Ocean County 4th of July Celebrations

Come out for the Ocean County 4th of July Celebrations this weekend and enjoy the fireworks and other festivities along The Jersey Shore.

 

Saturday

MANCHESTER: 6 p.m. concert; Harry Write Lake, Lake Drive; free children's rides and music by Nicholas King and The Fabulous Grease Band; 732-849-4536.

TUCKERTON: 10 a.m. Parade and fireworks; Tuckerton Seaport, 120 W. Main St.; the parade will begin at the Village Shoppes at 10 a.m. and head down Route 9 to the Tuckerton Seaport, where there will be vendors and music; children's activities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks at dusk at the Tip Seaman Park; rain date is Sunday, July 3; 609-296-8868.

WARETOWN:9:30 a.m. historical program; Olde Cemetery, 25 Main St.; program includes a vocational prayer by Rev. Terry Martin of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, the Color Guard from the Barnegat American Legion Post 232 and a performance by the Ocean County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums band; resident Allison Jakeman will sing the National Anthem and Stan Anderson will portray a Civil War soldier. Adele Shaw, president of the Waretown Historical Society, will portray Mary Todd Lincoln while Bob Costello will portray Abraham Lincoln and read the Gettysburg Address; 609-693-5407.

Sunday

BARNEGAT LIGHT: 7 p.m. parade and concert; Bay Dock Area, Ninth and 10th Streets; parade will assemble at E. 16th St. at 6:30 p.m. and begin at 7 p.m.; awards ceremony and concert by The Liberty Band will follow; in the event of rain the concert will be held in the Firehouse Social Hall; 609-494-9196.<!--Saxotech Paragraph Count: 10<br>-->

LACEY:7:30 p.m. fireworks; Lacey High School Athletic Field, Haines Street; msuic by Jersey Shore DJ's DJ Mike; bring lawn chair.

LAKEWOOD:8 p.m. music and fireworks; Lake Carasaljo, Route 9; DJ JR Mash at 8:00 pm in the amphitheater on North Lake Drive followed by fireworks at 9:15 ; 732-905-3405, ext 6001.

LAVALLETTE: 8 p.m. fireworks and music; Bay Bouleavard and Arnold Avenue; Patriotic Band by John Luckenbill, musical performance by area resident Amanda Ramirez, and American Idol contestant; fireworks at dusk; rain date is July 10.

Monday

BARNEGAT: 7:30 p.m. celebration and concert; Municipal Dock, East Bat Avenue; Hi-Five band will perform at 7:30 p.m. followed by the fireworks at dusk; 609-698-0080.

BEACH HAVEN:9:15 p.m. fireworks; Bayfront, Taylor Avenue; sponsored by the Red, White and Blue Committee; rain date Tuesday, July 5; 609-492-2800.

BEACHWOOD:7 p.m. fireworks; beachfront, Bayside Avenue; there will be a fundraiser at the beachfront; fireworks at 8:45 p.m.; 732-286-6000, ext: 200.

JACKSON: 10 p.m. fireworks; Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd.; fireworks at the Great Lake Grandstand; 732-928-1821.

LAKEHURST:11 a.m. car show and fireworks; Lakehurst Elementary School, 301 Union Ave.; the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey in partnership with the Lakehurst Historical Society will hold an antique car show along with a town parade at noon, and fireworks will be at dusk over Lake Horicon; 732-797-1456.

LAKEWOOD:7:05 p.m. BlueClaws game and fireworks; FirstEnergy Park, New Hampshire Avenue and Cedar Bridge Road; sponsored by Toyota/Scion World of Lakewood, the fireworks will take place after the game against Hagerstown; 732-901-7000, option 2.

OCEAN GATE:10 a.m. parade; Ocean Gate Avenue; registration for participants begins at 8:30 a.m. in Adrian Hall, where flags for spectators will also be handed out; parade begins on Ocean Gate Avenue ; prizes will be awarded at noon at Wildwood Avenue Beach followed by games and contests; 732-269-3166.<!--Saxotech Paragraph Count: 5<br>-->

PINE BEACH: 9 a.m. parade; Pine Beach Firehouse, 525 Prospect Ave.; sponsored by the mayor and council of Beach Haven; parade will form in front of the firehouse at 8:15 a.m. and begin at 9 a.m. heading through town to end at Vista Park located at Riverside Drive and Midland Avenue; awards and games to follow; 732-349-6425.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH:9:30 p.m. fireworks; Jenkinson's Boardwalk, 300 Ocean Ave.; fireworks to begin at dusk and can be viewed from the boardwalk or Jenkinson's beach.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS: 9 p.m. fireworks; Seaside Heights Boardwalk; sponsored by Coca-Cola; the display can be viewed from anyplace on the boardwalk; 800-732-7467.

