbor suffered minimal storm damage, and previously scheduled beach replenishment is to be completed prior to the summer season. Tourism is the third largest industry in New Jersey at $36 billion annually. It accounts for 65% of jobs in Cape May County. Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters was quoted in a Philadelphia Inquirer article, "We need to let everyone know we're open for tourism and the summer."
Sea Isle City Mayor Len Desiderio said at a January 14 press conference that not only would Sea Isle City be ready for the summer season, the town "awaits visitors with open arms." Sea Isle City will give its tourism season an early jump start with its annual Polar Bear Plunge the weekend of February 15.
Whether you're visiting for the day, a week, or the whole summer, Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Sea Isle City are ready--help spread the word!
NO ADDITIONAL PARKWAY TOLLS? The long anticipated traffic light removal project on the Garden State Parkway is slated to begin shortly, but opponents want assurances that no new tolls will be added. Additional tolls had been discussed many years ago, but officials say there are currently no plans to add them, either to the highway, or to the new on/off ramps that will be constructed. The $125 million project will remove traffic lights at Stone Harbor Boulevard, Crest Haven Road, and Shell Bay Avenue, replacing them with overpasses.
THAT'S ONE LONG EXTENSION CORD! A proposed 189-mile long cable would connect offshore wind farms with the land based power grid, and would be the first of its kind in New Jersey. The proposed cable would stretch from Cape May County, running along the coast to Raritan Bay, New York Harbor, and Bergen County, New Jersey. The cable could carry 3,000 megawatts of electricity.
MORTGAGE RATES dipped again last week, with the average 30-year fixed rate at 3.38%. Whether buying or refinancing, it's a great time to lock in a low cost mortgage! Need a good mortgage lender? Contact me for a recommendation on a reliable lender!
IT'S COLD! Overnight lows have dipped into the teens in Cape May County the past few nights, and a light coating of snow fell Monday evening. A few more inches of snow are possible Friday afternoon & evening. Come on, summer!
PLEASE FORWARD this newsletter to a friend, neighbor, or coworker who would enjoy it! To subscribe, send me an email at Randy@RandyLeiser.com.
January 17, 2013
SALES UP SIGNIFICANTLY! The number of sales in the local market increased significantly in 2012, rising to 385 from 277 the year before, an increase of 39%!
TOTAL DOLLAR VOLUME showed a similar increase, rising to $451,010,341, up 32% over 2011.
IN 2012 the average sale price fell slightly to $1,171,455 (down 5.1%) while the median price rose slightly to $890,000 (up 1.1%).
FACTORS AT WORK IN THE MARKET:
-higher demand for properties (as evidenced by the increased number of sales shown above).
-reasonable prices, down significantly from their peak, have brought more buyers into the market.
-mortgage rates remain extremely low with 30-year fixed rates below 4% for both conforming
and jumbo loans.
-reduced inventory of available sale properties. Inventory topped out at approximately 700
active listings; currently there are 445 active listings.
-strong rentals for 2013, based on early indications, due to increased demand locally as a
result of storm-damaged properties to our north.
BEACH WORK: at last check beach replenishment work had progressed to Avalon's 12th Street beach. Sand pumping will move southward until completion of the job at the 25th Street beach. After finishing Avalon's beach, the dredge will move to Fire Island, New York for a project there. Stone Harbor's beach will be replenished when the dredge returns from New York, and will be completed before Memorial Day.
SPECIAL BAYFRONT OPPORTUNITY! This bayfront opportunity has not yet been shared publicly! If you're interested in a bayfront location complete with a charming, renovated cottage plus a new addition, this could be the one for you! It has easy access to Townsend's Inlet and it's priced in the $2 million range. Be the first to know about it--call or email me for details!
READY TO GET STARTED? Whether you're looking for a summer rental or your very own shore home, please call or email me today!
January 10, 2013
BEACH REPLENISHMENT work began in Avalon on January 3 as the dredge "Charleston" was set up offshore to pump 1,000 cubic yards of sand per hour onto Avalon's beaches. The dredge will operate 17 hours per day, stopping only for mechanical or weather-related reasons. After Avalon's north-end beaches are replenished, the dredge will move to Fire Island, New York for a beach fill project there, then return to Stone Harbor to replenish its beaches. The dredging contract calls for all work to be completed by May 23rd, in time for the summer season. Dune grass replanting and rebuilding of dune fences are also included in the project.
