Perhaps the three phrases most associated with real estate right now are: short sale, foreclosure, bank owned home. Each one has a different meaning but currently it seems all 3 are being used interchangably to represent a good deal.

In Cape May County it is no different many of those looking for a shore house alont Cape May, Wildwood, and beaches north are trying to find a great deal when it comes to a home. For many Cape May County short sales offer opportunity.

Often with a short sale there is less work involved in getting the home into a condition to be used in a vacation rental program or to be enjoyed throughout the summer. No matter what type of home you are looking for in Cape May County, you can start your search on the Cape May County MLS

Interesting Look at the Future of Vacation Rentals

One of the fastest growing markets in tourism are tech savvy travelers.  Recently a study was done by HotelMotel.com on this growing trend of vacationers.  Perhaps the most amazing thing found in the study was the age makeup of tech savvy travelers.  Tech savvy travelers are ” are equally likely to be Echo Boomers (18-28 years of age) as Baby Boomers (43 to 61 years of age)”.  For many Cape May County home owners their potential renters are definitely in the 28-61 years of age.

The tech savvy travelers were also found to be “highly educated” and with 30% of households making in excess of $100,000.  This group of travelers were also found to spend as 50% more than there “non techie” counterparts.  37% were found to have visited a social network like MySpace or Facebook, than a travel review site like TripAdvisor.

Vacation home owners should pay attention over 40% have taken a virtual tour before they went somewhere.  An often overlooked aspect of vacation home marketing is the value in a good virtual tour.  Home owners with this group it is important to deliver what you advertise.  A full third have written a travel review online.

This is an emerging market and for those who value their Jersey shore vacation rentals it is important to stay ahead of the trend.  Wireless internet is the minimum any home owner should offer.  It today’s market a Jersey shore home owner is seriously handicapping themselves with not having free wireless internet.

It is becoming quite the possibility that Sea Isle City, will once again have an amusement park.  NBC News has a piece on how the owners of Gillian’s Wonderland Park in Ocean City, submitted a proposal to create an amusement park in Sea Isle City.  The project is dubbed, Gillian’s Funland in Sea Isle City.  The proposed site is along the 42nd street waterfront.  Their plan calls for upto 12 rides.  Gillian’s hope to have the location up and running by Memorial Day.

This should prove to be great news for Sea Isle City.  The proposal also includes offering Sea Isle City, 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of the park, including rides and concessions, according to The Press It should help keep folks in Sea Isle for an extra night during their stay.

Many people have been asking if the economic stimulus was going to boost local real estate markets? Initially it appeared most of the legislation would be geared toward tax credits for first time home buyers. While this would be great news for many first time home buyers who were left out during the boom a few years ago. Falling housing prices and low mortgage rates are starting to make home ownership attractive again. A $7500 tax credit had been offered for first time home buyers since April. It does now appear the amount will be raised to assist first time home buyers. Many of those who wisely kept their money out of real estate as the market fell, are seeing signs that now is becoming a strong time to buy. 30 year interest rates are currently around 5%. Investors and those looking to purchase a 2nd or 3rd home seemed to be left out of the legislation for the economic stimulus. As it now stands the Senate will be voting on Tuesday to an amendment to the economic stimulus package. The amendment #253 offers some great breaks for all those looking to buy real estate. Read the Rest of: Economic Stimulus and the Vacation Home Market

A recent release by the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism is titled, Monthly Getaway Sweepstakes That Put Garden State Vacations on Center Stage.  The getaway sweepstakes is an attempt to jump start tourism in New Jersey.  Two areas in Cape May County were highlighted.  Both Avalon and Wildwood made the list.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

What do the Vacation Packages include?

All getaway packages include a minimum of two night’s accommodations, complimentary meals and vouchers for activities and/or entertainment venues that vary as much as the destinations themselves. Ranging from family-friendly beach adventures to romantic retreats at secluded resorts, each month provides a new experience for visitors to discover another region of New Jersey.

Where Can I Learn More?

Consumers can learn more about New Jersey’s great destinations and the sites featured in the packages by visiting the state’s tourism website (www.visitnj.org) or the websites of the media partners for the sweepstakes – B101 in Philadelphia (www.b101radio.com) and 95.5 WPLJ in New York (www.wplj.com). Visitors to the sites can enter for a chance to win that month’s featured getaway to the Garden State.

