Not just selling shore homes, selling a shore way of life. Your resource for the best homes, hotspots, & happenings in Margate, Ventnor, & Atlantic City.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Boardwalk Journal Radio: Tune In with Mark on 1020 AM WIBG at 5:00PM Feb 26th


A new magazine, title Boardwalk Journal, geared to celebrate all aspects of Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore is being launched. It will be distributed through out the shore, and more importantly, will be the magazine found on the new Express Train (ACES) from Atlantic City to New York, and will be sure to attract greater patronage from the "Big Apple."

I am the grateful Realtor who has been asked to serve as this publication's Real Estate consultant. In this role I will be contributing a monthly column on Real Estate and I will be participating in monthly radio programs.

The following is a portion of the press release that Boardwalk Journal just sent out:
Tomorrow morning, Boardwalk Journal publisher Jennifer Hill will present another hour of Boardwalk Journal Radio with Harry Hurley from 8AM to 9AM on 1020 AM WIBG.
Boardwalk Journal Radio can also be heard via a live Internet stream at
WIBG.COM

Boardwalk Journal Radio returns Thursday night from 5PM to 6PM on 1020 AM WIBG and live on the web at
WIBG.COM.
Jennifer's guests will include local radio legend Ed Hurst and the Boardwalk Journal's real estate consultant Mark Arbeit.
To learn more about Harry Hurley please visit
http://www.harryhurley.com/

To learn more about Jennifer Hill & The Boardwalk Journal please visit
http://www.boardwalkjournal.com/
To learn more about Mark Arbeit please visit
http://www.markattheshore.com/

Saturday, February 21, 2009

The PULSE of the Shore Market for 2009


With January and most of February behind us, Buyers continue to come to the shore looking for a great deal. Without a doubt, there are deals to be found, and coupled with great mortgage rates there is no better time to buy!



However there is still misconception out there about our market. As recent as yesterday I received an email from a prospective Buyer that said, "I know that nothing's moving at the shore".
Please allow me to dispel that rumor by beginning this entry with some congratulations to the Buyers and Sellers I represented in the past few weeks in successful transactions:




Congratulations to:


Linda & John for the purchase of their home in January in Margate


Remarkable Renovations on the sale of their home in February in Margate


Tom & Betsy on the purchase of their home in February in Margate


Craig & Brandi on the purchase of their home in February in Ventnor


Debbi & Marty on the purchase of their home in February in Ventnor


Bob & Michelle on the sale of their condo in February in Ventnor


Kim & Michael on the purchase of their home in February in Ventnor


In addition to these completed sales, I currently have 11 more properties under contract and scheduled to close in the coming weeks.


Good news for you and good news for the shore. Still a great place to invest your money and great place to share with friends and family.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

ATLANTIC CITY RESTAURANT WEEK: WHAT BETTER TIME TO VISIT THE SHORE?



Atlantic City Restaurant Week is a seven-day celebration of the culinary scene in Atlantic City.
For the week of
March 1-7, 2009, participating restaurants will offer a multi-course meal for the fixed price of $15.09 for lunch and $33.09 for dinner (not including beverage, tax and gratuity). Restaurant week offers gastronomes and gourmets an extraordinary opportunity to explore some of Atlantic City's classic restaurants - and some of the city's newest - to sample a variety of the exceptional dishes prepared by Atlantic City's chefs at incredibly reasonable rates.

AC Restaurant Week Gift Certificates -
Click to Purchase


What you need to know about


Atlantic City Restaurant Week




WHEN: Sunday, March 1 through Saturday, March 7, 2009




WHAT: Participating restaurants will offer fixed price, three-course meals at prices far below the normal cost:
Lunch: $15.09 per person
Dinner: $33.09 per person


Prices DO NOT include taxes, beverages or gratuity.


WHERE: Approximately 70 casino restaurants and independent restaurants throughout Atlantic County.
How can I find out which restaurants are participating?


Go to the “Restaurant List Page” The restaurant list is under the ‘Restaurants’ tab. If you click ‘View’ for the restaurant of your choice, you’ll see a description of the restaurant, location, contact information, the days and hours they are participating, and the special Restaurant Week menu they are offering.


Is there a special menu?


Yes. Each restaurant will offer a special Restaurant Week menu as well as their regular menu.


Do I need tickets in advance?


No. There are no tickets or vouchers. However, gift certificates are available online on the "Gift Certificate" page.


Do I need reservations?


Some restaurants suggest reservations in advance. You can make them directly through the restaurant(s) you choose. Some restaurants are also accepting reservations through the Open Table system online; you can access the URL from the "Restaurant List Page."


Does each restaurant serve both lunch and dinner?


No. Please check with the restaurant(s) of your choice to find out which meals they are offering Restaurant Week menus for. This information is also available on the "Restaurant List Page."


Does each restaurant offer the Restaurant Week menu every day?


No. Please check with the restaurant(s) of your choice to find out which days they are participating in Restaurant Week. This information is also available under individual restuarant pages, accessed from the "Restaurant List Page."


Is parking available?
Many independent restaurants have their own parking.
You can park in casino self-park garages or use the casino valets for a nominal fee (fees are posted as you enter).
The South Jersey Transportation Authority is offering discount parking in their lot on Christopher Columbus Blvd. between Atlantic and Arctic Avenues. Have the participating restaurant stamp the back of your parking ticket or give you a business card to present at the parking booth for a $4 parking rate (regularly $7 weekdays and $12 weekends). Please do not staple anything to the parking ticket.


