Thankfully, I was out early this morning for my beach walk.  And, just in time for a beautiful sunrise 🙂
Within a few hours, the view dramatically changed as the heavy rain arrived. Dreary day…
By the way, I will be out of the office for a few days.  If you need to reach me, the best is e-mail ann@anndelaney.com   Back in on Monday 3/5.
I continue to be impressed with the market stats. Consistent improvement month after month.
In the past 30 days, a total of 19 properties sold and settled in Avalon and Stone Harbor, NJ.
Condo/Townhouse Units:Â Â 9 sold, with a median selling price of $530,000.
Single Family Homes:Â 8 sold, with a median selling price of $1,625,000.
Commercial: 2 sold (the Avalon Anchorage Marina on 21st Street and the bay side building where Polly’s Place is located on 97th Street). A median selling price of $1,933,000.
In addition, there are 48 properties “Under Contract” with settlement scheduled to occur in the near future. The median listing price for those sale pending is $844,500 (a mix of condos/townhomes and single family homes).
P.S. I revised the numbers after new postings on our MLS- 2 solds and 1 under contract! Current as of 5pm on 2/27/12.
If you are interested in a shore purchase, or selling your current island home, I appreciate the opportunity to help!  ann@anndelaney.com
The Cape May County Park and Zoo is a popular family destination- located just 10 minutes inland from Avalon / Stone Harbor. AND, the facilities are open year round.
We walked through the park and zoo last week on a day too windy for the beach. No crowds and the animals were out awaiting their breakfast!Â
On the island, families are within walking distance, or an easy bike ride from one of the seven playground areas.
8th Street, 30th Street, 39th Street, and 74th Street in Avalon; 81st Street, 97th, and 106th Street in Stone Harbor.
In addition, both communities offer extensive summer programs (for all ages)Â through the recreation department. Links on my blog roll (right hand side of the page), and on www.powerplayrealty.com
I had company on the beach this morning…hundreds of birds!Â
Colder temperatures, yet calmer winds and a warm sun. A nice way to start the day.
Crazy windy…and crazy busy. Prospective tenants and buyers in town this weekend to look around, and finalize their summer plans.Â
Our “spring” market is well underway. Happy to see the island returning to life 🙂
Stone Harbor is actively planting dune grass on the restored dunes between 92nd and 111th Streets. The grass holds the sand in place and allows the dunes to build up naturally over time.
I watched the crew yesterday: one man operated a  power tool to dig the holes, while others followed behind with stalks of grass. Very efficient system.
My own personal experience of planting dune grass is a bit different. In the late 1960s, a local man established a plan for regular dune grass plantings in Avalon.  Mr. Fenton Groff lived near the beach in the south end, and understood the value of preserving the dunes.
The students at Avalon Elementary participated…with the lure of free hot dogs! We worked for 3 or 4 hours on Saturday morning, and then returned to the school cafeteria (cold and very sandy) for lunch. No fancy motorized tools way back then- we were armed with shovels and encouraged to aim for a straight line.Â
Like so many events of my childhood, dune grass plantings are a fun memory- and definitely unique to life at the shore!
Nice weather forecast for the next few days. I’m sure there will be beach walking 😉
Zoning regulations vary in each shore town. In Avalon and Stone Harbor, the majority of dwelling units are in a single family zoned location. This strict zoning results in solid property values and overall lower density.
However, for buyer looking for a traditional “beach duplex”, there are options. Currently, 21 multi-family properties are for sale on the island.  The sale includes the land, and at least 2 living units. In many cases, the property is non-conforming, which means the structure can not be expanded unless it’s converted to a single family use dwelling.
The median price of a 2 family property in Avalon and Stone Harbor is $995,000.  As an example, the duplex pictured above is listed for $850,000 and includes 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths on each floor.
Keep in mind that the lenders view a duplex as an investment property rather than a second home. A larger down payment may be required, along with an adjustable rate loan. Yet for a buyer who would like to spend the summer at the shore, AND collect some rental income, a duplex is ideal.
Please contact me for additional information ann@anndelaney.com or 609-967-7950 office
Thank you for your interest!
Back on the Beach
Warm sun and salt air- good to be back to the beach.
For our family visit, we drove through the scenic mountains of western Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.  There are beautiful homes throughout that area- sitting high on a ridge -surrounded by acres of open land.   My impression?  I wondered how the residents cope with such an isolated existence.
So when we drove over the bridge last night, in to our sleepy little beach town; down our dark street with empty homes on all sides…I laughed. I guess we are equally as isolated in our own way 😉