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Ocean City, NJ Real Estate News

By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
The Ocean City Arts Center ... Ocean City, New Jersey   The Ocean City Arts Center is certainly a major force and support for "the arts" in Ocean City, New Jersey.  They continue to schedule activities and events for the public as well as workshops and programs for young and older art-talented individuals and others who might be interested in learning specific areas.   Here are the "summer 2009" dates to remember that I read on a recent program sent to my wife, Leslie:   June 21 ... Marian Talese Piano Recital June 22 ... Art Camp Begins July 1 ... Last Day for BAS Applications July 4 ... Closed for Independence Day July 6 ... Summer Classes Begin July 8 ... Summer Luncheon (Japan in July) July 10 ... Richard Samuelson Reception August 7 ... Devom Yalkin Reception August 9 ... Last Day ...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
The 2nd Major Rental Week of Ten (Now 11-Week) Season starts this week:  June 27 - July  4, 2009 in Ocean City, New Jersey.   We are actually coming off the June 20-27, 2009 week (which is a bit later than usual for the month of June which caused a lot of rental tenants to choose that week because it was just right after school left out, and it was a lower priced week.  So as we move to the June 27-July 4, 2009 week we find more tenants leaving than arriving (at least in our agency office).  Remember we rent primarily in the Northend and Gardens sections of Ocean City (NJ) ... that area from 6th Street north to the end of the island.   Another interesting footnote:  the June 27th week (Saturday-to-Saturday) ends on July 4th ... so you will have one group of tenants leaving on the 4th of...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
I've got the "computer problem" blues ... here in Ocean City, New Jersey   It happened sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning ... that's when I found out about two significant problems with my laptop computer and my connection to Yahoo.  It took me three full days to sort out the real issues, find the right people to solve them, and get myself back into the ball game. The funny thing (but it really isn't that funny) about technology ... you quickly get used to using it, you are now dependent on it, and it always works ... until it lets you down.  That's when your heartaches begin.  My first discovery on Sunday was that my laptop in its protective case tipped over ... a mini fall.  It had happened before.  In fact, I didn't give it much thought.  But when I got to the offic...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
There's nothing worse than a rainy Check-In Day in Ocean City, New Jersey   When you've been in real estate as long as I have in a resort community, you have more or less seen most everything.  Maybe the occasional new thing.  But there's nothing quite as bad as a very rainy "check-in" day when the rental parties arrive between 2:00 & 5:00 PM to a major downpour.  Actually, it wasn't as bad as some days yesterday (Saturday) when it poured plus off-and-on-rain for most of the day.   So the cars came in, they talked about the weather report here and where they came from, they asked about the weather for the rest of the week, and they tried to remain as happy as possible for the sake of the children in the car waiting for them.  Welcome to June (and even Summer which arrived today ... alth...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Ocean City Tabernacle ... "Summer 2009 Preview" in Ocean City, New Jersey   From late April through late September, one can always find an interesting speaker or musical event, usually on Saturdays or Sundays (but some other days as well) at the Ocean City Tabernacle at 555 Wesley Avenue in Ocean City, New Jersey.  A good way to review the programs would be to visit their web-site at www.OCTabernacle.org  This has been a tradition in Ocean City for quite some time.    I have personally identified Tony Campolo (Author/Professor), who I have heard speak before, who will be there at 7PM on June 28th, the King's Brass (9-piece Ensemble Concert) scheduled at 7PM on July 19th, Guy Doud (National Teacher of the Year) and scheduled at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM on July 26th, plus several others that ...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Summer Rental Update ... in Ocean City, New Jersey   This is just an update because you really should not look at rental weeks taken until after the season.  For example, the later weeks of the summer ... August 15, August 22, and even August 29 will still receive a lot of rentals as the season progresses.  But I like to review things along the way too.  Let's look at the "totals to date:"   The "top four weeks of the summer" are about the same every year:  (#1) 8/1-8, (#2) 8/8-15, (#3) 7/25-8/1, and (#4) 7/18-25/2009.  The last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August are the major weeks of the summer.   The "next four significant weeks" are (#5) 7/11-18, (#6) 7/4-11, (#7) 6/20-27, and (#8) 8/15-22.  Note that June 20th week, an early one that won't improve in that it starts...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
The 2nd Quarter of the 2009 Calendar Year is only 11 days away but here is a quick preview of what to expect.   Single Family 63 single family sale listings were reported as of today ... 53 sold and 10 pending properties   Multi-Family 13 multi-family sale listings were reported as of today ... 9 sold and 4 pending properties   Condominiums   273 condominium sale listings were reported as of today ... 203 sold and 70 pending properties   That represents a total of 349 properties sold or pending from January 1 through June 19, 2009.  Most of that activity has taken place in the second quarter, from April 1 through June 19, 2009 ... although some "pending" property was probably under contract in the first quarter.  We appear to be on par with the 2007 and 2008 calendar years, but we still...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Summer Music in and around Ocean City, New Jersey   The crowds have started to arrive here in Ocean City in the weeks between Memorial Day and the first bigger week of the season ... June 20-27, 2009.  Obviously, all the weekends since the kick-off on Memorial Day Weekend have been busy ones; but the June weeks are much slower with a lot of seniors from high schools far and wide as well as college students and others arriving for summer work downtown and on the boardwalk. One attraction in and around Ocean City is the various music groups and bands who can be found almost anywhere ... from Tuckahoe Inn on Route 9 in Beesley's Point out on the bayfront to any other establishment that offers entertainment.  But one of the winners is certainly the "Beach Concert Series" in Somers Point ......
