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OT: Cost of shore rentals - will people continue to pay?

Regular people will go elsewhere that they can afford.

Rich people who can afford it will simply take over.

The beach towns will rehab their towns to make sure the rich people will stay or take over while keeping poor folks out, which most here will agree with.
Poor folks and beach houses are like oxymorons
 
Poor folks and beach houses are like oxymorons
There was a time when working shmucks and their friends/family would come up with some money to go to the shore for a few days and have a good time. Now people have to save up two, three months to rent a place for three days, plus get supplies. Those days are long gone, to be replaced by suit and tie people with money.

I remember when there was an NJ Transit package where you get free beach admission for every train ticket to any beach along the North Jersey Coast Line. Don’t have that anymore.
 
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There could be even more rental demand due to it being absolutely out of reach to purchase imo. You cant buy a 3 bedroom shore house in a decent town for less than $1,000,000. In bay head/mantoloking thats more like $1.5-$2mill. I rented 8 weeks in Bay Head this summer in a small 2 bedroom condo and got a steal for $15,000 total. Beats what the annual mortgage and upkeep would be on that.
I agree with this. From Spring Lake to Bay Head short term rental inventory is shrinking. More year round residents and long term renters. I have neighbors in Manasquan that have a couple rental properties that have been in the family for some time. They used to rent in season for anywhere from $4-6500/ week in season. 12 week season would bring them somewhere in the range of $50-60k per house. Then in the off season would rent to teachers for $1500-2500/ month. In the last 2 years they no longer rent seasonally. There is a demand from people to rent at $7-8k/mo year round.
 
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I just finished my 2 wk rental. Traffic is down but that just means it’s back to the pre pandemic levels. I rent in Lavallette and prices are not coming down.
We own in Lavallette and had no issue getting our place filled for the summer. We were very late getting some work done in the house and listed in mid-May. We are beach block so that helped a bunch.
 
. We went to the Cayman Islands this year for 5 days (flights, AirBnB and car rental) and it was the same price as staying in Ocean City NJ for a week.
Wow, that's quite the salient point.

I guess the market will correct itself as needed. I haven't read the rest of the thread yet, though...
 
A couple of years back- we went with friends to Virgin Gorda in the BVI. Insane villa on a private beach- 6 BR/6Bath. Total cost for a week was around 9-10k. There were a total of 9 of us that went. So- to compare to some of the NJ beach houses- it is a crazy good deal and look at what you get to stay in...
Villa BVI
 
The value is that in a house with 5-6 bedrooms you may also be vacationing with extended family or multiple families. Your not going to Hawaii with 8-10 people for $10K
My nephew kids like to invite a friend or two to come down with their parents for a day or two. That’s what makes it enjoyable for them and the rides. When the kids grow up a little they might fly to other vacation spots.

The other nephew brother in law lived in Ocean Grove and stays there on weekends. They fly everywhere for their vacations.
 
I agree with this. From Spring Lake to Bay Head short term rental inventory is shrinking. More year round residents and long term renters. I have neighbors in Manasquan that have a couple rental properties that have been in the family for some time. They used to rent in season for anywhere from $4-6500/ week in season. 12 week season would bring them somewhere in the range of $50-60k per house. Then in the off season would rent to teachers for $1500-2500/ month. In the last 2 years they no longer rent seasonally. There is a demand from people to rent at $7-8k/mo year round.
Really? Areas outside of Manasquan too?

One problem with renting annually, however, is that in the wonderful State of NJ, it is next to impossible to evict a long-term (annual) tenant. With weekly rentals, problems are gone in a week. We like it that way. We also like the flexibility of having the place available for ourselves, or friends/families to use it for free (or close to free).
 
I received an e-mail notice from the Borough of Spring Lake this morning that my annual allotment of visits to their esteemed beach has been reached, and I am welcome to return after 5 p.m. starting Memorial Day 2024. 😜
Don't worry, I know a guy. 😎
 
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This is what everybody's missing. Traveling with young kids is a major PITA. There is always going to be a fresh crop of young couples/families with kids that splitting a house for the week at the Jersey shore makes total sense. Plenty to do and it still feels far enough away from home

I never understood people spending 10k on Disney for the week when their 2 and 3 year old kids will never ever remember the experience
Taking a child who is under 3 to Disney is not a trip for the child, but rather the parents. If that’s what you are going for, fine. However, to spend the money to go there when the kid will never remember or likely not enjoy it is mind boggling.
 
