Little House on the Prairie

Posted on March 26, 2026 by grim

From NJ.com:

N.J. house has gotten over 7,000 views in just five days on Zillow

A rustic log cabin in Sussex County is getting a lot of attention.

It’s had more than 7,000 views in five days on Zillow, about two dozen showings and two official offers — but more are expected before the deadline for highest and best offers.

The home is a log cabin with two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. It’s on 2.28 acres and it’s listed for $149,900.

“Log cabins are rare,” said Danielle Conklin of Kistle Realty, the listing agent. “And the price point has a lot to do with it.”

Another New Jersey log home, priced under $200,000, went viral last year with 10,000 views in two weeks on Zillow. That one, in West Milford, sold for $260,000—about 45% over its asking price of $179,888.

This cabin, built in 1935, is located in Sandyston, right outside of Stokes State Forest and about 20 minutes from High Point State Park.

The median sale price of a home in Sandyston was $422,500 as of February, according to the most recent data available from New Jersey Realtors.

“Some people are coming to look at it to get out of the city or other areas and want a weekend place,” Conklin said. “Others are investors who want to fix it up, resell it and make some money. Others are looking to live there full time.”

The cabin, which she describes as “charming and rustic,” has an open living and dining room, a galley-style kitchen, one bedroom on the main floor and one bedroom upstairs.

It also has a wood stove, but no central heating system. “Typically something like that would be a seasonal home,” she said.

Posted in Demographics, New Jersey Real Estate, Where's the Beef? | 197 Comments

Don’t ask AI for help setting rents

Posted on March 25, 2026 by grim

From the Dive:

New Jersey mulls algorithmic rent pricing ban

The algorithmic pricing bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez and Margie Donlon as well as Assemblyman Chigozie Onyema, targets the use of third-party software platforms that collect nonpublic rental information from multiple landlords. Lopez said in a March 9 release that the measure would help ensure renters have protections and that the market operates in a way that works for everyone.

“If we want to make New Jersey more affordable, we need to ensure renters aren’t getting priced out of their homes. When rent increases dramatically without clear justification, it can destabilize families and entire communities,” said Lopez in the release. 

In her March 10 address, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill pledged to signthe proposals into law if they advance to her desk, NorthJersey.com reported, saying that she supports legislation “limiting this kind of for-profit surveillance by Big Tech.” On Monday, the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee advanced another measure that would restrict technology designed to customize prices based on people’s shopping behavior.

The governor’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal said that New Jersey faces a severe housing shortage, and both housing and rent prices have skyrocketed in recent years. To that end, the “Governor will also champion legislation that cracks down on rent-setting algorithms to fight digital collusion.”

New Jersey Apartment Association Executive Director and CEO David Brogan said that the organization supports the governor’s efforts to promote a competitive marketplace, Homes.com reported.

“We just need to be careful that the language of the bill does not create additional litigation costs or an environment that disincentivizes companies from entering the New Jersey market,” Brogan said. “Given the state’s clear housing supply and affordability challenges, we’ll continue working with policymakers to protect a fair, competitive environment while supporting a healthy multifamily market.”

Posted in Demographics, Economics, New Jersey Real Estate | 41 Comments

Get your unicorn today!

Posted on March 24, 2026 by grim

From ROINJ:

New Jersey Realtors housing market data for February shows rise in median sales prices

New Jersey’s housing market saw a continued rise in median sales prices across all property types this February, even as closed sales and new listings experienced double-digit declines compared with the previous year, according to housing market data released by New Jersey Realtors.

Median sales price for home in February was $505,000, an increase of 5.4% year over year. New listings plunged 16.9% to 6,688 and closed sales tumbled 11.3%. The number of homes for sale was slightly lower by 1.1% to 14,454. Days on the market increased 6.5% to 49. Home sellers were getting 100% of list price received, down 0.6%.

By sector, the median sales price for a single-family home increased 5.3% year over year to $558,000. Closed sales for single-family homes fell 9.5% to 2,827. The median sales price for townhouses/condominiums rose just 0.1% to $407,792 and closed sales slide 17.4% to 976.

