Randy Leiser, Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2997 Dune Drive, PO Box 10, Avalon, NJ 08202
toll-free: 800-967-7796 x212  |  local: 609-967-3001  |  fax: 609-967-3057  |  e-mail: Randy@RandyLeiser.com
2019: Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

This Weeks News 8/29/2019

Osprey
This osprey is in the midst of dinner on a late August afternoon. Numerous osprey nests behind Avalon & Stone Harbor are occupied, as osprey numbers have rebounded dramatically in recent years.
 
COOLER AIR MOVED INTO THE AREA this past weekend, as a northerly breeze dropped the heat and humidity levels noticeably. Temperatures are expected to remain in the upper 70s and low 80s for the next several days. The surf temperature is still a pleasant 74 degrees.
 
IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S A WORLD WAR II BOMBER! The annual AirFest returns to US Naval Air Station Wildwood over the Labor Day Weekend, and will feature WWII vintage aircraft. Friday afternoon from 2pm to 5pm, and 9am to 5pm Saturday through Monday, self-guided walk through tours of B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator aircraft are included with admission, and other aircraft are visible on the ramp. Regular admission to AirFest is $16 for adults and $12 for children, and also includes admission to the NASW Museum. Live music, food trucks, a beer garden, and children's activities are available all weekend. For those wanting a little bit more, 25-30 minute rides are available in vintage warbirds, starting at $400 per person. If you've always dreamed of flying in a B-17, B-24, P-51 Mustang, or P-40 Warhawk, here's your chance! For details on AirFest and flight opportunities, click here: US NAVAL AIR STATION WILDWOOD AIRFEST. For those along the beach over Labor Day Weekend, keep an eye to the skies, as these vintage aircraft circle the skies during passenger flights.
 
MIDATLANTIC MILLIONS! $3,528,760 in prize money was awarded to fishermen weighing in winning catches during the annual MidAtlantic tournament, hosted last week in Cape May and Ocean City, MD. Notable catches include a pair of 72-pound white marlin, and blue marlin weighing 473-pounds, and 549-pounds, plus the winning 630-pound blue marlin, worth $555,365 in prize money. In addition to tuna, mahi, and wahoo catches, numerous marlin were released during the tournament.
 
CLEAN UP, CLEAN OUT: Avalon & Stone Harbor will conduct bulk pick up in September. In Avalon, bulk items may be placed curbside beginning August 31st, with pick up beginning at 7am on Tuesday, September 10th. In Stone Harbor, items may be placed curbside up to 72 hours in advance of the Monday, September 16th pick up date.
 
CONGRATULATIONS TO AVALON LIFEGUARDS Erich Wolf and Craig Whitehead, who won the 14th Annual Hammer Row last week, with a time of 38 minutes, 39 seconds. Wolf and Whitehead won in 2013 and 2016 as well.

 

This Weeks News 8/22/2019

MARKET STATS: During the month of July the median sale price increased to $1,790,000, while the number of active listings decreased by 6%. Strong demand and limited inventory continue to define the market. For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report:
 
View The Latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report  |  Download/Print PDF
 
Market Minute
 
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS!  Saturday night's Festival of Lights boat parade had dozens of decorated boats parading along Stone Harbor's entire bayfront on a beautiful moonlit evening, in front of decorated docks and cheering crowds. This year's theme was "Broadway," with participants including Grease, Frozen, Blue Man Group, Cats, Aladdin and more. A gentle breeze made for a perfect evening!
 
Boats - Festival of Lights
Dozens of boats paraded along the bayfront during Stone Harbor's Festival of Lights last weekend.
 
DR. STEWART FARRELL reported to Avalon officials last week that north-end beaches grew during the March-May quarter, thanks to minimal storm activity. Farrell estimated that about 34,000 cubic yards of sand were added to the beach by southeast winds during that time, supplementing sand added during the borough's sand backpassing project.
 
TWO BIG COBIA were caught in local waters, and may be new state records. A 90-pound cobia was hooked off Cape May and fought for an hour-and-a-half by angler Len Andalis. Joe Cunningham caught a 74-pound cobia while spearfishing off Sea Isle City. Both fish must be certified by the Division of Fish & Wildlife before becoming official state records. Warm water from the Gulfstream increases the variety of fish caught in nearby waters during the mid- to late-summer.
 