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I think it was @newell138 (I was Newell 24 btw) who mentioned "the switch" that has happened.

It used to be in the Winter the big house(s) was dark from a little after Labor Day unto a little before Memorial Day. Now not so much. Real estate friends noticed this during COVID when parents began to ask..."how are the schools?", that doesn't matter unless you plan on staying or sticking around.
 
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Interesting that you say that. We went down there when I was a kid every summer, long before it was "OBX". Then my parents got so they didn't like that it got "over-developed and crowded." I guess everything's relative.

Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded...
Agree. Love the OBX. Used to rent regularly in Duck and Corolla for years with friends and family. Started with college buddies late 90's then family late 90's to 2007. The island changed significantly in that time period.

Went fishing early June, first time back in 16 years. Stayed in kill devil hills. High season didn't start yet and the island was mobbed. Couldn't get anywhere. I live at the beach in NJ now and traffic is rarely like what I experienced down there.
 
I think it was @newell138 (I was Newell 24 btw) who mentioned "the switch" that has happened.

It used to be in the Winter the big house(s) was dark from a little after Labor Day unto a little before Memorial Day. Now not so much. Real estate friends noticed this during COVID when parents began to ask..."how are the schools?", that doesn't matter unless your plan on staying or sticking around.
Yep Sea Girt Elementary almost doubled in size from 2020-2022. Went from 8-12 kids per grade to 13-20.
 
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As I have mentioned previously in threads like this, I love when you guy come down because you all add to the flavor of the season. It makes (IMO anyway) the Summer that much more fun around here. But I also like when you leave too. 🙂
 
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PSA Announcement:

It's the Fireman's Fair this week in Manasquan. Please be very careful when driving in the area (from Avon down to Brielle) at night as the kiddo bike traffic really explodes this week.

@knightfan7 knows what I'm talking about.
 
Agree. Love the OBX. Used to rent regularly in Duck and Corolla for years with friends and family. Started with college buddies late 90's then family late 90's to 2007. The island changed significantly in that time period.

Went fishing early June, first time back in 16 years. Stayed in kill devil hills. High season didn't start yet and the island was mobbed. Couldn't get anywhere. I live at the beach in NJ now and traffic is rarely like what I experienced down there.
I was there every summer from 1978 (I was a kid) until maybe 2000. By then end, the kids were bringing their kids. But one day, after sitting in traffic for hours and hours just to get there, my brother-in-law dared to say out loud: "Why do we kill ourselves to do this? It's no different from Ocean City or Rehobeth anymore."

I'm sure it's still special, and I have awesome memories from there, but he had a point. It got expensive and crowded.

As a side point, I thought it odd that Virginia spent so many gazillion dollars to improve their roads to help people get to a destination in another state. But I guess the alternative was for their local roads to be unusable for four months a year.

Duck, Corolla, mostly Nags Head and Kitty Hawk, a couple times on the National Seashore for us.

In 1986 all the cool college age dudes bailed for a few days to Williamsburg during a hurricane. We saw "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
 
Really? Areas outside of Manasquan too?

One problem with renting annually, however, is that in the wonderful State of NJ, it is next to impossible to evict a long-term (annual) tenant. With weekly rentals, problems are gone in a week. We like it that way. We also like the flexibility of having the place available for ourselves, or friends/families to use it for free (or close to free).
Yea have heard from realtor/mortgage friends that Point Boro and Beach, Wall, Sea Girt and Spring Lake inventory is low, cost of entry high and people see value in year round rentals. Spoke to a couple at Shipwreck last winter that decided to stop renting for month of July in Spring Lake and decided to rent year round in Brielle near marina. Bike ride to the beach.

Funny dad was in real estate business for many years. His only rental problems were short term rentals of a ski house in VT. Damn massholes!
 
