Welcome to Episode 20 Of Life And Living At The Jersey Shore - May 25, 2011


EACH WEEK WE TRY TO BRING YOU FUN, INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING TID BITS ABOUT THE BEST KEPT SECRET AT THE JERSEY SHORE. . . SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY

Here are this week’s market stats:
Since we’re just about half way through the year so I thought I’d recap Southern Ocean County real estate activity starting on Jan 1st. The total count of new listings thru today is 2932. Total sold listings since the beginning of the year was 759, BUT, there are 1089 listings in Pending (which means they are under contract; not yet closed). So assuming most of them do close, the proportion is again 50% sold to active.
The average days on the market was 164. That’s pretty good since not long ago it was took most of a year to get a house sold.
Those are our stats this week. Things are looking up…

Fun stuff in Southern Ocean:
Since it’s warming up outside here are a few FREE things you can do in SOC: Search for Sea Shells - Build Sand Castles – go crabbing - Sit on a Jetty & Watch Boats sail by - Watch Wind Surfers (best place is the bay beach at 70th St in Beach Haven Crest) - Go fishing - Beach Combing - Go to Island Beach State Park, bicycle in and take a swim, take a tour, visit the aeolium (the Island Beach State Park Nature Center)- Surf - Watch Swim Races - See commercial fishermen bring in the day's catch - Watch a lifeguard tournament- and tons more. So for information about these & lots of other great fun stuff to do call the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce. While you’re at it you can reserve a free place for the "Behind the Scenes Dock Tour at Viking Village," 800-292-6372

Our real estate glossary:
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The cost of the loan expressed as a yearly rate on the balance of the loan. Now that’s not the annual interest rate that you read about. The APR is that interest rate plus all your closing costs added in and then divided the number of years of the loan. So if are quoted a 5% percent interest rate and then you pay points to get your interest rate down and you pay other closing costs the APR could be 5 point something.

Smart home buyer tip:
There was a time when our parents would tell us to buy above our needs because “we’re going to grow into the house”.
Well, times have changed and even the billionaire Warren Buffet is now advising that a home purchase is a great investment but you should buy only what you can afford so that you will live IN your house now FOR it.
Today, in Southern Ocean County there are fine homes with 3 and 4 bedrooms, nice yards in good neighborhoods priced in the low 200’s.
And with USDA, no down payment and FHA 3.5% down payment, loans available you can own a home for less than rent. And that’s not including the tax benefits! Now that’s a bargain.

My 2 Cents:
Now everybody knows I love lawyers. And I really think it’s wrong to make fun of the poor creatures. But sometimes I see a lawyer joke that I just have to pass on:
The only difference between a dead skunk lying in the road and a dead lawyer lying in the road is that there are skid marks around the skunk. Hehe, sorry….

Home of the week:
This is a brand new listing! We don’t even have the pictures and floor plans yet but it’s so nice and priced so right I just had to tell everybody about it.
The address is 121 Atlantis Ave., in the Ocean Acres Section of Manahawkin and the price is only $239,900.
This is a 4 bedroom home which includes a full, mother-in-law suite on the first floor and a huge loft with 3 more bedrooms and 2 full baths on the second floor. In the last year or so this house has had a complete makeover: new roof, new driveway, new kitchen (maple cabinets, granite counter tops, new appliances) the kitchen was installed by one of the area’s most sought after carpenters! Ralph Karp. There are new ceramic floors, new laminate floors, a big deck out back off the sliders. Upgrades galore. Even CENTRAL VACUUM! ONLY $239,900! This is a winner.
See the pictures and tours at www.Sellertom.com

Remember to look out for your “I love my house club” happenings newsletter. In the mail this week. Lots more info!

Well, you’ve that’s another perfectly good 10 minutes of your life you’re never getting back… Our show is written under duress by Tom Smith – nagged and abused by Amanda Nichols and Donna Smith.

If you like our show, friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and pass the show on to your friends. Thanks or viewing and have a great week!
Brought to you by The Tom Smith Realty Group, Thomas J Smith and Amanda Nichols. For more information call/text 609 709-1429 visit: www.Sellertom.com Tom@sellertom.com