Dustin Peters

Book/Writer Recommendation ... from Dustin A. Peters, French Real Estate, Inc. (Ocean City, New Jersey)

I just finished the most recent book by Pat Conroy, the southern writer who would certainly be one of our greatest living American authors. I've read them all over quite a long period of time. My early favorite was The Prince of Tides which introduced a family of three remaining characters, the Mother, the son - teacher/coach (both living in the Charleston area), and the sister - a writer living in New York City. The story centers around their early years when the other brother was still living and to the present when the brother travels to NYC due to the recent attempted suicide by the sister. Flashbacks continue throughout the book. The film of the same name was good, but the book was great.

Earlier Conroy wrote The Water is Wide, one of his early books about a teacher working with island children around the Charleston and South Carolina coastal areas; The Great Santini, about a Marine Corps family who move to South Carolina ... another powerful book dealing with family life, again made into a fine film with the same name; and The Lords of Discipline, about cadet life at The Citadel in Charleston.

Beach Music was his book written before the most recent one, again dealing with life in South Carolina, again dealing with several families, interactions and struggles. It was another favorite until the new one came out, and I had the opportunity to read it.

South of Broad, just out in print about 2-3 weeks ago, includes a cast of characters that move from their senior year in high school into mid-adulthood. It is told by Leopold Bloom King ("the Toad") who serves as the narrator with loads of flashbacks and surprises as it explores each of the characters and couples. Set in Charleston with some serious time in San Francisco, it explores relationships, religion, family ties, social classes, racism, homosexually, and much more. It has become my favorite Conroy book ... highly recommended!!! dap

BEACH NOTES ... my email newsletter for Buyers & Owners (weekly) and Rental Tenants (monthly) ... sent by Dustin A. Peters (French Real Estate) in Ocean City, New Jersey

(Phone) 888-215-9935 ... (E-Mail) Dustin@BeachNotes.net

When I was finishing out my 32 years in public education in Pennsylvania (having taught in elementary and high school - American History and electives - Psychology and Sociology) and (serving as an Assistant Junior-Senior High School Principal, Middle School Principal, and High School Principal - 17 years in the last position); I knew that I was ready for a different career.

We had owned a small 1920s cottage in Ocean City, New Jersey since 1988 having purchased it from an agent with French Real Estate. I talked with my wife, Leslie, indicating that I thought a move into real estate might be a great second career for me. She had about five years to go working in the Education Department at the state level in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ... so we agreed that might be a good move for me.

Before leaving public education, I asked a student to work on a colored drawing for me with the heading, "BEACH NOTES" with the scene being musical notes from a trumpet sunning themselves on the beach. That would be my "brand" in my new real estate role. I used that brand in my print newsletters for about four or five years when I started in 1993 working part-time for three years. Beginning in 1996 when I started working full-time, I began collecting "email addresses" from Owners, Buyers, and Rental Tenants just about the time more and more people were moving into that direction.

I then began to move "from print-to-email" (although I still do one print newsletter in the beginning of each calendar year to Owners) writing two types of email newsletters: (1) for Buyers and Owners ... a sales edition which is emailed every Friday morning (averaging about 45 plus editions annually) and (2) a rental edition which is emailed every month (averaging about 10 plus editions annually). This long-term effort has proven to be one of my best marking products throughout my 17 year career in real estate.

My focus has always been in the Northend and Gardens, those new sections of Ocean City (NJ) from 6th Street north to the Longport Bridge (and the end of the barrier island known as Ocean City, New Jersey. Since our agency, French Real Estate, is located on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and North Street, we are at the northern most point of the Northend and the beginning of the Gardens. I have lived for about half of time since owning a property here in Ocean City in the Northend ... and I now live in the Gardens. In both locations I have been able to walk about 3-4 blocks to work, easily bike that distance in busy summer traffic, and also drive my VW Convertible finding a tiny parking location for a car of my size right in front of the office. If the car is out front, I'm around.

Just a brief update on the email newsletter process. I write a very personal and detail-oriented newsletter dealing with what is now happening with me living in Ocean City as well as what is happening to the market in the Northend and Gardens. Although I still sell property throughout Ocean City, my area of emphasis and expertise lies in these sections. As both a sales and rental agent, I have my hand on the pulse of the market in these two unique sections of Ocean City (NJ). Thanks for taking the time to read this posting. dap

Selling Real Estate in a Resort Market ... Ocean City, New Jersey

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I'm constantly amazed how different it can be working in a second home market, a resort area, as compared to the "real world" real estate. Today I want to emphasize the closing aspect. How many have experienced "the closing" with only the two real estate agents there? That's not exactly a normal occurrence, but it has happened several times in my career.

