As you likely know, we recently had some big storms here - some centered on flooding, the other involving some snow. The portions of each town which tend to flood did so as usual, but with higher than average levels. Bridge Avenue has been closed a lot lately, due to flooding, but also due to water main work. You can see photos and videos of the storms at the links below. We are told by various sources that the recent flood levels were similar to flood levels in Hurricane Irene (August 2011), and the December 2022 storm. The recent flooding was approximately 3.5' above NAVD88 (which is the elevation datum that most flood elevation certificates are measured from). Events such as this seem to be coming more common!
Other News
During the storms. it came to our attention that though Bay Head and Mantoloking both have emergency notification systems, not everyone knows about them, and has signed up for them. Here are the signup links:
Bay Head (Note that they may be switching systems)
On a related topic, if we offered updates via text messaging (weather, flooding, photos, videos, etc.), would you sign up? Please click here to let us know.
The recent storms prompted us to create a page with some of our favorite weather resources - apps and websites, tide charts, and more - you can find it here. It includes sources for wind predictions, radar, and the latest briefings from the National Weather Service. Please bookmark it - we will try to update it as appropriate during major storms.
For those of you in Mantoloking - the town is now offering electronic billing for sewers - to opt-in, email your name, property address, email address, and phone number to [email protected]. Mantoloking also reminds everyone that tax payments are due February 1st, but there is grace period until Monday, February 12th.
If you have an iPhone - a recent iOS update reset many voicemails to the "default" greeting, not any custom greeting that you may have recorded - you may want to check on this.
Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan (Ed is on their board), just announced their 2024 - 2025 season. Shows this spring include Fiddler on the Roof and Grease, and next season some of the highlights are CATS, Footloose, and 1776.
Meetings and Events
- February 1st, 6:30pm - Mantoloking Planning Board Meeting
- February 5th, 7:00pm - Bay Head Council Meeting
- February 20th, 5:30pm - Mantoloking Council Meeting
- February 21st, 6:30pm - Bay Head Planning Board Meeting
Market
We are currently experiencing our winter lull - the weather is cold, and buyers and sellers are either in warmer climates, skiing, or at the very least, not thinking about real estate. Currently, there are only 6 homes on the market in Bay Head and Mantoloking combined. Typically, as we come out of the cold weather, inventory increases, and the predicted lower interest rates should help as well. According to Fannie Mae, interest rates could drop below 6% by the end of 2024.
For further insights and market statistics, please visit our blog to read our January Market Update.
Equity Reports and Home Values
If you are curious about your home's value, you can find three AI generated values here, but if you'd like, we'd be happy to send you an equity report, showing your purchase price, and any appreciation since then, market value, and other details (just reply to this email).
Local Photos and Videos
A selection of Ed's local photos from the last month, including the recent snow storm and flooding, can be found here. You can see some of our recent videos on our Youtube channel (and you may want to subscribe to our channel for future updates). Ed also recently published a book of some of his Bay Head and Mantoloking photos - if you'd like to know more, please send him an email.
If you would like to offer your home for rent for any portion of next season, please let us know. Tenants are already making plans for next summer.
Please reply to this email with your questions.
Thank you, be well, and stay warm!
Suzie and Ed
All statistics are per Monmouth/Ocean MLS as of 1/2024.
