BEACH NOTES ... 11/29/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/29/09 01:25 PM
Summer Rentals In the Northend & Gardens in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
We are closing in on the end of the calendar year, but we are only 175 away from Memorial Day ... and the start of the 2010 Summer Rental Season.  That's right here in Ocean City, New Jersey ... a short half hour from the casinos in Atlantic City, within another 30-40 minutes of Cape May, and a short hop from almost anywhere in South Jersey.
 
Check out our summer rental web-site at www.FrenchRentals.com ... you can review a wide variety of rental locations including single … (2 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/28/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/28/09 01:06 PM
2009 Beaujolais Nouveau ... arrives in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
If you happen to be a wine drinker, you probably know about "Beaujolais Nouveau;" and for those who do not ... this is the first wine from the gathering of the grapes in France at the end of the growing season.  The last three years have been good in terms of taste:  just-picked fruit that is food-friendly.  The price of these bottles range from about $8 to $14 with a number of choices. 
Because they always come out at this time of year, right before Thanksgiving, many choose to … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/28/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/28/09 09:26 AM
UP TIME ... at French Real Estate in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
I'm a sales and rental real estate agent in Ocean City, New Jersey in the northern part of the island ... that area identified on the maps as "the Northend" and "the Gardens."  Let me tell you just a little more about this interesting section of Ocean City (NJ) ... it starts at Sixth Street and runs to the end of the island where you leave via the Longport Bridge.  It is one of the widest part of the island which means you have Bay Avenue on the … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/27/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/27/09 02:19 PM
The Day after Thanksgiving ... A Great Time to Buy a Property ... in Ocean City, NJ  08226
 
The real estate market slowed down quite a bit during the "fall buying period.  And we now find ourselves in the post-buying period leading into the December holidays.  So you may ask:  "when is the best time to buy?"  Mostly, if you come down to Ocean City, New Jersey right now from the close of the Thanksgiving weekend to the middle-to-late February; you are in one of the very "great times to buy."  Why?  No competition out there during this time frame.
… (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/23/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/23/09 08:49 AM
Listing Log Update ... from Ocean City, New Jersey
 
For years I have used the wording, Listing Log Update as the message sent to my owners who have listed property with me.  I have found the wording to be useful and my format tends to provide them with a quite regular review of showings, property adjustments in the same location and price range, etc. 
Generally, I have drafted a full page regarding the present real estate market here in Ocean City, sometimes going into detail on sale listings and/or recent sold/pending property or even sold  property to a certain … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/19/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/19/09 01:07 PM
LOOKING BACK ... LOOKING FORWARD ... from Ocean City, New Jersey
 
Part 4
 
During the last three postings we reviewed what has been happening to real estate in Ocean City in 2009.  We looked back to past year stats, and we also highlighted the unique spring and fall buying periods in Ocean City's schedule with the summer rental season.
We will now look at some obstacles of a general and particular nature to help us think about the next buying period.  Mortgage rates and the process of obtaining a mortgage are two factors that must be carefully considered here.  … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/18/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/18/09 02:25 PM
LOOKING BACK ... LOOKING FORWARD from Ocean City, New Jersey
 
Part 3 ... The first two parts reviewed my reasoning for thinking about real estate by going back into past years and also by planning ahead for the next year.  I also covered some of the recent 10-year "sold property" history here in Ocean City, New Jersey.
 
Let's take a look forward into 2010.  In Ocean City we have returned to a two-part focus in terms of sales ... the spring buying period which covers late February through early June ... our most extensive sales effort of the year, … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/17/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/17/09 11:00 AM
LOKING BACK ... LOOKING FORWARD ... from Ocean City, New Jersey
In Part 1 (11/16/2009) I mentioned that at this time of year I start to analyze 2009 by reflecting back and forward as well.  I also talked about looking at real estate from a local perspective even though national economic news can impact on all areas as it has done since October, 2008.  I also mentioned that many people tend to generalize real estate in terms of a national perspective instead of so many smaller units like our own area, Ocean City (NJ).
Part 2
 
In order to understand … (1 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/16/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/16/09 09:24 AM
LOOKING BACK ... LOOKING FORWARD ... from Ocean City, New Jersey
Part 1
 
