AVALON BEACH PROJECT:  Avalon has announced a sand back passing project that will restore eroded north-end beaches.  The $648,900 project will begin after Memorial Day Weekend.  According to the borough the timing of the project has been impacted by emergency repairs needed on two bridges on Avalon Boulevard.  The heavy equipment needed to conduct the sand back passing project cannot cross the bridges until the repairs are completed.  The back passing will move sand from a borrow area between 32nd and 40^th Streets and deposit it between 9^th and 15^th Streets.  Avalon Mayor John McCorristin directed all work to be performed on weekdays between 10pm and 8am.  By 8am each day beach paths will be reopened.  No work will be conducted on weekends, and the project is intended to restore the beaches before the busy summer season.

MARKET STATS:  The number of units sold, median sale price, and the number of active listings all increased slightly in February 2025 versus a year ago.  Demand remains steady, and interest rates have fallen slightly.  For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report.

MOVIE STARS!  Steven Spielberg has been spotted working on his next film in nearby Tuckahoe, and Emily Blunt, one of the stars of Spielberg’s film, dined at Cape May’s Primal restaurant last week.  The movie is about UFOs, and is expected to be released in June, 2026.

TURTLE TIME!  As spring approaches it’s important to key an eye on local roadways.  The first diamondback terrapin hatchlings are emerging from the marsh grasses and making their way toward the water, and sometimes cross local roads.  Hatchlings are tiny, barely the size of a golf ball, and hard to see, but if you spot them, you can help by moving them to the edge of the water.  Please ensure your own personal safety if there is passing traffic!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

235 96th Street, Stone Harbor, $1,249,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250763

2048 Ocean Drive, 2042 N, Avalon, $2,600,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250753

2311 Ocean Drive, 2311, Avalon, $2,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250766

2313 Ocean Drive, 2313, Avalon, $2,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250767

468 21st Street, Avalon, $2,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250741

338 99th Street, Stone Harbor, $2,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250745

164 84th Street, Stone Harbor, $4,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250772

2205 Harbor Avenue, Avalon, $8,500,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250714

Under Contract:

2010 7th Avenue, 2010, Avalon, $1,250,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 242904

264 32nd Street, 264, Avalon, $2,895,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250547

280 36th Street, Avalon, $4,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 243411

Properties Sold:

265 102nd Street, B (front), Stone Harbor, $875,000, SOLD MLS#: 250209

1116 Stone Harbor Boulevard, 204, Stone Harbor Manor, $1,702,000, SOLD MLS#: 242978

399 20th Street, 399, Avalon, $3,995,000, SOLD MLS#: 243613

THE WHITEBRIER RESTAURANT in Avalon has been purchased by the Union League, which will turn the restaurant into private space for its members to use during the summer season.  The Union League currently owns The Bungalow in Stone Harbor (formerly the Backyard restaurant) as well as the former Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton.  According to the Union League, about 2,500 of it’s members own a residence within 30 minutes of Avalon.

STONE HARBOR POINT is open to the public once again.  After being heavily damaged during two fall storms, access to the Point has been restored by Stone Harbor’s Public Works Department.  If you’ve never visited, Stone Harbor Point is a large natural area with a walking path, observation platform, and unspoiled views of the dunes, wetlands, ocean, and inlet that seem to stretch forever.

SPRING PROJECTS? START NOW!  Whether you’re readying your vacation home or your rental property for the upcoming season, start now!  Painting, carpet cleaning, spring cleaning, and landscaping should all be scheduled now to ensure completion before the season begins.  There are a few things that are often overlooked, but should be part of your spring maintenance plan:

Pest control: if you’re not already under a preventive maintenance contract, you may wish to consult with a pest control company to help prevent ants, spiders, and other bugs.

Weed control: weeds are dormant right now, but will “spring” to life in little more than a month.  If you have stone areas in your yard, annual weed control is a must.

HVAC service: don’t wait until the air conditioner quits on a 100 degree July day—have a spring maintenance tune up/check performed, and address any problems now.

Need a contractor recommendation?  As always, call or email me!

STRIPER FISHING SEASON opened on March 1st, and the first stripers will be hitting tables shortly as water temperatures reach 50 degrees.   Shallower sod banks and mud flats can hold fish in the spring, as the shallow water warms a bit faster than deep water.   Clams and other natural baits can work, along with plastic lures on jig heads for casting.  For expert advice on local fishing, visit Moran’s Dockside at the Avalon Sportfishing Center when they open later this spring.

