It hasn’t warmed up THAT much yet…but it won’t be long! 

SIX PERCENT, ZERO POINTS!  Thirty-year mortgage rates have inched downward again and reached 6% last week, for both conforming and jumbo (above $832,750) loan amounts, with zero points.    Fifteen-year rates reached 5.5% for both conforming and jumbo loan amounts, also with zero points.  If you’ve been watching mortgage rates before making your shore purchase, this may be a good time to jump in!  Call or email me if you’d like the names of reliable mortgage lenders that can provide you with a pre-approval, improving your negotiating position as a buyer.

AVALON’S LEGENDARY LIFEGUARD, Murray Wolf passed away earlier this week.  Wolf retired as Captain of the Avalon Beach Patrol in 2021, after 65 years of service.  One of Avalon’s competition life boats proudly wears the name “Captain G. Murray Wolf” on its bow, honoring Wolf’s 65 years with ABP.  Wolf’s son Matt has followed in his footsteps, and currently serves as the captain of the ABP.

THE ICE MAY BE GONE, but some damage remains.  Some pilings not protected by bubbler or deicer systems were “ice jacked,” or lifted out of the mud by ice gripping the pilings as the tide rose.  Similar damage has been reported to some Intracoastal Waterway day markers (pilings with red or green navigation markers on top), as shifting ice flows lifted the day markers or pushed them over during tide changes.

FUNDING FOR BEACH PROJECTS is an ongoing concern for shore communities, who rely on beaches for both tourism and storm protection.  After last year’s cut to federal beach funding, Representative Jeff Van Drew has introduced bipartisan legislation along with Rep. Laura Gillen of New York, to create a permanent source of funding for US Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment projects.  Meanwhile, Avalon Mayor John McCorriston and Business Administrator Scott Wahl met with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s staff to press for the governor to declare a state of emergency regarding beach funding.  Such a declaration would allow easier access to federal funds.  Prior NJ Governor Phil Murphy denied a similar request in December.  Avalon, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City, Ocean City, Upper Township, and Cape May have all passed resolutions asking Governor Sherrill to issue the declaration.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

New Listings:

55 W 32nd Street, 1A, Avalon, $1,185,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260375

248 81st Street, Unit A, Stone Harbor, $1,599,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260334

181 7th Street, Avalon, $2,899,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260325

247 85th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,350,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260344

243 87th Street, Stone Harbor, $4,699,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260352

145 112th Street, Stone Harbor, $7,695,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260320

Under Contract:

29 E 28th Street, 7, Avalon, $729,777, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 253044

285 14th, 285, Avalon, $1,300,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 260221

301 80th Street, Cambridge Greene – Unit B24, Avalon, $1,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 252742

164 93rd Street, Stone Harbor, $4,399,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 252920

25 W 32nd Street, Avalon, $5,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 252919

Properties Sold:

10108 Second Avenue, Stone Harbor, $3,100,000, SOLD MLS#: 260140

This duck swam across a patch of water and then climbed up on the ice, took a walk around, then jumped back in the water!  Finding unfrozen areas became difficult as the extreme cold lingered.

FINALLY, SOME WARMING!  Daytime highs finally climbed above freezing this week, and will continue to inch up over the next several days, as will overnight lows.  Ice has finally begun to melt and loosen its grip on the area.

OUR FIRST 5:30PM SUNSET occurred this week!  As sunsets occur a moment or two later each evening it makes a real difference in the afternoon hours, and it’s an early sign that spring is (finally) on its way.

MARKET STATS: The market is still moving—10 properties have sold year-to-date in Avalon, and three in Stone Harbor, despite the unusually cold weather.  76 properties are available in both towns, with prices ranging from $325,000 to $13 million.  For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute reports:
Avalon: https://reports.longandfoster.com/r?boundary=5ea32953da2e325e445c76da
Stone Harbor: https://reports.longandfoster.com/r?boundary=5ea463bdda2e325e445ccbe3

THE LAST ICE PHOTOS?  We’ll see what next week brings, but in the meantime here is another look at some of the unusual sights around the island this week:

Most bayfront areas fully froze this past week.  Here, Great Channel is all ice, near the 96th Street Bridge.  Only areas nearest the ocean, with the deepest, warmest water, remained open.

Fire & Ice!  A fiery red sunset over the frozen bay is quite a dramatic contrast!

Please don’t try this!  Yes, ice skating on the bay was possible in some areas, including this one in Sea Isle City—but not recommended.  Watch the original video clip on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HS7ATkH8z/

Perhaps the only thing more unusual than ice skating on the bay is ice skating on the beach in Wildwood!  Watch the original video clip on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BwHySiWvL/

UPCOMING EVENTS:

New Listings:

7900 Dune Drive, C315, Avalon, $449,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260288

260 21st Street, Avalon, $515,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260248

55 W 32nd Street, C-2B, Avalon, $1,225,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260257

174 23rd. Street, Avalon, $5,195,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260281

Under Contract:

1668 Ocean Drive, Unit B1, Avalon, $1,595,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 260203

162 33rd Street, Avalon, $3,350,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 253027

34 W 13th Street, Avalon, $5,500,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 253367

Properties Sold:

23 W 23rd Street, Avalon, $2,800,000, SOLD MLS#: 260249

2988 1st Avenue, Avalon, $2,935,407, SOLD MLS#: 250086

The pier at Avalon Bay Park Marina, looking toward Heron Drive, and the frozen bay & marsh!  See more photos below!

