2021:

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

This Weeks News 1/28/2021

Avalon Elementary School 8th grader Cynthia Sakoulas won the annual beach tag art contest, and her artwork will appear on Avalon's 2021 season beach tag. Congratulations, Cynthia!
 
INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY DREDGING CONTINUES: The Army Corps of Engineers announced that Barnegat Bay Dredging Company will begin dredging the ICW between buoys 419 and 421, near Nummy Island, behind Stone Harbor. That work is set to begin this week, and dredge material will be pumped to Great Flats where it will become additional habitat for nesting birds. That work will continue for two weeks. Afterward the dredge will move to the area between channel markers 386 and 388 west of Avalon, pumping dredge material to Sturgeon Island, continuing a marsh restoration and enhancement project there. That work will last about 4 weeks.
 
MORE SNOWY OWLS have been seen on and around local beaches in recent weeks. The beautiful owls are mostly white with brown markings, and are native to the arctic, where they breed. As with other wildlife, authorities caution that photos should be taken from a distance so as not to stress the owls by moving too close.
 
THE VARANGER, a Norwegian oil tanker, was torpedoed by a German submarine about 28 miles off the South Jersey coast according to a recent article at SeaIsleNews.com. The anniversary of the January 25, 1942 sinking of the Varanger passed earlier this week. Mike Monichetti, a Sea Isle local and owner of Mike's Seafood, recalls his uncle, John Monichetti, telling him how he and his grandfather, Dewey Monichetti, spotted the fire and smoke after the Varanger was struck by the torpedo. The pair were out fishing, but immediately proceeded toward the sinking tanker, and towed its lifeboats, loaded with crewmembers, back to Sea Isle. Read the fascinating account here: THE DAY SEA ISLE MADE INTERNATIONAL NEWS. By the way, if you're an offshore fisherman, you may know the Varanger by a different name: the "28-Mile Wreck" is a well-known fishing destination today.
  
CURIOUS ABOUT THE WIND FARM that will be built about 15 miles off Atlantic City, but couldn't make the earlier informational meetings? If so, you can view all kinds of information about the Ocean Wind project, and even see renderings of what the wind farm will look like from numerous points along the beach. Avalon's 9th Street jetty will be about 18 miles from the nearest turbine, while Stone Harbor's beaches will be about 21 miles from the nearest turbine. In both cases, the turbines will be visible just above the horizon on clear days.  To view the project, click here: OCEAN WIND PROJECT. To view the renderings, select presentation "A," and then advance to 20:00 for the view from Avalon; the Stone Harbor view follows shortly thereafter. As more wind farms are proposed and discussed, concerns about shipping & navigation, commercial & recreational fishing, birds & environmental impact, and their visibility from shore have brought a variety of constituencies into the conversation.
 
IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A VACATION RENTAL, now is the time! Rentals are booking quickly, so call or email me to get started. If you're a property owner, you might be pleasantly surprised at what your property can generate in rentals. Did you know that you can rent out your property up to two weeks tax free? If you'd like to cover some expenses, or just put a little extra cash in your pocket, please call or email me!

 

This Weeks News 1/21/2021

Liz Cartwright saw this seal while walking on Avalon's beach last week. Thanks for sharing, Liz!
 
RECORD TOURISM NUMBERS were achieved in Cape May County in September and October, according to an article in the Press of Atlantic City this past weekend. After a stunning drop in occupancy tax revenue during the spring and early summer months, September figures were up by 17.3% and October figures were up by 6.5%. Occupancy tax collections help measure overnight stays in hotels. Vacation rentals in privately owned properties are not included, but those numbers have been widely reported to have been strong from July through October.
 
MARKET STATS: The number of contracts written, and the number of closings, were both up in December 2020 compared to a year ago. The number of active listings declined further, as the median sale price rose to $2,470,000. For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report below.
   


VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
  
SEALS have made appearances on our beaches in recent weeks, to the delight of those that spot them while walking on the beach. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center urges those who see the creatures not to approach too closely, as it could cause stress to the animals, because they may be seeking rest after a long journey. Watch from a distance with binoculars, and take pictures with a telephoto lens. If you post photos, the MMSC recommends not posting the animal's location, to prevent crowds from forming.  
 
STONE HARBOR BEACH REPORT: Stone Harbor has released its annual report on the condition of its beaches. Based on surveys completed in October, the 21-page report details the movement of sand since the replenishment effort that took place in 2017, and shows the profiles of numerous beaches year-by-year. View the beach report:

2020 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE MUNICIPAL BEACHES FOR THE BOROUGH OF STONE HARBOR, CAPE MAY COUNTY, NEW JERSEY (PDF)
 
THE CAPE MAY BUBBLE: Ever heard the term? It's often used to describe weather patterns over Cape May County that differ from the rest of South Jersey (such as rain in Cape May County while the rest of South Jersey gets snow.) Meteorologist Joe Martucci will host a Facebook Live presentation on February 6th at 10am titled The Cape May Bubble--Is It For Real? Martucci says he'll show us what's fact, what's fiction, and how the area's meteorology works. Find Joe Martucci's event page here:
 
METEOROLOGIST JOE MARTUCCI - EVENTS
(There's a $3.99 fee to view the February 6th presentation.)
 
IT'S COLD NOW...but in four short months Memorial Day, and the rest of the summer season, will be just around the corner! Whether you need to plan a week's vacation, or arrange for a permanent stay here at the beach, now is the time! Call or email me so we can get started!

 

This Weeks News 1/14/2021

On this breezy, late fall day the beach was empty--but full of beauty!
 
