Jersey Shore Views...: September 2010

There will soon be state mortgage assistance for New Jersey's unemployed and underemployed.

New Jersey will be receiving $112 million in federal funding for anti-foreclosure assistance to help struggling homeowners. The allocation will be distributed to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) through the Hardest-Hit Fund, a federal foreclosure-prevention initiative.

The New Jersey Home Keeper (NJHK) program, will be launched in January, 2011.  It will be administered through the HMFA and is designed to assist unemployed and underemployed homeowners in New Jersey make their monthly mortgage payments for up to 24 months.  
 
Since 2006, foreclosures have skyrocketed nearly 200 percent in the Garden State. 
 
The New Jersey Home Keeper program will provide a zero percent interest rate, deferred payment mortgage loans to unemployed and underemployed homeowners, who through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.

The program allows time for the homeowner to seek re-employment or complete job training programs.  The assistance will also help with mortgage arrears that may have accrued due to lost employment income.  The HMFA has said these loans will also be available to New Jersey homeowners who are participating in a permanent loan modification program. 
 
Loans will be capped at $48,000 per household and will not exceed 24 months.  The average assistance loan is expected to be $38,000.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency is drafting the rules and regulations for the NJ Home Keeper program, and hopes to roll it out in January, 2011.

For information on HMFA foreclosure programs as well as all other HMFA programs, log on to www.nj-hmfa.com.

Books and More in Barnegat:
Annual Friends of the Library Book/Media Collection & Sale


The annual Friends of the Barnegat Library (FOL) Annual Book/Media Sale is scheduled for October 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Donations for the sale can be dropped of at the Library on Burr Street on October 4^th and 5^th.  The annual sale is the non profit organization’s primary fund raising activity. 
 
The Friends of the Barnegat Library is a not for profit organization.  Its mission is to promote the Library’s programs and resources.  The FOL also provides funds to the Library so it may better serve the community.
 
Again this year the Friends of the Barnegat Library will collect books for two days prior to the sale in the rear of the Library.  Book collection is scheduled on October 5^th and 6^th from 10am till 5pm in the rear of the Library.
 
During the drop off, FOL volunteers will be on hand to sort and prepare the books for display at the sale.
 
Books and all things media may be dropped off at the Barnegat Library between 10 and 5 on Monday and Tuesday, October 4^th and 5^th. (Please no damaged items.)  If you can't get to the Library, the Friends will try to arrange pick-up.  Call Laura at 609-384-6121 or Murray at 609-660-1179.
 
The Annual Barnegat Friends of the Library Book/Media Sale is scheduled October 6^th through the 8^th, during Library hours.

When I was coming out of church the preacher was standing, as he does, shaking hands with members of the congregation as they left.  I saw the preacher grab my friend by the hand and pull him aside.  I moved closer to hear what was going on.

The Pastor said, "You need to join the army of the Lord!"

My friend said, "I'm already in the Army of the Lord, sir."

The Pastor asked, "If you're in the Army of the Lord, why do I only see you on Christmas and Easter?"

My friend whispered back, "Shh, I'm in the secret service."

Little Egg Harbor's Sunrise Bay Adult Community - 2010 Housing Market Report

Only two homes in Little Egg Harbor's Sunrise Bay retirement community have sold since January, and not one home has sold since June.

	Address 20 Pier Point	List $ $212,900	Sale Date 04/28/2010	Sold $ $205,900	DOM 78	SqFt 1,595	Bed 2	Ba 2
	16 Pier Point	$231,666	05/27/2010	$217,000	224	1,600	2	2

 Two homes in the Sunrise Bay adult community sold during the same period in 2009.

	Address 10 Sunrise Bay	List $ $209,900	Sale Date 03/20/2009	Sold $ $183,000	DOM 137	Sq Ft 1,270	Bed 2	Ba 2
	20 Reef Lane	$245,000	01/14/2009	$220,500	89	1,750	2	2

There are currently 8 homes for sale in Sunrise Bay, ranging in price from $180,000 for 2 bedroom, 2 bath with a one car garage to $285,000 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home with double garage and remodeled kitchen.

