September 30, 2026
LBI Weekly Report
What's happening around LBI and in the market, including the cleanup after the storm and what it could mean for the fall season.
This weekend's nor'easter brought significant flooding to LBI, with some of the hardest-hit areas stretching from Surf City south through Beach Haven. Streets, yards and some first floors took on water as the back bay pushed in through multiple high tides.
The response has been quick. Businesses across the Island spent the early part of the week pumping out, drying out and cleaning up, with many working toward quick reopenings.
If you're on LBI in the coming weeks, one of the best ways to help is also the simplest: stop in, grab a meal, do some shopping and support the local businesses working to get back to normal.
The storm didn't knock out one of LBI's biggest fall weekends. The Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off is on for this weekend. The free Merchant Mart runs Saturday, October 3, on the Taylor Avenue waterfront, followed by the Cook-Off Classic on Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the gate.
We put together a full Chowderfest guide with everything you need to know before you go.
One more guide worth bookmarking: we put together an extensive look at gluten-free dining around LBI, covering everything from breakfast through dessert. It includes an interactive map, safety ratings and the restaurants offering dedicated gluten-free preparation.
The market update covers September 24 through 30. Every address in the tables below is clickable and links to the full listing and photos.
Four homes went under contract this week, two fewer than the same week last year. With flooding limiting access and showings through much of the weekend, a quieter week wasn't much of a surprise.
The storm didn't stop the largest contract of the week: 69 Bayview Dr in Loveladies, listed at $5,850,000, found its buyer after just nine days on the market. The other three had all been waiting longer, led by 274 S 1st St in Surf City at 140 days and 231 N 8th St at 133.
Went Under Contract
September 24 – 30
| Address | Neighborhood | List Price | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69 Bayview Dr | Loveladies | $5,850,000 | 9 |
| 231 N 8th St | Surf City | $2,875,000 | 133 |
| 9 East 10th Street | Barnegat Light | $1,695,000 | 53 |
| 274 S 1st St | Surf City | $1,600,000 | 140 |
A slow week, but one heavily influenced by a weekend when getting onto and around the Island was difficult. Even so, the priciest listing to find a buyer did it in nine days.
Three homes closed this week for a combined $6.5 million. 51 N 21st St in Surf City led the week at $3,150,000.
51 N 21st St, Surf City · Closed at $3,150,000, the week's highest-priced sale
The other two both hit or exceeded their asking prices: 431B Amber Street in Beach Haven closed at its full $2,499,999 list price, while 130 Chatsworth Ave #1 sold for $860,000, $30,000 over asking.
Closed Sales
September 24 – 30
| Address | Neighborhood | List Price | Sold | Days to Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 N 21st St | Surf City | $3,199,000 | $3,150,000 | 35 |
| 431B Amber Street | Beach Haven | $2,499,999 | $2,499,999 | 58 |
| 130 Chatsworth Ave #1 | Beach Haven | $830,000 | $860,000 | 60 |
| Total Volume | $6,509,999 |
A small sample, but strong pricing. Two of the three closings finished at or above asking.
Same Week vs Last Year
September 24 – 30
| Measure | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Under Contract | 6 | 4 |
| Closed | 10 | 3 |
| Closed Volume | $20.0M | $6.5M |
| New Listings | 6 | 9 |
Year to Date
January 1 – September 30
| Measure | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under Contract | 314 | 279 | −11% |
| Closed | 299 | 244 | −18% |
| Closed Volume | $661.0M | $588.3M | −11% |
| Average Sale Price | $2,210,760 | $2,410,891 | +9% |
| Median Sale Price | $1,850,000 | $2,000,000 | +8% |
The week was clearly slower than the same period last year, although the storm makes it difficult to read too much into six days of activity.
The more interesting number may be new inventory. Nine homes came to market during one of the stormiest weeks of the fall, three more than the same week last year. That included a new $4,525,000 listing at 15 W Ohio Ave. Inventory now stands at 132 homes.
The storm all but eliminated showings last weekend, and the week's numbers reflect it: four contracts, three closings and one of the quietest stretches we've seen this fall.
What matters more is what happens next. We'll be watching October closely to see whether buyers pick up where September left off or whether the storm, combined with higher borrowing costs, takes some momentum out of the fall market.
