Dustin Peters

The Fall Season in Ocean City, New Jersey

I'm in the process of changing just a small part of my summer clothing in my closet. Yes, I'm still in shorts ... since sometime in May, yes I'll still be in them into late October.

But I've hung my trousers and slacks on hangers again. I've put away my Caribbean shirts for the year unless I get an opportunity for a winter cruise. But all my short sleeve polios stay on hangers since they will now be found under short or long sleave sweaters as colder mornings arrive. I have my old, versatile 1999 pullover golf jacket for the AM walks to work. I've even located my "long pants" shoes for use in another month or so.

In fact, I often hit a time in late October or early November when I wear long pants in the AM and shorts in the PM. Now, of course, this isn'ta "real world" situation here ... I'm a South Jersey shore realtor here on a barrier island in Ocean City, New Jersey. This is about "as real as I'm going to get."

This is also the real "top-down weather" much more in the fall than the summer. Too much sun, intensity, in the summer months. I simply put all my VW Convert-able windows down in the summer, but keep the top up ... a great look and an airy drive. Come fall ... the top is down much more.

Now what does all of this have to do with real estate. "It's a lifestyle that I'm marketing and selling boys and girls. I must look the part and play the part accordingly. There are variations of lifestyles available here ... the outdoors with fishing and sailing and more, the house house and lot with renovations, landscaping, and various ongoing improvements, and the condominium style with no maintenance and lots of ocean views.

So whatever floats your particular boat ... with the fall season, we are all just a bit more playful, happier, and ready for the "Indian Summer Weather." dap

All About Parking in Ocean City, New Jersey

Reading The Sandpaper, one of the best local weeklys here in Ocean City, New Jersey for the four or five months of the summer season, I came across a story: "For this Writer, it's all about Parking.

I can certainly identify with this ... and as the summer season closes out and the locals get all their parking back, it is indeed a delight.

Chris Lowe, the writer, goes on to say: "I hate to see summer go ... But when summer goes away at the Jersey Shore, there is one thing that I look forward to - parking ... Free and effortless parking ... Best of all, parking meters come down in most shore towns ... Free Parking: what every shoredweller lives for."

The story got my attention ... my favorite time of year begins after Labor Day. Our street now has only about ten year round houses in a two-block distance ... in fact, the street is only two blocks long. It's like being in the country. You see the lights, the occasional neighbor walking along ... but oh how different from the summer months!!!

I never mind paying my quarter if and when I find a downtown parking space available in the summer months. Living in a South Jersey shore community enables "locals" to adapt as necessary in summer months. But on October 15th when the dreaded meter heads "lose their time," when the walking ticket-writers lose their jobs ... indeed, it's a time for celebration.

So the shore community returns to what all locals know and understand, don't talk very much about, and just readjust again. From the Thursday before Labor Day to the Wednesday after it, this year (a bit unusual), we celebrated the change of seasons ... not the summer to spring ... but the summer rental season to almost no rentals. Another summer season goes by in Ocean City, New Jersey! dap

09/09/09 everywhere today including Ocean City, New Jersey

There's always magic in numbers ... and even an ex-history teacher can appreciate that. I've dealt in numbers throughout my early teaching career (important dates in history), and later in my years as a high school principal (enrollment, class sizes, won-loss stats, etc.), and again in my second career in real estate for the past 17 years (even looking at 32 years in public education, 17 of those as a high school principal, now 17 years in real estate, and how about this one: 49 years of full time employment. I can even recall my 8 years during high school and college working in the shipping department for a dress factory ... that totaled 24 months or 2 more years.

And that brings us back to real estate and numbers: listing price, selling price, number of properties sold and pending, price reductions, mortgage rates, and on and on. Clearly, we are probably all impacted by the numbers even when we don't think about it. It's one of the reasons why I began to maintain a journal about 6 or 7 years ago. I don't try to make daily entries, but I do make regular ones. And a good bit of my entry remarks also include numbers.

And now let's review the significance of the date that is our posting for today: 09/09/09. Here is what it means to me: it's two days after Labor Day which is the unofficial close of summer. What that really means is that "the kids are back in school," colleges have almost all started, and although summer runs until the close of 09/21/2009; it will really be starting to look more like early fall from now until then.

09/09/09 also could be a trigger point to signal that the "fall buying season" is upon us. That may not be as significant in "the real world" out there, but it is always quite important when one resides on a barrier island with population numbers moving back into the 15,000 numbers. We still have busier weekends, but very slow week days. We still have beach days and warmer water for a time, but the sun doesn't seem quite as hot most days.

