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This Weeks News 9/29/2022

September sunsets usually have a beautiful golden glow to them!
 
INTEREST RATES: A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE... As interest rates fluctuate it's natural to compare today's rate with those from a month or a year ago.  But taking a wider view really puts things in perspective.  Prosperity Mortgage shared this 30-year fixed-rate mortgage chart showing the average mortgage rate every year since 1972. For nearly three decades, rates were well over today's rates, which are just over 6%.


 
DID YOU SEE IT? If you were sitting on your deck, walking the dog, or enjoying another outside activity on Saturday evening, you may have spotted an eerie white glow in the otherwise dark sky. It was the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which was launched from the Florida Space Coast. The rocket itself was not visible from Southern New Jersey, but the white, cone-shaped glow behind it was, until it faded into darkness as the rocket travelled up the east coast. It was carrying 52 satellites bound for space.
 
WHALES were spotted earlier this week just off the beaches of Stone Harbor, by the Cape May Whale Watcher. Along with more common dolphin sightings, they make for spectacular viewing on a gorgeous fall day. Cape May Whale Watcher runs daily trips through October, with weekend trips thereafter. If you've never had the opportunity to ride aboard, check it out! 
 
THE AVALON BOARDWALK is undergoing off-season repairs, as Public Works employees work to maintain the 12-block long promenade. The most recent project undertaken is the full replacement of the deteriorated access ramp at 26th Street.

 

This Weeks News 9/22/2022

TAKE YOUR PICK from a great slate of weekend activities. This weekend alone, choose from a dance party by the beach, bikes & beers at Cape May Brewery, the huge Savor September Wine, Beer & Food Festival in Stone Harbor, a gardening presentation in Avalon, and classic cars & vintage train rides in Tuckahoe. See my Upcoming Events list below for more details!
 
MARKET STATS: The number of units sold during the month of August increased slightly over July, but was down from August 2021. The median sale price was down 3% to $2,152,500. 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
   
REMINDER TO BEACH VISITORS: Beaches are unguarded at this time of year, and surf conditions or rip currents can make swimming at unguarded beaches extremely dangerous. Local officials urge those visiting the beach not to swim without lifeguards.  
 
A COUPLE OF DAYS OF RAIN last week were not enough to end the drought we've been in since August, though it helped. Conservation of water is still urged, though, with more than half of Cape May County still in the "severe" drought category. From irrigation and lawn watering to showers and dishwashing, any water savings helps!
 
A MAJOR BEACH REPLENISHMENT project is expected during the off season, and equipment will once again be staged at the 28th Street parking lot in Avalon, according to a recent Cape May County Herald article. The article reported that the bid process will begin at the end of October. Stay tuned for more details.
 
2023 VACATION RENTALS: We're already booking 2023 rentals! Owners, get your rental rates and availability to me now, if you haven't already. Tenants, let me know your preferred vacation dates and other requirements, so we can help find you the perfect vacation home!
 

 
A NOTE FROM HOME! I'm excited to share that my son, Paul, is now in his fifth week at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. After a grueling two-week orientation, followed by the first two weeks of the academic semester, this past Sunday was "Recognition Day," in which Cadet Candidates become recognized as Fourth Class Cadets. Much hard work lies ahead for Paul, but Sunday was a proud moment to celebrate!

 

This Weeks News 9/15/2022

Need a break from the grind? Check out these aerial views of Avalon at sunrise, including the ocean and beach, plus panoramic views of town. See if you can spot your house!
 
70s AND SUNNY, ANYONE? September has not disappointed us, and has already brought plenty of nice weather. After a couple of much needed soaking rains this past week, more "70s and sunny" weather is in the forecast. Warm days and gentle breezes usually give way to cooler nights, with just a touch of fall in the air. The best part? The ocean water is still warm (about 74 degrees), restaurants are still open (but less crowded), and the fishing is still good. Take advantage of our "Second Summer" and enjoy the best that our island has to offer!
 
DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR SUMMER PLANTS! If you're finished with your summer outdoor plants, the Cape May County Zoo is accepting live plant donations. Non-toxic plants in pots, such as spider plants, Boston ferns, and palms can be dropped off any day, 10am to 2pm at the Maintenance Building. The attendant at the main park entrance at Route 9 will direct you. Questions? Call the Main Office at 609-465-5271.
  
AVALON ANTICIPATES utilizing rolling solid waste and recycling carts beginning in May 2023. Rolling carts reduce landfill tipping fees and workman's compensation expenses, helps attract competitive bids from trash haulers, and helps further protect the environment. The borough expects to provide one 96-gallon trash cart and one 96-gallon recycling cart to every household in advance of the launch of the program. 
 
STONE HARBOR BEACH VEHICLE PERMITS for the 2022-2023 season are available for purchase at Borough Hall through September 30th. Applicants must bring their driver's license, registration, proof of insurance, and $60 fee. No permits will be issued after September 30th. 
 
THE GALE FORCE TWINS spent a day with the US Coast Guard in Cape May, touring the base, meeting members of the Coast Guard, and spending some time training with them. Emily & Amanda Gale are USCG licensed captains and were in the area hosting a fishing tournament. The Gale Force Twins have a heavy presence on social media including Facebook and YouTube, where they focus on boating and fishing tutorial videos.

 

This Weeks News 9/8/2022

Splash says "the dog days of summer may be over, but there's more fun to be had!"  From beach to boat to shopping to dining--there's plenty of fun still available on Seven Mile Island!
 
"WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER WEEKEND!" said one business owner, when asked about the Labor Day Weekend. Beautiful weather brought good crowds to the island for the last big summer weekend--a boon to shops, restaurants, and businesses of all kinds. In fact, all three summer holiday weekends saw good weather, as did most of the rest of the summer, meaning 2022 was a good year for local merchants.
 
BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET! It's time to shift gears a bit, and enjoy the low key fall season, along with the warm water and beautiful weather that it usually brings. If you like a more relaxed pace, and smaller crowds, now's your chance! The line up of fall events is growing, too--see our list below.
 
KUDOS TO GOOD SAMARITAN Steve Harbaugh, who rescued a missing paddleboarder in distress behind Stone Harbor. The paddleboarder was an hour overdue when his family filed a report, triggering a response from the Coast Guard and State Marine Police, who both began searching. As officials began discussing suspending the search due to darkness, Harbaugh along with his son Zach and brother in law Erich used their boat to begin looking. About 40 minutes later they spotted the distressed paddleboarder, welcomed him aboard, called 9-1-1, and headed for their dock to meet first responders. The longstanding tradition of those on the water helping others on the water is alive and well!
 
A BOAT FIRE occurred at Sunrise Marina on 21st Street in Avalon last week. The boat was destroyed by the fire, but an adjacent boat suffered only minor damage thanks to the quick response of the Avalon Police Department and Avalon Fire Department, who used water and foam to extinguish the blaze. The burned boat was later towed away by Sea Tow.
 
SEA TOW had a busy week. In addition to towing the badly burned boat mentioned above, and the usual array of engine failures and groundings that they deal with, Sea Tow responded to a report of a capsized boat in Townsend's Inlet on Friday. All persons on board were rescued, and Sea Tow secured the vessel, righted it, and then towed it to safety.
 
THE LONG & FOSTER RENTAL ADVANTAGE: Summer 2022 is just winding down but we're already booking 2023 vacation rentals at a feverish pace! For rental property owners we provide an array of rental services designed to secure more rentals AND support your guests while they're here. We provide extensive online marketing exposure via Home Away and VRBO as well as WWW.LFVACATIONS.COM; we accept all major credit cards; we provide owners with the option of requiring a traditional security deposit or a damage waiver plan; we have check-in locations in both Avalon and Stone Harbor; and, we have a Guest Services department that operates seven days per week during the summer season to help make your guest's vacation experience as smooth as possible. All of these services are provided to our owners at no extra cost! Ready to get started generating rental income? Call or email me! All I need is your 2023 rate schedule.
 
FOR TENANTS: Our 2023 rental rates are coming in daily. Let me know what vacation dates you prefer, and what type of property you require, and we'll see if we have a match for you!

 

This Weeks News 9/1/2022

Catching a wave on a summer day!
 
"IT'S A SWEET, SWEET LIFE, LIVIN' BY THE SALTY SEA." --Jimmy Buffet, with the Zac Brown Band, singing "Knee Deep (In the Water Somewhere)." We agree with Jimmy! Whether you visited Avalon & Stone Harbor for a weekend, a week, or you were here all summer, hopefully you've had a chance to enjoy our "sweet, sweet life, livin' by the salty sea!" 
 
DR. ERIC GREENSMITH retired from his medical career earlier this year, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. And then, he applied for a position on the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, a summer job that he first held in the 1970s! At age 67, Dr. Greensmith passed the qualifying tests, including a half-mile run and 500-meter swim, and has been guarding Sea Isle City beaches again since July--50 years after he first started guarding them. Perhaps biking to his lifeguard stand on the beach--18 miles round trip, daily--has helped him stay young! The Wall Street Journal article is here:

THIS DOCTOR’S RETIREMENT GIG: LIFEGUARD ON THE JERSEY SHORE - WSJ
 
MORTGAGE RATE "REALITY CHECK!" Mortgage rates have increased somewhat from their recent historic lows, but a "reality check" provided by Prosperity Mortgage really helps put things in perspective. Take a look at the figures below:

• 2022: 5.65%
• 2000: 8.05%
• 1990: 10.13%
• 1985: 12.43%
• 1981: 16.63%
• 1974: 9.19%

5.65% looks pretty darned good compared to historical rates! Source: Prosperity Home Mortgage / the mortgagereports.com.
 

Remember this photo of Captain Joe Trainor's "Low Profile," departing Avalon Marine Center in the fog, that we featured several weeks back? Let's just say that Joe really knows how to catch fish--big fish! See the "MidAtlantic Tournament" paragraph below for more about Joe's latest catch. Low Profile photo by Paul Leiser, Jr.
 
THE MIDATLANTIC TOURNAMENT: Every year the East Coast's most dedicated sportfishing captains gather to do battle in the annual offshore fishing tournament, which took place from August 20th through 25th. This year was no different, as over five hundred fish were caught. Most were released, but the heaviest were weighed in to determine the winners. Captain Joe Trainor and angler Ken Wibble aboard the Low Profile caught this year's heaviest blue marlin, a 657lb., 122" beast. Among the many other winners were Michael Jordan--yes, that Michael Jordan--who caught the second heaviest white marlin at 73lbs. aboard his boat, Catch 23. Hundreds of boats competed this year, fishing out of both Cape May, NJ, and Ocean City, MD.
 
"EVERY WEEK" activities are winding down as the busy summer season draws to a close, but new weekend activities are appearing on the calendar now. One of them is the annual AirFest at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum, which takes place this weekend. Savor September Weekend rolls around in a few weeks, along with the Transportation Heritage Festival. Watch our Upcoming Events list for more great weekend activities!