BEACH NOTES ... 9/29/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/29/09 12:04 PM
The Real Estate Market in Ocean City
 
During my 17 plus years in real estate in Ocean City, I've experienced "ups and downs" in our market, and the larger national market.  Although by national market, I reflect on the total national economic situation  ... not a national real estate market.  Indeed, I have known two real estate markets quite well ... the Lancaster County (PA) one as an owner and resident for many years ... and the Ocean City (NJ) one as an owner, resident, and real estate agent.  Every real estate market is local ... you can identify local … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/26/2009 - 09/24/09 01:07 PM
The Fall Season in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
I'm in the process of changing just a small part of my summer clothing in my closet.  Yes, I'm still in shorts ... since sometime in May, yes I'll still be in them into late October.
But I've hung my trousers and slacks on hangers again.  I've put away my Caribbean shirts for the year unless I get an opportunity for a winter cruise.  But all my short sleeve polios stay on hangers since they will now be found under short or long sleave sweaters as colder mornings arrive.  I have my … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/26/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/24/09 12:49 PM
All About Parking in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
Reading The Sandpaper, one of the best local weeklys here in Ocean City, New Jersey for the four or five months of the summer season, I came across a story:  "For this Writer, it's all about Parking.
I can certainly identify with this ... and as the summer season closes out and the locals get all their parking back, it is indeed a delight.
Chris Lowe, the writer, goes on to say:  "I hate to see summer go ... But when summer goes away at the Jersey Shore, there is one … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/10/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/10/09 03:10 PM
New Condominium Listing  in the Northend ... 835 Park Place in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
Just listed for sale ... 835 Park Place 2nd & 3rd Floor
 
"The Northend 2nd Floor Condominium on the "800" long beachblock that you always wanted, but could never find!!!"  This 5BR/3BA second and third floor unit on a 40x100 foot lot is in pristine condition ... and "not your ordinary condo."  NEVER RENTED and BUILT WITH EXTRAS FOR THIS OWNER ... it is listed at $990,000.
Now back to "the extras:"  large "great room" with gas fireplace and opening to a large … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... September 9, 2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/09/09 01:10 PM
09/09/09 everywhere today including Ocean City, New Jersey
 
There's always magic in numbers ... and even an ex-history teacher can appreciate that.  I've dealt in numbers throughout my early teaching career (important dates in history), and later in my years as a high school principal (enrollment, class sizes, won-loss stats, etc.), and again in my second career in real estate for the past 17 years (even looking at 32 years in public education, 17 of those as a high school principal, now 17 years in real estate, and how about this one:  49 years of full time employment.  I can … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/6/2009 .e .. Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/06/09 10:49 AM
The "SingleFamily" Property Category in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
With Labor Day near, it is time to turn our attention to the "FALL BUYING PERIOD" which kicks off right after that date and runs through the end of November.  Let look at the "single family" property listings right off the bat:  we find 227 sale properties listed throughout Ocean City with a median price range of $899,900 and an average price range of $1,357,545, with 81 of the 227 single family listings in the Northend and Gardens sections of Ocean City.
My specific focus will be in the Northend and … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/4/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/04/09 12:46 PM
"Affordable Island Living ... in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
I just glanced at The Wall Street Journal (September 4, 2009) ... the "Relative Values" section entitled "Affordable Island Living."  The first line reads:  "Beach homes that don't break the bank."  They have included three locations:  Santa Catalina Island, California ... $699,000, a 2BR/2BA condominium in Avalon with two balconies, private deck, shared pool, 18-hole putting green, and croquet court and golf-cart parking ... 22miles off the coast of Los Angeles with ferry running every two hours; Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic ... $630,000, a 2,259 square foot contemporary villa with 3BR/4BA … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/3/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/03/09 02:11 PM
A Bicycle Built for Two ... in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
So a realtor can accomplish a lot in a given day!  Here I was wrapping up some notes from a listing meeting with an Owner who will be leaving the country for several weeks in about two weeks.  We spent about an hour covering all details and getting things ready so that the Owner could leave the property and Ocean City (NJ) in peace knowing full well that everything would be all right.
As we wrapped things up, he said:  "I'll be having a garage sale over the weekend."  … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/2/2009 ... Ocean City, NJ - 09/02/09 12:54 PM
2009 Rental Season Analysis ... Northend/Gardens Only in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
This continues from the last blog posting which highlighted the twelve summer weeks from 6/20/2009 through 9/12/2009.  Please reference that blog if you have not read it earlier.
 
This was an unusual rental season in that July 4th fell on a Saturday "change-over day" and Labor Day was on September 7th, the latest possible date for the first Monday in September.  The Labor Day date, in particular, probably had the most impact on the summer rental period in 2009.
Because we had so many rental tenants rent … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/1/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/01/09 03:43 PM
2009 Summer Rental Update ... Northend/Gardens Only (Ocean City, New Jersey)
 
French Real Estate, Inc. rents predominantly in the Northend and Gardens ... almost nothing south of 6th Street.  This update is designed to provide Owners, Rental Tenants, and Others an analysis of how the season went in terms of the best rental weeks as well as other details for the 2009 season.
Here is a fast rrundown for the "top 12 weeks of the Summer, 2009:"
8/1 - 8/8/2009        1st Place - Most Rented Week           These 2 weeks were very close in totals ...
8/8 - 8/15/2009      2nd Place                                                 … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/1/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/01/09 10:10 AM
It's the 1st Day of September, 2009
 
The resort community of Ocean City has six more days to go ... that's until Labor Day.  So we have a fairly slow week of rentals with quite a big shore party this weekend.  They start to return on Friday (all day long).  The second home owners, friends, their children (school and college types), and others complete the-end-of-the-summer ritual,"Labor Day Weekend."
Before I was living full time here in Ocean City (NJ), and still working in the "real world;" I was one of those second home owners wrapping up the end of the … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 9/1/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 09/01/09 09:35 AM
313 Gull Road ... new sale listing in the GARDENS ... in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
JUST LISTED ... a new single family on an "88x100" foot lot, one of the larger parcels of land in the Gardens, that area north of North Street to the end of the island at the Longport Bridge.
A classic two-story house completely renovated plus a new master bedroom/family room addition ... this is the one in which to measure all the other Gardens sale listings.  This "4BR/3.5BA starts with a large front porch, a two-car garage and large driveway in the front.  Take … (0 comments)