MORE ON THE 2021 MARKET OUTLOOK: While 2020 was an incredibly challenging year, real estate turned out to be a bright spot. Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, homeownership rates rose to 67.4% in the third quarter, up from 64.8% the same period in 2019. In our local area, demand for vacation homes within easy driving distance helped fuel the Avalon-Stone Harbor market. The same held true with regard to vacation rentals--after initial restrictions eased, the rental market boomed, with weekly vacation rentals lasting well beyond the traditional Labor Day end of the summer season.
 
The fundamentals are in place for a continued strong housing market in 2021, particularly with expectations that mortgage rates will remain around 3%. Here are a few more of our predictions for the year ahead:

• Home prices will rise. The law of supply and demand will drive prices higher, with 5% to 6% increases predicted on average.
   
• Affordability will remain mostly positive. Low mortgage rates will offset rising prices, increasing the number of households who can afford to buy a home.
   
• Inventory challenges will continue. While builders are expected to construct homes at a faster pace in 2021, there’s still a gap between demand and supply for new and existing homes.
   
• Increased teleworking will influence housing. People will continue to work from home, affecting where they’re shopping for homes and what they’re looking for in those properties.
   
• Vacation home markets will stay hot. In 2020, homeowners with rising equity and investors with high stock market profits drove a spike in demand for homes in coastal markets, which will continue next year.
   
• Technology remains critical. Virtual tours, remote closings and video conferencing kept real estate moving in 2020, and virtual buying and selling will continue to lead the way in 2021.

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, rent, or invest in real estate in 2021, I can help! Let me put my expertise to work for you!
 
REMEMBER JACK'S PLACE? The old Avalon favorite stood at 36th Street and Ocean Drive for years, before meeting its demise a couple of years ago. Prior to Jack's, The Black Eagle and Gallagher's Pub stood in the same spot. Now you can reminisce about all three as you take a virtual tour of the Avalon History Museum's new display, dedicated to the three establishments. The virtual tour takes place Thursday, January 21st at 6pm. Sign up here: 

AVALON FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY - VIRTUAL EXHIBIT OPENING: LAST CALL AT 36TH AND OCEAN
 
ATLANTIC BRANT, the maritime geese often seen in New Jersey, will be tagged at Stone Harbor's 80th Street recreation field. Cannon nets will be used to temporarily capture the birds, and although they sound like gunshots, there is no danger to the birds or to the public. In addition to leg bands, some brant will be fitted with solar powered GPS units to record their migratory track between coastal locations in New Jersey and New York, and their breeding area in the Canadian Arctic. This fascinating video describes the tagging process as well as the migration of the brant:
 
NJ DEP ATLANTIC BRANT STUDY (YOUTUBE)
 
RIPARIAN CLAIMS are the little-known claims that can affect land that is, or was, flowed by tidal water. In coastal areas, it's not unusual for riparian claims to affect properties on or near the bay, but they can even affect land-locked properties blocks away from current waterways if they were built where a tidal stream once used to flow, or if tidal areas were filled in decades ago. Riparian claims are generally settled with the State of New Jersey, but often after lengthy delays. Now, a petition is circulating seeking to limit the claim process to 90 days--much shorter than the one- to two-year process currently in place. The Cape May County Herald recently ran a great article on the subject, here: PETITION SEEKS TO SPEED RIPARIAN PROCESS. If you have a riparian claim on your property (or if you're not certain that you don't have one) please contact me. I can put you in touch with experts in the title, survey, and legal fields who can help you with the situation.
 
AVALON COMMUNITY HALL is currently being used as a vaccination center for health care workers and first responders. Vaccinations are administered by the Cape May County Department of Health, following state guidelines. Eventually Community Hall is likely to be used as a vaccination clinic for the general public.
 
PLEASE FORWARD my newsletter to someone who loves Avalon & Stone Harbor as much as you do! To subscribe, please send me an email! (Your email address will not be shared or sold, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

 

This Weeks News 1/7/2021

VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
  
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you & yours the very best for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2021!
 
MARKET STATS: Strong purchase demand continued through the fall months, with November 2020 seeing a 30% increase in the number of units sold compared to a year ago.  For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report above.
 
MARKET OUTLOOK: As we head into 2021, a fast start seems likely for the local real estate market. November statistics put new purchase contracts at a record high nationwide, according to the Wall Street Journal (December 31, 2020.) Purchase demand paused briefly for the holidays, while interest rates remain near historic lows, with 30-year mortgage rates available well under 3%. Along with a pent-up desire to travel and vacation near home, both the sale market and vacation rental market appear to be poised for another strong year.
 
REPURPOSE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE: A limited number of Christmas trees are accepted by the Cape May County Zoo for use in animal habitats. The trees provide windbreaks and shelter from the cold, and even serve as food for camels and goats. They're especially popular among lions, who pick them up and carry them around, according to the zoo! Trees must be free of ornaments and other items, and can be dropped off outside the zoo in a specially marked area, until the zoo reaches capacity.
 
THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER responded to 160 strandings in 2020, including 71 seals, 30 dolphins, 12 whales, and 41 sea turtles. Since 1978 the MMSC has responded to more than 5,500 strandings up and down the coast, and does extensive work to rehabilitate sick and injured animals whenever possible. To learn more about the Marine Mammal Stranding Center visit WWW.MMSC.ORG. While there, consider making a donation by clicking the "Donate" button.
 
VACATION RENTAL GUIDE: 2021 rental bookings are well underway--now is the time to determine your vacation dates and select a property. We've got something for every budget! Need some inspiration? Browse my 2021 Vacation Rental Guide below. When you're ready to book a property call or email me!

2021 LONG AND FOSTER AVALON AND STONE HARBOR, NJ RENTAL GUIDE