SEASIDE PARK: 9:30 a.m. bike parade; Fifth Avenue Pier; the parade begins at the Fifth Avenue Pier and ends at the 14th Avenue Pier; 732-793-3700.

July 6

 

BERKELEY:6 p.m. concert and fireworks; Veteran's Park, Tinton Boulevard; sponsored by Berkeley Township Recreation Department; The Infernos will perform along with a fireworks display after the show; 732-244-7400.

 

The Declaration of Independence: The Will, Wants and Hope of the People

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

 

 

New Olive Garden in Stafford Twp

Stafford Park's newest addition, Olive Garden, opened its doors to the public, making it the first restaurant to join the variety of successful retailers at the large-scale mixed-use redevelopment in southern Ocean County.

The 7,600-square-foot casual dining eatery was built on a pad site within the retail portion of the complex. The new "green" building features a number of sustainable design elements including recycled building materials and energy-efficient equipment and fixtures. As a result, the building has been awarded certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Italian restaurant is known for its Tuscan farmhouse design offers seating for more than 200 diners, plus a lounge that can seat about 60. This is the restaurant's second location in the southern Ocean County area. There are several locations in New Jersey and more than 700 restaurants in North America. Olive Garden's corporate parent is Darden Restaurants, a Florida company that also owns Red Lobster and four other chains.

"Stafford Park is an ideal location in this market for Olive Garden. It's become an attractive destination for both retailers and local shoppers," said Ed Walters, Jr., founder and partner of Walters Group.

Stafford Park is a LEED-certified redevelopment with the majority of corporate tenants attaining LEED-Silver certification. Currently, the roster of retailers reaping the savings of green building include Best Buy, Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, PetSmart, Target, AT&T and Ulta. The Vitamin Shoppe reached LEED-Gold certification. In addition, atop the Best Buy, PetSmart and Dick's Sporting Goods there are solar arrays that provide 30 percent of the electrical needs of the stores. The center is situated off exit 63, at the southwest corner of the Garden State Parkway and Route 72 interchange.

(Press Release by Caryl Communications Inc.)

3rd Annual Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival

In the mood for some good seafood? Look no further than the 3rd Annual Jazzy Scallop Seafood Festival. Held at the historic Viking Village at 19th & Bayview in Barnegat Light from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., this event features fresh seafood prepared by local chefs, cash bar for beer and wine, sushi and raw clam bar, local jazz musicians, a performance by the Surflight Theater and more.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of and can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce in Ship Bottom or at the Viking Village Shoppes in Barnegat Light. Proceeds will benefit the Southern Regional High School Scholarship Fund and the Surflight Theater.

Local restaurants cooking up their favorite seafood for your tastebuds, jazz music and cash bar! Festival takes place at Viking Village in Barnegat Light.

Broiled Scallops (the easiest and best way to prepare)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds scallops
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

1. Turn broiler on.
2. Rinse scallop and place in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle with garlic salt, melted butter or margarine and lemon juice.
3. Broil 6 to 8 minutes or until scallops start to turn golden. Remove from oven and serve with extra melted butter or margarine on the side for dipping.

It doesn't get any better!

 

 

Long Beach Island Stand Up Paddleboard Pro-Am Relay Race

Event: Long Beach Island Stand Up Paddleboard Pro-Am Relay Race July 17, 2011

Organizer: The New Jersey Windsurfing and Watersports Association.

Venue: Competition will take place within the cove at Bayview Park, 68th St., Brant Beach, Long Beach Island, New Jersey. (Little Egg Harbor). A limited number of SUP boards will be available on a first come first served basis.

Teams: Younger/Inexperienced Paddlers will be paired up with Older/Experienced Stand-Up PaddleSurfers. The race is open to men, women, and children age 10 years and older. All competitors are encouraged to join the NJWWA

Courses: A course circuit will be set within the harbor, between the boat channel and the shoreline. Marks may consist of buoys, no-wake markers, and islands.

• The Amateur/ First Leg will be a shortened course for the younger/less experienced part of the team, approximately 1/4 mile long.
• The Professional/ Second Leg will feature a bayside course designed to challenge the competitor's technical and athletic skills, approximately 1.0 mile long.

