Clayton & Clayton Real Estate Blog

10 Tips When Buying A Luxury Home

For most people, buying a home is very big step in life. Buying a luxury or high-end waterfront home is an even bigger step. Taking that step means a lot of things need to be in order before you sign the contract that give you ownership of a high end home or condo. Here are 10 things to keep mind if you're looking for a home with a hefty price tag.

1. Don't Just Look At Photos

Let's face it, some luxury homes aren't the most photogenic, and photos can hide cheap work. People interested in a specific home should search the property and immediate vicinity using Google Earth in order to see exactly what's around the Bay Head home, for example. Google Streetmap is another fantastic way to see the home as it sits relative to the road and neighboring…

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How Long Should You Hold Onto An Investment Property?

Know When To Sell Your Investment

Homes in the Bay Head and Mantoloking areas, along with many shore communities in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, are priced to sell and, behind the scenes, investors have been buying homes in the area for less than their previous value. Most investors already have homes of their own, and generally hold onto their investment home until they think it's a good time to sell and make the most money.

However, sometimes an investor who maybe wanted to quickly flip a home doesn't do so right away because the return would be too low. So he or she is forced to wait until home prices rise and during that time, they rent out the home.

Because of this, there are many property owners who are now wondering if this is a good…

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Some Summer Construction on Route 35

Get ready to be patient behind the wheel this summer if you're vacationing along the beautiful Jersey Shore. While the state will bring to a stop most of the ongoing roadwork along Route 35 between Bay Head and Berkeley Township this summer, residents and tourists alike will still find themselves getting nowhere fast through certain sections that are being repaired following Hurricane Sandy.

Folks along the Jersey Shore will be impacted by a 2.5 mile stretch of roadwork between Brick and Toms River. However, people can go around the construction spot by heading inland, going along Hooper Avenue and Fischer Blvd. to avoid the congestion, but it's definitely the long way around.

That particular 2.5-mile stretch of road will see traffic limited to…

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Five Favorites For Food on the Jersey Shore

Great Places To Eat In and Around Bay Head

For residents and visitors alike, the Bay Head area features many great restaurants, bistros, diners, and culinary destinations. Here are some of our favorite go-to spots for great food.

Theresa's South in Bay Head

Recently reopened after damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, Theresa's South is a BYOB establishment in beautiful Bay Head with a varied menu that's sure to please even the most discerning palate. Located a block off the beach, this highly-ranked restaurant features scrumptious homemade pasta dishes, ribs, steaks and fresh seafood. Reservations are surely recommended during the summer months and there is extra seating outdoors. It's definitely a restaurant where you get what you pay for.

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Jersey Shore Back in Business

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner, and it looks like it's going to be a busy one on the Jersey Shore - for both visitors and home sales. In a recent New York Times article, Bay Head luxury REALTOR® Shawn Clayton of Clayton and Clayton Realtors was asked about his thoughts on real estate around Bay Head and Mantoloking in Ocean County. Clayton noted that post Hurricane Sandy, waterfront home prices dropped and still aren't back to where they were before the superstorm.

“People are starting to say, ‘Hold it, I’m going to miss out on this,’ ” said Clayton told the Times. “ ‘Let me get my financing together so I don’t miss out.’ ”

Since Sandy rolled through New Jersey in October, 2012, much of the Jersey Shore area in Ocean and…

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Mantoloking Gem For Sale in Curtis Point

Once in a while one of the true gems in a neighborhood will come up for sale. Consider 296 Curtis Point Drive one of these great homes that doesn't come along very often.

Located on the water of Barnegat Bay in Mantoloking, this exclusive, custom home is a one-of-a kind find in Curtis Point. The property, which is sheltered and protected by the Barnegat Peninsula, comes with 250 ft. on the calm waters of the bay. It's perfectly located at the end of a cul de sac on a large, well-treed lot on the south side of the road. Tie your boat or yacht up on the bulkhead, and come ashore to a magnificent home with its southwest facing backyard that features a pool so you can quickly cool off on those hot summer days. The landscaping is first-class all the way…

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What Will $1 Million Buy You when it comes to Real Estate on the NJ Coast?

In 1993 a Canadian band called the Barenaked Ladies had a hit north of the border with song called "If I had $1,000,000". So if you had a million dollars and could buy a home in an area along the Jersey Shores gold coast, what would you get for your hard-earned money?

Naturally real estate in some boroughs and towns is more expensive than others, but generally speaking, and looking at only single-family homes, here's what $1,000,000 will buy you: You'll usually get a minimum of three bedrooms, more often than not, a home will have four bedrooms and at least two baths.

Generally speaking, $1 million can get you a home that's often very close to the beach, sometimes even a block of two. In some communities, like Point Pleasant or Manasquan, for…

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New Bill Tosses Insurance Life Preserver to Home Buyers

A bipartisan bill approved by The House in early March would allow sellers to pass along their subsidized, below-market insurance rates to new buyers, while lowering the limit on just how much flood insurance premiums can go up each year.

This is a good step for people in living in oceanside communities in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. The bill was approved 306-91 and the legislation would reel back a recent overhaul of the federal flood insurance program after homeowners in flood-prone regions spoke out about high premium increases.

As residents in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy continue to rebuild, the bill means prospective home buyers won't have to absorb high flood insurance rates, and families across the US can avoid what Rep. Michael Grimm…

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Home Sales Up in Ocean & Monmouth Counties

Housing Market Continues Rebound

Over the past year, sales of single-family homes in Ocean County were up 29.5%, along with a 13.1% increase in Monmouth County, according to the New Jersey Association of REALTORS®. Condos and townhome sales were up as well, with a 20.2% increase in Ocean County and 19.7% spike in Monmouth County. And for 2013, closed sales in the Garden State were up 18.15% - their highest levels since 2005.

In January, the median sales price of a single-family home in Ocean County was $240,000, reflecting a 1.55% increase over January 2013. Homes in Monmouth County fetched a bigger selling price at $351,000, compared to $335,000 in 2013. When it comes to days on the market in Ocean County, sellers saw a 15.1% decrease as it took,…

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Colts Neck Horse Farm A Hidden Gem

Willow View Stables: A Great Place to call home

When it comes to land in highly-desirable Colt's Neck, it really doesn't get any better than this pristine horse farm. It boasts 12.5 acres of private, pristine land in one of the most peaceful areas of New Jersey. From the minute you turn down the securely gated, half-mile driveway, you will quickly be transported away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Solid Foundation in Place

This outstanding horse farm comes with 10 paddocks and miles of white, four-rail fencing. There are six run-in sheds and 14 matted stalls. The property also boasts an out building for feed and storage. And this property has an 1,800 sq. ft. home, but there is also plenty of room to build the home of your dreams at…

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