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT! The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has released a new smartphone app for hunters, fishermen, and wildlife enthusiasts, designed to improve the outdoor experience and safety for its users. The "Pocket Ranger" app provides on-the-spot information on fish & wildlife, mapping of state parks and open spaces, and access points for hunting, fishing, boating, and bird watching. The app features social network connections and GPS features, too. It's available for Apple and Android devices: Learn More
PREVENT FROZEN PIPES at this time of year by closing foundation vents, sealing air leaks, insulating water pipes with foam wrap, and turning off and winterizing outside water outlets if they're not of the "frost free" variety. During periods of extreme cold a slow drip from a faucet will keep water moving, preventing it from freezing. A "whole house" shutoff valve will prevent water from running continuously should a frozen pipe burst and then thaw. If you need the name of a reliable plumber to winterize your pipes, let me know!
COMING DOWN? Call ahead! While we're delighted to have you stop in our office seven days a week, calling ahead will save you time by ensuring that I'm prepared for you! Whether you're interested in rental properties or sale opportunities, give me a call a few days ahead of time so that I can have everything ready for you when you arrive.
CHARLES HARVEY HOME FURNISHINGS is offering special pricing on select items and interior design projects for "Friends of Avalon Real Estate Agency." Be sure to visit Charles Harvey Home Furnishings at 31st Street & Dune Drive, or call them at (609) 967-1800.HAPPY NEW YEAR to all! Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2013! Make it a great one by making family memories here on the Island!
January 4, 2013
BEACH FILL: Sand pumping was delayed by bad weather and gusty winds over the holiday season, but was set to begin full time on January 3. The dredge "Charleston" will pump 290,000 cubic yards of sand onto Avalon beaches from 9th Street to 25th Street, with the dredge stopping only for mechanical work or weather. Once finished in Avalon, the "Charleston" will head to Fire Island, New York, for a beach fill there, then will return to Stone Harbor for a major beach fill project there. In Stone Harbor, sand will be pumped on the beaches from 92nd Street to 114th Street, and from 119th south to the groin at Stone Harbor Point. The dredging contract calls for completion of the Stone Harbor project by May 23, 2013.
SHINE 'EM UP! Rental property owners, now is the time! If you haven't already done so, have a thorough "spring cleaning" performed at your rental property. Keep your property looking its best by steam cleaning carpets, painting scuffed walls, cleaning HVAC registers, clean ceiling fan blades, and more. Also, schedule contractors now, ahead of the last minute rush! Provide your tenants with the best possible accommodations to maximize your rental returns. Need new furnishings? See below!
CHARLES HARVEY FURNISHINGS: Want to jump start the new year? Charles Harvey Furnishings, right at 31st Street & Dune Drive, is offering to "Friends of Avalon Real Estate Agency" a private sale for both rental properties and private beach homes! You'll find privileged pricing on specific items as well as special pricing on interior design projects large and small. When you visit the store or call, just mention this newsletter to be included! Call the Avalon store (at 31st & Dune Drive) at (609) 967-1800, or the Wildwood store at (609) 522-7900.
TENANTS, CHECK 'EM OUT! We've witnessed an increase in rental traffic from those who normally rent further north. If you're looking for a Summer 2013 rental, call or email today to get started!
THE WAY IT WAS...South Jersey's barrier islands owe their development to the railroads, who not only provided the first regular transportation to the islands, but in many cases, actually developed them into vacation destinations. Shown below is a West Jersey & Seashore (owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad) train at the station in Avalon, circa 1920. Though hard to read, "Avalon" is painted on the station board above the shed. Note the hand- or horse-drawn baggage cart, and the vintage automobile behind the station. Better automobiles and better highways eventually supplanted trains as the preferred method of travel to the barrier islands. Today, only traces of the railroad infrastructure are visible on and around the islands.
A West Jersey & Seashore Railroad train is stopped at Avalon circa 1920.
GOT A FRIEND, family member, neighbor, or coworker looking to buy, sell, or rent in Avalon or Stone Harbor? Please ask them to give me a call or send me an email! I'd be delighted to help them achieve their 2013 goals!