Jersey Shore Views...

Homes for Sale In Barnegat – Barnegat, NJ March 2010 Housing Market Report 

There were 323 homes for sale in Barnegat in March, 2010, up slightly from the February, 2010 Barnegat Housing Market Report.  There was little change from February in all areas but new listings.  New listings of homes for sale in Barnegat increased from 55 in February to a whopping 82 in March!  

You can compare that to the figures from the same period in 2009.

Of the homes sold in Barnegat in March, 10 were homes in Barnegat's adult communities and none were Barnegat waterfront homes.

If you're interested in homes for sale in Barnegat and need the advice of an Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR®) give me a call.  If you are considering listing a home for sale in Barnegat, or need information on a possible short sale in Barnegat, let's talk!

Homes for Sale in Manahawkin - Manahawkin, NJ March, 2010 Housing Market Report

The average number of home for sale in Manahawkin stood at about 450 during the month of March, up from the average of 430 homes for sale in Manahawkin in February, 2010. 

New listings of homes for sale in Manahawkin was up substantially in March, as was the median sold price of homes in Manahawkin over the February report.

Compare these figures to the Manahawkin Housing Market Report from one year ago.

It's far too early to say that we're in the midst of a turnaround.  Once the government incentives for home buyers expires, we will see if these figures indicate a substantial change in homes for sale and homes sold in Manahawkin. 

If you're interested in homes for sale in Manahawkin and need the advice of an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) at the Jersey Shore give me a call. Of if you're considering listing a home for sale in Manahawkin, let's talk! 

If you've been wondering about the signs all over the place, Greg has a wonderful post...Steel Magnolias comes to LEH!  (For those not from the area, that's Little Egg Harbor Township, off exit 58 on the Garden State Parkway).

You can't have missed the signs as you're driving about town!

Greg explains we've got our own local stars, and the best (drum roll please)...a portion of the net proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Take a read, it's fun for a cause in Little Egg Harbor,NJ!   

In an effort to make more people aware of the millions of pets in need of good homes, the US Postal Service is beginning the ‘Stamps to the Rescue’ campaign!

Starting April 30^th stamps featuring the photographs of pets rescued from shelters will go on sale.

..

This campaign continues the USPS history of raising awareness of serious social issues through commemorative stamps. 

The ten stamp photos (5 dogs and 5 cats) were all adopted in photographer Susan Anderson-Bruce’s hometown of New Milford, Connecticut. 

At an old country church before services started yesterday, the congregation was sitting in their pews and talking.

All of a sudden Satan appeared at the front of the church.
 
The congregation panicked and everyone was screaming and running for the front entrance in an effort to get away from the Devil. 
 
Soon the church was empty except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving.  He seemed to be oblivious to the fact that God’s ultimate enemy was in his presence.
 
Satan was puzzled by this.  So he walked up to the man and said, "Do you know who I am?" 
 
The man replied, “Yep, sure do.”
 
“Aren’t you afraid of me?” Satan asked.
 
“Nope, sure ain’t,” said the man.
 
“Did you know that I can cause you profound, horrifying AGONY for all eternity?” Satan persisted.
 
“Don’t doubt it for a minute,” replied the old man, in an even tone.
 
“And you are still not afraid?” asked Satan.
 
“Nope,” said the old man
 
More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, “Why aren’t you afraid of me?”
 
The man calmly replied, “Been married to your sister for 48 years.”
 

This weekend is National Association of Realtors® Open House Weekend. 

 
There are 179 Open Houses this weekend according to the Jersey Shore Multiple Listing Service, which covers Ocean County.  150 of those Open Houses are in southern Ocean County (my Jersey Shore).  Take a look! 

An Excuse to Get Outside---Preventative Maintenance to Protect Your Investment
 
Unfortunately, homes do not maintain themselves.  I advise my clients to  budget for routine maintenance and repair for the house and yard.

Large, irregular expenses will occur as our homes age. Those huge expenses are interior and exterior painting, repairs or replacement of the heating and air conditioning units and appliances, floor coverings and roof surfaces.

Most experts recommend setting aside 1-3 percent of the market value of your home each year to pay for maintenance and repair costs. Even though all of these funds may not be needed, the accumulated amounts will help you prevent a budget crisis when it is time for large future expenses such as re-roofing or replacing a heating unit.

Here are some home maintenance items you can take care of this spring (and enjoy the fine spring weather as well).

1 .Mark and monitor small/hairline cracks in foundation. If stable after a few months fill with epoxy. If they've expanded beyond one half inch, call a structural engineer.

2. Inspect basement/crawl spaces for seepage/leakage.
 
3. Inspect roof for any missing, loose or damaged shingles.

4. Check and clean air conditioning and furnace systems. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

5. Clean and/or replace the AC/furnace filters. Adjust thermostats for season change.

6. Check and clean gutters, downspouts and extensions and repair/replace as needed.
 
7. If you didn't check smoke detectors, fire escape routes, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide alarms and window locks when you set the clocks ahead, do so now.

8. If you have a fireplace check flue to make sure it is closed for warmer weather.

9. Scrape, caulk and paint any wood surfaces that have peeled or weathered.
 
10. Clean and inspect your lawn mower and other power tools and equipment.

The history of deforestation probably dates back to pre-historic times, as populations sought areas on the fringe of a forested area.

The reasons for this preference could have been easier access to forest products, easier hunting, and  more rain around the area that aided farming.

Whatever the reasons behind the start of deforestation, many say it has assumed alarming proportions and is threatening the ecosystem and delicate balance between man, nature and life-supporting atmosphere.

Deforestation has not only resulted in irreversible damage to the natural habitat of many wildlife species, but is on the verge of creating major problems for our canine friends!

..