A variety of plants grow wild in the dunes by the beach. We may not even notice the vegetation until there are colorful blooms! As you walk to the beach, take note of the yellow flowers on the wild cactus…and how about this beauty on a Stone Harbor beach path!
Participate, volunteer, or cheer from the sidelines!
View the 2023 events on the TK Charities web site.
Press release from The Avalon Museum:
Get a flair for Olde Avalon. The Avalon Historical Societies sixteenth annual Olde House Tour will be
held Friday, June 23 from 1 to 4 p.m . This is an exceptional walking tour that shows early Avalon homes
that the owners have taken great pride in preserving to meet their needs. The society hopes to raise the
consciousness of others in preserving these lovely homes that are so much a part of the island’s history.
This summer, four houses will be featured dating from 1904 thru 1929, and an 1892 church will be
opened. See how these early homes are brought into the twenty-first century, with their unique
transformations. The charming features of these homes will not be found in the houses being built
today. Chair Rose Marie Chew refers to early homes as the “Treasures of Avalonâ€, and the homeowners
are happy to own one of them. For tickets/information call the History Center at 609-967-0090, or stop
in at the History Center at 215 – 39th Street in Avalon.
With our barrier island location, residents and visitors of Avalon and Stone Harbor are accustomed to superior air quality. Typically, we can smell the ocean from blocks away!
Unfortunately, the wildfire smoke is hanging overhead- even at the beach.
American oyster catcher is not on the endangered list…yet she is enjoying the protected area!
Her loyal mate has been guarding nearby for the past few days, too.
Occasionally, rental property owners ask why I include pictures of stairs on our website.
Because the majority of tenants are making their selections online (in person visits prior to renting are rare these days), the details are helpful in determining if a home will be suitable for their family.
Can they gate off the stairs for the safety of young children?
Will a family member with limited mobility be able to navigate the entrance, and interior spaces?
Our beach homes tend to be elevated off the ground (and multi-level) so access is a legitimate concern.
My familiarity with our inventory helps too-I can share my perspective based on their specific needs.
Don’t forget to purchase your seasonal beach tags by Wednesday May 31st to take advantage of the pre-season discounted rate.
Every year, Memorial Day weekend arrives “suddenly”. Spring weather at the shore can be iffy- so it’s hard to think about summer while still turning on the heat 😉
Yet here we are…days away from the official start of summer.
Our vacation rental business is quieter compared to recent years- with inventory available for prime weeks. We are counting on the last minute planners to help fill the properties!
This situation is not unique to Avalon and Stone Harbor, or just Jersey shore communities. Personally, we are experiencing similar vacancies with our South Carolina rental condo. And the agency there is allowing bookings for less than one week (unheard of for July and August). I also talked with a friend who owns a beach house in North Carolina- same issue with open weeks.
After 40+ years of handling summer rentals, I know that change is inevitable…and we will adapt!
Happy summer!
Additional Thoughts on Summer Rentals
My observations regarding the status of our vacation rental season:
In the fall of 2022, we were busy confirming the 2023 reservations for repeat tenants. These are the families who return year after year (often to the same home) and are not hesitant about planning a full year in advance.
For many tenants, it’s more practical to commit to vacation dates after discussing with family members over the holidays. In January, we expect rental inquiries to ramp up to fill in our open weeks.
Unfortunately, this year was different.
After a few years of travel restrictions, summer vacations can now be defined with a broader view.
So is this a blip? Probably. The nostalgia of a traditional beach vacation remains strong.
Yet property owners should be aware that pricing is a factor with vacation decisions. Tenants expect value for their hard earned dollar. We will face that head on as we discuss rates for 2024.
And one last note: the rental market is rarely in sync with the sale market. It’s 2 different business models. There have been years when rental rates remained steady, while property values climbed considerably.
I’ve been fortunate to handle Avalon and Stone Harbor vacation rentals for 40+ years. As always, we will adapt and move forward together.