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL says “six more weeks of winter,” but we’ve already had our fair share!  The entire island was gripped by a deep freeze for more than a week.  Although roads were clear and dry, a frozen layer of snow and ice blanketed everything else.  It wasn’t until Tuesday that the first bit of thawing occurred.  Daytime highs the rest of this week were expected to be just above freezing, with nighttime lows dropping into the 20s and teens.

TAKE A TOUR of our frozen island!  Here’s look at some frosty scenes around the island…very different from what we usually see!

Ice began forming in the bay soon after sub-freezing temperatures arrived.  Here, a thin layer of ice has begun to form over Pleasure Bay in Stone Harbor.

By Monday, after more than a week of frigid temperatures, thick ice had formed in areas of the bay that are shallow and with little tidal current.

Smuggler’s Cove in Stone Harbor iced over; bubbler systems are in used to keep ice from lifting pilings out of the mud during a rising tide.

The frozen marsh has a peaceful beauty to it.  This view is from Avalon Boulevard, looking toward the Stone Harbor water tower.

Not far from the island, the Delaware Bay shore was lined with huge chunks of ice. The shipping channel remained open, but the western end of the Cape May Canal was frozen.  The Cape May-Lewes Ferry suspended operations due to the ice blocking the route and ferry terminals.

THE MARKET certainly isn’t frozen!  Check below for new listings, plus three more under contract this week!

WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?  It won’t be long before ice and snow are a distant memory, and summer will be upon us!  Now is the time to plan your next move!  Buying, selling, placing your house on the rental market…let’s discuss your next move and take action to make it happen!  Please call or email me and we’ll get started!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

New Listings:

285 14th, 285, Avalon, $1,300,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260221

1668 Ocean Drive, Unit B1, Avalon, $1,595,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260203

100 96th Street, Unit 304, Stone Harbor, $1,850,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260205

118 22nd Street, Avalon, $4,395,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260194

107 116th Street, Stone Harbor, $6,999,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260234

1 108th Street, Stone Harbor, $11,499,999, ACTIVE MLS#: 260214

103 116 Street, Stone Harbor, $13,499,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260228

Under Contract:

212 25th Street, End Unit, Avalon, $1,850,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 260147

58 E 15th Street, Avalon, $4,595,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 253228

10546 Corinthian Drive, Stone Harbor, $7,595,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 253073

Properties Sold:

25 Seabreeze Lane, Avalon Manor, $1,587,500, SOLD MLS#: 253454

After the weekend storm, local roads were cleared, but a thick layer of snow and ice blanketed the island.  Walking on the snow leaves no footprints, as it’s frozen solid!

ICE, ICE, BABY! Like the entire region, Avalon & Stone Harbor experienced significant snowfall combined with cold air temperatures during Sunday’s storm.  About six inches of snow fell, but the relatively warm ocean water and warm air aloft prevented larger snow accumulations, as onshore winds changed the powdery snow to sleet, and then to rain.  The frozen ground and frigid air temperatures allowed for only minimal melting, however, before everything froze into a three-inch layer of ice.   Plowing was more difficult but crews cleared and salted local roads; shoveling was a challenge, requiring chipping through the heavy layer of ice.

WITH TEMPERATURES predicted to remain in the 20s during the day, and in the teens overnight for the next several days, the snow & ice will remain for a while.  Above-freezing daytime temperatures are not expected until early next week.

TAKE STEPS to protect your home from frigid temperatures and frozen pipes.  Here are some things you can do:

If unsure about protecting your home and pipes during frigid weather, contact your builder or plumber for advice.

AVALON & STONE HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS responded to a fire at a home located at 42^nd Street & Dune Drive Monday night.  The blaze heavily damaged the home, and fire crews were on scene for several hours.  Retired newspaper photographer Kevin Hoffman posted photos on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BKHuNcnij/

HARD TO BELIEVE, but we’re just 17 weekends away from Memorial Day!  If you’re dreaming of warm, sunny days on the beach, now’s the time to book your 2026 vacation.  Even better, why not make it permanent?  If you’ve dreamed of owning a shore condo, building your own vacation home, or acquiring a rental property, let’s talk!  Call or email me!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

New Listings:

212 25th Street, End Unit, Avalon, $1,850,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260147

201 98th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260163

226 107th Street, Stone Harbor, $4,599,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260141

177 71st Street, Avalon, $6,395,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260165

Under Contract:

225 110th Street, Stone Harbor, $2,499,777, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 252725

10108 Second Avenue, Stone Harbor, $3,250,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 260140

283 6th Street, Avalon, $3,595,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250164

867 Avalon Avenue, Avalon, $5,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 260095

Properties Sold:

10 Bower Court, Stone Harbor, $1,195,000, SOLD MLS#: 252849

245 57th Street, Avalon, $7,950,000, SOLD MLS#: 252781

83 E 25th Street, Avalon, $11,650,000, SOLD MLS#: 251319

In January, even the sunsets feel chilly!

