Hello, and welcome to the September edition of The A. Mancini Realty newsletter! As fall sets in, we’re seeing that it’s still a seller’s market out there. People who have decided to make the Jersey Shore their permanent home rather than just a place to visit during the warm weather months – and there’s a lot of them – are seeking properties to buy. If you’ve been on the fence about selling, we can help you get the best dollar value for your house. Give us a call at 732-222-7777.
Getting Ahead in a Competitive Rental Market
Another trend we are seeing is a very competitive market for rental properties. How do you get an edge when seeking to lease? For one thing, it helps to have a strong packet of information to offer a landlord – including rental applications, letters of recommendation from your employer or former landlord, and proof that you have enough income to cover the rent and utilities (actual pay stubs are ideal). The more information landlords have on you, the more they will be willing to make a decision in your favor.
Your credit score can make all the difference when renting.
In addition, landlords are looking for strong credit ratings. If you do not know your credit, you are entitled to a free annual report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). If your credit is low, you can still get a lease by taking on a co-signer – that is someone who promises to pay the rent if you cannot pay it. It is also recommended that people who do not have a Social Security number, or who have poor credit, provide character reference letters as part of their lease information packet. Advice on increasing your credit score can be found via web sites like Nerdwallet and The Motley Fool.
We can help guide you through the rental process – give us a call at 732-222-7777.
Fresh Fall Harvest!
One of the best parts of living at the Jersey Shore in the fall is being able to partake of the freshest produce available at our local farmer’s markets. We have several that you can visit – the West End Farmer’s Market is held at Brighton and Ocean Boulevards in Long Branch on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October, the Red Bank Farmer’s Market is in the parking lot of the Galleria on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Sea Bright Farmer’s Market is held on Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. in the municipal parking lot on Ocean Avenue.
Community Spotlight: Shrewsbury
There are actually two towns called Shrewsbury in our area – Shrewsbury Township and Shrewsbury Borough. They collectively trace their history back to 1693. When Shrewsbury was first incorporated, it was almost 1,000 square miles big, encompassing most of what is now Monmouth County and all of the current Ocean County. Stafford Township became independent in 1750, taking most of Ocean County along with it.
Other towns that broke away from Shrewsbury include Toms River (originally Dover Township, 1768), Howell Township (1801), Ocean Township (1849), Colts Neck (then Atlantic Township, 1847), Red Bank (1870), Eatontown (1873), Rumson (1907), Fair Haven (1912), Little Silver (1923) and Tinton Falls (originally New Shrewsbury, 1950). Shrewsbury Borough became an independent municipality in 1926.
The Allen House was a barracks for Revolutionary War Soldiers and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The region’s Colonial history is reflected in the Shrewsbury Historic District, located along Broad and Sycamore streets in Shrewsbury Borough. It consists of 47 buildings, including three churches, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Among them is the Allen House, which was once known as The Blue Ball Tavern and was a barracks for Revolutionary soldiers – three of them were murdered there by Loyalists in 1779 in what became known as The Allen House Massacre.
Today’s Shrewsbury region is a mixture of the historic and the modern – its considerable historical archives are maintained by the Shrewsbury Historical Society’s museum, while residents have access to the upscale shops of The Grove at Shrewsbury and the very popular grocery Trader Joe’s. Red Bank, with its train station and numerous opportunities for dining and entertainment, is right next door. It offers both quiet residential streets and easy access to major thoroughfares like Route 35, Route 18 and The Garden State Parkway.
Currently, we list eight properties for sale in the two Shrewsburies. If you are interested in living amidst history, call us at 732-222-7777.
We’re Here For You, Any Time
You can get in touch with us by phone at 732-222-7777 or by E-mail at amancinirealty@gmail.com. We’re also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and on the Web at http://www.a-mancinirealty.com/