Ann Delaney Beach Blog

Month: December 2008

  • Trump Tower in Avalon?

    avawatertower.jpg  I was driving north along Dune Drive this morning, and as I approached downtown, the sun was shining on a huge object in the distance.  Did I miss something?  Was Donald Trump granted permission to build a high rise in Avalon?

    Thankfully- no.  I had forgotton about the restoration project of the 13th Street water tower.  The tent protects the neighboring homes during the sandblasting and painting process. 

    For more information, check out the December news on the Borough of Avalon web site:

    http://www.avalonboro.org/news/dec-08/news-dec.html

  • Sunday Sights

    renovation.jpg  A sign of the times:  a 1980’s vintage contemporary home undergoing a complete renovation.  In recent years, this type of home was considered an official “tear down”.  Now, a buyer is just as likely to renovate rather than demolish and build new.

    This change of attitude does not add to the price of the property (more determined by the value of the land), however a structure in good condition is easier to sell because it offers a buyer more options.

  • Expectations for 2009?

    Lower interest rates (we are already seeing 30 year fixed rates around 5%)…a renewed sense of hope…more cautious consumers demanding good value…and, a focus on a healthier and “green” environment (the beach is a perfect fit there!).

    I have great confidence in the long term value of real estate ownership- especially in prime “location, location, locations”.  This confidence is based on my experience of selling seashore properties full time for almost (gulp) 30 years…as well as personal ownership.  It’s an amazing place to live…

  • Christmas Decor at the Shore

    santaboat.jpg  The picture is actually from Florida…but it works for the Jersey Shore, too!

  • Back to Reality

    A few observations from my vacation time in Florida:  the real estate market troubles are more obvious in southwest Florida than at the New Jersey shore- probably due to the vast variety of housing options available.  Even saw a few homes boarded up…sad.  Commercial real estate is also suffering- a fair amount of retail store fronts empty and some chain restaurants and super markets have closed. 

    In contrast, the beautiful high end shopping and dining districts were busy.  There were many special holiday events scheduled in those areas- a smart move by the business community to attract customers. 

    Lower interest rates and the start of a new year are a source of hope for the many businesses dependant on the real estate industry. 

  • Crashing Waves- Crashing Computers

    The e-mail program in my office computer suddenly froze last week (it really wasn’t THAT cold at the shore).  No worries- the same data is stored in my smart phone.  But when the smart phone gets wet while kayaking in Florida, the back up system is no longer in place.  I feel so lost without easy access to technology. 

           naples.jpg    Thankfully, I have a few more days in the warm Florida sun to ease the pain  :)   Hope to be back on line later this week…