Ocean City Home Prices Declined in June

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And we quite literally couldn’t do it without you.

In the email today:

📆 Upcoming events

🎆 Ocean City chamber claims a record Fourth of July weekend

🐋 Windmills get big go-ahead from federal government

👅 Phanatic cometh (again)

👶 Kid’s corner

🦊 Mangy fox report

🏠 Real estate update

📉 Ocean City home prices declined in June

🍽️ Dish of the week

👨‍💼 We’re hiring

🌊 Weather and tides

📆 Upcoming Events in (and around) Ocean City

• July 7

  • Beach Concert — Mardi Gras in July Starring James Andrews (Somers Point)

    • When: 7:00 p.m.

    • Where: William Morrow Beach

    • Description: Mardi Gras in July starring James Andrews from “Trombone Shorty” and “Treme”.

• July 8

  • 43rd Annual T. John Carey Master’s Swim

    • When: Registration at 8:00 a.m., race starts at 10:00 a.m.

    • Where: 34th Street Beach

    • Description: Competitive ocean swim from 34th Street to 42nd Street. Entry is $25 before race, or $35 day of race. Details here.

  • Concert Under the Stars — Frontiers (Sea Isle)

    • When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

    • Where: Excursion Park

    • Description: Journey tribute band.

  • Somers Point Farmers Market (Somers Point)

    • When: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    • Where: Somers Mansion, 1000 Shore Rd.

    • Description: It’s a farmer’s market, folks.

  • Jersey Shore Boat Racing — Testing (Somers Point)

    • When: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

    • Where: Kennedy Park

    • Description: Jersey Shore Boat racing will hold testing and tuning for the races happening the next day in the bay right off of Kennedy Park. Event is free.

• July 9

  • Disney Princess: The Concert Performing with the Ocean City Pops

    • When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Features four singing stars joining the Pops to perform favorite songs from Disney classics. Tickets here.

  • Stone Harbor Farmers Market (Stone Harbor)

    • When: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    • Where: 95th Street and Second Ave.

    • Description: Farmer’s market.

  • Tim Kerr Charities 1.2 Mile Bay Swim (Avalon)

    • When: 2:30 p.m.

    • Where: Avalon Yacht Club

    • Description: Charity swim in the bay.

  • Jersey Shore Boat Racing (Somers Point)

    • When: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

    • Where: Kennedy Park

    • Description: Jersey Shore Boat racing featuring all kinds of boats. Event is free and open to all spectators.

• July 10

  • Kenny G

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Smooth jazz, baby.

  • Family Fun Night — Princess Showcase (Sea Isle)

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

    • Where: Excursion Park

    • Description: Featuring 3 Princesses, Sofia the First, and the Fairy Godmother.

• July 11

  • Funtastic Tuesdays

    • When: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    • Where: Downtown Asbury

    • Description: Entertainment, face painters, balloon sculptors.

  • Ocean City Theatre Company Presents Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat

    • When: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: A play for kids, oh they wear lids, on the pier of songs, this play won’t be so long!

  • Mummers Night

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: Boardwalk

    • Description: Mummers strut the Boards.

  • Beach Movie — Jurassic World: Dominion (Avalon)

    • When: Dusk (figure around 8:30 p.m.)

    • Where: 30th Street Beach

    • Description: Movie on the beach.

  • Tuesdays at the Tower Concert Series (Stone Harbor)

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: 95th Street and Second Ave.

    • Description: Outdoor concert.

• July 12

  • Farmers Market

    • When: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    • Where: Tabernacle Grounds at 6th and Asbury

    • Description: Farmers market.

  • Bicycle Auction

    • When: Registration 9:00 a.m., event 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    • Where: Shelter Rd. (first left off Tennessee Ave., behind the golf course)

    • Description: Approximately 115 bicycles to be sold. A driver’s license, passport or valid ID is required to register. Payment: Bank check’s with ID, Traveler’s checks, and cash only. Call 609-525-9356 for more information.

