BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/19/2009 - 02/19/09 09:33 AM
Ocean City, New Jersey ... A Resort Destination Worthy of Note
 
I am always amazed how much coordination and effort takes place within this small barrier island a short drive from Atlantic City, NJ and the first resort location on the road through South Jersey.  First of all, you have the City of Ocean City and their outstanding efforts ... some great people doing an excellent job to promote and maintain the "special features" that make Ocean City what it is.  Add to that the leadership and efforts of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce who has also taken the … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/18/2009 - 02/18/09 08:28 AM
Realtors Don't Socialize Enough
 
Real estate can be quite a lonely business.  You are an independent contractor which means that you hook up with a particular Broker and Agency where you work ... but in reality, you could do much the same thing wherever you might want to be.  On our particular little barrier island, Ocean City (NJ), we have almost 600 real estate agent right now ... quite a number, but we had a few more several years ago when we were in our 4-5 year boom period.  Now an agent meets a lot of people ... in the … (4 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/18/2009 - 02/18/09 08:07 AM
Sale Listing just outside of Ocean City, New Jersey
 
There are a variety of mainland locations off the barrier island know as Ocean City, New Jersey.  These area function as year-round residences for many people who work in Ocean City, other parts of Cape May County, or Atlantic County.  When you drive across the Causeway to Somers Point, the main entrance and exit from Ocean City; you are in one of the two main residential areas closest to Ocean City.  This one is Somers Point which is a small town with a wide variety of single family residences for year-round … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/17/2009 - 02/17/09 03:19 PM
Realtor Vacations ... Resort Real Estate Agent takes a Vacation
 
There are two problems as one prepares for a real-time vacation ... getting ready to leave and getting back to work when you return.  I'm really not certain which one is the more difficult.  You might think that "getting back" is the bigger problem ... you return, in two days you forgot where you were, and by the weekend you are exhausted falling asleep at your open house.  Yes - these kinds of things can happen.  But returning to a place like Ocean City, New Jersey is like going on … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/17/2009 - 02/17/09 03:17 PM
Realtor Vacations ... Resort Real Estate Agent takes a Vacation
 
There are two problems as one prepares for a real-time vacation ... getting ready to leave and getting back to work when you return.  I'm really not certain which one is the more difficult.  You might think that "getting back" is the bigger problem ... you return, in two days you forgot where you were, and by the weekend you are exhausted falling asleep at your open house.  Yes - these kinds of things can happen.  But returning to a place like Ocean City, New Jersey is like going on … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Oce an City, NJ ... 2/17/2009 - 02/17/09 01:40 PM
More Film Reviews ... Roma ntic Comedy
This is my favorite type of film that I use as a way "to get my groove back" when I am down, but not out.  I find this type of light film with a lot of humor, slapstick, some romance (but often subtle), and often some great supporting cast members to get me an enjoyable two hours.  By the time it is over, I'm better than I was when I started.  I even have some specific films that I enjoy ... anything with Spencer Tracey and Kathern Hepburn, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, John … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/17/2009 - 02/17/09 10:59 AM
Sale Listing Update ... Ocean City, New Jersey
 
Let's take a look at the sale listing inventory for "all of Ocean City" and for "the Northend & Gardens Only."  I like to do both of these breakdowns because so many of my Buyers and Owners represent this special area from 6th Street north to the end of the island ... that area from 6th Street to North being the Northend, that area from North Street to the Longport Bridge being the Gardens.
 
                                        All of Ocean City                                                         Northend & Gardens Only
Singles                                      238                                                                                          82
Multi-Family                              66                                                                                          35
Condominiums                        744                                                                                        … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/17/2009 - 02/17/09 10:17 AM
"WhoWere the Best Presidents?  ... as judged by a panel of college history professors
 
Now I can't claim to be in the same league as above, but I did teach United States History (1900 to Present) for many years.  In that time frame we spent a lot of days covering events including the various administrations who were in office at the time.  We often explored "whether the time made the man, or did the man make the time ... in terms of shaping history (the individual or the events). 
In an earlier post I discussed "reading presidential biographies," and … (4 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/15/2009 - 02/15/09 01:00 PM
Downtown Ocean City ... Ocean City, New Jersey
 