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Summer Reading (BOOKMARKS) in Ocean City, New Jersey   Two years ago I discovered "BOOKMARKS" a magazine published every other month at good bookstores for $5.95 a copy.  I purchased a copy, read it through, even saved it for later reference.  It was a great magazine for readers like me.  So for the past two Christmas holidays I have given five gifts of a subscription for BOOKMARKS.  My list includes my boss (Craig) in the real estate firm (he also gets a bottle of homemade wine), my brother-in-law (Mark), my sister-in-law (Patty) who reads even more than I do, my daughter-in-law (Cori), and my wife (Leslie) who gets the first shot at reading it (but I'm next and the keeper of old copies).  What's so darn good about the magazine is that it offers ideas and book selections that I haven't...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Getting Back in the Groove ... in Ocean City, New Jersey   As all realtors know, when you get in a groove (or a streak ... or whatever you choose to call it), you are in the zone (or on top of the "peak" as the PEAKS & VALLEYS book by Johnson suggests).  I've been in that zone for about two or three weeks.  I've been interacting with Buyers and Sellers almost daily ... meeting Owners, visiting properties, communicating, writing "comparative market analysis after analysis, and following up one more time.  I may have four-to-six more sale listings in the next month.  Wow!  But at the same time, I've been hit with Buyer emails, phone calls, drop-ins, etc.  So I've been showing a lot of properties ... two-to-three hour shuffle getting in, getting out, debriefing, even writing sale contracts...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
More About Ocean City ... "The Clam Bar" just across the Causeway in Somers Point ... (Ocean City, New Jersey)   June isn't necessarily my favorite month here in Ocean City, but it is an important month ... the time when we slowly make that change from a sleepy little barrier island town to a full and complete resort ... for about a three month busy period. But one of my favorite changes during this month is the "opening" of "Smitty's Clam Bar," or just "Smitty's."  I refer to it as a kind of "dairy queen look" with good food.  I like June during the week at the Clam Bar because it will be the slowest time of the summer.  It opens in early June and runs through mid-September (not really a set time, but that is how I see it).  My wife, Leslie, and I like to go over in a cool June evening...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Working with a Buyer ... The 1st Visit to Ocean City, New Jersey   You spend your life looking for Buyers and Sellers ... they are everywhere and anywhere, but sometimes (for each of us) nowhere.  Alas, but now you have one ... a first time "resort buyer," certainly wise to the ways of the world, an owner of real estate ... but knowing ever so little about this new world of the second home, the investment property ... the fact that the land value of everything makes it all so very different.  As a former teacher and school administrator, it is quite easy for me to pull out "my old educator's hat," a bit worn around the edges, but functional.  Actually I often wear my pink "French Real Estate" baseball cap, or my blue  "Beach Notes" baseball cap - not quite as daring.  It's all about get...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Voting in New Jersey ... Primary ... Ocean City, NJ   As many of you know from my blog postings, I've been in NJ for quite some time, but only for a short time as a NJ citizen.  So we have gone through the insurance forms, the license plates, the NJ license, and more.  We also were able to register to vote when we signed up for our licenses.  But things are different here in NJ as compared to PA.  Let's review some of that. We find the NJ operations much more county-oriented than in PA.  We have been contacted by the county (Cape May) at least three times regarding our voter registration.  Very informative.  We feel that they are certainly on the ball.  We were assigned to vote at a local church about five or six blocks from our house.  We voted at that location and walked to and from t...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Part 3 - You Can't Take Things too seriously in the Summer (Ocean City, NJ) So I had my friends, Christine and Bill, listen to or read the last posting ... and all three of us offered additional ideas that should be in writing.  This is (for sure) the last posting of the day ... and the third and final part of what was foolishly begun.   Automobile driving, bicycle riding, and even walking represent additional rewards and concerns here in Ocean City.  Clearly, the experienced drivers, bikers, and walkers have all been here and done it before.  It's the newcomers that we worry for and about.  I must add we also worry about ourselves too ... but we all have accumulated a number of summers of experience. I forgot the "car door opening" and either getting taken off by a passing car, or havi...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
