Ocean County New Years Eve 2011

New Year’s Eve 2011 is here! It’s time to celebrate the New Year in style! Some people head to Time Square for New Years, but we all know that the best New Years Eve parties are right here at The Jersey Shore. This New Year’s Eve, say farewell to 2011 and hello to 2012 at one of Ocean County’s great New Year’s Eve parties. This is your ultimate guide of the best New Year’s Eve celebrations in Ocean County, New Jersey:

Northeast Ocean County

Martell’s Tiki Bar in Point Pleasant Beach (Tickets: $25 in advance. $30 at the door if available)

The Mike Dalton Band performs LIVE. Martell’s will have a some good food. Plus party favors, champagne and DJ Rob playing your favorite tunes.

Jenks Club in Point Pleasant Beach (Tickets: $50)

This New Years Eve party features DJ Unique and The Benjamins performing. There’s an open bar from 8PM-10PM, a buffet, and Jenks Club is open till 5AM.

Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty in Point Pleasant Beach (Tickets: $120)

This year, Jack Baker’s has an open bar ALL NIGHT. Come to listen to Brian Kirk & The Jirks and have a fun time.

Club Maggies in Lakewood (NO COVER CHARGE)

Club Maggies will have a New Years Eve dance contest with $1000 in cash and prizes. Plus FREE champagne toast and party favors.

River Rock in Brick (Tickets: $30)

River Rock’s DJs will be playing your favorite songs all New Years Eve. There’s an Open Bar from 8PM-10PM, a Buffet that lasts after midnight and pastries will be served at 3AM.

Idle Hour in Point Pleasant (Tickets: $20)

Undispusted will be playing at Idle Hour on New Years Eve. Plus a FREE buffet, great drink specials and more!

709's beautiful scenery will host a New Year's Eve Party in 2011

709 in Point Pleasant Beach (Tickets: $110)

709’s DJs will having you dancing the night away! Plus, there’s good food, champagne and a 3-hour open bar.

Northwest Ocean County

Stadium After Dark in Jackson (Tickets: $35 a person, $50 a couple)

This New Year’s Eve party takes place fro 9PM-4AM. That’s right! DJ Steel will be spinning records till 4AM. Plus, there’s an open bar from 11PM-2AM and a buffet beginning at midnight.

Three B’s Bar and Bistro in Lakehurst (Tickets: $58.99 plus tip)

They’ve got a 3 Hour Open Bar till midnight. Plus LIVE entertainment and their famous signature dishes. Yummy!

Toms River Area

Spicy’s in Seaside Heights (Tickets: $30 in advance. $35 at the door)

In one section, Bullzeye will be performing rock and country music. In another section, there’s a dance party. Plus, an open bar from 8PM-11PM and a Breakfast Buffet at 4AM.

Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette (NO COVER CHARGE)

Trax Band will be performing tonight with champagne at midnight. And Crab’s Claw has you covered on New Year’s Day with a brunch from 10AM-4PM.

Sawmill in Seaside Park (Tickets: $25)

2 DJs + 4 Hour Open Bar = a Fun time! Plus, they’re open till 2AM!

High Velocity in Beachwood (NO COVER CHARGE)

Instant Karma will be playing LIVE tonight. Plus great drinks!

The Cove in Bayville (Tickets: $32-$40)

DJ Vibe will be spinning records upstairs and Frogmore Stew rocks the house downstairs. And a four course dinner!

Beachcomber will try to top their New Year's Eve Party from last year.

Beachcomber in Seaside Heights (Tickets: $35)

Temporary Grace will be the entertainment at Beachcomber on New Years Eve 2011. Plus, an open bar from 8PM till Midnight and great food available.

Atlantic BallRoom in The Holiday Inn in Toms River (Tickets: $95-$135)

From 8PM-1AM there will be an open bar, great food, a DJ spinning great songs, party favors and more.

Southern Ocean County

Captain’s Inn in Forked River (NO COVER CHARGE)

In the lounge, Mike Kelly performs. On the dance floor, White Rabbit plays. Add great food and drinks and you got a great New Years Eve.

Longshots in Waretown (Tickets: $45 in advance. $50 at the door)

Longshots will have an open bar from 9PM to midnight. There’s a DJ, and a karaoke contest that includes great prizes such as an iPad 2, flat screen TVs and more.

Nardi’s in LBI ($70 in advance. $80 at the door)

Richie & The All Stars will be the entertainment tonight. Plus FREE pizza and drinks from 9PM-1AM.

The Gables in LBI (Tickets: $89 for the 5:30 dinner. $125 for the 8:30 dinner)

Not only a great menu, but the Gables will also have dancing and a midnight toast this New Years Eve.

