A Note from The Guarino Team

An Eventful Two Weeks on LBI

The past two weeks have certainly been eventful on LBI — both good and bad. On the bright side, Chowderfest and not one but two Kite Fests filled the skies and streets with energy, color, and community spirit. These back-to-back weekends were a great reminder of why fall is such a special time on the island.

Unfortunately, shortly after the celebrations wrapped up, a powerful nor’easter moved through, bringing some of the worst flooding we’ve seen in quite some time. The good news: most affected homes experienced a foot or less of water on the first floor and avoided any significant damage. As usual, the ocean side of the island remained mostly dry, reinforcing an important takeaway for buyers — if flooding is a concern, ocean side properties consistently offer the greatest peace of mind.

This storm primarily impacted mid-block and bay-side homes, with Surf City, Ship Bottom, Brant Beach, and parts of Beach Haven seeing the most significant water. Meanwhile, Holgate and much of the north end past Surf City were mostly spared. It’s another reminder of how block placement and elevation can make all the difference — and is a major factor when purchasing on the island.

From a real estate perspective, over the past two weeks we’ve seen 26 new properties hit the market — but an equal 26 properties leave, keeping overall inventory steady at 126 active homes. Historically, inventory begins to dip through the remainder of the year, and there’s a very real chance we could see fewer than 100 active listings at some point this winter. Low supply continues to drive competition and pricing strength across nearly every segment of the market.

As always, we’re here to help you navigate the market and understand what these local events mean for both homeowners and buyers. Feel free to reach out anytime at 609-467-4061.

– Beau, The Guarino Team