SPRING FORWARD THIS WEEKEND!  Don’t forget to push your clocks forward by an hour Saturday night!  That’ll give us an extra hour of daylight Sunday evening, with the first 7pm sunset since last fall!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

8300 Second Avenue, 3, Stone Harbor, $1,399,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250573

318 83rd Street, 9, Stone Harbor, $2,195,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250542

267 35th Street, West, Avalon, $2,199,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250517

264 32nd Street, 264, Avalon, $2,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250547

353 W 39th Street, West, Avalon, $2,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250509

176 24th Street, Avalon, $3,795,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250596

273 52nd Street, Avalon, $5,389,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250541

1 103rd Street, Stone Harbor, $9,500,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250581

Under Contract:

7888 Dune Drive, 117, Avalon, $299,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250395

1123 Stone Harbor Boulevard, 1123, Stone Harbor Manor, $2,295,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250402

273 60th Street, Avalon, $2,995,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 243587

606 22nd Street, West, Avalon, $3,295,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 242462

276 103rd Street, Stone Harbor, $4,295,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250265

130 87th Street, Stone Harbor, $4,399,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 243386

Properties Sold:

276 13th Street, 276 13th, Avalon, $1,100,000, SOLD MLS#: 243198

287 14th Street, 3, Avalon, $1,150,000, SOLD MLS#: 250195

188 33rd Street, Avalon, $4,800,000, SOLD MLS#: 243128

285 58th Street, Avalon, $5,300,000, SOLD MLS#: 250059

BEACH TAGGER: THE QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER JOB.  Avalon has posted a job notice for beach tag booth staff.  In addition to being a great sign that the summer season is drawing near, it’s a fun was to spend your summer!  If you are interested in the job, or know someone who is, check out the job description here: https://avalonboro.net/job-postings/

THUNDER OVER THE OCEAN:  Wildwood has announced that it will hold a new airshow over its beaches on September 5th & 6th.  Widely seen as a replacement for the Atlantic City Airshow, which has not been held the past couple of years, the Wildwood show will feature jet teams, but the US Air Force Thunderbirds or US Navy Blue Angels will not attend this year.  The city hopes the make the show an annual event.

THE SS UNITED STATES, the fastest cruise ship ever built, made her final transit down the Delaware River and through the Delaware Bay last Thursday.  Numerous charter and party vessels had booked trips so passengers could view the famous vessel as she passed between Cape May and Lewes, Delaware one last time, but the tug boat guiding the United States down the River and Bay made such good time that she passed by in the dark of night, very early last Thursday morning, well ahead of her predicted schedule.  Most vessels had cancelled their planned trips the night before.  The United States had spent the past three decades tied up at a Pier in Philadelphia, and had been visible from many locations along the Delaware River.  The SS United States Conservancy had hoped to restore or repurpose the ship, but it was not to be.  She’ll be towed to Mobile, Alabama, where she’ll be readied for sinking, then she’ll become an artificial reef off Okaloosa County, Florida.

FULL TIME TOLL COLLECTORS will soon be a thing of the past on Cape May County’s Ocean Drive bridges.  Effective April 1st, the bridges will collect tolls via EZPass, or via a bill mailed to drivers without it.  The drawbridges will still need to be opened for vessel traffic, so about a dozen former toll collectors will remain to handle that responsibility.  Many of Cape May County’s bridges are several decades old, and have undergone extensive maintenance and repair in recent years.  Some, such as the 96th Street Bridge in Stone Harbor are slated for replacement with a new drawbridge, while others, such as the Middle Thorofare Bridge, connecting the Wildwoods with Cape May, may eventually be replaced with fixed bridges high enough to accommodate vessel traffic without movable spans.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

10007 First Avenue, F, Stone Harbor, $599,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250465

173 33rd Street, 3, Avalon, $1,225,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250489

9102 3rd Avenue, Stone Harbor, $2,200,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250494

161 24th Street, Avalon, $2,999,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250457

285 78th Street, Avalon, $4,195,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250487

Under Contract:

7888 Dune Drive, 101, Avalon, $530,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250369

66 E 20th Street, #105, Avalon, $1,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250410

10801 Second Avenue, Stone Harbor, $2,795,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250037

262 55th Street, Avalon, $3,599,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250370

Properties Sold:

351 96th Street, 413, Stone Harbor, $999,999, SOLD MLS#: 243608

222 83rd Street, A, Stone Harbor, $1,300,000, SOLD MLS#: 250461

STRONG WINDS buffeted the area around the time of Sunday evening’s sunset, as a cold front arrived.  Blustery winds ushered in dramatic cloud formations over the island and the beach, with a glowing sunset underneath.  Wooded areas of the county experienced fallen tree branches and temporary power outages.  It remained windy for a couple of days but has since subsided.