  • Wacky Wednesday — French Fry Sculpting

    • When: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: French fry sculpting contest.

  • Ocean City Pops Greatest Hits

    • When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Maestro Vince Lee’s favorites. Tickets here.

  • Crafty Wednesday (Avalon)

    • When: 10:00 a.m.

    • Where: Avalon Free Public Library

    • Description: Join Miss Paige for a fun arts and crafts project. Kids of all ages welcome.

  • Movie Under The Stars — The Bad Guys (Sea Isle)

    • When: 8:30 p.m.

    • Where: Excursion Park

    • Description: Outdoor movie.

• July 13

  • Market Days

    • When: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    • Where: Downtown Asbury

    • Description: Entertainment, face painters, balloon sculptors.

  • LEGO Thursday (Avalon)

    • When: 10:00 a.m.

    • Where: Avalon Free Public Library

    • Description: Calling all LEGO fans! The library will supply the LEGOS, you supply the imagination. All ages.

  • Family Night

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: Boardwalk

    • Description: Family-friendly entertainment on the Boardwalk.

  • Thrilling Thursday (Margate)

    • When: 6:30 p.m., movie at 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Granville Ave. Beach

    • Description: Corn hole, Wawa giveaways, followed by Top Gun: Maverick, rain date on Friday.

Also note the Ocean City Library has many events for adults and kids alike on their calendar, which can be viewed here.

We include events from Margate to Stone Harbor. You can see the full list of events in all nearby Shore towns with the following links: Ocean City | Sea Isle | Margate | Avalon | Stone Harbor | Somers Point | Wildwood | Cape May | Ventnor

Other events to look forward to: Joe Conklin (July 15), A Sinatra Extravaganza (July 16)

🤳 News Bits

Ocean City Chamber Claims a “Record” Fourth of July Weekend 🎆

Maddie Vitale over at OCNJDaily.com spoke to OC chamber and Boardwalk reps, both of which claim predictably strong Fourth of July week numbers.

Michele Gillian, director of Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, who estimated that over 150,000 people visited the island over the 5-day weekend:

Wes Kazmarck, president of the Boardwalk Merchants Association:

“Record” or “Good”— choose your fighter!

Let’s say it was a strong weekend all-around.

Side note: The festivity around town on Fourth of July morning was OFF THE CHARTS. I took a walk from The Gardens to the Boardwalk and back on Tuesday, and it really was an incredible scene— bikes, smiles, everyone decked out in red, white, and blue, and a pristine view of the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Hard to find anything to complain about. And yet…

Windmills Get Big Go-Ahead From Federal Government 🐋

The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) gave its “Record of Decision” to Orsted to go ahead with its 98 windmills off our coast.

This is considered a major milestone for the project moving forward as planned, with construction set to begin in 2024. It even received Washington Post coverage under the headline “Biden approves largest wind project yet off US Shores”. Cool.

While construction approvals still need to be issued, this approval from BOEM was a big one.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy seemed to be happy:

Yeah, it will generate those “thousands of good-paying jobs” because Murphy, perhaps not coincidentally, signed a bill on Thursday that will give Orsted federal tax credits that were supposed to go to utility customers (ie YOU).

From the AP:

That tax break is estimated to be worth $1 billion.

So now that that’s settled— Orsted and Murphy just have to deal with the influx of legal issues coming from Cape May County, Ocean City, and citizens groups, and the fact that offshore wind is sh*tty business plagued by reliability issues.

Mayor Gillian blasted the decision at the City Council meeting on Thursday night:

👅 The Phillie Phanatic Will Join Night in Venice

Ocean City announced that in addition to Grand Marshal Jim Gardner, the Phillie Phanatic will also make an appearance at the “It’s a Philly Thing” themed Night in Venice on July 29.

I can tell you the Phillie Phanatic’s very special friend is an OC resident and part of the same elite team as you.

👶 Kid’s Corner

I am happy to report that younger Little Squirt finished third in the under 5 age group at the Pie Eating Contest at the Music Pier on Wednesday— where kids dove in head-first to fire down some very wholesome apple or cherry pies.