If you like to know more about Sunrise Bay in Little Egg Harbor, or would like to see all the homes for sale in Sunrise Bay, call or email me!
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Little Egg Harbor's Mystic Shores Retirement Community - 2010 Housing Market Report

There are currently 17 homes for sale in Mystic Shores, Little Egg Harbor's most affordable adult community.  Since January, 2010 seventeen homes have sold, making Mystic Shores the most active sector of the housing market in all Little Egg Harbor's retirement communities.

	Address 251 Lexington Dr	List $ $90,000	Sale Date 02/08/2010	Sale $ $50,000	DOM 329	Sq Ft 1,100	Bed 2	Ba 1
	123 Danbury Dr	$99,900	04/16/2010	$97,000	49	950	2	2
	219 Lexington Dr	$100,000	04/26/2010	$100,000	19	1,200	2	1
	233 Yorktowne Dr	$109,900	03/25/2010	$95,000	34	1,000	2	2
	209 Yorktowne Dr	$110,000	06/30/2010	$105,000	24	1,000	2	1
	208 Yorktowne Dr	$125,000	08/20/2010	$90,000	79	1,100	2	1.5
	124 Lantern Pl	$129,900	05/14/2010	$116,000	176	900	2	1
	243 Valley Forge Dr	$146,900	06/02/2010	$123,000	164	1,200	2	2
	235 Valley Forge Drive	$139,900	05/13/2010	$125,000	312	1,260	2	2
	316 Concord Court	$158,000	08/20/2010	$125,000	767	1,285	2	2
	121 Lantern Pl	$165,900	01/04/2010	$140,000	187	1,400	2	2
	131 Lantern Place	$159,900	04/15/2010	$138,000	282	1,222	2	2
	125 Valley Forge Dr	$150,000	05/26/2010	$144,000	62	1,260	2	2
	106 Danbury Dr	$158,700	06/16/2010	$157,000	29	1,260	2	2
	113 Lantern Pl	$165,000	03/11/2010	$145,000	128	1,400	2	2
	115 Hancock Dr	$162,900	06/04/2010	$159,900	24	1,400	2	2
	403 Ashley Ct	$164,000	06/29/2010	$160,000	16	1,300	2	2

 That compares to 14 homes sold in Mystic Shores in 2009, between January and September.
 

	Address 126 Lexington Dr	List $ $110,900	Sold Date 08/20/2009	Sold $ $70,000	DOM 120	Sq Ft 1,200	Bed 2	Ba 1.5
	243 Lexington	$124,900	09/25/2009	$70,000	365	1,000	2	1.5
	129 Mohican	$129,600	04/17/2009	$105,000	341	744	1	1
	207 Lexington Dr	$129,900	05/04/2009	$105,000	396	1,144	2	1.5
	241 Yorktowne	$147,500	04/20/2009	$130,000	230	1,200	2	1.5
	206 Danbury	$146,900	07/01/2009	$140,000	23	1,336	2	2
	211 Lexington Dr	$149,000	03/06/2009	$120,000	100	1,200	2	1.5
	315 Concord Court	$169,000	08/14/2009	$138,000	187	1,260	2	2
	218 Danbury Dr	$169,000	05/29/2009	$154,000	15	1,350	2	2
	102 Danbury Dr	$157,600	07/15/2009	$157,000	29	1,424	2	2
	324 Lexington Drive	$175,000	08/07/2009	$155,000	335	1,343	2	2
	204 Yorktowne	$159,740	03/27/2009	$153,000	228	1,000	2	1.5
	405 Ashley Ct	$167,000	07/20/2009	$150,000	55	1,300	2	2
	133 Lantern Pl	$179,900	07/02/2009	$167,500	47	1,530	2	2

The are currently 17 homes for sale in Mystic Shores. They range in price from $114,000 for a single detached retirement home of 1200 square feet with 2 bedrooms and one bath to a 1400 square foot home with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and garage listed at $174,900.