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PSA Announcement:

It's the Fireman's Fair this week in Manasquan. Please be very careful when driving in the area (from Avon down to Brielle) at night as the kiddo bike traffic really explodes this week.

@knightfan7 knows what I'm talking about.
Picking up the bracelets tonight with the girls!!! Favorite week of the summer. But as E5 says. Be very careful kids and drunk parents on bikes everywhere!!!!
 
I was there every summer from 1978 (I was a kid) until maybe 2000. By then end, the kids were bringing their kids. But one day, after sitting in traffic for hours and hours just to get there, my brother-in-law dared to say out loud: "Why do we kill ourselves to do this? It's no different from Ocean City or Rehobeth anymore."

I'm sure it's still special, and I have awesome memories from there, but he had a point. It got expensive and crowded.

As a side point, I thought it odd that Virginia spent so many gazillion dollars to improve their roads to help people get to a destination in another state. But I guess the alternative was for their local roads to be unusable for four months a year.

Duck, Corolla, mostly Nags Head and Kitty Hawk, a couple times on the National Seashore for us.

In 1986 all the cool college age dudes bailed for a few days to Williamsburg during a hurricane. We saw "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
Not sure Va spent a dime on those highways. They were built off the backs of speeding tickets targeting Yankee tourists (brother in law NJ cop got pulled over on way to OBX and asked why he was stopped? trooper answered "NJ PLATES"). Stopped counting how many Troopers and Sheriffs cars. Speed trap after speed trap 35-45-55-35 mph within 5 mile stretches.
 
Not sure Va spent a dime on those highways. They were built off the backs of speeding tickets targeting Yankee tourists (brother in law NJ cop got pulled over on way to OBX and asked why he was stopped? trooper answered "NJ PLATES"). Stopped counting how many Troopers and Sheriffs cars. Speed trap after speed trap 35-45-55-35 mph within 5 mile stretches.
Yeah, ha ha.

Maybe we were immune since our plates were from below the Mason-Dixon line (although everybody in ACC country always called us 'Yankees' just like they call you)...
 
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People are people, and calling people who are not millionaires trashy is a low-class move, IMO. But whatever makes you feel better about yourself. Try dialing down your privilege.

I know the shore beaches From Avon down to Manasquan quite well, as I have lived here most of my life. I told you that the areas around D'Jais 16th to 19th Aves are the ones you want to avoid if you want a family beach. I gave my reasons why Spring Lake is not the right beach for a lot of people. Our rental is advertised as a SPring Lake border beach, and comments we have received from Wall Street investment banker types include the Spring Lake beach "the no fun beach" and who were delighted with the 20th Ave beach." Never heard one negative thing about 20th Ave, nor the beaches from 2nd Ave to 12th. You are entitled to your misinformed opinion based on a limited sample size.
Stop being so defensive about Belmar dude. It's not that great of a place, sorry to rustle you. You're successful with it, so WGAS?
 
I don’t get the obsession with the jersey shore at all. Not at all my thing. Can go to Maui and stay at the Ritz for about the same price. Makes zero sense to me.
 
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I don’t get the obsession with the jersey shore at all. Not at all my thing. Can go to Maui and stay at the Ritz for about the same price. Makes zero sense to me.
I can dig that (although it sounds like New Jersey blasphemy). But it sounds like two different things.

I can say that yesterday I was walking on the beach and seeing tons of people hanging out, kids everywhere, hot, riding waves, watching all the mini-civilizations people set up around me, was like a paradise to me. But even my own kids don't feel the same way. So I get that...
 
I need you to book my next vacation - 6 people shorehouse $4k...6 people Caribbean - same money??? That 4k would be each and not include airfair.
2022 I paid $3100 to rent a weekly beach rental in OCNJ. Nothing fancy.

I spent $3100 in Feb 2023 to fly my family of 4 to the Caymans and stayed for 5 days.

That same OCNJ rental is now pushing $3800-$4000k this year.
 
Taking a child who is under 3 to Disney is not a trip for the child, but rather the parents. If that’s what you are going for, fine. However, to spend the money to go there when the kid will never remember or likely not enjoy it is mind boggling.
Do you have kids? Because I used to think that way pre-kids.
 