The small barrier island community of Ocean City, New Jersey varying in size from about 12-15,000 in the winter months to 100-150,000 in the summer months is quite an interesting location.  The largest of the resort communites gong south from Atlantic City, Ocean City has a year-round "downtown area" with a lot of local businesses operating year-round with a great deal of community encouragement and support.  It's the kind of "small town feel" that many communities once had, but have lost with the sprawling developments beyond the town center.  Of course, that … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/15/2009 - 02/15/09 12:17 PM
President'sWeekend ... Sale Listing "Specials" in the Northend & Gardens in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
My area of interst and81 expertise is in the Northend and Gardens sections of Ocean City, New Jersey.  Please take a look at my present sale listings in this great location in the northern part of our lovely island.  I also do a weekly "online email" newsletter (BEACH NOTES) emailed to many Buyers and Owners.  If interested, please contact me at the following:  Dustin@BeachNotes.net
 
Single Family
           212 Ocean Road          Gardens location          Listed @ $1,395,000          3BR/2BA … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/15/2009 - 02/15/09 11:33 AM
Getting Closer to Oscar Night
 
The Academy Awards program is always interesting, often upsetting (in terms of winners and losers), but generally memorable.  But you must always remember that the members of the academy who make the selections are typically not representative of the general public who actually goes to see the films.  I know that I am not reprsesetative either.  But obviously I'm the one writing this posting.
Slumdog Millionaire is far and away the movie that should win the "Best Picture" of the Year ... and I believe that it will be the winner.  Out of India, and … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/12/2009 - 02/12/09 03:17 PM
More Films ... The "Top 10" Suspense Films of all time ... plus some ideas of my own.
 
1- Vertigo - It takes place in an around San Francisco ... and in a cold gray morning or evening out there with the fog hanging in the air, it can be a spooky location in parts.  Of course, you have two great stars:  James Stewart and Kim Novak, plus Alfred Hitchcock as the director.  It would be difficult to argue this ranking ... or any other by this director.
2- Chinatown - This time we remain in California, only Los Angeles, … (2 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/12/2009 - 02/12/09 01:55 PM
Southend Condominium Lisiting ... Ocean City, New Jersey
 
A rare opportunity for this Northend/Gardens Agent to have a "Southend" sale listing ... let me review the area for you.
If you start at Central Avenue and Northend Street (where you are about an 8-minute walk to the beach) and follow Central Avenue all the way down to 50th Street (note:  you will have get off of Central Avenue at Fifth Street and go around to get back on at SixTh Street because of the Tabernacle and Park between those two streets); you now find Central Avenue as the street next … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/12/2009 - 02/12/09 10:16 AM
Another Film Update ... Epic Films
We move from the "western movies" in two other postings to "the epic" film ... the old blockbusters like "Gone with the Wind."  So my initial review will be to highlight and comment on the "top 10" identified films from the experts.  Later I will also offer my personal comments about some of these and other films.
1- Lawrence of Arabia - This one stars the great Peter O'Toole in a film that I really never watched completely.  So I gues it is about time for me to give it another turn.
2- Ben Hur … (6 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/10/2009 - 02/10/09 09:34 AM
What kind of Real Estate Market Can We Expect this Spring (2009) in Ocean City, New Jersey?
 
Real Estate Markets across the country are all asking that same question.  One very quick response would be to have each of us carefully review and analyze our present market.  In the case of Ocean City, New Jersey we had a slower Fall Market with the national economic and financial news that just caused most of us to slow down or stop.  For us, that was followed by two holiday months (November and December) and the two slow winter months (the beginning of … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/9/2009 - 02/09/09 02:41 PM
Our Mission Statement ... French Real Estate, Inc. (Ocean City, New Jersey)
 
A few years ago (maybe 7-8 years) several members of our staff got together to write a "mission statement" for our agency, French Real Estate, Inc.  Clearly, I think we did a good job (note the "we," as I was a part of the writing team).  We tried to differentiate ourselves because indeed each and every real estate office in Ocean City, New Jersey has its own personality.  Obviously, all of the participating real estate agents in each agency also add to that evolving process of shaping and … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/7/2009 - 02/07/09 03:04 PM
Reading Presidential Biographies
 
During these hectic times, when the national economy seems in-and-out of the tank, and the news when bad seems a bit positive compared with other stuff; it's often when I move from reading fiction to non-fiction ... usually picking up one or two presidential biographies.  A few years ago I decided to read at least one, or two, of them each year ... going from John Adams to Washington to Eisenhower to Truman.  My order means less than when a new, well received biography arrives in the Ocean City Library.
American Lion:  Andrew Jackson in the White … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/7/2009 - 02/07/09 02:28 PM
Summer Rental  Rates ... 2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey
 
Let's look at the top ten rental weeks for 2009:
 
June 27-July4                                        August 1-8
July 4-July 11                                        August 8-15
July 11-July 18                                                   August 15-22
July 18-July 25                                                   August 22-29
July 25-August 1                                   August 29-September 5
 
Memorial Day (May 25th) kicks off the Summer Season here in Ocean City, New Jersey and Labor Day (Sept 7th) closes the Summer Season ... but that is too brief an overview.  In reality, the weeks of May before Memorial Day are part of the "Spring Shoulder Season;" and although the rental aspect … (2 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/6/2009 - 02/06/09 02:17 PM
OPEN HOUSE - this Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (February 7th & 8th) in Ocean City, NJ
 
We have three "open house" properties this weekend in Ocean City, New Jersey ... all in the Northend and Gardens sections of the island.
 