About this time during the calendar year in a resort community like Ocean City, even though the "Indian Summer" that often arrives in late September or early October has arrived later in November this year, I find myself thinking about the business year in real estate:  how I have done, the agency, and the overall stats across our barrier island.  I also begin to think about the coming year as well:  will it be the same, better, worse.  As I do this, I also reflect on the … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/14/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/14/09 08:58 AM
Resort Real Estate and the differences from "real world" real estate ... in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
We "resort realtors" know we're a bit different ... with many of us along the coastal locations next to oceans, or in the mountains at the ski areas, or along lake locations all over the place, or in other warm and cold areas that tend to attract seasonal people.  Wherever the resort, you will find resort realtors.  And there is an obvious difference in what they do, where they do it, etc.
This is particularly true in "South Jersey coastal communities along the … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/12/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/12/09 08:57 AM
Rain, Wind, High Waves, Shore Erosion ... in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
It's that time of year where a spin-off of the Gulf storm heads up the coast providing South Jersey with another weather incident.  Now when you come from northern Lancaster County in 3-Mile Island territory you always carefully try to understand the meaning of "incident."  In our case, it may not be "as serious, but it can be "very serious."  Overall, weather is always the critical ingredient on a barrier island. 
So my first recommendation for potential buyers here in Ocean City, New Jersey would be to … (5 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/11/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/11/09 09:43 AM
2010 Rentals in the Northend & Gardens ... Ocean City, New Jersey
 
The rental process in a resort community such as Ocean City, New Jersey is a continuing one throughout the calendar year.  So from about Labor Day each calendar year we have two different years in action ... the concluding shoulder season and holiday periods in the present year as well as the beginning of summer rentals in the next year.
Part of the rental process during the late summer months involves obtaining "rental rates" from owners for the next calendar year.  Mostly, we find that the rental properties … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/7/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/07/09 03:14 PM
Condominium Sale Listings in the Northend and Gardens in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
As of this posting, we find 139 of the 718 total condominium sale listings throughout Ocean City in the Northend and Gardens.  That represents about 19% of the listings in our particular area from "north of Sixth Street to the end of the island.
It certainly represents quite a diverse grouping of condo listings ... although one will not find a single efficiency and only five 1BR units in the mix.  Let's review the numbers in more detail:  3 under $200,000, 9 more under $300,000, and 13 … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/6/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/06/09 01:05 PM
Looking for a Single Family in the Northend or Gardens ... in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
If you are a dedicated reading of my blog postings, you are truly an amazing person.  Thank you.  But continuing on, you might realize that I have been talking "a bit de'negative" in my last few postings.  I've been saying that it is not the end of the "South Jersey Shore Revival," but it does appear to be knocking off a bit early here in November, even before Thanksgiving.  I'm no longer going to try to explain it ... why ... I have no … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/6/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/06/09 09:03 AM
Sale Listings in Ocean City, New Jersey
 
In our first full week of November, 2009 we find the following number of sale listings:  (1) Throughout Ocean City - 1,034 listings ... (Singles) - 244, (Multi-Units) - 72, (Condominiums) - 718.  Looking back for a three year period, we find the following:  in 2008 - 1,006 sale listings, in 2007 - 1,156 sale listings, and in 2006 - 1,389 sale listings.  Clearly, the 2008 and 2009 years have a similar number as compared to the 2006 and 2007 years.  Having a lower sale listing inventory is certainly a positive step ... … (0 comments)

BEACH NOTES ... 11/5/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/05/09 03:29 PM
Must Make a Decision on a new "Smart Phone" ... need some assistance ... from Ocean City, New Jersey
 
I've been a "Palm Pilot" guy for some time ... starting out with the palm as a unit for contacts and calendar items in the beginning, later with the first palm phone moving into that with internet use as well.  I'm now wrapping up my second year with the "Treo." 
There is a new Palm phone ... the "Prelude," I think; but Verizon has not brought it out on the market as yet.  I've looked at some of the Blackberry … (0 comments)

Beach Notes ... 11/4/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey - 11/04/09 11:10 AM
Fall Buying Period ... About one month remaining ... Ocean City, New Jersey
 
The countdown continues here in Ocean City, New Jersey ... about "26" days to go until the end of the month of November, 2009 ... that's the unofficial end of the fall buying period here in Ocean City, New Jersey.  It remains a good time to be looking for resort property ... second homes or investment property.  Mortgage rates remain quite low ... in many cases:  below five (5%) per cent.  The inventory is fairly stable.  And right now, the competition with other buyers is in your … (2 comments)