CAPE MAY COUNTY'S new flood risk mapping system is designed to provide the public with a way to assess the potential impact of a flooding event on their neighborhood.  Martin Pagliughi, Mayor of Avalon and also Cape May County's Emergency Management Director, said the system will provide exactly what homeowners want to know: "How may it affect my property and neighborhood," allowing people to make educated decisions prior to potential flooding. The system can be found here:
 
Cape May County Tidal Flooding Awareness
 
ANYTHING YOU NEED...CALL ME! Whether you have a quick question, or you're contemplating a shore home purchase, please call me! I'm ready to assist with anything you need!

 

This Weeks News 8/15/2019

Diamondback Terrapin
Turtle barriers like this are designed to keep diamondback terrapins off busy roadways as they look for places to lay eggs. For those that find a way around the barrier but don't make it safely across the road, The Wetlands Institute collects turtle eggs from local roadways. Read a heartwarming story below about three children who donated to their effort.
 
THREE VISITORS arrived at The Wetlands Institute last week with $46 in hand. Evelyn (4), Trey (8), and Charlotte (6) sold lemonade at a stand at home for 50 cents a cup, and donated the entire proceeds to The Wetlands Institute! The children told their customers that they were selling lemonade because they "wanted to help the turtles." Upon making their donation, Evelyn, Trey, and Charlotte were given a tour of the lab at The Wetlands Institute, and met new hatchlings. The kids even got a chance to name a hatchling: Tilly. Way to go Evelyn, Trey, and Charlotte! If you'd like to support The Wetlands Institute, too, visit their donation page here:
 
THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE - DONATIONS
 
FUN FOR KIDS 3 THROUGH 93! The Harlem Globetrotters will host four games and four clinics in Wildwood from Wednesday August 14th through Saturday, August 17th. With their amazing basketball talents and incredible stage presence, the team entertains kids of all ages!  Use the code SAVE5 to save $5 off select tickets.
 
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS - WILDWOOD
 
HOW'S THAT SUMMER BUCKET LIST? We're well past the mid-point of the summer season…still haven't gotten to those things on your Summer Bucket List? The time is now! Catch a sunrise, catch a fish, catch a movie on the beach, or catch a concert under the water tower! Whatever is on your list, set aside the time and make it happen!
 
A 496-POUND SWORDFISH was caught by Joe Hevener and his crew at the Wilmington Canyon last week, in water 1,500 feet deep. After a 3.5 hour fight, plus another 45 minutes to get the fish into the boat, the catch was weighed at Canyon Club Marina in Cape May. Just one day earlier Canyon Club weighed a 441-pound swordfish. More big fish are likely to be weighed next week as The MidAtlantic tournament gets underway. From August 18th through 23rd, sport fishing vessels will ply "the deep" looking to outdo each other in the tournament, which is based in both Cape May, NJ and Ocean City, MD.
 
MORTGAGE RATES are very attractive, with thirty-year fixed rates below 4% for both conforming and jumbo (over $484,351) loan amounts. Low rates with strong rental income (see below) help minimize the cost of owning a shore property.
 
RENTAL INCOME generated by a shore property can exceed 3% of the property's value annually, and in some cases can be even higher. Combine that with low mortgage rates and it's a winning combination! Want to take a look at ALL the numbers? Call or email me today! You might be surprised to learn just how affordable a shore home can be!

 

 

This Weeks News 8/8/2019

Whale Watching
Wow! Megan King captured this great photo of a whale just off Seven Mile Beach! Megan says the whale was off the 96th Street beach when she took the picture aboard a boat. What a magnificent creature!
 
WHALE WATCHING, ANYONE? Whales and dolphins can often be seen in South Jersey waters. Whales are usually further offshore than the one Megan King saw last weekend (see photo above), but are frequently seen on whale watching trips or by those fishing several miles out. Pods of dolphins can often be observed from the beach as they make their way right along the shore. At times they can be seen in inlets or even the back bays. Like other creatures they follow their food source, and will go wherever their next meal can be found.
 
