Last weekend was about as busy as the island gets, and talking to people around town, the consensus is the same everywhere: this is shaping up to be one of the busier Junes in recent memory. It's hard to say whether that's pent-up demand after a long, harsh winter and a soggy spring, or whether it speaks more to how much LBI keeps growing in popularity year after year. Either way, the island felt full, in the best possible way.

A handful of new businesses opened their doors this past week, and we've been making the rounds. We shot Instagram videos for Get Roasted, the new coffee shop in Ship Bottom, and Pixie up in Barnegat Light, both are live on @lbi_locals now, with one more on the way for another new business soon. But the spot we keep coming back to, literally, is Bōdhy in Ship Bottom.

We stopped into Bōdhy this weekend and ended up coming back over and over. The whole concept is built around whole foods, seed-oil-free cooking, and clean eating, and it shows in everything that comes out of the kitchen. We worked our way through multiple bowls and drinks, and every single one was fantastic. A lot of that comes down to the homemade sauces and salsas, which tie everything together.

The standout for us was the steak and egg bowl with the homemade salsa, we'd go back for that one alone. Even the lattes were a hit. If you're trying to eat a clean breakfast or lunch this summer, this is a must-try. You'll find it in the Walters building, right across from Ron Jon on the causeway.

And with that, Best of LBI 2026 has officially concluded with the announcement of our Top 10 Foods on LBI. We had a feeling it would spark a few debates, so take a look and see if your favorites made the cut. See the Top 10 here →

This weekend marks the first with kids officially out of school, so expect this to be our busiest week yet. As always, keep an eye out for The 18, which hits your inbox Friday morning with everything you need to plan your weekend on the island.

Beau

June's data points to a clear shift: more homes are coming to market while fewer are going under contract. Together, these trends are beginning to move the LBI market back toward equilibrium, a healthy recalibration after several years of unusually constrained inventory.

Active inventory reached a low point in the low 90s over the winter, among the tightest conditions the market has seen in years. It has since recovered steadily and now stands near 130 homes, roughly 40% above that winter floor and the highest level of available inventory in approximately a year.

New listing activity reinforces the trend. Through June 24, more homes have come to market this year than in any of the prior three years, and well above last year's pace, a notable departure from the typical early-summer slowdown.

On the demand side, activity has moderated. Homes going under contract through June 24 are running at a multi-year low, indicating that new supply is entering the market faster than it is being absorbed.

Taken together, these are constructive developments. A larger pool of active listings provides more comparable sales, and more comparables bring greater discipline to pricing. In a tight market, sellers often listed aggressively with limited recent data to guide them, a dynamic that was evident this spring. A more balanced market encourages sellers to price in line with the comparables to remain competitive, which leads to more accurate pricing, smoother transactions, and a healthier market overall.

We remain cautiously optimistic. A few strong months do not establish a trend, but this is precisely the type of rebalancing the market has needed, and we are hopeful it continues. For those considering a move, conditions are increasingly favorable to buyers, while well-priced homes continue to attract strong interest. As always, please reach out with any questions specific to your property or situation.

Drew