| 2013: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
Randy Leiser, Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2997 Dune Drive, PO Box 10, Avalon, NJ 08202
toll-free: 800-967-7796 x212 | local: 609-967-3001 | fax: 609-967-3057 | e-mail: Randy@RandyLeiser.com
2014 SUMMER RENTALS are already being booked! Check Our Rental Section to begin your search for the perfect property, or give me a call! Owners, get your rental rates in if you haven't already done so!
AFFORDABILITY of a shore home is impacted as much by interest rates as it is by prices. An example: at 4.25%, a rate recently offered by numerous mortgage lenders for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, a $1 million loan would require a payment of $4,920 per month. If rates rise by just three-quarters of a point to 5%, that very same monthly payment would support a loan of $916,000-an 8.4% reduction in affordability. Whether you're in a higher or lower price range, the same concept applies-the current combination of reasonable prices and low rates cannot be beat!
TRADITION CONTINUES: Long & Foster will conduct a Thanksgiving food drive, continuing a tradition started long ago by Avalon Real Estate Agency. If you'd like to contribute a food item, please stop by our office any time we're open! We'll make sure all contributions are delivered to a local food bank in time for Thanksgiving.
WHAT A VIEW! The fall season can produce some beautiful weather, skies, and sunsets. How about this rainbow, as seen behind Avalon's south end! Have a great photo of an Island scene? Send it to me! We might just use it in an upcoming edition! This great photo was taken by Christopher Lust, and submitted by Philip Bolbach:
LONG & FOSTER will also help sponsor the popular "Iceless Ice Skating Rink" that will be in town on Festive Friday, November 29th. Festive Friday combines a variety of activities, including face painters, bounce houses, shopping, and more, to help start the holiday season here on the Island. Santa Claus will make appearances in both Avalon and Stone Harbor, too.
STRIPER FISHING, ANYONE? Warm weather may be winding down but striper fishermen don't mind! The cooler temperatures don't bother them-or the stripers. In fact, a 47-pound striper was caught last week in Atlantic City-and there are likely other "monsters" lurking in local waters. Grab your gear, stop by a local bait & tackle shop for the latest hot tip, then head out to catch "the big one!"
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
October 24, 2013
INTEREST RATES are still amazingly low, with 30-year fixed rates for both conforming and jumbo loans hovering around 4.25%. At that kind of interest rate, every $100,000 borrowed costs just $492 per month. Take advantage of low rates-buy a shore house today and lock in low financing costs for three decades!
PLAN AHEAD for some great fall activities. There's still plenty to enjoy here during the fall season! Here are a few ideas for you:
STONE HARBOR'S HARVEST DAY occurs Saturday, October 26th at the 96th Street shopping
district, from 11am to 4pm. Come enjoy hayrides on the beach, pumpkin painting, trick or treating,
and live entertainment. Wear your costume!
AVALON'S SEAFOOD FESTIVAL will take place Saturday & Sunday, November 2nd & 3rd. Food,
beer, wine, children's activities, plus live entertainment are planned, between the hours of 10am &
5pm both days. (This year's Seafood Festival was originally planned for the weekend of October
12th & 13th, but was rescheduled due to heavy rain that weekend.)
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND is host to numerous holiday-related activities on the Island, including
Festive Friday in Avalon and an Island Holiday in Stone Harbor. See below for more details.
AVALON'S HOLIDAY BEACH TAGS will be on sale during the Thanksgiving weekend. The $21 tags can be used during the entire 2014 beach season, and will be available for purchase Saturday & Sunday, November 29th & 30th at the Avalon Rescue Squad building at 31st Street & Dune Drive, from 11am to 5pm. While supplies last, the tags will also be sold at the tax collector's office in Borough Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:15am to 4:15pm.
OUR OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND was successful, with more than three dozen homes open at various times this past Saturday & Sunday. Thanks to all who stopped in to see us! Anytime you'd like to see a property that's for sale, please call me!
AVALON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT saw a great turnout for their 100th Anniversary Ceremony, Parade, and Celebration last Saturday. The Fire Department's newest truck, Tower 1153, was officially "housed" at the fire hall. Afterward, a parade of fire apparatus wound its way through town to the Community Center for an afternoon celebration.
Avalon Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ed Dean addresses the crowd on Saturday.
THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU who waved to us as we joined in the parade aboard Truck 6414, my 1971 American LaFrance ladder truck! On board were my Dad, Paul, sons Paul and Dan, daughter Grace, my Mom, Nancy, and me.
October 17, 2013
LONG & FOSTER'S OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND occurs Saturday & Sunday, October 19th & 20th, with numerous homes open at different times in various locations. Stop by our office for a complete list, or simply pick one up at any of our open houses this weekend!
CELEBRATE AVALON FIRE DEPARTMENT'S 100th ANNIVERSARY on Saturday, October 19th! A ceremony will be held at the Firehouse at 11am. A fire apparatus parade will begin about 12 noon, running north along Dune Drive to 20th Street, east to Avalon Avenue, then north to Community Hall, where a celebration will take place.
STONE HARBOR announced a new site for the location of its proposed September 11th Memorial. Instead of erecting a memorial near Stone Harbor Point, a site on 96th Street between Second Avenue and Seng Place has been selected. A beam from the World Trade Center will be the focal point of the memorial, which the borough hopes to have completed by September 11, 2014.
A TEMPORARY ACCESS ROAD to Macchia's Island behind Avalon is now being built. The road will be used to access dredge material stored on the island, so it can be removed, allowing the site to accept new material from future dredging projects. When the project is complete the temporary road will be removed and the area restored. Next time you enter Avalon via Avalon Boulevard slow down a bit (safely!) as you pass by and take a peek at the job.
