2019:

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April

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July

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Dec.

This Weeks News 12/23/2019

The business districts in Avalon & Stone Harbor are fully decorated for the holidays!
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS! From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!
 
THANK YOU for your business and referrals in 2019! I sincerely appreciate it and look forward to working with you in 2020.
 
THE AVALON/STONE HARBOR UPDATE will return week of January 6th, 2020.
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you're here on the Island for New Year's Eve, consider celebrating at The Princeton, The Reeds at Shelter Haven, Fred's Tavern, Icona Avalon, or another local favorite!
 

May warmth & joy be yours this season!

 

This Weeks News 12/19/2019

MARKET STATS: The number of active listings is down 15% versus last year, which has affected the number of units sold. Meanwhile, strong demand has reduced the average "days on market" by 35% compared to last year. For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report below.
 
VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
 

Active listings, the number of units sold, and the average "days on market" all declined in November versus a year ago.
 
AVALON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIFTH GRADER Ginger Radzieta won Avalon's 2020 beach tag art contest. Each year students compete in the contest, sponsored by the school and the Borough of Avalon. Ginger was presented with a plaque from Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi, along with the first beach tag featuring her art. Congratulations Ginger!


Congratulations to Ginger Radzieta, whose winning design will grace Avalon's 2020 beach tags!
 
LOCAL SPORTS HERO MATT SZCZUR has agreed to sign a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, and is expected to attend spring training with the team in Florida. Szczur grew up in Lower Township and has played for the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. Szczur has a World Series ring from 2016, when he was on the Cubs' roster. In previous off seasons Szczur has returned to Lower Township to host winter training camps for local youth baseball players. Wes Hills, a graduate of Wildwood High School also made sports news this week, as he rushed for two touchdowns in his first appearance with the Detroit Lions. Hills is the third running back in Lions history to rush for two touchdowns in his first career NFL game.


My son, Paul, had the opportunity to try on Matt Szczur's World Series ring in 2018, after attending one of Matt's winter training camps.
 
NEED A LAST MINUTE GIFT OR STOCKING STUFFER? Call your favorite shop or restaurant here on the Island, or visit their website. Many local merchants will help you cross things off your shopping list and can send a gift certificate, seashore memento, or a box of fudge. Put a little seashore in your holiday!
 
VACATION, ANYONE? How does a week at the beach sound? Why not check out our 2020 rental brochure and guarantee yourself some sunshine and memories in 2020? Browse through our vacation options, then call or email me to book the perfect place!

2020 LONG AND FOSTER AVALON AND STONE HARBOR, NJ RENTAL BROCHURE

 

This Weeks News 12/12/2019

Cape May Seashore Lines is operating The Santa Express on weekends and select weeknights until Christmas. Trains depart from Tuckahoe and Richland--catch one while you're here, or on your way to or from the Shore! Visit CAPE MAY SEASHORE LINES SANTA EXPRESS for schedules and tickets.
 
BY DAY, Steve Harbaugh can often be found constructing homes here on Seven Mile Island. By night, Steve can be found tending to the more than 7,000 Christmas lights that adorn his home in Mickleton, NJ--along with an RV recreating a movie scene from Christmas Vacation. Visitors travel far and wide to see the Harbaugh home, and usually come with toys in hand to donate to Toys For Tots. They have filled the RV with toys--multiple times! Check out Steve's incredible display in this news clip: SOUTH JERSEY MAN PERFECTLY RECREATES ‘CHRISTMAS VACATION' LIGHT DISPLAY TO BENEFIT TOYS FOR TOTS.
 
THE GEMINID METEOR SHOWER will peak on December 14th, and last through December 17th, according to IN-THE-SKY.ORG - GUIDES TO THE NIGHT SKY. From shortly after sunset through dawn, meteors may be seen, but peak viewing time is about 2am, when the radiant point of the shower will be nearly overhead. Up to 120 meteors per hour are possible, but the moon will be just past full during much of the peak activity period, complicating viewing. Cape May County beaches are often a great place to watch sky activity, due to the relative darkness compared to metropolitan areas.
 
BOATRIDES MAKE GREAT GIFTS! Would your family enjoy a cruise through the back bay, or a ride to a waterfront restaurant, while enjoying peaceful scenery and amazing wildlife? You can do it all aboard "Pursuit of Hoppiness" with Captain Doug Hopkins! Give your family something to look forward to this summer...a boat ride that they'll remember forever! Doug is even offering a holiday special to Long & Foster friends: enjoy a free hour when you book a four- or five-hour charter! Doug's special is available through Monday, December 16th, so visit PURSUIT OF HOPPINESS CHARTERS or call him at 239-269-8006 before then!


See Seven Mile Beach from the water with Captain Doug Hopkins aboard the Pursuit of Hoppiness!
 
DID YOU KNOW? 368 properties were sold in the local market thus far this year--and 56 more are under contract and scheduled to settle soon. Give your family the ultimate gift, and let them make memories at your very own shore home! Of course, I'm ready to help--and I'll even supply a big red bow!

 

This Weeks News 12/5/2019

Last Saturday evening's Christmas Parade in Stone Harbor capped off a weekend of holiday celebrations on Seven Mile Island!
 
LAST WEEKEND'S Festive Friday, Snowfest Saturday, and Island Holiday celebrations brought great crowds to Avalon & Stone Harbor. Thursday's turkey & trimmings gave way to tree lighting, music, caroling, shopping, and Santa on Friday & Saturday, followed by the annual Christmas Parade Saturday evening. What a way to kick off the holiday season! 
 
2020 CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE LIMIT INCREASED: Effective January 1st the conforming (conventional) loan limit will increase from $484,350 to $510,400 in the greater Philadelphia area, including South Jersey. According to Mike Mento of Prosperity Mortgage, "this increase allows consumers to finance up to $510,400 for a primary home, vacation home or investment property with conventional financing. In some cases, buyers can make a down payment as low as 3% of the purchase price for a primary home, 10% for a vacation home and 15% for an investment property." Mento said loan amounts of $510,401 to $3,000,000 are considered non-conforming or "jumbo" mortgage loans. Have a mortgage financing question? Call Mike at 609-839-1203 or email him at MICHAEL.MENTO@PHMLOANS.COM.
 
JETTY REPAIRS are expected to begin later this month at Avalon's 8th Street jetty. The structure was damaged by Winter Storm Jonas in 2016, and will undergo a five month project to repair its structure, including the addition of rocks in some areas. Access to the jetty will be strictly prohibited during the project (no fisherman, sightseers, or pedestrians), and the 9th Street beach access path will be closed to prevent people from entering the construction zone.
 
SHOP LOCAL this season! Why not add a bit of the shore to your holiday? Perhaps a sweatshirt, t-shirt, or boogie board for your grandchildren, a restaurant gift certificate for friends, or a box of fudge for your sweetheart! Many local shops and restaurants can accommodate you, and help bring a piece of the seashore to you!
 
SANTA RIDES THE RAILS again this season aboard the Cape May Seashore Lines' "Santa Express." More than two dozen departures are scheduled on weekends and select days and evenings between now and Christmas, and Santa will visit with youngsters on every trip. Trains depart from nearby Tuckahoe (and also Richland Village), and feature restored historic railroad equipment.
 
MORE INFORMATION: CAPE MAY SEASHORE LINES SANTA EXPRESS