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
| 2021: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
This Weeks News 5/27/2021
THE NEW SEVEN MILE BEACH GUIDE IS OUT! From shops,
restaurants, and other services to beach info and activity schedules, you'll
find a lot of useful information in the 2021 Guide! Plus, it'll inspire you
to make a list of things to enjoy this summer! Check it out:
SEVEN MILE BEACH VACATION GUIDE
AVALON'S BEACH PROJECT is nearing completion, with more
than 50,000 cubic yards of sand having been moved onto north-end beaches.
The last sand hauling was finished Monday of this week, with final grading
to have occurred on Tuesday. Thanks to favorable weather and no equipment
issues, final completion is expected by Thursday, when all equipment will be
off the beach, in time for the holiday weekend.
STONE HARBOR trash & recycling pickup will continue once
per week, but the borough has not yet been able to increase collection to
its usual twice-per-week during summer months due to a shortage of labor.
DOLPHINS ALONG THE BEACH, AND IN THE BAY! Dolphins are back
and have made appearances along the beaches from Cape May to Ocean City.
They have even been spotted in the back bay behind Stone Harbor recently!
Keep an eye out for them as you walk the beach or cruise the area in a boat.
Cape May Whale Watcher sighted a 60-foot fin whale off the Wildwood beach
last week. There are signs of abundant sea life in and around our local
waters!
MORTAGE RATES--THEY'RE UP, THEY'RE DOWN: Mortgage rates
jumped up and then settled back down again as competing forces influenced
the bond market over the past several weeks. Government spending on stimulus
and infrastructure led to inflation fears which pushed rates higher as
investors sold bonds, but lingering Covid concerns and Fed purchases of
treasury bonds and mortgage securities have held rates down again. If
inflation takes hold and Fed purchasing tapers off, rates could move higher
again. If you're considering a purchase at the shore, take advantage of
still-low rates, and lock in your mortgage cost for the duration of your
shore ownership! Need a mortgage lender? Call or email me and I'll put you
in touch with experienced lenders that can get the job done for you!
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND is here! After an unusual year (to say
the least!) we're all looking forward to kicking off some summer fun! Make
sure to set aside a moment to remember those who have sacrificed their lives
to protect our freedom!
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES will be held in Avalon & Stone Harbor
on Monday, May 31st. Avalon's service begins at 9am at Veterans Plaza at
21st Street & Dune Drive. Stone Harbor's service begins at 10am at the
Stephen C. Ludlam American Legion Post at 11627 Second Avenue. A Memorial
Service for Fallen Heroes will take follow at 11am at the Stone Harbor Fire
Company. There will be no Memorial Day Parades this year; they are expected
to return in 2022.
This Weeks News 5/20/2021
Demolition work has begun at Villa Maria in Stone Harbor. The retreat
has stood at 111th Street & Second Avenue since 1937, but was not suitable
for year-round use since it did not have heat or air conditioning. A new
structure will eventually take its place on the site.
MARKET STATS: During April 2021 sales were up slightly over
a year earlier, while available inventory declined. The median sold price
was $1,605,000, nearly the same as 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
AVALON BOULEVARD...ALMOST DONE! New grooving was added to
the road surface atop the bridge last week. The approach roadways are slated
to be milled and paved this week, with final underdeck repairs to be
completed after that. Expect intermittent lane closures as work proceeds up
to May 26th, at which time it will be halted until June 2nd.
IT'S TURLE TIME AGAIN! Watch out for diamondback terrapins
as you travel local roadways. Egg laying season is upon us, and female
turtles seek high ground on which to lay eggs. Protective barriers
strategically placed along roadways help minimize roadkill, but keep an eye
open, especially in areas without barriers. If you're inclined to help a
turtle, move it across the road in the direction it was already headed. Be
aware of approaching traffic so as not to put yourself in danger.
CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE FULL MOON CLIMBS are back! On select
full moon dates you can climb the 199-step lighthouse and view the full moon
from the top. On a clear night the view from the lighthouse is stunning,
encompassing the Atlantic Ocean, lights from Wildwood, the Delaware Bay, and
the Delaware shoreline--not to mention the beautiful full moon! Full moon
climbs are scheduled for May 26th, June 24th, July 23rd, and August 22nd.
TICKETS: CAPE MAY MAC - ALL TOURS CALENDAR
42,000 CUBIC YARDS of sand had been deposited on Avalon's
north-end beaches as of early this week, with another 4,000 cubic yards of
sand stockpiled at the borrow site and ready to be moved northward. Avalon's
Public Works Department is running the project and will meet with borough
engineers later this week for a progress update.
INITIAL REPORTS of inflation caused volatility in the bond
market, and thus, interest rates. Mortgage rates are still about where they
were prior to the reports but are widely expected to increase if inflation
takes hold. As before, it remains a great time to make a purchase--enjoy
your shore home while locking in low financing costs for the duration of
your ownership! Ready to get started? Call or email me!
This Weeks News 5/13/2021
A boat makes its way along the beach toward the Townsend's Inlet buoy,
viewed from a beach path in Avalon's dunes.
SELL NOW, ENJOY THE SUMMER, SETTLE IN THE FALL! If you are
planning to sell your home this year, why not list it now? Don't want to
miss the summer? You don't have to--your closing can take place in the fall!
With supply of properties at all-time lows and values at record highs along
with looming capital gains tax rate hikes, we may look back at 2021 as THE
year to sell! This dynamic provides creative opportunities--like entering
into a contract with a deferred closing date to allow for one last summer of
family enjoyment or rental income. Given the unique market, if you plan to
sell this year we should talk right away. We have buyers for all property
types and locations, and many are willing to be flexible on timing and
terms. Locking in top dollar and favorable tax treatment along with another
summer of fun--What's not to like?