PARASAILING TRICK SHOT! Zeus McClurkin of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters made the world's first trick shot while parasailing just off our coastline!  Check out the unbelievable shot here: PARASAILING TRICK SHOT | HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS (YOUTUBE). The Globetrotters will host four games and four clinics in Wildwood from August 14th through 17th--fun for the whole family!  Use the code SAVE5 to save $5 off select tickets at HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS - WILDWOOD.

Harlem Globetrotter Zeus McClurkin
Check out Harlem Globetrotters' Zeus McClurkin's parasailing trick shot!

 
PHILLY SPIN STUDIO COMES TO AVALON! A premier boutique exercise facility has come to Avalon & Stone Harbor. Revel Ride, which has a location on South Street in Philadelphia, opened at 271 21st Street, next to the Whitebrier. The experience will match what riders have grown to expect from Revel Ride, with iPad check in, complimentary cycling shoes, surround sound music and eucalyptus-scented towels. Enjoy your vacation without breaking your workout routine...and have fun at the same time. To read about how this studio came together so quickly, read the story at PHILLYMAG.COM.
 
AUGUST FAVORITES! Mark your calendar for these August favorites!
 
7 Mile Island Designer House Tour, Saturday, August 10th, 11am to 4pm. Tour nine breathtaking homes! For tickets click here: 7 MILE ISLAND DESIGNER HOUSE TOUR.

Festival of Lights Boat Parade, Saturday, August 17th, 8:30pm. Decorated boats and docks along the entire Stone Harbor Bayfront! Visit YACHT CLUB OF STONE HARBOR to register your boat or dock.

Atlantic City Air Show, Wednesday, August 21st, 11:30am to 4pm. See aircraft of all kinds in action, including the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. Visit ATLANTIC CITY AIRSHOW for Airshow info.

NEED A LAST MINUTE VACATION? There are still some great options available for last minute rentals, especially if you can be flexible with your vacation dates and price range.  Call or email me today!

 

This Weeks News 8/1/2019

  Townsend's Inlet Bridge
A happy crowd gathered to watch the reopening of the Townsend's Inlet Bridge last Friday!
 
DRIVERS HONKED AND ONLOOKERS CHEERED as the Townsend's Inlet Bridge was reopened to traffic last Friday! Toll collections were waived during the bridge's first weekend of operation, and resumed Monday.
 
OFFSHORE FISHING ACTION remains hot! Yellowfin tuna catches in the offshore canyons have slowed, but Bluefin tuna catches slightly closer to shore have picked up. As the ocean water has warmed mahi mahi have been plentiful, while white marlin have arrived in "the deep," beyond the canyons, following warm-water eddies of the Gulf Stream in water many thousands of feet deep. Near-shore fishing has been good, too, with captains reporting catches of summer flounder, weakfish, stripers, and bluefish. Want to get in on the action? Fish aboard the Miss Avalon which sails daily from the Avalon Sport Fishing Center, or rent a fishing boat at Smugglers Cove at 83rd Street & the bay.
 
$6.6 BILLION! That's the annual value of tourism in Cape May County, as revealed at the 2019 Cape May County Tourism Conference, held earlier this summer. In addition to the beaches the county is famous for craft breweries, wineries, restaurants, fishing, and historic sites which all contribute to the county's popularity with visitors.
 
SAIL ABOARD THE AJ MEERWALD this summer, as New Jersey's Tall Ship visits Cape May several weeks during August and September. This year more than three dozen public sailing trips are available, including morning, afternoon, and evening trips, as well as oyster trips (featuring a raw bar) and music trips (featuring onboard music.) If you've never experienced sailing...it's something you won't forget!

More Info & Tickets: Bayshore Center Public Sailing Schedule
 
THE STONE HARBOR ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL returns this weekend for its 57th year! Located at the 80th Street Recreation Field, the Festival features more than 200 artisans from 12 states, and will run from 9am to 5pm Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sunday. Live music, a food court, and children's activities are also featured. Admission to the show is free, and a complimentary shuttle service will stop at the following pick up/drop off locations:

COME JOIN THE FUN! There's still time to book a summer vacation in Avalon or Stone Harbor! Of course, if you'd like to make it permanent and purchase your very own shore property, I'm ready to help! Call me today!