Jersey Shore Views...

New Jersey is in the midst of it's second major winter storm.  The snow began last night.  This is what it looked like at 8am.

There is a blizzard warning in effect, and it's expected we'll have accumulation of up to 25 inches.  The worst of the storm will hit early this afternoon with increasing winds up to 40 to 50 miles per hour, out of the north-northeast.  That's not good news for long Beach Island, already suffering severe from fall and winter beach erosion.

The National Weather Service has also posted a flood warning for the coastal areas of the Jersey.  High tide this afternoon is expected to bring the most widespread tidal flooding.  High tides today will occur between 1:30pm and 3pm.  The high tide occurs later in the coastal wetlands and lagoons. The wave action during the high tide is the cause of beach erosion. 

There's not much to do now, it's snowing too hard to even think about digging out, so we'll sit back and enjoy the ride!

February 6, 2010 9am Manahawkin Time!

It's back...President Obama has again called for limitations on the Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction.  Lenn Harley has been telling us about this for quite a while.

This IS a big deal, so contact your congressional representatives and share your opinion.  If you don't know how to contact them click here.

Here's the letter I just emailed to my representatives.  Feel free to use it all or in part. 

An Open Letter to Senators Lautenberg and Menendez & Congressman Adler:

As a REALTOR® and an Accredited Buyers Representative® working with home buyers in southern Ocean County, I'd like to call attention to a portion of President Obama's budget message that is cause for concern.

The President's budget proposal includes changes to the Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction.  This proposed change only effects families earning over $250,000, but it could be the first step toward total elimination of one of the primary benefits of home ownership.  

President Obama doesn't target the Mortgage Interest Deduction directly, rather he wants to cap the rate of all itemized deductions for couples or families over that $250,000 ($200,000 for individuals)  earning limit. 

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR®) claims enactment of this proposal will set off a new round of home price depreciation, creating a new housing crisis.

I'll leave the depreciation arguments to NAR®.  What I do know is my first time home buyer clients cite the Mortgage Interest Deduction as the major reason buying rather than renting makes financial sense.

Don't underestimate the importance of first time home buyers.  The Consumer Confidence Index by the NAR® Research Division in December 2009 indicated 43% of the homes sold were purchased by first time home buyers.

Enactment of President Obama's limit of Mortgage Interest Deductions could have a chilling effect on these first time home buyers and buyers at all economic levels. Consumer doubt and uncertainty is not what our Country's economy needs as we struggle toward recovery.

Please oppose any changes to the Mortgage Interest Deductions.

Sincerely,

Laura Giannotta
Manahawkin, NJ

Information on Dog and Cat Licensing in Barnegat, Little Egg Harbor, Stafford Township (Manahawkin) and Tuckerton

Responsible dog and cat owners at the Jersey Shorehave just a few more days to obtain or renew licenses for their pets.  Some municipalities charge a late fee if the license is not obtained by January 31st.

New Jersey law requires the owners of all dogs that seven months of age or older have a municipal license.  In order for the license to be issued, the owner must present proof that a licensed veterinarian has vaccinated the dog against rabies and that the duration of immunity from that vaccination extends through at least ten months of the twelve-month licensing period.

State law allows an exemption to the rabies inoculation requirement if the owner presents written certification from a licensed veterinarian that the dog cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition or course of therapy.

Dog licensing fees in Barnegat, Manahawkin, Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton, and all municipalities for that matter, are set by municipal ordinance but there is a maximum.  No licensing fee charged by a municipality can exceed $21.00 annually.

License fees are kept by the municipality and used for animal and rabies control activities. But the state get its hand in there too.

Municipal licensing clerks also collect the following additional fees when the dog is licensed:

-$1.00 for each dog licensed that is forwarded to the state for the Rabies Trust Fund to support State rabies and animal control programs
-$3.00 is charged by the municipality for unneutered dogs and sent to the state to fund New Jersey's low cost spay and neuter program
-$0.20 for each dog licensed that is forwarded to the state to defray the costs of operating The People for Animals, Inc. the state's largest a low cost spay and neuter clinic.

The  Barnegat dog and cat license application is available here.

The Tuckerton dog license application is available here.

The Little Egg Harbor dog license application is not available online, but you can call 609-296-0675 for more information.