This is what everybody's missing. Traveling with young kids is a major PITA. There is always going to be a fresh crop of young couples/families with kids that splitting a house for the week at the Jersey shore makes total sense. Plenty to do and it still feels far enough away from home

I never understood people spending 10k on Disney for the week when their 2 and 3 year old kids will never ever remember the experience
Guess I'm lucky because I've been traveling/flying with my kids from 1 yo through their teens and it hasn't been a PITA.

Every single time I go, I get down to Spring Lake on a Saturday around 10-12 and park within a block of the beach. If I did that in Belmar I'd have to go 10-12 blocks from the beach. You sneak food on and don't be an asshole about it. Plus you're not around trashy people. I am glad your investment paid off but it's a night and day difference when you're talking class of people, the neighborhoods, the boardwalk and the beach.

People are people, and calling people who are not millionaires trashy is a low-class move, IMO. But whatever makes you feel better about yourself. Try dialing down your privilege.

I know the shore beaches From Avon down to Manasquan quite well, as I have lived here most of my life. I told you that the areas around D'Jais 16th to 19th Aves are the ones you want to avoid if you want a family beach. I gave my reasons why Spring Lake is not the right beach for a lot of people. Our rental is advertised as a SPring Lake border beach, and comments we have received from Wall Street investment banker types include the Spring Lake beach "the no fun beach" and who were delighted with the 20th Ave beach." Never heard one negative thing about 20th Ave, nor the beaches from 2nd Ave to 12th. You are entitled to your misinformed opinion based on a limited sample size.
We prefer Belmar because of the close food options, like Playa Bowls between 8th and 9th. And the boardwalk isn't crazy. Sometimes it's a mixed bag of people over there, but that's never really an issue and you can easily move around if the younger crowd gets too lively. We always find parking a few blocks away, but it may require a few laps around during those prime hours 10-12.
I need you to book my next vacation - 6 people shorehouse $4k...6 people Caribbean - same money??? That 4k would be each and not include airfair.
Not sure where 6 people came into the discussion, but you can easily pay $4K-$6K for 4 people (flights, hotel, transfers) in the Caribbean. Everyone has different preferences. I prefer hotels, so I don't have to worry about anything, like cleaning the room, etc. And I prefer eating out at restaurants, rather than cooking, so I want to stay at a hotel near a lot of restaurants.
 
I don’t get the obsession with the jersey shore at all. Not at all my thing. Can go to Maui and stay at the Ritz for about the same price. Makes zero sense to me.
Most people in this thread are talking about full house rental for families. 3-5 bedroom houses. You are not staying at the Ritz in Maui with a family of 4 for the same price as a rental in OCNJ. Airfare alone will be the cost of a week. Just checked a 1 BR with a pull out couch at minimum $1600/night in August ( the off season for Maui). 2 Bedroom is $3500-6k/night.
 
Stop being so defensive about Belmar dude. It's not that great of a place, sorry to rustle you. You're successful with it, so WGAS?
LOL. Not rustled at all. Just trying to disambiguate you from your narrative. Stop being a high and mighty, fake, high fallutin' high roller. K? Others have indicated that there are family-friendly beaches in Belmar, including the ones I listed. Enjoy your bubble and false narrative. I'll tell my pals on beach patrol to look out for the family sporting Rutgers gear to confiscate your food and ticket you. 😜
 
PSA Announcement:

It's the Fireman's Fair this week in Manasquan. Please be very careful when driving in the area (from Avon down to Brielle) at night as the kiddo bike traffic really explodes this week.

@knightfan7 knows what I'm talking about.
Absolutely. I cringe when I see these kids blow thru intersections and cut cars off. But it's not only the kiddos as I'm sure you know. Beer Garden (if they still have it) was always the most popular attraction lol.
 
I don’t get the obsession with the jersey shore at all. Not at all my thing. Can go to Maui and stay at the Ritz for about the same price. Makes zero sense to me.
That maybe true if it’s just you and the wife. No chance it’s the same cost if you have kids.
 