Vacation Package Getaways

• Classic fun for four in Wildwood – stay at the doo-wop style Starlux Hotel; tickets for either Ocean Oasis Waterpark & Beach Club or Raging Waters Waterpark; unlimited rides on all three Morey’s Amusement Piers, tickets on Captain Schumann’s Sightseer Whale-Watching Boat Cruise and the Doo-Wop Trolley Tour; lunch and dinner.
• Action-packed week for four in Avalon – five night getaway at the oceanfront Golden Inn Resort; dinner in the Dining Room and Luigi’s Pasta & Vino; lunch at the Beach Club Bar & Grille; foursomes at the Avalon Golf Club, Stone Harbor Country Club and Wildwood Country Club; one-week Avalon Beach Access Passes; tickets to the Wetlands Institute; welcome gift bags from the Avalon Chamber of Commerce.
• Theatrical getaway to New Brunswick – stay at the sophisticated Heldrich Hotel, dinners at Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi, and tickets to The State Theatre and George Street Playhouse.
• Romantic retreat in Vernon – premium room at the luxurious Grand Cascades Lodge, dinners at Restaurant Latour and the Crystal Tavern, passes to Mountain Creek Ski Resort, or a round of golf for two.
• Experience Princeton – weekend at the historic Nassau Inn, dinners at Mediterra and Salt Creek Grille, tickets to McCarter Theatre and Grounds for Sculpture, and Princeton: Still Making History photography book.
• Atlantic City Getaway package – stay at the Tropicana Casino & Resort, dinners at Buddakan and the Knife & Fork, $50 gift certificates for the Atlantic City Outlets and the Pier Shops at Caesar’s, casino review show or IMAX tickets, Healing Stone Therapy massage at Spa Toccare at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, admission to: Lucy the Elephant, Absecon Lighthouse, AC Aquarium, a dolphin cruise aboard AC Cruises, and AC gift bag.
• Garden State Film Festival Package (GSFF) in Asbury Park – passes to The Garden State Film Festival (4/3 – 4/5), including Opening Night Cocktail Party, all screening events, panel discussions, after parties; stay in Ocean Grove at The Laingdon Inn; dinners at the Langosta Lounge and Salt Water Cafe; VIP Badges and GSFF merchandise.
• Couples getaway to Long Beach Island – stay at the classic Inn at Sea Oaks; tickets to Surflight Theatre Mainstage Theatre; dinner at Plantation Restaurant, gift basket and admission to Tuckerton Seaport; welcome basket from Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce.
• Something for both of you in Red Bank – weekend at the picturesque Molly Pitcher Inn; Sunday Brunch at the hotel; Spa Treatments at Mossaic Spa; shopping gift cards to Jersey Shore Premium Outlets and Jackson Premium Outlets and gift basket valued at $100; dinners at Red and Basil T’s; tickets to the Count Basie Theater, a Day at Monmouth Park; VIP Day on the Boardwalk at Jenkinson’s; and an all-inclusive VIP Package at Six Flags Great Adventure.
• Explore South Jersey together – stay at the convenient Holiday Inn in Cherry Hill; tickets plus backstage tour and cast meet and greet at the Ritz Theatre Company; passes to the Battleship New Jersey and Adventure Aquarium; dinners at Red, Hot & Blue and Anthony’s Italian Restaurant; $100 gift certificate for the Cherry Hill Mall.
• Scenic weekend in Hunterdon County -accommodations and breakfasts at the Hampton Inn in Clinton; tickets for Hunterdon Hills Playhouse dinner theatre; private winery tour and tasting at Unionville Vineyards; dinner at Ciao Luigi; $100 shopping spree at Liberty Village Premium Outlets, and $100 from the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce to spend locally.

This post was originally found on the New Jersey Real Estate blog under the heading New Jersey Attempts to Jump Start Tourism

Currently foreclosures and short sale opportunities abound on the Cape May County MLS. Keeping up to date on recent offerings can be the key to finding a home or condo. In an effort to keep you updated on North Wildwood short sales and foreclosures, I provide the North Wildwood Short Sale and Foreclosure List. Join now, todays email contains some excellent opportunities in Avalon, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City.

The town of Strathmere is undertaking an $8 million beach fill project.  This is more than double the initial estimate of $3 million.  As part of the project Sea Isle City will be adding 400,000 cubic yards of sand to their beaches.  In Sea Isle City the rebuilt areas will include 1st to 15th street and 42nd to 52nd.

This year’s project is Sea Isle City’s first since a $4.2 million project back in 1999.  According to the Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio, they are working to lobby the Army Corps of Engineers to include Sea Isle in routine projects.

It sounds like good news for home owners along the beaches that are being rebuilt.  It should help to further protect their investment.  If you are ready to make an investment in Sea Isle City, contact me.

Originally Stone Harbor Going Solar from the Stone Harbor Real Estate Blog.

The Borough of Stone Harbor will be taking bids to install the first of many solar panels on a municipal building.  The install will comprise upto 286 panels.  The solar panels will be installed on the roof of the municipal building.  Town officials hope the solar power will generate up to 60,000 kilowatts of electricity oer year.

Initial estimates place the cost of the installing solar powers on the roof of the 81st Street public works building between $300,000 and $400,000.  The Press reports the borough is receiving a $158,000 rebate from the state of New Jersey.

Town officials hope the solar panels will pay for themselves in six to eight years.  The town is hoping with success to expand the program.  Some neighboring towns have already started the green energy conversion.  They include West Cape May and Ocean City.

Today’s real estate market is great if you are looking to buy. For buyers there are plenty of deals available. The biggest decision for buyers, are finding the most reduced in price homes. If you have been thinking about buying a home take a look at these.  These homes are the most reduced in price in the Cape May MLS.

They are the most reduced price beach homes in Cape May County.

Ready to Learn more: Send me an email or register at SjBeachHomes.com

Wildwood Crest Reduced by – 22.2%

North Wildwood Reduced by – 18.1%

Wildwood Reduced by – 18.0%

This weekend in Wildwood should be a cold fun filled one. This weekend marks the 3rd annual Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics. The weekend has continued to grow in each of its previous years. This year will be no different.

This year’s Wildwood Polar Plunge will start in Camden, New Jersey with a motorcycle rally that will make its way from Camden to the Wildwood Convention Center. Hot tubs will be set up for the polar plunge and indoor registration will be available. According to the NJ Polar Plunge website, the Wildwood Polar Plunge has raised over $67,000 already.

Are you ready to brave the challenge? If so you can register here. If you would like to spend some time this weekend while in Wildwood viewing some homes or condos send me an email. I am currently tracking some great homes and condos in North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.

This entry originally appeared as, Wildwood Polar Plunge Weekend, on the Wildwood real estate blog at SJBeachHomes.com.