Joe Pops in LBI (Tickets: $90 in advance. $100 at the door)

Joe Pops has not just 1, but 2 bands! Shots & Goggles and The Rock Lobsters will be playing tonight. Plus a DJ. And an open bar from 9PM-1AM. Remember to dress to impress. And the bar will be open as long as the party goes.

 

 

Local Boy Scout Camp Purchased by State

The Joseph A. Citta Boy Scout Reservation Camp was purchased for $1 million from the Jersey Shore Boy Scouts Council through the Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres program. Officials want to keep the park in a natural state to reduce the effects of stormwater pollution into the bay. The Boys Scouts will continue to be able to use the land in an agreement with the state.

Nestled in the pristine New Jersey Pine Barrens and just minutes from The Jersey Shore, the Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation is the perfect place for outdoor adventures. From simple tent camping to rifle shooting to kayaking on the Barnegat Bay, CSR offers a wide variety of programs to fit every need. CSR also offers premier summer camping programs including: Boy Scout Resident Troop Camp, Boy Scout Resident Individual Camping, Venturing Resident Camp, Webelos Adventure Camp, Cub Scout Day Camp and Cub Scout Family Camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is My Ocean County Home Worth?

What is the fair market value of my Ocean County Home?

Whether your are in Point Pleasant, Brick Twp, Toms River, Lacey Twp, Barnegat, Manahawkin or anywhere in between, we all have questions of what our Ocean County Home is worth or what is the fair market value of my Ocean County Home?

These are two very common questions when people are considering selling a home. Talk to any real estate agent, and the first thing they'll tell you about calculating home value is that location is a big factor, but not the only factor. After the big real estate crash many people are asking themselves, "What is the fair market value of my home?"

Most of us understand there are more factors involved in calculating home value than just granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. We also know that there are online sources like www.HomeValuesInOceanCounty.com that can assist with determining Ocean County house values by address. HomeValuesInOceanCountyNJ.com is one of the best ways to calculate the market value of your house because it doesn't just use algorithms and general housing data.

HouseValuesInOceancounty.com and Karl Hess provides local real estate expertise that can determine the real fair market value of your home. It's okay if you are just checking out the value of your home and aren't actually ready to sell your house. Asking me for help in calculating your home value is very common in today's economy. Many people are wondering, "Could we sell our home if we had to or wanted to?"

Whether you are trying to calculate the value of your home because you are thinking of selling or just out of curiosity, here are five factors to consider.

Five Factors that Help Determine the Market Value of Your Home  

Home Location

Location is the key influence for calculating the value of your home. Besides the proximity of the home to a major metropolitan area or a breathtaking view, these are a few more location factors that can increase home value:

• Proximity to schools, parks and points of interest

Homes within reasonable walkability to schools or parks will strongly influence buyers with small children. However, homes that boarder school or park property lines may suffer in home value due to unwanted traffic, parking limitations and the likelihood of youth mischief.

• Neighborhood with increasing desirability

Where is new growth heading in town? Will there be any new business areas, grocery stores, or libraries in the future?

• Proximity to infrastructure

Is the house surrounded by other houses? Apartment complexes? Other buildings? The best possible situation for your home is to be situated between two other houses and located along a road without yellow traffic lines.

Homebuyer Demographics

After you buy a house, the market value of your home is affected by who else is likely to purchase the property. If the property is a perfect starter home for pre-family newlyweds, and the main homebuyers in town are senior-citizens, the fair market value of your home might be lower than you think.

Older buyers typically look for one story homes without stairs, whereas families with small children often desire homes with a front yard away from a busy street and multiple bathtubs.

Home Storage Space

The more closets, garages and laundry rooms a house has, the higher the fair market value of your home. Most homebuyers look for a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, as well as closets in high traffic areas like front entryways, bathrooms and other bedrooms.

The two-door garage is the most common size for most homes, yet three-car garages are becoming more and more common.

As for the laundry room, the washer and dryer units should be located together in a common access space without creating an eyesore.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the most active area of a home. Typically, the following features add value to the kitchen:

• Granite countertops
• Stainless steel appliances
• Gas stovetops
• Convection ovens and microwaves
• Ice machines
• Cable television access ports

Also, the proximity of the kitchen to the dining room and family room will impact the usability of the house and thus is a factor in calculating the value of your home.

Home Layout and Size

Homebuyers typically look for homes with three to five bedrooms with an average of one shower per every two bedrooms. Split bedroom plans with bedrooms on opposite sides of the house are a popular trend with modern homes. Also, many real estate professionals love to use the phrase ôlight and brightö to highlight homes with lots of natural lighting.

As for size, most residential neighborhoods will have a slight variation in square-footage and number of rooms, but they all should be within a standard deviation of one another. If resale value of your home is a big concern, it's in your best interest to not buy the largest home in the neighborhood. When calculating the market value of your home, real estate professionals measure the homes in the surrounding area against yours, and if most of the nearby properties are smaller than yours, it can act as an anchor to drag down your fair market value.

