2014:

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This Weeks News 4/24/2014

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OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND!  Long & Foster's Open House Weekend takes place Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27.  In Avalon & Stone Harbor you'll find dozens of homes open for viewing both days from 11am to 2pm.  For a complete list visit our office at 30th Street & Dune Drive, or stop by any open house to pick one up.  Or, if you'd like a sneak peek, email me and I'll send it to you!
 
A HUGE FIRE along Sea Isle City's beachfront destroyed three homes and damaged several more.  Volunteers from fourteen local fire companies fought the seven alarm fire last week in the 7800 block of Pleasure Avenue.  No one was injured in the fire.  View News Report, Video, and Slideshow
 
"HERON CAM" LIVE!  For a live view of the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary, visit www.StoneHarborBirdSanctuary.com! A black crowned night heron is often seen on the high-definition camera.  Even better, stop by the Sanctuary the next time you're in town and walk one of the observation paths and see the maritime forest and amazing wildlife in person!


Tuesday morning's sunrise silhouettes the Avalon Fishing Pier as a commercial fishing vessel moves along the beach.  What a way to begin the day!
 
THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE has announced its Second Annual Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival.  A weekend of activities will take place Friday through Sunday, May 16-18.  Visit www.wetlandsinstitute.org for details.
 
ONE QUARTER DONE:  At a recent update on the status of the Garden State Parkway overpass project, New Jersey Turnpike Authority spokesman Tom Feeney said the project is about 25% completed.  Eventually overpasses will be constructed carrying Parkway traffic over local roads, eliminating the only three traffic lights along the Parkway.  The project is expected to be complete in November 2015.

This Weeks News 4/10/2014

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VACATION HOME SALES increased by 29.7% in 2013 compared to the year before, according to the National Association of Realtors Annual Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey. According to the survey vacation home sales represented 13 percent of all transactions last year, and 46 percent of vacation homes are within 100 miles of home. Over 80% of second home buyers said it was a good time to buy! Ready? Call me at (800) 967-7796 x212!
 
LONG & FOSTER'S OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND will occur the weekend of April 26th & 27th, with dozens of homes available to see. Watch for more details the week prior!
 
MAKE A DIFFERENCE CLUB: 13-year old Danielle Koochembere founded the "Make a Difference" club in 2010, and organizes a community service project each year. Last weekend Danielle and her club members helped plant dune grass in Avalon. After the dune grass planting was completed, the girls went on to pick up loose trash found on the beach, then walked alongside Avalon Boulevard picking up trash there. All told the girls volunteered nearly six hours of their time helping out around Avalon. Way to "Make a Difference" Danielle! Danielle is MaryAnn's daughter.
 

Danielle Koochembere (front row) along with the members of the "Make a Difference" club, which she founded in 2010, ready to plant dune grass last weekend.
 
RENTALS ARE UP by 18% over last year. Tenants, contact me or MaryAnn to book now! 
 
WANT TO CAPITALIZE on a strong rental season? Consider renting your property to generate extra income! Whether you want to rent two weeks or the whole summer, you may be surprised to learn how much income your property can generate! Call me to find out!
 
THE KEY TO HOME SALES?  According to a Wall Street Journal article, it's "turnkey." Houses that are offered fully furnished and decorated, and are ready to move into, sell faster than those that aren't turnkey. Read the WSJ Article
 
SUMMER FLOUNDER SEASON opens May 23rd in New Jersey and will run through September 27th. Fish must be a minimum of 18 inches, with a five-fish daily limit. Regulations and fishing dates are tweaked year to year in order to prudently manage the fish population, and to avoid overfishing.
 
THE AVALON/STONE HARBOR UPDATE will return the week of April 21st!

This Weeks News 4/3/2014

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MARKET STATS: the first quarter of 2014 saw 103 sales in the local market (down 8.4% versus the first quarter of 2013), while the average sale price increased to $1,286,669 (up 9.5%). The median sale price increased to $1,100,000 in the first quarter, up 17.0%.  Factors driving the market?  Low interest rates (good) and lots of snow and ice (bad).  Hopefully good weather in the second quarter will bring good things to the market!
 
MORE ON THE FLOOD INSURANCE ACT:  the recent passage of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Act of 2014 will benefit both buyers of shore properties, as well as current shore property owners.  Nick Kiniry of Long & Foster Insurance can provide a more detailed description of the changes, but the key details include limits on annual premium increases, grandfathering of properties built to code at the time they were constructed, and the repeal of a provision requiring an immediate premium increase when a home is sold. If you'd like more information on the changes email me and I'll send you Nick's detailed description.
 
THE TOWNSEND'S INLET BRIDGE is expected to reopen on April 30th but intermittent lane closures are still expected after that date.  The bridge, which links Avalon with Sea Isle City, is currently undergoing much-needed repair work but weather has been a factor in completing the work.  After the reopening of the bridge to traffic, the lane closures will be kept to a minimum. 
 
OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO another local bridge was opened with great fanfare, including a visit from then-Governor Woodrow Wilson.  Now known as the 96th Street Bridge, the South Jersey Realty Company referred to the bridge as part of the Stone Harbor Ocean Parkway, as shown in the postcard below.  The South Jersey Realty Company was responsible for much of the early development of Stone Harbor and promoted its "Highly Improved Lots" using postcards such as the one below.
 



The South Jersey Realty Company used postcards to promote Stone Harbor in the early days.
 
SEA ISLE CITY broke ground on a new 29,000 square-foot building to house the city's operations.  The building, located on JFK Boulevard, is expected to open a little more than a year from now.
 
IF CHICAGO is "your kind of town" you'll have an easy time getting there from your shore home!  United Airlines recently became the second airline to offer scheduled service to Chicago from nearby Atlantic City International Airport.  Plenty of other non-stop destinations are available, too, on United as well as Spirit Airlines, including Houston, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.   For info on Atlantic City International Airport visit Atlantic City International Airport Online.
 
WE'RE FORTUNATE to have many beautiful homes available for sale and rent here on the Island-but on occasion something truly stunning comes along.  The home shown below is in that category!  Its location in Avalon's high dune area means the setting  is not only extraordinary, but provides for amazing views too.  Now you can enjoy a slice of heaven--this home is available for rent for select weeks at $17,500 per week!  For more details visit RealTimeRental Property 118465 or call me or MaryAnn!