http://www.stoneharborroa.com/
SHROA a citizen’s group of Stone Harbor property owners (a combination of summer and year round home owners) created to keep all taxpayers informed of local issues and events.Â
Avalon has a similar organization: The Avalon Home and Land Owners Association http://www.ahloa.com/
A summer home owner recently said to me “I don’t know how you live down there in the winter”. I laughed, and gave my usual list of benefits of seashore living.
But I have to admit – I do not like the wind.  Last night, the sustained roar of the 20 to 30 mph west wind was accented by the freight train sound of the 50 mph gusts. I expected our roof to blow off any minute.Â
 Our roof stayed put, but the huge tarp on the 13th Street water tower in Avalon did not survive. It was in shreds this morning around the scaffolding 🙁
 It’s that time of year…still dark at 7am. The sky, ocean, and sand are various shades of gray. Dreary and damp best describe today…
 Thank goodness for Christmas lights and colorful December sunsets 🙂
 Once the rain stopped yesterday, a walk to the beach was in order. There were hundreds of birds floating around just beyond the wave break- an odd sight.
The sun is back out today- with mild temperatures for December.Â
 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.Â
For more information, check out the December news on the Borough of Avalon web site:
 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.
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…
 The picture is actually from Florida…but it works for the Jersey Shore, too!
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
Baby It’s Cold Outside…