Great event. It was all part of the Music Pier’s “Wacky Wednesday” celebrations which take place every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Next week is a French fry sculpting contest.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go remind the little champ to eat with a fork.

🦊 Mangy Fox Report

While we still have no definitive updates on the supposed coyote sightings in Corson’s Inlet from this spring… we can bring you this very important update about the elusive mangy fox hanging out along the Boardwalk and North End thanks to the folks at Oh Sea Thrift on 8th and Central— it’s being cared for by the Humane Society:

Why is that thing so goddamn cute?

🏠 Real Estate Update

Did you know Walking The Boards has a newsletter dedicated to Ocean City Real Estate?

If you would like to opt-in, just click the subscribe button right here:

June Median Sales Price 📉

Uh oh!

Ocean City median sales price declined 21% from May to a 2023-low of $815,000 in June.

But that picture doesn’t tell the full story. Both single-family and condo median sales prices were down a much more modest 2% and 11%, respectively:

The median sales price is also down 14% from last June, even though single-family and condo prices are up 5% and 7% year over year.

So how is that possible—declines in the median sales price are greater than its respective parts?

It’s because a lot fewer single-family homes are being sold. So while you have modest declines month over month, or even slight increases year over year, in each cohort, the volume of lesser-expensive condos is greater and, thus, dragging the overall median sale price way, way down.

Not a great sign either way, but don’t be alarmed by “21% decline” headlines you may see soon from other, lesser publications.

👨‍💼 We’re Hiring!

Love Ocean City? Love the Shore? Good a social media? Have a passion for real estate?

We’re hiring for two roles:

Also thanks to those who sent in resumes following the last newsletter. We haven’t had a chance to review over the holiday weekend, but we will be reviewing next week.

1) Writer

Looking for someone with professional experience in digital media, journalism, or anything where you have to hold the attention of an audience.

You will write about news and events in Ocean City. Bonus points if you have a working knowledge of the entire Jersey Shore or real estate.

2) Social Media Manager

Looking for someone to plan and run our social media accounts— Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

You must be able to show awesome examples of your work.

Both of these roles can be full- or part-time, or freelance, depending on the person.

If you are interested, either respond to this email or email me at [email protected].

🍽️ Dish of the Week: Sack O’ Subs Italian Breakfast Sandwich

There may not be a finer breakfast sandwich on the island.

Loaded with ham, cheese, and delicious fresh red peppers, Sack O’ Subs’ Italian breakfast sandwich puts just enough of a spin on the traditional sammich without making things too weird.

Usually served on a Kaiser roll, I opted for toasted white bread last week (you should opt for the Kaiser).

Open up the piping hot wrapper and stick your nose in this bad boy— you won’t find a more authentically Italian smell on the island unless you go to Berenato’s in the North End, but of course there you always run the risk of being yelled at as part of the experience.

Sack O’ Subs has locations on 9th and Asbury and 55th and Central. I prefer the quaint-ness of the 55th Street location.

🌊 Weather and Tides

As always, we recommend getting up-to-date forecasts from THE GOAT of South Jersey weather, NorEaster Nick, directly on his Facebook page.

Tides (9th Street):

• Friday (7/7)

  • Low: 5:57 AM

  • High: 11:58 AM

  • Low: 6:05 PM

  Saturday (7/8)

  • High: 12:16 AM

  • Low: 6:50 AM

  • High: 12:57 PM

  • Low: 7:08 PM

  Sunday (7/9)

  • High: 1:12 AM

  • Low: 7:43 AM

  • High: 1:58 PM

  • Low: 8:13 PM

  Monday (7/10)

  • High: 2:12 AM

  • Low: 8:37 AM

  • High: 2:59 PM

  • Low: 9:20 PM

  Tuesday (7/11)

  • High: 3:14 AM

  • Low: 9:31 AM

  • High: 3:59 PM

  • Low: 10:26 PM

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