2020 TOURISM IN CAPE MAY COUNTY was the strongest in the
state, declining just 21.1% from record 2019 levels, according to a recent
Cape May County Herald article. The decline was the smallest in New Jersey,
which was down 36.8%. According to Diane Wieland, director of the Cape May
County Department of Tourism, "Cape May County had a strong summer starting
in June, with July and August near the 2019 numbers, which served to
mitigate the earlier losses. September and October were record-breaking
months, as far as overnight stays. The beach resorts were the place to go
for travelers looking to get away from months of restrictions and
quarantining."
FULL ARTICLE: CAPE MAY COUNTY TOURISM REMAINED STRONG DESPITE
LOCKDOWNS
AVALON'S SAND BACKPASSING PROJECT is still underway. As of
last week, 23,000 cubic yards of sand had been harvested from "wet sand"
areas of the beach south of the fishing pier and placed into piles for
transportation. (No "dry sand" was taken from beaches.) 6,000 cubic yards of
sand has been moved to north-end beaches.
Sand is being moved into place on Avalon's north-end beaches, as seen
here in this photo taken in the early morning. Photo courtesy Borough of
Avalon.
EMERGENCY DREDGING of Princeton Harbor continues, with the
dredge in place and progressing westward as it removes material from the
waterway. According to the latest borough report, approximately 465 cubic
yards of sediment has been removed. The waterway remains navigable for boat
traffic. The dredging contract calls for work to be completed by May 24th.
SPRINGER'S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM has been facelifted for the
2021 season. The building looks great while keeping all of its charm!
Nothing says "summer" better than an ice cream cone from Springer's on a
warm summer evening!
GET YOUR BEACH TAGS! Place your pre-season beach tag orders
online and have them delivered! In just a couple of weeks the season will be
upon us.
ORDER: JERSEY CAPE TAGS ONLINE STORE - AVALON 2021 SEASONAL BEACH
TAG
ORDER: JERSEY CAPE TAGS ONLINE STORE - STONE HARBOR 2021 SEASONAL
BEACH TAG
PLEASE FORWARD this newsletter to a friend, neighbor, or
coworker who loves Avalon & Stone Harbor! To subscribe, send me an email at
RANDY@RANDYLEISER.COM!
This Weeks News 5/6/2021
Heavy equipment is being used for Avalon's sand backpassing operation. Photo courtesy of the Borough of Avalon.
SAND BACKPASSING IS UNDERWAY: Avalon Public Works employees are now moving beach sand using heavy equipment. Approximately 55,000 cubic yards of sand will be moved from a borrow area south of the fishing pier to north-end beaches. There will be intermittent beach closures in the area of the borrow and fill areas; those on the beach should be aware of the heavy equipment moving north & south. The project may be finished by Memorial Day Weekend if the weather cooperates. If it runs beyond Memorial Day Weekend, work will cease during the holiday weekend.
BRIDGE UPDATE! Bridges are a huge part of Cape May County's road network. Here's an update on several area bridges:
- Avalon Boulevard Bridge: the last phase of the ongoing repair
project is now underway, as workers are surfacing the new concrete on
the bridge. Alternating single-lane traffic will continue through the
project's completion, expected on May 14th.
- 96th Street Bridge: alternating single-lane traffic is in effect
Mondays through Thursdays, 6am to 4pm, as the final repair work is
completed on the bridge. Work is expected to conclude May 13th.
- Great Channel Bridge: at the southern end of Stone Harbor the Great
Channel Bridge links Seven Mile Island to Nummy Island and then North
Wildwood. While the Great Channel Bridge is open to vehicle traffic, its
drawbridge will be closed to navigation unless two hours advanced notice
is provided. Vessels able to transit the bridge without a drawbridge
opening may do so at any time.
- Route 47 Bridge, Dennis Township: although not on the island, Route 47 is a major thoroughfare used by shore bound traffic. The bridge repair work has been completed ahead of schedule and the detour around the bridge has been removed.
16 BEST BEACHES IN NEW JERSEY - THE TOP BEACHES TO VISIT!
A LARGE BOAT FIRE occurred in Wildwood last weekend. As smoke billowed from the burning boat and firefighters applied water, its mooring lines burned through, and the boat began to drift downwind. The fire was eventually extinguished, but not without some tense moments for those in nearby bayfront properties.
WATCH: FACEBOOK VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT CAPTURED BY A NEIGHBOR
THIS WEEKEND brings a full slate of activities to the island, including the Avalon Garden Club's community-wide yard sale on Saturday. Also occurring this weekend are the following:
- Stone Harbor Garden Club Plant Sale, Women's Civic Club, 96th Street
& First Avenue, 8am-2pm;
- Community Paper Shredding Day, Avalon Public Works, 15th Street &
Dune Drive, Saturday, May 8th, 9am;
- Avalon Police Department bicycle auction, Public Works, 15th Street
& Dune Drive, Saturday, May 8th, 12 noon;
- Avalon Volunteer Fire Department Annual Plant Sale, at the
firehouse, Saturday, May 8th, 9am;
- Avalon Job Fair, Saturday, May 8th. Visit JOB
OPENINGS - VISITAVALONNJ.COM for more info;
- Bulk Trash Pick Up, Avalon: place items curbside now through Sunday,
May 9th. Pick up will begin Monday, May 10th at 7am;
- Bulk Trash Pick Up, Stone Harbor: place items curbside up to 72 hours prior to Monday, May 10th.