There is also one Mystic Shores home under contract at $149,900.  That home has two bedrooms and two baths along with a garage.

If you'd like more information on homes in Mystic Shores, or anywhere in Little Egg Harbor, give me a call!
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Little Egg Harbor's Cranberry Creek Adult Community Housing Market Report

Since the start of 2010, four homes have sold in Little Egg Harbor's Cranberry Creek adult community.  There have been 16 new listings of homes for sale in Cranberry Creek, though only 7 home are currently being marketed.  The are no homes in Cranberry Creek under contract.  

The largest Cranberry Creek home, with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths sold on September 10th for $240,000.  It was on the market for 150 days.  The other homes that sold this year in Cranberry Creek had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and ranged in price from $160,000 to $200,000.

	31 Daffodil Dr	List $ $175,000	Date Sold 06/29/2010	Sale $ $160,000	DOM 70	Sqft 1,430	bed 2	ba 2	half 0
	31 Briarwood Drive	$219,950	04/01/2010	$175,000	602	1,234	2	2	0
	74 Briarwood Dr	$219,900	06/29/2010	$200,000	119	1,742	2	2	0
	20 Ivy Creek Drive	$240,000	09/10/2010	$240,000	150	2,184	3	2	1

 That compares with only 2 sales of Cranberry Creek homes during the same period in 2009 (January through September).  

	8 Ivy Creek Dr	List $245,000	Date Sold 08/28/2009	Sold $ $205,000	DOM 250	Sq Ft 1,430	Bed 2	Ba 2	Half 0
	65 Briarwood Dr	$255,000	06/12/2009	$240,000	47	1,600	2	2	0

Information in this report is from the Jersey Shore Multiple Listing Service.
If you'd like to speak to an Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR®) about buying or selling a home in Little Egg Harbor's Cranberry Creek, give me a call!
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The Wonders of Modern Technology & The Ideal Childhood

Through the wonders of modern technology and the popularity of social media outlets, I've been reacquainted with many childhood friends and joined my fellow classmates from the Watchung Hills Regional High School Class of '71 in great anticipation of our 40th Reunion next year.

Imagine my surprise when I heard from a classmate that my home was on the market!  Exploring the pictures brought back so many memories.  It was an ideal childhood, how could it not be?  It's 21 Ideal Street (seriously) in Meyersville, NJ mailing address Gillette.

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21 Ideal Street For Sale 2010

It's gotten bigger over the years, when we moved there in the late 50's it was a 2 bedroom 1 bath bungalow on an acre.  Subdividing the lot, my sister was able to build a home in the 70's. 

Although it was transformed periodically over the years, for the most part it was a typical 3 bedroom 1 bath house after the first remodel.  It was home to me, my sister and Mom and Dad, and a menagerie of rabbits, cats and dogs.  I had to board my horses up the street.  

Over the years, Grandpa lived there with us after my Grandmother died, my sister and her family called it home too while they were building their house next door.  Think about it, when my sister was building their home there were 6 or 7 people in that house, and yes still one bath!

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21 Ideal Street, circa 1966
(I say '66 because that's our 64 Dodge Polara convertible in the driveway!)  

When we moved in there was no private telephone service, you had to pick up the receiver and talk to the operator who lived on Meyersville Road to be connected to your call.  If you mailed me a letter, I'd be RD#2, Gillette, NJ (way before zip codes) and street addresses were optional.  

From a farm up the street, our eggs were delivered on Friday to the back door, and we lived across the street from the milkman.  When we ever ran out, we'd just go into his large walk-in refrigerator attached to his garage and take what we needed, leaving a note so it would be included on our bill.  He stopped delivering milk to us, and told us to keep track and pay at the end of the month.  Obliviously, it was a far simpler time!

I only hope that whoever purchases 21 Ideal Street builds the kind of memories I have!