You Can't Things Too Seriously In the Summer ... Ocean City, New Jersey (Part 1 - Introduction) One of several postings regarding the ongoing arrival of summer ... note:  we've had the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day Weekend ... and now we have the opportunity for "long weekend practice" for several weeks in June plus the coming end-of-May weekend.  "Practice what," you say.  Well read on and enjoy! I had my first close shave in terms of avoiding an accident today going North on Central at 7th Street.  Fortunately, I'm in my "summer defensive driving mode" which includes going very slow, driving my VW Convertible which attracts attention and enables me to park almost anywhere, and always staying alert at each and every intersection. I say that the driver on 7th stop at the st...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Why Real Estate Agents Like Title Companies ... here in Ocean City, New Jersey   As everyone knows, the Buyer selects the title company to go to for closing.  The Seller follows accordingly.  Now some parts of New Jersey work much differently than other parts.  Since I am in South Jersey, in particular the shore points, I have very limited experiences elsewhere.  On the rare occasion I must go to a closing out of the Ocean City area.  So I have come to appreciate the title companies in our little corner of the world ... Ocean City, New Jersey. I'm going to single out one, in particular, for this posting because they certainly went the "extra mile" on my behalf, and on behalf of the Seller that I represent.  One might say:  "why did they do this?"  The answer is that this is an exception...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
What's Been Happening In & Around Ocean City, New Jersey   My wife and I attended an "Ocean City Fine Arts League" Movie Night" on May 21st at St. Peter's United Methodist Church, Eighth and Central Avenue.  Showing times are 7PM, and movie nights will continue every other month through January, 2010.  These "Art-Related Movies" represent a good way for the Art League to introduce itself to others as well as provide specific entertainment for both it s members and the community. The donation is $5.00 per person ... and they also have a popcorn machine so you purchase a treat.  You can contact Bill Sines (Artist) at 609-653-4330 or sinesw@verzion.net.  Another phone number was also listed for obtaining more information:  609-814-0308. The first film was "The Rape of Europa:  How the seco...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Coastal Living ... the monthly magazine dealing with "lifestyles" along the waters of this country including Ocean City, New Jersey   I have been an original subscriber, a charter member I believe they refer to me, with Coastal Living since they first started to publish (now maybe 7-10 years).  Perhaps the best way to find out about this great magazine is to visit its web-site at coastalliving.com ... or another way would be to purchase a copy at your favorite bookstore.   This monthly magazine makes an effort to publish articles from the east coast to the west coast in the United States as well as other locations connecting with water.  The features usually cover several shore locations with housing features ... interior and exterior, loads of great ideas and pictures, varied locations...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Memorial Day Weekend 2009 ... Here today, gone tomorrow ... Ocean City, New Jersey   Last week as we near Thursday and Friday, one could feel the change in the air, the momentum of people crossing the Causeway, the cars on the Longport Bridge, the slower traffic looking for a street and driving so slow that cars backed up to the next street.  The unofficial start of summer was getting started, and by Saturday morning cars were everywhere ... and so were people.  In a resort community like Ocean City, New Jersey; certain weekends represent key time factors.  And Memorial Day Weekend is always one of them. French Real Estate decided to advertise several "open house" showings on Saturday and Sunday.  We had three properties open on Saturday ... two on Sunday.  Sunday was the winner with ov...
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By Dustin A. Peters, Your "Northend & Gardens" Contact in Ocean City!!!
(Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
Random Thoughts on my numerous blog postings ... Ocean City,  New Jersey   A lot of people tell me ... "how do you get so much time to write a blog posting?"  I say:  "when I take a few minutes to write one (and I tend to think and write and type at the same time), it is a relaxing experience for me.  It's a way to think about sharing some ideas, thoughts, frustrations, etc. ... a time-out from the world of real estate until the next phone call comes in. When I was a high school principal (for 17 years no less), I recall walking into the auditorium sitting down in a seat somewhere in the dark for five minutes and reflecting on what was happening in my life.  I also used to get home, and my wife would ask me what I had done all day.  I often found myself saying:  "I can't remember."  Aft...
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