Start: LeMans style Beach Start with competitors standing in the water next to their board. Each competitor may be randomly assigned their starting station at the line. Amateur Younger/Inexperienced competitors will start first. You will be allowed 5 strokes to get on your feet and stand up. Each competitor must complete the course in a standing position on their board. Paddlers must follow the Race Committee's instructions. Final instructions will be announced prior to the start of the race.

Relay: After rounding the last mark, each Amateur competitor must paddle in towards the designated beach area and "high five" their partner, who will be waiting in the shallow water in the designated beach area. The choice is yours if you use the same or different equipment.

Finish: After rounding the last mark, paddlers will finish in a standing position, leaving the board on shore, running to the finish line carrying their paddle. Each paddler must cross the finish line. Competitors must not leave the finish area until their place, name and number, has been recorded by the scorer. Top finishers will be encouraged to perform an SUP Talent Exhibition.

Registration opens at 9am. Please check in by 12:00 on July 17, 2011. For more information click here.

Manahawkin Housing Market Report June, 2011

Manahawkin Housing Market Report and Manahawkin Real Estate Market Analysis is a compilation of statistical data in graph and written form with interactive maps. The data presents market conditions on a local level and in three month 'snapshots' in an indepth and understandable way.

Selling your Manahawkin Home: Do you know what your home is worth? The information provided by a Housing Market Report is invaluable when establishing an appropriate asking price.

Buying a Manahawkin Home: if you're thinking about buying a house in Manahawkin, knowing the local real estate market conditions will help you determine a reasonable offer...and keep you from over-paying for your dream home!

This is a condensed 'macro' version of the Manahawkin Housing Market Report formulated on June 11, 2011.

Manahawkin Market Pricing Details: Asking Prices and Sold Prices (March 9, 2011 - June 9, 2011)

 

	Total	Most Recent	Highest	Lowest	Average	Median
Sold Homes	61	06/06/2011	$572,500	$16,000	$283,095	$253,000
For Sale	289	06/07/2011	$894,000	$49,000	$333,242	$299,990

Recently Sold Homes in Manahawkin (last 90 days)

• % of asking price received: 93%
• Sales over asking price: 7
• Sales under asking price: 52
• Sales at asking price: 2

Time on Market Details: For Sale and Recently Sold Homes Manahawkin (3/09/2011 - 6/09/2011)

 

	Avg Days On Market	Total	Most Recent	Shortest	Longest
Sold Homes	173 days	61	06/06/2011	10 days	474 days
For Sale	172 days	289	06/07/2011	3 days	823 days

Manahawkin Home Sales: Activity in the Last 90 Days

• Number of Sales: 61
• Number of New Listings: 130
• Avg # of Homes for Sale: 327
• Click here to see ALL Homes for Sale in Manahawkin

Go to www.HomeValuesinOceanCountyNJ.com for your free, no obligation, personalized report for any location in Ocean County, Monmouth County and anywhere on The Jersey Shore. Housing Markets are continuously changing, I can provide you with the most up-to-date statistics within minutes of your request.

What does this mean? Knowledge is Power!

This report contains the most up to date (as of 6/11/2011) and accurate picture of home sales in Manahawkin. What can you expect the market to do? To find out what this means to you and for your home buying or selling decision - no matter where you are in your decision process, contact me: Karl Hess, Manahawkin Real Estate Expert, Keller Williams Realty Jersey Shore

 

This Month in Real Estate Ocean County, June 2011

This Month in Real Estate is a monthly video news series, provided by Keller Williams International, that offers an inside look at the national real estate market. Each edition provides a snapshot of the numbers and trends that drive the real estate market, as well as expert opinion and analysis. For information on your local real estate conditions, please contact Karl Hess.

Ocean County Market Snapshot Total Avg List Avg. DOM Med Sold Price Currently Pending 813 $360,840 126 $274,900 Currently Active 4864   $452,764 134 $335,000 New (5/1/2011 - 5/31/2011) 1010 $454,198   27 $327,999 Pending (5/1/2011 - 5/31/2011) 336 $389,139 116 $279,450 Sold 261 $366,881 121 $274,000 UC 72 $415,061   159 $315,000   CWH 0 $0 0 $0   Expired 278 $438,523 217 $349,900

The U.S. housing market continues its gradual and uneven progress, despite the expiration of the home buyer tax credit. The remarkable rebound in housing activities from the initial drop following the end of the home buyer tax credit this past July adds to the belief that the risk of a double-dip downturn in housing may be disappearing.

 

As the housing market continues to work through the excess supply overhang, a result from the glut of foreclosed properties which is keeping home prices below their long-term trend growth, economists anticipate mortgage rates at or above 6% by the end of 2012 and expect buying activity to continue its upward momentum.