WOW, IT’S BEEN COLD!  Daytime highs were in the 20s earlier this week, and overnight lows dipped into the teens.  After a mid-week warm up, more frigid lows are expected along with the possibility of snow over the weekend.

OUR SUNSETS are occurring a tiny bit later each day, and are now finally happening after 5pm.  Slightly longer daylight hours give us hope that spring is on its way!

OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES are around 40 degrees now, but can quickly change a few degrees based on daily winds (offshore winds blow relatively warm surface water out, bringing cooler water to the surface).  Despite the gradually lengthening days, the ocean water temperature typically continues to fall until February, when it averages 35 degrees!

MORTGAGE RATES REACHED a three-year low last week, as the average 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.06%, down from more than 7% a year ago.  The average 15-year fixed rate fell to 5.38%, down from 6.27% a year ago.

A SAND MOVING PROJECT will be conducted in Avalon this spring in order to replenish eroded beaches in the north end of town.  Just prior to the holidays Avalon took delivery of two large John Deere dump trucks, which will be used by Borough employees in combination with a bulldozer and loader already owned by Avalon, in order to move beach sand from a borrow area to the north end beaches.  Maintenance of the beaches remains a priority for the Borough, as it not only enhances the beach for visitors, but in turn the beaches help project the island in the event of storms.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

New Listings:

328 83rd Street, Stone Harbor, $3,295,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260116

2425 Harbor Avenue, 2425, Avalon, $3,750,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260136

374-376 96th Street, Stone Harbor, $4,500,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260138

8310 Sunset Drive, 8310, Stone Harbor, $4,699,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260105

6229 Dune Drive, Avalon, $4,795,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260077

53 E 25th Street, Avalon, $5,150,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260081

74 W 7th Street, Avalon, $5,495,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260093

867 Avalon Avenue, Avalon, $5,495,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260095

207 120th Street, Stone Harbor, $7,295,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260086

Under Contract:

46 E 18th Street, Avalon, $7,495,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260099

Properties Sold:

11116 2nd Avenue, Stone Harbor, $4,100,000, SOLD MLS#: 252069

177 74th Street, Avalon, $4,617,000, SOLD MLS#: 252922

431 24th Street, Avalon, $5,925,000, SOLD MLS#: 252784

A walk on the beach in the winter is just as beautiful as the summer (though a bit colder!)  Above, Cape May Lighthouse, as seen from Cove Beach, at the end of Beach Avenue in Cape May.  See below for more enjoyable winter activities!

A DELEGATION of local officials was scheduled to travel to Washington this week for a series of meetings on federal funding of beach replenishment, according to a Cape May County Herald article.  Several meetings were planned with the Army Corps of Engineers, Congressional staff, and the New Jersey Congressional delegation, to make the case for restoring federal beach funding after the 2025 cuts.  Avalon and Stone Harbor both planned to send representatives to the meeting.  Read the Cape May County Herald article here: https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/county-delegation-headed-to-washington-seeking-sand-funds-536ef62f

APPLY FOR RENTAL PROPERTY INSPECTIONS now, if you haven’t already done so.  Both Avalon and Stone Harbor require annual inspections and licensing of rental properties to ensure safety.

LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT!  The off season is the best time to make improvements to your rental property, helping to keep it in good shape while improving your rental return.  Not all improvements have to be expensive though, and little things mean a lot.  For example, an extra set of silverware and drinkware means your dishwasher runs less often, saving on your electric bill; ceiling fans or tower fans circulate cool air, reducing the load on your air conditioner; an inexpensive hose nozzle reduces water consumption when beach chairs and boogie boards are rinsed off.

“AREN’T YOU BORED IN THE WINTER?”  It’s a question I’m often asked about living at the shore during the winter months, particularly at this time of year.  The answer is a resounding “NO!”  There are plenty of activities to enjoy at the shore—even at this time of year!  Here are just a few of the things you can enjoy:

New Listings:

9511 Sunset Drive, 401, Stone Harbor, $650,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260061

2934 Ocean Drive, North, Avalon, $2,499,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260052

40 W 15th Street, Avalon, $5,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260057

9301 First Avenue, Stone Harbor, $7,795,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 260056

Under Contract:

211 23rd Street, Avalon, $3,795,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 260008

158 32nd Street, Avalon, $4,100,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 253141

10 92nd Street, A, Stone Harbor, $4,750,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250914

73 E 25th Street, Avalon, $8,799,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 251509

415 20th Street, Avalon, $8,995,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 250918

Properties Sold:

11100 2nd Avenue, Stone Harbor, $4,125,000, SOLD MLS#: 252068