Do you have kids? Because I used to think that way pre-kids.
I did Disney 3 times with kids. First time with 1st wife and the boys were 3 and 5. 2nd time with my sons when they were a little older- 8-10 and a GF who had a 3 and 6 y/o. 3rd time with current wife and the 3 boys that came were between 10-15
My youngest that was 3 on the first trip doesnt remember much at all from the first trip- funny thing is the one thing he did remember was at Universal and it was the Indiana Jones show. But, at least that both were too small to go on adult rides so it worked out. But wouldn't suggest it unless you are doing it for yourself. I want to bring my granddaughter but would hate to wait until she is 5+
The other two times- the one with the GF, it was a difficult trip because my boys were old/big enough for almost every ride but hers werent. There was a lot of crying on that trip.
3rd time- all over 10- it was the trip of all trips. Water parks- every single ride etc. Stayed at out timeshare 5 minutes outside the park- had others visit our place.

In a perfect world- wait until all kids are over 5.
 
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Guess I'm lucky because I've been traveling/flying with my kids from 1 yo through their teens and it hasn't been a PITA.




We prefer Belmar because of the close food options, like Playa Bowls between 8th and 9th. And the boardwalk isn't crazy. Sometimes it's a mixed bag of people over there, but that's never really an issue and you can easily move around if the younger crowd gets too lively. We always find parking a few blocks away, but it may require a few laps around during those prime hours 10-12.

Not sure where 6 people came into the discussion, but you can easily pay $4K-$6K for 4 people (flights, hotel, transfers) in the Caribbean. Everyone has different preferences. I prefer hotels, so I don't have to worry about anything, like cleaning the room, etc. And I prefer eating out at restaurants, rather than cooking, so I want to stay at a hotel near a lot of restaurants.
because the NJ shore house was 3 BR. In most cases- that is a 6-8 person occupancy. I went with 6. Have to make it apples to apples
 
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2022 I paid $3100 to rent a weekly beach rental in OCNJ. Nothing fancy.

I spent $3100 in Feb 2023 to fly my family of 4 to the Caymans and stayed for 5 days.

That same OCNJ rental is now pushing $3800-$4000k this year.
Interesting that you can actually find decent resorts in Grand Cayman for under $200 per night, family of 4. Most likely, flights and food on the trip cost more than the hotel. So- yes, you can get a deal in Grand Cayman better than the NJ Shore.
Some of the other Caribbean islands and someone mentioned "Maui" - not so much.
 
Fortunately we never had to do the Disney thing

My wife and I aren’t into it, and when we asked our daughter if she’d be interested, she gave us an emphatic “No”

That isn’t to say Disney sucks or is stupid, it’s just different strokes for different folks

Truthfully, most people aren’t into going to multiple football games per year, tailgating for baseball & softball, and being heavily involved with Boosters (to the point they’re planning a significant portion of their retirement towards that)

Everyone has different things they’re into. I’ve found the more you expose your kids to things you like, the better chance they’ll like it too

We love day and weekend trips. Sporting events, plays, dinners, different cities, etc

3 hours drive max is the farthest Wel go or else we’re flying

We also like vacations, but 10 days max is our threshold and tropical / beach destinations only

Also has to have ample things to do, as sitting on a beach all day for a week would drive me nuts

Others are ok w rest & relaxation. That would be considered boring to me, but having an “agenda” while on vacation could be considered weird by others standards
 
We rent the same ocean front, 5 bedroom house in LBI every year. We splurge—it’s roughly $25k per week—but we invite 3 or 4 families and have a great time. I commuted to NYC for 35 years and am retired so we don’t mind splurging for this or other vacations. I’d like to move there but my wife doesn’t want to and I don’t want own two properties.
Similar as our time in SH (anywhere between 1-3 weeks depending on other vacations that year). It's stupid expensive, but we have many guests come and go during our time, so it's a blast. Been doing it every summer for almost 2 decades. Just a different type of experience as compared to traditional vacation trips.
 
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Yes, by at least 20%
50% or more drop in Sept from the July peak in OCNJ, based on years of renting in Sept. We like early/mid Sept better straight up (less crowded, better weather, water still warm, everything still open, but not impossible to get into), so half price is just a bonus and allows us to get much nicer beachfront places, usually.
 
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