But this week it will be a bit more than that. I've been involved with an estate sale as the listing agent. I have talked with several of the owners connected to the estate, but I have never met any of them in person. All communication has been by phone and email.

They are also located in at least two or three states so none of them plan to be at the closing. I have power of attorney to sign on their behalf based on the most recent closing sheet sent to them. Therefore, there will be no seller at the closing.

The buyer has already signed the closing sheets, deposited the monies, etc. so there part of the closing process is finished. I was not in attendance with them.

So when I venture to the title company to compete my part of the selling side, I will be alone. That is a first for me.

Now as a former high school principal during the real world part of my first career, I always enjoyed "commencement" ... the closing of the school year, the end of another grouping of senior students moving into another part of their life. Well, I have come to compare my commencement experience with the closing of a sale property. Just as the principal, I play an important role as the agent. Each commencement, as well as each closing, can be quite different even with some of the continuing similarities. Although it can often be somewhat challenging, it is generally a time of celebration. Finally, the most striking difference for me is that I get paid for coming to the event ... indirectly, I was also paid for coming to the commencement, but it was not quite the same.

Actually, each real estate transaction with all of the regular stuff that happens is always a happening of its own. I like all aspects of real estate, but I must conclude that the closing is my favorite part of the entire process. dap

"It's time to catch the wave ... in Ocean City, New Jersey!!!

Our agency, French Real Estate, often refers "buyers" to the above phrase when referencing purchasing shore property. You don't want to let that one or more good waves go by without riding one to shore. Clearly, the other way of stating it ... you have to be on the real estate wave when the market moves up. You could say the same thing about the stock market. But here in South Jersey along the resort market area ... and in my case, Ocean City (NJ), it certainly appears that the real estate market is looking better.

The market has been riding along fairly stable for some time in spite of the numerous national economic issues, and far different from many other parts of the country. But with a resort or second home market, we are far different from much of the country. We are also marketing a "lifestyle change," particularly a new way of functioning with your family whether you are looking for a second home, a rental property, whatever.

The mortgage rate continues to be low and attractive to those individuals interested in purchasing here in Ocean City. The real estate inventory is also attractive in that there are a wide variety of options out there for the potential buyer. Finally, Ocean City (NJ) has been a stable location, one with a solid history and location and family resort that lends itself to a strong, continuing summer population.

For the last couple of years I have encouaged buyers with one other point of view: if you plan to buy a shore property in the next 1 to 5 years, it's better to do it now. Don't miss "the wave" ... that market appreciation that comes without notice that moves us from one dimension to the next. Now I'm not saying it's right around the corner ... I'm simply saying "if you're not on the wave ... you may be wishing you were in coming years. How does one do that? By making that lifestyle decision in the short term.

If you want to talk real estate ... give me a call - 888-215-9935 ... or send me an email - Dustin@BeachNotes.net

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Rain, Flooding, Etc. ... on a barrier island ... in Ocean City, New Jersey

Coming from the mostly dry, flat farm lands of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ... my experiences on a barrier island were like most people: a few weekends or maybe a week in the summer depending on our family situation. I can still recall the first time my wife and I, and our young son, spent two full weeks at the shore over 30+ years ago. Wow.

But until you have spent more continued time here, as I have during the past 15 years; you really can't appreciate the aspects of heavy rain, flooding, the tide charts, etc. Even when I was living in the Northend and the Gardens areas, in mostly quite higher elevations, you were always in a flood zone throughout the barrier island of Ocean City, New Jersey. But mostly, the impact was not directly felt by me.

Then for a year and a half while our house was completely renovated, we rented with our close friends on the Bay around 4th Street. That was the enhancement of my understanding and further education regarding heavy rain, flooding, high tides, moving automobiles, etc. I became much more of a "local" during that time frame.

So for the past couple of days, and this complete weekend, we aren't expecting a lot of traffic here in Ocean City ... not too much real estate business either, unless it is by phone or email. The elements play a powerful role on the life of the residents of a small barrier island like Ocean City, New Jersey. And although this major resort town brings in the business for the entire summer and additional activity during the two shoulder seasons, it's now just a sleepy little South Jersey shore community getting ready for the colder weather as fall continues along and winter seems to be getting closer.

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