2015:

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

This Weeks News 2/25/2015

---

BEACH PROJECTS: Avalon Council approved a $12 million bond to fund a beach fill project for its north end beaches. Mayor Martin Pagliughi will meet with state officials regarding the possibility of obtaining state funding for the project. Meanwhile Stone Harbor is working on a restoration project at Stone Harbor Point, which will transfer sand in order to construct an elevated habitat for birds nesting in, and migrating through the area.
 
STONE HARBOR'S "SHIVER WEEKEND" occurs Friday & Saturday, March 13th & 14th. Kick off the weekend with the Pre-Plunge Party at the Yacht Club Friday evening from 6pm to 9pm. Saturday's Kegs 'n Eggs Party begins at Fred's Tavern at 9:30am. At 12 noon participants will parade from Fred's Tavern to the Women's Civic Club parking lot at 96th Street & the beach, where awards for the parade participants will follow. The Plunge begins immediately after the awards. Dan Skeldon, Press of Atlantic City and Longport Media's Chief Meteorologist, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
 
Register For The Stone Harbor Shiver Polar Plunge 2015
 

Clear skies with very little moisture in the atmosphere made for great conditions for stargazing in Cape May County last weekend. Here, a crescent moon is visited by Venus (to the left) and Mars (the tiny dot).
 
BOATING SAFETY CLASS: If you're planning to hit the water this summer, make sure you do it with a boating safety certificate in hand! An upcoming class has been announced for Saturday, April 11th, from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May. To register for the class, call (609) 898-0442, or email Theresa Appenzeller at tappenzeller@comcast.net. Another class will be offered at Island Marine in Ocean View on Saturday, April 18, from 8am to 5pm. For that class call (609) 463-9692 or email Allen Nordt at abscgaux@hotmail.com.
 
"COMFORTABLE, THREE-BEDROOM HOMES rent for about $150 a week. The rates are much higher, of course, along the oceanfront. New homes cost anywhere from $15,000 to $70,000." So said the New York Times in an article about Avalon, published on August 21, 1966. Even back then Avalon was well known for its beaches, high dunes, and lack of overdevelopment. No one knows where rental rates and purchase prices will be in another five decades, but if history repeats itself, they'll be much higher than they are today! Thanks to Long & Foster friend Diane Myers of California for sending us a copy of the New York Times article!

REFERRALS ANYONE? While I'm delighted to help you with a purchase or sale in our market area, I'm also glad to help anyone you may know! Do you have a friend, coworker, or neighbor interested in buying or selling at the shore? Please ask them to call or email me! I'll be happy to provide them the very same high level of service you'd expect!

This Weeks News 2/18/2015

---

MARKET STATS: The latest market stats are available: The Long and Foster Market Minute. Highlights from the January 2015 report: the median sale price was $923,500, down 3% from last January; the available inventory of properties is down 19% from last January. Take advantage of great rates and reasonable prices--call me today to begin your search for the perfect property!
 
ICE formed across the back bays after several days of frigid temperatures. Small tidal creeks froze first, with larger waterways following soon after. The only areas not frozen are those nearest the inlets, where relatively warm ocean water has limited the formation of ice. Six inches of snow fell Monday night into Tuesday, turning the area into a winter wonderland!
 
 
This is the view from Avalon Bay Park Marina, looking north. It's all ice! Several inches of snow has subsequently fallen across the area.

FOR MORE PHOTOS of ice around the island, click here: Ice All Over Avalon & Stone Harbor
 
FROZEN PIPES ARE always a concern, and especially so during periods of frigid weather. During extreme cold, it may be prudent to let water trickle from a faucet to prevent pipes from freezing. Of course, other preventive measures should always be taken, such as closing foundation vents, winterizing outside water lines, and setting the thermostat to at least 55 degrees.
 
A LARGE FIRE occurred last Thursday night in the 4700 block of Fifth Avenue in Avalon. Two homes were destroyed. Extremely cold temperatures made conditions difficult for firefighters, and resulted in ice encapsulating the area.
 