How can I get Restaurant Week information if I’m on the road? Call the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority’s information center toll-free at 1-888-AC-VISIT (1-888-228-4748).
If you have Internet access on your cell phone, key in
www.acrestaurantweek.com, and your mobile service will redirect you to the list of participating restaurants. You can then view the phone number, address and directions to the eatery of your choice. Click on the phone number link to dial the restaurant immediately.


What’s the best way to get to Atlantic City?


There are many convenient ways to get to and around Atlantic City:
By car, via the Atlantic City Expressway.
By train:
Daily service between Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station and the Atlantic City Rail Terminal, with free shuttles from the terminal to all casinos.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday service between New York City’s Penn Station and the Atlantic City Rail Terminal, with one stop in Newark and free shuttles available to Caesars, Harrah’s and Borgata casinos.
Cab service is also available at the Atlantic City Rail Terminal.
Jitney service (see below) is available on Michigan Avenue, just up the street from the Atlantic City Rail Terminal.
By bus from many regional destinations to the Atlantic City Bus Station, Michigan and Atlantic Avenues. Cabs are available at the bus station, and the station is also within walking distance of many restaurant locations and Jitney service.


How can I get around Atlantic City once I’m there? Cabs are readily available at all casino valet areas and throughout Atlantic City. If you are traveling between two points within the city’s boundaries, the maximum cab fare is $13 per ride, plus tip. For destinations outside of Atlantic City, please ask the driver what the fare will be.
Jitneys, Atlantic City’s unique 13-passenger mini-buses, run continuously 24-hours a day along Pacific Avenue. There are also Jitney routes to the Marina District casinos (Harrah’s, Trump Marina and Borgata) and up Michigan Avenue to Atlantic City Outlets-The Walk. Look for curbside signs for boarding locations. The fare is $2.25 per ride.
Rolling chairs are covered wicker chairs pushed by operators along the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Fares are based on distance.


Are there any special hotel rates if I want to stay over?


Yes, special rates and hotel packages are available during Restaurant Week. For details, please visit "Lodging Page", our "Hotel Packages Page", or our "Hotel Specials Page." You can also call the Visitor Information service at 1-888-AC-VISIT (1-888-228-4748) or stop in at the Visitor Information Centers for assistance in booking a room. The centers are located at mile marker 3.5 on the Atlantic City Expressway and at the corner of Mississippi Avenue and the Boardwalk in Boardwalk Hall.


What else is there to do while I’m in Atlantic City?


My first choice is call Mark Arbeit and look for a shore property! However, the Atlantic City area is jam-packed with great shopping and entertainment opportunities, world-class spas, cultural attractions, championship caliber golf, 11 exciting casinos and more. For information, please visit http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/. You can also call the Visitor Information service at 1-888-AC-VISIT (1-888-228-4748) or stop in at the Visitor Information Centers for assistance. The centers are located at mile marker 3.5 on the Atlantic City Expressway and at the corner of Mississippi Avenue and the Boardwalk in Boardwalk Hall.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

New Atlantic City Express Train Is ACES!!!


ACES is the new express line between Atlantic City and New York City.


The long awaited and eagerly anticipated new train service between New York City and the Jersey Shore started Friday, February 6, 2009 with the debut of the Atlantic City Express Service, or "ACES" for short.
It's a $25 million effort backed by three casinos, as well as the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
Now tourists, shore residents and city dwellers will have a faster, cleaner and decidedly more comfortably mode of transport from city to shore.


The first train left Atlantic City just after 10:00 a.m. bound for New York's Penn Station. The return trip departs Manhattan at 2:30 p.m., with one stop in Newark before arriving in Atlantic City.
The service will operate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $50 one way for regular seats, and $75 for first class.
This will be another big boom for our community as New Yorkers will find it easier to come down for quick weekend getaways and shore home owners will be more inclined to sneak into the "Big Apple" to catch a Broadway show.
Just another good reason to own a home on the Jersey Shore!


Monday, February 2, 2009

Creating The Perfect Shore Home


Many people are coming to the shore looking for a home that is in "move in ready" condition. Unfortunately, these homes are few and far between.

Another new alternative is to buy a home in your location of choice and have this home renovated or modified to meet your needs.
Here's a great example:

This is 104 N. Clermont Avenue in Margate. When it came on the market in November, it was anything but "move in" condition. Priced right, the home was purchased by Remarkable Renovations, a company owned by the creative and talented developer Debra Buchalski. Remarkable Renovations specializes in home remodeling, design and restorations. Immediately after purchasing the home, Ms. Buchalski created plans to reconstruct and modify the existing house to include the features demanded by most of today's Buyers.
104 N. Clermont was then put back on the market in mid-November priced at $525,000, using plans and architectural designs that included highly popular features such as a first floor master suite, a large front porch, totally renovated eat-in kitchen w/granite counter tops and renovated bathrooms, a fenced yard with enclosed outdoor shower, cedar impression vinyl siding, hardwood floors and attached garage. The house was schedule for completion by Spring 2009.
The house went under contract in 20 days!









Construction is going well and since the Buyers made their decision to purchase this home during the early stages of the renovation, they are able to be a part of the selection process for the home.






These two photos were taken on February 2nd, 2009

104 N. Clermont Ave, is scheduled to be completed by April 15, 2009.

This is just one example that there is more than one way to find the right home to suit your needs.
Sometimes, it is best to find the home in the right location and determine if it can be fixed affordably. Sometimes all you need is a little bit of imagination and vision.
Stay tuned for more updates!