Finally, the important point is the buyers still make the effort to search for the right property ... via the internet, on email and the phone, by bike or car as they check out different locations. And they will return in significant numbers visiting the varied "open house" locations, and talking with real estate agents, and making contact with mortgage vendors, and so on.

And next year, 09/06/10 will be Labor Day ... and 09/09/10 will just look like another number on the calendar ... but all those other significant numbers including how many buyers made it down to Ocean City, New Jersey ... and more importantly, how many properties were sold will still be happening!!! dap

"Affordable Island Living ... in Ocean City, New Jersey

I just glanced at The Wall Street Journal (September 4, 2009) ... the "Relative Values" section entitled "Affordable Island Living." The first line reads: "Beach homes that don't break the bank." They have included three locations: Santa Catalina Island, California ... $699,000, a 2BR/2BA condominium in Avalon with two balconies, private deck, shared pool, 18-hole putting green, and croquet court and golf-cart parking ... 22miles off the coast of Los Angeles with ferry running every two hours; Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic ... $630,000, a 2,259 square foot contemporary villa with 3BR/4BA and staff quarters and a two-car garage ... a gated community with an 18-hole golf course, polo, and equestrian facilities; and Harkers Island, North Carolina ... $749,900, an oceanfront of 3,827 square feet with 4BR/5.5BA ... three story home plus elevator, two offices, and a porch with a hot tub.

The above is from THE WALL STREET JOURNAL as mentioned earlier. So as I read it today I decided I might add a fourth "island location" for those reading this blog posting: Ocean City, New Jersey... a two block to two mile wide barrier island about nine miles long running north and south with three bridges from the mainland and one mile from another island further south. This resort community has about 15,000 year-round residents and increases to over 150,000 during the summer season. Often described as "America's Greatest Family Resort," Ocean City has a 2.5 mile Boardwalk running from St James Place to 23rd Street and is known for its ban on alcohol and bars in the city limits.

There are a variety of locations across the island including the Gardens (north of North Street to the end of the island) ... a predominantly single family location, the Northend (south of North Street to north of 6th Street) ... one of the older sections of the island with all of the "800" and "900" blocks to the beach running west to east with very limited cross streets, the Downtown (running from south of 6th Street to north of 14th Street with a variety of stores, restaurants, city hall, motels, etc) ... including the main entrance into the city from Somers Point, 16th to 34th Street (a predominantly condominium area which also includes the Goldcoast (close to the beach), the Bay area (on the west), the Rivera (another predominantly single family section near and on the bay, and the Southend (running from south of 34th Street to the other end of the island).

The entire island includes single family homes, mutli-family properties, and a variety of condominium choices from 2-unit types to much larger multi-unit condominiums in varying sizes from 1BR through 5BR arrangements. All sale listings closer to the bay and ocean have increasing listing prices in both the single family and condominium property categories. The most sale listings are condominiums.

Ocean City is located an hour from Philadelphia and also has relative easy driving distances from New York City and Washington, D.C. You can also fly to Ocean City and land in its own airport. Finally, one of the more interesting draws to our fair city would also be our 30-minute driving distance to Atlantic City.

Contact Dustin A. Peters with French Real Estate, Inc (Ocean City, NJ) for additional information at 888-215-9935 or Dustin@BeachNotes.net dap

A Bicycle Built for Two ... in Ocean City, New Jersey

So a realtor can accomplish a lot in a given day! Here I was wrapping up some notes from a listing meeting with an Owner who will be leaving the country for several weeks in about two weeks. We spent about an hour covering all details and getting things ready so that the Owner could leave the property and Ocean City (NJ) in peace knowing full well that everything would be all right.

As we wrapped things up, he said: "I'll be having a garage sale over the weekend."

I said: "What are the hot items?"

He responded: "A bicycle built for two."

"Hey, I'd like to see that," as we moved out toward the garage. "What are you selling it for?" I inquired.

"Twenty Bucks," he answered, "but you can have it for free."

"No ... if I want it, I'll pay you the $20.00," I answered.

Now I only live about three blocks from this Owner so I told him I would ride the bike home and come back for my car. He even put air in the tires. Now I had never been on "a bicycle built for two" as I hopped on the front seat and drove down the driveway.

"Remember to take a wide turn with the bike ... and you both must be balanced when riding."

"I shouted back ... thank you" ... and managed to make the short bike trip in one piece.

My wife, Leslie, was out of town so I managed to park it in our outdoor bike rack for her return the following day. Upon her return I'm not sure she was as happy with my purchase as I was ... storage problems I believe. But "she'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two ..." I hope. dap