Take the Exit 30 off the Garden State Parkway, cross the new causeway into Ocean City ... you are now on 9th Street.  Continue to the last left turn (Atlantic Avenue) ... go north until you get to Fourth Street, turn right for 818 Fourth Street - a single family listed at $742,500 - … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/6/2009 - 02/06/09 01:57 PM
A Listing Philosophy ... 
 
Over many years I developed my own ideas about "the listing process.  Why?  Because our smaller interactive office allows for a great deal of "give-and-take," but not nearly as much office detail and structure.  It's simply very easy to meet-and-talk with many agents.  But in such an environment, there was not as much agency instruction, education, and foundation-building. 
That type of assistance would certainly help, but many of us (including myself) arrived here with additional "real world" experience ... surely "people skills," maybe some writing skills, certainly organization skills, and in my paritcular case … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/6/2009 - 02/06/09 10:24 AM
Western Movies ... Part 2
Following up my recent posting on "western films" ... the top ten as picked by the experts, here are my favorites for your review. 
I like "High Noon" from the top ten in the previous posting.  Gary Cooper is the town leader that the town no longer wants, but continues to need.  The classic western with the good guy all alone.  Grace Kelly is his Quaker wife who wants him to no longer be the sheriff, and he is willing to leave.  But the bad guys are coming back to town.  A great character actor, … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/5/2009 - 02/05/09 03:17 PM
Northend Sale Listing at 354 Asbury Avenue 2nd Floor
 
So you have decided to consider the purchase of a shore property in Ocean City, New Jersey.  You have gone to a number of web-sites, reviewed the possible options, considered locations, arrived at a particualr price point ... so you are ready to go.  Great!  Plan to make a "Valentine's Day" Visit (Saturday, February 14th) to Ocean City, New Jersey ... "OPEN HOUSE" from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  This will be my location on "Saturday Only."
Listed at $497,500, this second floor 3BR/2BA two-year old new construction condominium is looking … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/5/2009 - 02/05/09 11:14 AM
What's that Song about the "Western Movies?"
 
I'm a movie fan, a film buff ... I love to recommend films that I often rate (4-great, 3-good, 2-average, 1-poor & I often add a ".5" to gain variation).  I did that for my high school faculty when I was a building principal; did it now in my on-line newsletter (BEACH NOTES) for Buyers and Owners ... so I thought I'd do a blog posting every so often.  First of all, I now only go to the "real movie theatre" (but these long thin places aren't exactly the real thing anymore).  … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/5/2009 - 02/05/09 09:24 AM
I just got a New Listing!
 
Now many agents get new listings all the time ... what's important is how we do it, and what we do with it.  And it's not always a one, two, three arrangement.  Often it involves an initial listing meeting where the agent and the Owner/Seller meet and talk about it.
Let's add one more important aspect right away.  In the present economic situation across the country, it is not as easy to market and sell a property anywhere.  Obviously, some parts of the country are in better housing shape than others.  A "resort market" … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/4/2009 - 02/04/09 01:09 PM
Rental Activity in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
"They're Back!  No, it's not another science fiction film ... and they aren't really back ... but they will be back for "SUMMER 2009" ... where?  All over the beach and boardwalk and downtown Ocean City, New Jersey.  The "regulars" are returning - rental tenants who usually start booking from September through November have joined my January and February "regulars" ... it's summer rental time in Ocean City, New Jersey again.
You won't know it by the traffic in the streets ... it's web-site hits at www.FrenchRentals.com; it's emails arriving at Dustin@BeachNotes.net; it's … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES from Dustin A. Peters, Ocean City, NJ ... 2/4/2009 - 02/04/09 11:04 AM
A Couple of Days Off the Island ... But we're Back!
 
So I had to take my wife, Leslie, back to Pennsylvania for some difficult oral surgery.  We're back ... a long four hour drive in major Philadlephia traffic and snow avoidance all the way.  Actually it could have been worse ... we hit the traffic, but missed the snow.  She's relaxing, and I'm back at work.  Crossing the Causeway last evening around 7PM, I had that same old feeling ... back on "island time" again.
Spending a couple of days in the "real world" is always an adjustment after … (2 comments)