MARKET STATS: The number of properties sold during the month of January increased compared to a year ago, as did the average price.  The number of active listings fell during the month, but was still up compared to a year ago.  For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report: https://marketminute.longandfoster.com/Market-Minute/NJ/Avalon-Stone-Harbor.htm

DREAMING OF SUMMER?  Perhaps cold temperatures and wintry weather has you dreaming of a day on the beach with friends, or evening cocktails on the deck, or a warm sunset over the bay.  Why not take steps to ensure you get to enjoy those things in your favorite shore town?  Whether you need a week’s vacation, or you want to make it permanent, let’s talk!  Call or email me today and I’ll help you find the perfect shore house!

MORAN’S DOCKSIDE will run the Avalon Sport Fishing Center again this year, as they have since 1988.  Last week Avalon Borough Council approved a new one-year contract with Moran’s, with an option to renew for four additional years.  In addition to bait, tackle, ice, and other fishing supplies, Moran’s Dockside offers sandwiches and hoagies, along with a place to sit and eat while overlooking the bay.  In addition to Moran’s, the Avalon Sport Fishing Center is home to the Miss Avalon and several other sport fishing vessels; it’s located at 14^th Street and Ocean Drive.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

7888 Dune Drive, 117, Avalon, $299,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250395

7888 Dune Drive, 101, Avalon, $530,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250369

55 W 32nd Street, C-2B, Avalon, $1,295,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250361

66 E 20th Street, #105, Avalon, $1,495,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250410

263 103rd Street, East, Stone Harbor, $2,177,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250425

1123 Stone Harbor Boulevard, 1123, Stone Harbor Manor, $2,295,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250402

520 21st Street, Avalon, $3,395,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250413

10700 3rd Avenue, South, Stone Harbor, $3,695,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250407

10700 3rd Avenue, North, Stone Harbor, $3,695,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250408

159 19th Street, Avalon, $4,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250403

274 106th Street, Stone Harbor, $5,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250366

155 112th Street, Stone Harbor, $7,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250357

145 112th Street, Stone Harbor, $8,150,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250442

5 W 32nd Street, Avalon, $9,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250390

Under Contract:

1745 First Avenue, Avalon, $2,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250217

2754 First Avenue, Avalon, $2,999,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 243049

Construction projects are underway all across the island, including Avalon Bay Park, shown above.

CONSTRUCTION WORK is ongoing, nearly everywhere you turn!  From the major improvements taking place at Avalon Bay Park (see photo above) to new homes, minor repairs, utility improvements, and road repaving, it’s the season!  The winter season is a popular time for both home and infrastructure improvements, with less traffic and no crowds.

CHEF KYLE TIMPSON competed during Season 23 of Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen”…and won!  Timpson, who grew up in Dennis Township, and used to work for the Miss Avalon fishing fleet, beat nationwide competitors and was awarded the top chef job at Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.  Kyle used to work in local restaurants, too, before moving to Philadelphia to work aboard the Moshulu as chef de Cuisine, the Four Seasons as a senior Sous chef, as well as the executive chef of an Italian Steakhouse.

MARKET STATS: DID YOU KNOW that 208 properties sold in the local market during 2024?  Prices range from a low of $350,000 (for an efficiency condo unit) to a high of $11,950,000 (for a five-bedroom oceanfront home.)  36 properties sold for less than $1,000,000; 27 sold for $5,000,000 or more.  32 more properties are currently under contract, and 96 are available.  Our market offers something for everyone.  Want to take the next step toward achieving your real estate goals?  Call or email me today!

THE STONE HARBOR SHIVER POLAR PLUNGE takes place Saturday, March 15th, with a lineup of events before and after the Plunge into the cold Atlantic Ocean.  Do you have what it takes to Plunge into ocean water that’s less than 40 degrees?  Look for details and sign up information below!

THANK YOU, EAGLES!  What a season!  Superb offense, dominant defense, excitement at every turn, and a Superbowl win!  Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

1889 Avalon Avenue, Avalon, $4,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250305

10315 Sunrise Drive, Stone Harbor, $6,575,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 250316

Under Contract:

6801 Ocean Drive, 6801, Avalon, $2,450,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250090

274 52nd Street, Avalon, $2,500,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250199

250 104th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,595,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 241725

153 76th Street, Avalon, $5,195,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250288

135 77th Street, Avalon, $6,995,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250311

Properties Sold:

177 80th Street, 210, Avalon, $675,000, SOLD MLS#: 250027

4640 Ocean Drive, Avalon, $4,750,000, SOLD MLS#: 241486