 
The charred remains of an Avalon home heavily damaged by fire are encapsulated in ice.
 
IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, we'll be wearing shorts, tee shirts, and flip flops, awaiting the official start of the summer season. It hardly seems possible!

This Weeks News 2/11/2015

---

UNBELIEVABLE RATES! Mortgage rates continue to hover at unbelievably low levels, with 30-year fixed rates just over 3.5%, and 15-year fixed rates just under 3.0%. Rates are so low, in fact, that they have a bigger influence on your monthly carrying cost than the purchase price! For example, if you delay your purchase too long and rates increase, a one-point rise in interest rates takes away about 12% of your purchasing power. If you're considering a purchase, don't delay--call me today to get started! We'll find the perfect place in time for you to enjoy the summer in your new shore home!
 
STONE HARBOR BACK BAY DREDGING will move forward as the Borough is expected to submit permit applications to the NJ-DEP in late spring, with the goal of beginning dredge work in the fall. Private slip owners are expected to be able to have their slips dredged under the Borough permit. Stay tuned for more details.
 

Cape May County's beauty isn't confined to the Island! Beautiful post-sunset colors are reflected in the still waters of Cedar Swamp Creek!
 
YANK MARINE, located "just up the road" from Avalon & Stone Harbor in nearby Tuckahoe, is home to some very interesting shipbuilding projects. Some of Yank's latest jobs include repairs to the wooden hull of the AJ Meerwald, New Jersey's tall ship, work on a US Army landing craft, and the construction of two vessels for the NY Waterway ferry system. Yanks is a family-owned shipbuilding business dating back several decades; over the years they've built a variety of vessels and done repair work on an even broader array of craft.
 
MOTHER NATURE'S ROLLER COASTER CONTINUES! Sub-freezing temperatures last week gave way briefly to a weekend-warm up that saw daytime temperatures above 50 degrees. Locals and visitors alike took advantage of the opportunity to ride bicycles, walk the dog, or visit the beach. For now, it's back to normal, with more cold temperatures expected--Friday we won't make it out of the 20s!

MAKING A SPLASH! After wanting a dog "forever", our kids, Paul, Dan, and Grace have finally gotten their wish! An English Springer Spaniel puppy arrived in our household a little over a month ago, and hasn't stopped entertaining us since. Our love for the beach, sailing, and fishing meant naming him "Splash" was an obvious choice!

 
Splash says: "Time to hit the beach!" After enjoying his first romp on the beach, Splash takes a break to pose for his first family photo. He even managed to tangle himself in his leash for the picture!

This Weeks News 2/4/2015

---

LET THERE BE LIGHT! Just an extra minute or two of sunlight each day is enough to brighten your day! Since December 21st we've gained almost an hour of daylight--a welcome sign that a cold winter won't last forever! Wintertime sunsets have been beautiful, however, and a westbound ride along Avalon Boulevard or Stone Harbor Boulevard often results in a colorful display.
 
FLASH FREEZING: On Monday, daytime temperatures were well above freezing as rain fell over much of the area. Late Monday temperatures plummeted into the low 20s. Most area roads were dry by then, but in the marsh areas of the back bay the outgoing tide receded leaving a thick coating of frozen saltwater behind.
 

A peaceful wintertime sunset as seen from Avalon Boulevard.
 
A.C. BOAT SHOW now open: The 36th annual Atlantic City Boat Show opened this week at the Atlantic City Convention Center, and runs through Sunday. An estimated 400 boats will grace the show floor this year, giving boaters a chance to dream of warm summer days on the water. For tickets and show information visit www.acboatshow.com.
 
FROM ELVIS TO BROADWAY, there's a little something for everyone in this year's Jersey Shore Pops Summer Concert Series. The line-up will feature four concerts during July & August at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center, and opens with The True Voice of Elvis. For show info and tickets visit www.jerseyshorepops.org.
 
62 PROPERTIES are currently under contract in the local market, with closing dates ranging from this week through early summer. Ready to join in the fun? Contact me to begin your property search!