Laura Giannotta Keller Williams Atlantic

Homes for sale in Barnegat - The October 2009 Housing Market Report

Current inventory of homes for sale in Barnegat, NJ is roughly 188 single family units. That compares to the huge inventory during the same month last year, 360 units.

The market appears to be leveling out in Barnegat, NJ, so if you're planning to buy or sell a home in Barnegat call me for more information on neighborhood specifics.

If you're looking for homes for sale in Barnegat, NJ, call or email me.

The votes have been counted…it’s official.

New Jersey has a new Governor-elect, but exit polls reveal Garden State voters have little hope things will change!

Republican Chris Christie out polled incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine in voting yesterday with members of both political parties saying their most important concern was the economy and jobs.

Second on their list of concerns is New Jersey’s high property and income taxes.

What’s most interesting though is that when asked who had a viable tax reform proposal, New Jersey voters said no one!

So is the outcome of this election change for the sake of change?

As the New Jersey gubernatorial campaign winds down, I'm left to reflect on yet another down and dirty Democrat versus Republican battle.

This year's campaign was dominated by scare tactics and the deceptive wording of campaign messages, something not new to New Jersey politics.

What was new this year was a formidable Independent candidate, who didn't catch the attention of the trade associations and the public early enough to garner the support he deserves.

For example, even though the Independent received public campaign financing, the New Jersey Association of REALTORS (NJAR) did not include him on their gubernatorial website. (You'll need your NERDS # to log in and view this site.)

When contacted about the omission, I was told that the NJAR developed its site before the Independent qualified for public financing or was considered a contender.

This is not to say NJAR is the only one at fault, most newspapers with any circulation at all haven't given us all the information. That said, I must note the state's largest newspaper endorsed the Independent for Governor and that caused other media outlets to expand their coverage.

If New Jersey voters really want to control government spending and bring down taxes, we need to demand information on ALL the candidates. The Democrats and Republicans have failed New Jersey time and time again...perhaps there is another option.

Tomorrow's Election Day and the debate will turn to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) tactics, which is why we say here in New Jersey...

Politics has always been considered sport in New Jersey. From our locally elected Boards of Chosen Freeholders to our off year gubernatorial elections, New Jersey voters seem to relish our down and dirty campaigns.

But this year, our gubernatorial election scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd, will have to vie for voter attention. You see as much as we love a good political fight, we also love battling among ourselves in a north-south showdown of Philadelphia and New York teams!

So lining up on one side you have South Jersey (roughly Trenton and south) cheering their Phillies, and our neighbors to the north doing the same for their Yankees!

Me, I'm not paying much attention to either! I plan to vote Independent and I'm a Mets fan!

Little Egg Harbor, NJ has received help to preserve what's left of its maritime forest.

At one time most of the Ocean County shore area was covered with maritime forest. But development in Manahawkin and Little Egg Harbor, NJ started fast and furious in the 60's and much of this integral part of the Jersey Shore ecosystem was lost. These forests are an important stop for migratory birds, and a natural barrier during storms and hurricanes.

Perhaps the largest preserved maritime forest in Ocean County, NJ is found at Island Beach State Park. On Long Beach Island, the protected area around the Barnegat Light House has a 1/5 mile walk through what's left of the maritime forest there.

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Now, through the efforts of the Little Egg Harbor Natural Lands Trust Advisory Committee, the Ocean County Freeholders and the Trust for Public Land, these 46 pristine acres, which were once slated for 73 new homes, are protected.

It's located off Radio Road on the southern tip of Ocean County and surrounded by both residential development and thousands of acres of protected tidal wetlands in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Bay Wildlife Management Area.

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The total purchase price for this 46 acre tract on Osborn Island in Little Egg Harbor was $3.5 million.