Supporting this view is the rising concern about inflationary pressures sparked by political unrest in the Middle East. While surging gas and food prices could prove transitory and pose no major threats, these price increases may weigh down consumer spending, which accounts for two thirds of the economy. While, the Federal Reserve is committed to making necessary policy changes to address such risks. Meanwhile, core price gains, excluding food and fuel, were modest in April, offering some relief to consumers.

As the economy improves, stimulus efforts by the government and the Fed is expected to gradually wind down, which typically spurs rising interest rates to keep inflation in check. Meanwhile, buyers continue to benefit from historically favorable buying conditions and sellers are encouraged by increased market stability.

 

Home Sales

in millions

 

The number of homes home sales in April were down 12.9% compared to the same time last year when the impact of the tax credit was at its peak. Sales were relatively stable compared to the previous month: less than a 1% decline. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun states that “given great affordability conditions and job creation, home sales should be stronger” and cites unnecessarily tight credit for limiting sales. Gradual but uneven improvement is expected to continue. In fact, home sales have increased six of the past nine months.

 

 

Home Price

in thousands

Home prices rebounded 2.4% in April with median home prices rising to $163,700. This is 5% below the year-ago level and continues to keep the median price close to 2002 levels. Three out of eight homes sold during April, or 37% of sales, were distressed properties, which typically sell at a 10%–20% discount. This is down 3% from March. Investors represented 20% of sales, and all-cash buyers were 31% of sales in April, down from a record high of 35% in March. Prices and mortgage rates remain favorable for buyers for the spring selling season.

 

Inventory- Month's Supply

in months

 

The supply of homes measured in months on the market, if sales continue at their current pace, inched up during April compared to March. Inventory levels remained 26% below the peak of 12.5 months in July and only 11% above April of 2010 when the tax credit was in full swing.

Source: National Association of Realtors

Interest Rates

Rates have reached a new record low after steadily declining throughout May, primarily due to uncertainty in the global and domestic economies. Rates are still expected to follow an upward trend as the year progresses. As overall economic activity gets back on track, rates will likely rise to keep inflation in check. This window of opportunity for buyers to lock in these historically low interest rates may not remain open much longer.  

Barnegat Housing Market Report June, 2011

Barnegat Housing Market Report and Barnegat Real Estate Market Analysis including greater Barnegat Twp, is a compilation of statistical data in graph and written form. The data indicates the market conditions on a local level in three month 'snapshots.'

Selling your Barnegat Home: Do you know what your home is worth? The information provided by a Housing Market Report is invaluable when establishing an appropriate asking price.

Buying a Barnegat Home: if you're thinking about buying a house in Barnegat knowing the local real estate market conditions will help you determine a reasonable offer...and keep you from over-paying for your dream home!

 

This is a condensed version of a Barnegat Housing Market Report formulated on June 9, 2011. For a full, comprehensive Barnegat Housing Market Report with interactive maps contact Karl Hess.

Barnegat Housing Market Pricing Details: Asking Prices and Sold Prices (3/06/2011 - 6/08/2011)

 

	Total	Most Recent	Highest	Lowest	Average	Median
Sold Homes	44	06/06/2011	$530,000	$40,000	$241,338	$245,000
For Sale	301	06/07/2011	$1,649,000	$21,900	$279,026	$269,000

Recently Sold Homes in Barnegat (3/06/2011 - 6/08/2011)

 

• % of asking price received: 94%
• Sales over asking price: 6
• Sales under asking price: 37
• Sales at asking price: 1

Barnegat Homes for Sale: Time on Market Details

 

	Avg Days On Market	Total	Most Recent	Shortest	Longest
Sold Homes	198 days	44	06/06/2011	30 days	919 days
For Sale	168 days	301	06/07/2011	3 days	1372 days

Recent Activity - Home Sales in Barnegat (last 90 days)

 

• Number of Sales: 44
• Number of New Listings: 81
• Avg # of Homes for Sale: 287
• Click here to see ALL the Homes for Sale Barnegat

What does all this mean?

This report contains the most up to date and accurate picture of home sales in Barnegat. What can you expect the market to do? To find out what this means to you and for your home buying or selling decision - no matter where you are in that decision process. Contact me:

Karl Hess, Barnegat Real Estate Expert, Keller Williams Realty Jersey Shore

Go to www.HomeValuesinOceanCountyNJ.com for your free, no obligation, personalized report for any location in Ocean County, Monmouth County and anywhere on The Jersey Shore with interactive maps. Housing Markets are continuously changing, I can provide you with the most up-to-date statistics within minutes of your request.