If you have a dog or cat in Manahawkin (Stafford Township) that was licensed last year the renewal application was mailed to you.  If you have a new pet, Stafford Township dog and cat license applications are available at the Municipal Building on Bay Avenue.  (Note that to get a dog and cat license in Manahawkin the vaccination certificate must be good through December 31st.)  Further information is available by calling Animal Control at 609-597-1000 x 8525.

For responsible dog and cat owners in southern Ocean County at the Jersey Shore, free rabies vaccinations are available every other Wednesday, at the Southern Ocean County Animal Facility, 360 Haywood Road in Manahawkin.  An appointment is necessary.  Call 609-978-0127.

For information on low cost spay and neuter programs in southern Ocean County and the Jersey Shore, visit the Friends of the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter.

                            
All photos are from the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter. The dogs and cats pictured are available for adoption. 

New Jersey’s new law permitting rebates in residential real estate transactions is already drawing consumer questions. 

On January 19, 2010, former Governor Jon Corzine signed  A-373 into law, permitting rebates to consumers in real estate transactions.  The bill’s intention is outlined in it’s explanatory statement:

“This bill amends R.S.45:15-17 to permit a real estate broker, broker-salesperson or salesperson to give a client a rebate from the commission that the real estate broker, broker-salesperson or sales person receives in a transaction.” 

While the New Jersey Association of REALTORS^®(NJAR) originally opposed this measure when it was first introduced, but as the bill moved forward NJAR^® negotiated several amendments with the sponsors that increase consumer protection.

The NJAR^®-secured amendments included in the final version of A-373:

• State that only brokers can offer rebates to those buying property, rather than allowing all real estate licensees to offer rebates to buyers and sellers.
• Mandate that rebates only be in the form of a credit or check.
• Require that rebates be documented in a contract at the beginning of a brokerage relationship in a written or electronic form or in a buyer agency agreement.
• Ensure that rebates can only be provided in connection with purchases of residential property.

Although this new law took effect immediately after being signed, the New Jersey Real Estate Commission (REC) must adopt new regulations necessary to implement the law.

Under current REC regulations offering rebates is prohibited.  NJAR® expects the REC to send out an advisory in February clarifying the law.

Click here for the final version of the new law.

Retirement Communities in Little Egg Harbor - Mystic Shores

Mystic Shores

The Mystic Shores adult community in Little Egg Harbor was built in the mid 1980's.  Mystic Shores offers single family attached and detached homes.

In January, 2010 there are 18 homes for sale in Mystic Shores adult community.  They range in price from $70,000 for an 1100 square foot, two bedroom one bath attached home to $179,000 for a detached 2 bedroom, 2 bath home with a one car garage. 

Home owner fees at Mystic Shores currently stand at about $70 monthly and taxes on a detached home run about $2800 annually.  There are 525 units in the Mystic Shores retirement community in Little Egg Harbor.

Links to other retirement communities in Little Egg Harbor:

Four Seasons at Harbor Bay

Sea Oaks Retirement and Golf Community

Cranberry Creek in Little Egg Harbor

Sunrise Bay Retirement Community

Little Egg Harbor Retirement Communities - Sunrise Bay

Sunrise Bay

The Sunrise Bay retirement community in Little Egg Harbor was built by the Kleiner Group and is located about 15 minutes off of the Garden State Parkway (Exit 58).

The Sunrise Bay adult community completed construction in 2005.  Homes at Sunrise Bay range in size from nearly 1300 to just over 2100 square feet.  There are both 1 story ranches and 2 story loft homes for sale at Sunrise Bay in Little Egg Harbor.

The Sunrise Bay Clubhouse features a pool, exercise room, billiards, card rooms and more.

..

There are currently (January, 2010) 3 homes for sale in Little Egg Harbor's Sunrise Bay retirement community.

Monthly homeowner association fees are $120. Annual taxes range from about $3600 to over $4000 annually. 

The Sunrise Bay adult community consists of 325 single family homes.

Links to other retirement communities in Little Egg Harbor:

Four Seasons at Harbor Bay

Sea Oaks Retirement and Golf Community

Cranberry Creek in Little Egg Harbor

If you need more information on retirement in southern Ocean County's Little Egg Harbor, please contact me! 

