About Ocean City's Gardens

30 Ocean Road ... Single Family Listing "in the Gardens in Ocean City, New Jersey ... JUST REDUCED

Check out this listing at French Real Estate, Inc. - www.FrenchSales.com

30 Ocean Road is an older single family in great condition in the Gardens section of Ocean City (NJ). On a 45x91 foot lot, this 5BR/2.5BA has the charm that many houses just don't have. It has been upgraded with central air along with its gas heat. It has a backyard which many single lack just waiting for the summer gardener willing and able to complete it.

The first floor includes a fairly large entrance "sun room" that leads into a living room. The large inviting dining room includes about 7-8 windows on two sides for lots of light. A new renovated kitchen blends in the old with the new. The kitchen leads to a small downstairs bedroom with a half bath which has previously functioned as a small family room and an office before. The heater room and laundry area is also off the kitchen in the back.

The upstairs includes three larger bedrooms and a small one that also connects to the hall and one bedroom. There are two full baths on the second floor as well.

Back outside in the front one finds a small entrance porch as well as a front paver area with chairs ... head to the side of the house to a small storage garage and driveway.

30 Ocean Road at $669,500 may be the "best buy" in the Gardens for those looking for a charming house well maintained in a quiet location that is still just a short walk to the beach and boards. You can always contact the Listing Agent ... Dustin A. Peters at 888-215-9935 or via email at Dustin@BeachNotes.net dap

Another rainy weekend at the shore ... the Jersey Shore ... Ocean City, New Jersey

A rainy December weekend is always a bit better than a snowy one. Well we can often go through the entire winter without one of the latter. And often it can be a bit warmer here on the barrier island just next to Atlantic City called Ocean City. At the same time, when it rains, you can get a chill that goes to the bone as you walk around the island on a rainy day in winter.

It's been a fairly busy Saturday for me here in the office ... the phones aren't ringing and the people aren't arriving. However, I've been waiting for communication regarding two different sale properties. I represent the Seller in one with his property/my listing receiving a contract and now a counter from the Seller. I represent the Buyer in the other with a contract just about to arrive which will certainly receive a counter. So you play a different kind of game in some ways as you represent the Seller in one deal and the Buyer in another.

I like that aspect because it keeps you on your toes. You negotiate in both situations, but you tend to have a few more cards with the selling side ... but that doesn't mean you always win. In fact, in most cases, the real way to win is to move toward "a win-win situation." As this happens, everyone is happy as a result of playing.

Now that's far better than "a lose-lose situation" where although the deal gets done ... no one is really happy at the moment over what has happened. Generally, the seller in this situation moves on and eventually forgets the matter. But often the buyer who continues with the particular property remains unhappy much longer regardless of the ongoing result seen in better light.

So at least I'm not out in the rain. I'm not out "showing properties" today, but I must deliver the Buyer's Contract to the Seller's Agent before the end of the day. Real estate is an interesting second career ... you have some ups and downs, but at least most of the time you know where you have been and are. "Will be" can always be a question mark.

But overall the negoatiations over two different real estate deals in December in a slow resort community is doing too bad. I'd like to lock up both of them, I'd be happy to settle for a one out of two result, and the game continues. Wish me luck. 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

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

Northend Grill ... on the beach in the Northend/Gardens on the corner of North Street & Beach Road

in Ocean City, New Jersey (a new name, new management, great food, terrific views, experienced people)

I ran into Angelo a couple of weeks ago, and he told me he has opened "the NORTHEND GRILL" on the beach at the corner of North Street and Beach Road. He and some friends operated another "Northend Grill" on the boardwalk in the Northend for quite some time. Now a teacher and coach and working with his friend from before, Jim (a college coach in basketball in the Boston area), are bringing the Northend Grill back to life. What a great idea!!!

Well, this morning we finally got over to the beach restaurant. Just as good as it always was ... a great cook (Angelo), excellent service, a beach setting and view ... breakfast and lunch ... all day. He told me that "the regulars" are returning ... and today it was my wife, Leslie, and me as well as another lady who often spent time at the old restaurant. We just ran into her as we were leaving today.

Great omlet's, pancakes ... exceptional burgers ... sodas, etc. all day long. The Northend Grill is back. I recall playing volleyball next to the grill in the summers 25 plus years ago when the beach grill was called "Richards." We'd have great pick-up games followed by the losers running down to the beach to get cool and coming back for the next game. I spent a lot of time in Richards. I expect to do the same with the return of the Northend Grill.

By the way Leslie had the feta chess omlet this morning, great home fries, rye toast, and hot tea. I had scrambled eggs, home fries, sausage, rye toast, and tea. Don't miss the "specials;" and if you are really hungry, try the 'junk omlet."

I'll be down for lunch later in the week ... maybe we can review the "lunch menu" together. You can always tell that the NORTHEND GRILL is open ... the "open" signs hang with views from Beach Road as well as from the beach ... in fact, you can see the sign from the end of the Boardwalk on St. James Place. Dap