AVALON'S SEAFOOD FESTIVAL was postponed due to last weekend's heavy rains, and rescheduled for Saturday & Sunday, November 2nd & 3rd from 10am to 5pm. From the annual chowder contest to live music to the "Shucking Showdown" to lots of kids' activities, there's a little something for everyone!
At the end of Leonard's Lane in Avalon Manor sits this home. What a beautiful view of nature!
NEW JERSEY'S LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE: The 14 year old event returns again this weekend, and the idea is simple: visit as many New Jersey lighthouses (and related sites) as possible, and collect stamps from each location to place in your "passport" book (available for $1). Local lighthouses include Cape May Lighthouse, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, and also the Tatham Life Saving Station in Stone Harbor. Visiting all the participating lighthouses and sites would require about 300 miles of driving, but would include well known Barnegat Light, Absecon Lighthouse (Atlantic City), and Navesink Twin Lights. Entrance fees apply at some locations; for details and a list of all lighthouses and participating sites visit http://lighthousechallengenj.org.
PLAN AHEAD: although there are still plenty of fall activities to enjoy, it's time to plan ahead for colder weather. If you haven't already, call your plumber and get on the schedule for winterizing your outside shower, water lines, etc. Also, foundation vents should be closed to prevent cold air from freezing pipes in your crawlspace.
October 10, 2013
SPECTACULAR WEATHER! September and early October lived up to their reputations, providing us with several weeks of warm, sunny days that felt summer-like. It was just this week that we got our first real cool down, and fall is now in the air. It's still quite pleasant, with daytime temps in the 60s, and cool, crisp evenings. It's perfect for long walks on the beach, a ride around the lagoons on the boat, or shopping downtown!
OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND! Long & Foster will hold an Open House Weekend October 19th & 20th. Dozens of homes will be open at various times over the weekend; it's a great way to view homes in a variety of price ranges and locations. More details next week!
HIGHWAY WORK CONTINUES: The traffic light removal project continues on the Garden State Parkway between Exits 9 & 11. A temporary roadway is being constructed so that northbound traffic can be shifted to it. Southbound traffic will be shifted to the current northbound lanes, so overpasses may be constructed for the southbound lanes. Eventually overpasses will be built for the northbound lanes, too, with the project expected to conclude in 2015.
A sport fishing yacht passes commercial fishing boats moored in Cape May Harbor under a clear, blue sky.
AVALON FIRE DEPARTMENT will celebrate its 100th Anniversary on Saturday, October 19. The day will begin with a ceremony at the firehouse at 11am, and continue with a fire parade from 11:30am to 12 noon. The parade will be followed by a celebration at the Community Center at 12 noon. C'mon out, enjoy the festivities, and support the Fire Department!
EQUIPMENT STAGED: Heavy equipment is being staged along Avalon Boulevard in preparation for the emptying of the dredge material from Macchia's Island behind Avalon. When the site is emptied of material from previous dredge projects, it will then be able to accept material from future dredging projects. Avalon officials are hoping to dredge the back bay waterways in the near future.
MONDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: The Middle Township Performing Arts Center will host Monday Night at the Movies twice per month beginning October 21st. Screenings will include documentaries and independent films. The Performing Arts Center also hosts a variety of theater and concert events.
Check the upcoming schedule
October 3, 2013
“ONE PERCENT EQUALS TEN PERCENT,” says real estate instructor Chuck Bode, who provided a training session to Long & Foster’s Avalon office this week. Chuck explained that a 1% increase in interest rates reduces buying power by 10%. Given that interest rates have begun inching upward, Chuck pointed out that buyers should consider making a purchase now before rates climb further. Despite recent increases, interest rates still remain very reasonable at 4% to 4.5%--take advantage of them now! Sellers, it’s also a good reason to make sure your property is properly priced now; higher future interest rates could make your property less affordable for prospective buyers.
FREE VACATION RENTAL APP: Now available for the iPad and iPhone! Search for vacation homes in Avalon & Stone Harbor, check rates and availability, view photos and maps, all in the palm of your hand! To download the app visit the App Store and search for “Real Time Rentals.” Once downloaded, use location code “1840” for Avalon & Stone Harbor. An Android version is coming soon!
YOU’VE BEEN MAPPED! The past couple of days have seen an unusual looking car driving the Island’s streets: Google Maps has sent its “Street View” car to the area. The small white car is fitted with an enormous tripod and camera on the roof. The car is simply driven up and down the street while camera images and GPS info are recorded.
AERIAL DUNE GRASS FERTILIZATION will take place in Avalon between October 21st and 25th. An airplane will drop non-toxic fertilizer pellets along the dunes, making five passes at 20-30 minute intervals. The actual date of the flight is weather dependent.
A LOOK BACK... Things have sure changed, as evidenced by the circa 1920 postcard shown below. Yes, that’s 96th Street in Stone Harbor, looking toward the beach. Shown running along 96th Street is the Stone Harbor Railroad, which connected with the Atlantic City Railroad in Cape May Court House. Running along Second Avenue is the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad, which also had stops in Avalon and Sea Isle City. Passengers on each line could reach the Island from Philadelphia and beyond. In the 1930s rail service on the Island ended due to competition from automobiles and buses.
Steam trains by the beach: two railroads once served Avalon & Stone Harbor.
CATCH OKTOBERFEST in Avalon this Saturday, October 5th from 11am to 7pm, along 20th Street between Dune Drive and Ocean Drive! Enjoy German music, food, a beer garden, and entertainment for children. Oktoberfest is sponsored by the Whitebrier and the Princeton Bar and Grill. The rain date is Sunday, October 6th.