Good news for New Jersey home buyers and sellers!  Governor Corzine has signed into law legisltion that requires up to 16 hours of continuing education for New Jersey REALTORS.

It won't be long now before New Jersey's new Governor, Chris Cristie, is sworn in.  But the New Jersey Association of REALTORS (NJAR) just reported via Twitter, that Governor Corzine has signed the continuing education bill.

The continuing education courses are not contained in the new law.  An advisory committee will be appointed to decide what will and will not qualify for continuing ed credit.

More on the new law is available here.

Good job New Jersey REALTORS...Good job NJAR! 

Little Egg Harbor Retirement Communities-Cranberry Creek

Cranberry Creek

The Cranberry Creek adult community in Little Egg Harbor is built by the Kleiner Group.  Construction began 2003. This is an active adult community for people over 55.  Home sizes range up to 2,400 sq ft and offer 2-3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 9' ceilings and a 1 or 2 car garage.  All Cranberry Creek homes in Little Egg Harbor are built to Energy Star specifications. The clubhouse has a fitness center, pool, bocce, tennis and more.

Many Cranberry Creek models have optional sun rooms, dens, and screened porches.  All homes feature 2 or 3 bedrooms, 1-2 car garages and all back up to the woods.  There are still some new, quick delivery homes at the Cranberry Creek adult community today with prices starting at about $219,000. 

The Cranberry Creek Emerson model is just over 1,200 square feet and has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with a one car garage.  The Cranberry Creek Whitman model has 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths and a two car garage, pricing on this 2400 square foot model starts at about $260,000. 

Quick delivery new homes in the Cranberry Creek adult community in Little Egg Harbor are available starting at $219,000 for the Cranberry Creek Faulkner III model to $240,000 for a Fitzgerald III model.

The Jersey Shore Multiple Listing Service in January, 2010 shows there are 2 previously owned homes for sale in Little Egg Harbor's Cranberry Creek...a 2 bed/2 bath for $189,000 and for $240,000 in Cranberry Creek there's a 3 bed/2.5 bath home. 

Cranberry Creek's monthly maintenance fees run $129.  Taxes range from $3,000 to $4600 annually for the homes for sale in Little Egg Harbor's Cranberry Creek.

Some Little Egg Harbor Links of Interest

Sea Oaks Retirement and Golf Community

Four Seasons at Harbor Bay-The Jersey Shore's Newest Adult Community

Four Seasons at Sea Oaks in Little Egg Harbor - The Jersey Shore's Premier Retirement & Golf Community

Four Seasons at Sea Oaks

Four Seasons at Sea Oaks is an adult community in Little Egg Harbor that is built around the Sea Oaks Country Club, on Route 539, just east of Harbor Bay and  minutes from exit 58 on the Garden State Parkway.

K Hovnanian built 375 homes at Sea Oaks between 2000 and 2007. The homes at Four Seasons at Sea Oaks in Little Egg Harbor have 2-3 bedroom and 2 car garages and some models have lofts. Homes range in size from 1,190 to 3,400 square feet.

The Four Seasons at Sea Oaks adult community in Little Egg Harborhas a clubhouse offering indoor/outdoor pools, exercise facilities, tennis, bocce, meeting and card rooms and more. There is a restaurant with bar and even a small hotel for overnight guests.

In January, 2010 we have 12 homes available in the Sea Oaks community.  They range in price from $229,000 for a 2 bedroom/2 bath home to $490,000 for a 3 bedroom/3 bath home with a finished basement.

Monthly maintenance fees at Sea Oaks run about $175, and taxes range from $3,900 to $5,800 annually.

Perhaps the biggest draw to the Sea Oaks retirement community is the semi-private Sea Oaks Golf Course.

Sea Oaks Golf Courseis an 18-hole championship course designed by Ray Hearn.  It opened for play in 2000. Sea Oakstakes full advantage of the terrain of southern Ocean County.  It blends in with the Pinelands using native plants and trees for borders and traps.  Sea Oaks is a par 72 course offering five sets of tees to accommodate a variety of handicaps.

Some Little Egg Harbor links of interest:

Four Seasons at Harbor Bay, A New Adult Community in Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Homes for Sale in Little Egg Harbor, NJ - December, 2009 Housing Market Report