The flooding also highlighted something worth paying attention to when evaluating homes on LBI: elevation, drainage and proximity to the bay can make a meaningful difference from one street to the next. Oceanside locations often command a premium for several reasons, and storm exposure is one of the factors buyers should understand when comparing properties.
Rates also moved in the wrong direction this week. For financed buyers, that changes the numbers and makes it even more important to look at the full cost of ownership rather than simply the asking price.
The storm paused showings. The question is what happens when buyers come back.
For Financed Buyers
Higher rates change the math. Run the numbers with your lender before committing to a home, and pay attention to listings where price adjustments may help offset some of the increase in borrowing costs.
For Cash Buyers
The storm and rising interest rates have created an opportunity. Showings were disrupted, borrowing costs have increased and there are 132 homes currently on the market. If that combination reduces competition in certain segments, cash buyers may find themselves with more leverage than they had earlier in the season. We will break this out further in next week's monthly newsletter.
As always, if you have questions about a specific property, what your home may be worth, or what we're seeing in a particular part of the Island, reach out anytime.
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Current Inventory by the Numbers
Residential and multi-family listings
Every address in the report is clickable. Select any listing to see the full details and photos.
| Price Range | Active | Avg Days | Med Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 5 | 43 | 13 |
| $1M to $2M | 32 | 62 | 34 |
| $2M to $3M | 32 | 130 | 79 |
| $3M to $4M | 39 | 78 | 54 |
| $4M+ | 18 | 116 | 90 |
| Address | Price | Days | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 W Ohio Ave | $4,525,000 | 4 | The Dunes |
| 5303 Long Beach Blvd #D | $3,800,000 | 0 | Harvey Cedars |
| 318 Third St | $3,395,000 | 5 | Beach Haven |
| 201 Jefferis Ave | $3,245,000 | 2 | Beach Haven |
| 148-A Long Beach Blvd | $2,395,000 | 1 | Loveladies |
| 2105 S Bay Ave | $1,950,000 | 4 | Beach Haven |
| 36 16th St | $1,899,000 | 4 | Surf City |
| 404 Coral St | $1,649,000 | 3 | Beach Haven |
| 16 W 13th St | $1,525,000 | 0 | Barnegat Light |
Surf City leads the island with 20 active listings, the most of any area on the island.
39 of the 130 active listings have been on the market longer than 100 days.
| Address | Price | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 51 N 21st St | $3,150,000 | 35 |
| 431B Amber Street | $2,499,999 | 58 |
| 130 Chatsworth Ave #1 | $860,000 | 60 |
| Address | Price | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 69 Bayview Dr | $5,850,000 | 9 |
| 231 N 8th St | $2,875,000 | 133 |
| 9 East 10th Street | $1,695,000 | 53 |
| 274 S 1st St | $1,600,000 | 140 |
Source: Bright MLS via our LBI transactions database. Active inventory counts residential and multi-family listings. Listings without a recorded subdivision are grouped by municipality. Days on market are measured from the listing entry date; days to contract are measured from the listing date to the contract date.
16 W 13th Street, Barnegat Light. Renovated, with bay views, on an oversized 60 x 125 lot in the heart of the north end.
An Oversized Lot in the Heart of Barnegat Light
16 W 13th Street · Barnegat Light
$1,525,000
Renovated and move-in ready in the heart of Barnegat Light, with bay views and the town's signature dunes just a short walk away. Inside, the open living area centers around a gas fireplace, with four bedrooms providing plenty of room for family and guests.
What really stands out is the land. The home sits on a 60 x 125 lot, roughly 7,500 square feet, an increasingly hard-to-find parcel size in Barnegat Light.
Enjoy the home as it is today or hold a property with plenty of long-term possibilities. A spacious deck, private backyard, outdoor shower and attached two-car garage round it out.
Listing courtesy of Freeman & Company Real Estate
Search Properties
Every active listing on LBI, plus the newest homes to hit the market.
The Guarino Team
With Gratitude
We're grateful for every buyer, seller, and family who has trusted us to be part of their LBI story. Rankings like these only happen because of the people we get to work with. Thank you.
Local advisors first. Real data and hands-on service from search through closing.
We focus exclusively on Long Beach Island, so our advice is grounded in what's happening here every day, from individual streets and neighborhoods to pricing, inventory, rentals, and investment potential.
From pricing and rental analysis to off-market opportunities and offer strategy, our job is to give buyers and sellers the information and guidance they need to make the right decision for them.
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