The median asking price for a home in Ocean County. NJ is $299,900. The median sold price is $274,000 which results in a sales price vs listing price ratio of 93%. These statistics can vary widely depending on your exact location; go to www.HomeValuesInOceanCountyNJ.com for a personalized home market report for your neighborhood.

Information provided by Karl Hess, Keller Williams Ocean County, Market Leader and Realty101.com

 

New Adult Community in Stafford Twp

In today’s economic climate the combination of historically low interest rates and new homes that are priced to sell has started to capture the attention of savvy homebuyers.

Paramount Homes is aware of this market trend and recently started "Escapes Ocean Breeze," their 55+ lifestyle community located in Stafford Township, NJ.

The new Sanibel model features an open floor plan with a first floor master suite, spacious den, gourmet-inspired kitchen and family room perfect for entertaining. Priced from $309,900, the two bedroom, two-bathroom home design is offered at an attractive value.

As the first phase of the community is nearing sell out, Paramount Homes will be breaking ground on two, new express delivery homes, the Sanibel and the Andalucia, which include a number of redesigned interior features.

All Escapes Ocean Breeze homes feature highly sought-after interior amenities including designer kitchens with granite countertops and upscale appliance packages, stylish ceramic tile and handsome hardwood flooring, coupled with Paramount Homes’ high-quality construction.

Located just off Exit 63 of the Garden State Parkway, on Route 72 West in Stafford Township, Escapes Ocean Breeze is within easy reach of the beaches, restaurants and marinas of Long Beach Island. There are dozens of shopping centers located on and near Route 72, including Stafford Park Shopping Center, which is only three miles from the community.

Within the community, homeowners enjoy the award-winning Lifestyle Pavilion. The Lifestyle Pavilion is the social center of Escapes Ocean Breeze; where residents experience a state-of-the art fitness center, Grand Ballroom, and sauna. Movies are shown in a screening room with a 120-inch theater screen and stadium seating. There are rooms for cards and billiards as well as both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Tennis, basketball and bocce courts are also located on-site.

Interested homebuyers can contact Karl Hess, Keller Williams Stafford Twp, or may visit Escapes Ocean Breeze Sunday thru Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

This Month in Real Estate Ocean County December 2011

This Month in Real Estate is a monthly video news series, provided by Keller Williams, 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, in your neighborhood, please contact Karl Hess or go to www.homevaluesinoceancountynj.com.

 

Ocean County Housing Statistics Summaries Report for Entire MLS from 11/1/2011 - 11/30/2011

As of today, there are 3932 single family homes for sale in Ocean County. The median list price for those homes is $315,000. The average days on market is 164 days.

There were 643 new listings for homes in Ocean County for the month of November with a median asking price of $299,900. 229 homes sold in Ocean County in November with a median sold price of $274,000 which results in a sales price vs listing price ratio of 93%. The average days on market for sold homes is 144, 396 listings expired or withdrawn in November 2011.

In comparison to November 2010: There were 694 new home listing with a median asking price of 299,900. 254 homes were sold and the median sold price was $280,000. The average days on market for sold homes in November 2010 was 118 for sold homes. 535 listings expired or were withdrawn in November 2010.

Average List Price for Ocean County Homes November, 2011

--Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed-- Prepared by Karl Hess of Keller Williams Realty Monmouth/Ocean on Monday, December 12, 2011 10:11 AM.

 

 

Independent Theatre in Toms River

The Traco Theater goes beyond the ordinary when bringing entertainment to downtown Toms River with independent films. One would have to drive up north to one of the many art houses to see films that will be shown here, but now independent films are showing at the Traco Theater in downtown Toms River. This small seventy seat theater is the perfect setting to watch an independent film in high definition with an exceptional sound system that is sure to excite the senses.

Movies such as “Margin Call” staring Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons and Demi Moore will be playing. In addition to having some of the finest independent films available to the Toms River downtown area, the Traco Theater will also host various events throughout the year. Everything from plays, comedians, guest speakers, readings and poetry are just some of the events the Traco Theater has waiting for you.

Stop in for dessert at The Cookie Cab and a movie at the Traco Theater, the perfect blend of taste and culture. The dessert and a movie special includes Gourmet Cupcake, House Coffee and Single admission to a movie at the Traco Theater for thirteen dollars plus tax. When purchasing tickets you must request the Dessert and a Movie Special so we can stamp your ticket stub to present at The Cookie Cab.

The Traco Theatre and The Cookie Cab…a great way to spend an evening.

Looking for a Home in Toms River? Contact Karl Hess, Toms River Real Estate