The median sales price for adult communities experienced the biggest increase by percentage, climbing 5.6% to $375,000. Closed sales declined 8% to 377. Housing experts say New Jersey is transitioning toward a more balanced market, though sellers still hold an advantage because of limited supply.

Posted in Housing Bubble, New Jersey Real Estate | 111 Comments

We already know we’re the best

Posted on March 23, 2026 by grim

From NJ Digest:

27 NJ Towns Rank Among Top 100 Hottest Housing Markets in America, See If Yours Made the List

A whopping 27 New Jersey towns just ranked in the 100 hottest housing markets in the U.S., according to new research data from Realtor.com—and the list might include your town. If you’re house hunting, your zip code might have just gotten more competitive.

Realtor.com just published its latest data, ranking the hottest real estate markets in the United States, a data-heavy list that blends listing views, days-on-market, and local price momentum to determine where buyers are going absolutely feral. And New Jersey, in classic Garden State fashion, didn’t just show up—it dominated. The Jersey way, obviously.

27 New Jersey ZIP codes landed inside the top 100. Not one or two. That’s more than a quarter of the entire list belonging to a single state that could fit inside Texas about 26 times (or something like that).

Hotness RankTownMedian Listing Price
3Bloomingdale$489,675
6Middletown$645,000
11Oak Ridge$555,750
12Basking Ridge$499,000
14Mahwah$691,500
17Chatham$1,743,750
19Nutley$669,975
23Westfield$1,174,440
27Bridgewater$627,250
38Swedesboro$434,950
39Sewell$423,750
40Wayne$686,661
43Newton$437,250
46Ringwood$619,900
60Union$569,950
61Cherry Hill$565,972
68Marlton$463,750
73Haddonfield$1,033,750
78Montclair$1,322,000
79Caldwell$729,500
82Wharton$486,950
84Matawan$489,000
86Hopatcong$488,475
88Keyport$520,000
93Bloomfield$578,500
97Flemington$642,450
Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 150 Comments

Hollywood East

Posted on March 21, 2026 by grim

From Mansion Global:

Hollywood Is Heading to New Jersey. Rental Investors Should Too.

A splash of Hollywood in the form of a Netflix production hub, slated for completion in 2028, is taking over the former U.S. Army base at Fort Monmouth, located about 55 miles south of New York City. 

The 292-acre site, which will have at least 12 soundstages, back lots and production facilities, straddles Eatontown and Oceanport and is anticipated to transform Monmouth County and nearby towns. The $1 billion Netflix project is expected to create 3,500 construction jobs and at least 1,400 permanent jobs. The forthcoming Netflix presence hands real estate buyers in the area an opportunity for both future home value growth and rental investment.

Agents have already seen an uptick in demand.

“People are excited about ‘Hollywood East’ coming to the Jersey Shore,” said Keith Kernan, managing broker of Ward Wight Sotheby’s International Realty in Spring Lake, New Jersey. “We’re already seeing a surge in demand for housing in the immediate area within a 10-minute radius.”

Investors have started searching for older homes close to Fort Monmouth that can be renovated and converted to rental properties, he said.

“The military base at Fort Monmouth had been abandoned for years, so this is a great redevelopment for the area,” said Danielle Coyle, an agent with Re/Max Select in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. “We’re already seeing smaller businesses open and lots of construction nearby, mostly condos in the $800,000 range.”

Coyle said some people are relocating to New Jersey now in expectation of a career with Netflix as a makeup artist, cameraman or another role. Parts of the production hub are expected to open in 2027.

“The buzz about Netflix started more than a year ago and its building now that the company took ownership of the site in January,” said Alan Kurlander, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in Manalapan, New Jersey. “There’s speculative investment happening now, especially in the Fort Monmouth area and Eatontown.”

Whether you’re a seller looking to seize on rising demand or a prospective rental investor, the housing needs associated with Netflix are likely to hit every level. The facility will attract a cross-section of everyone from blue collar workers to executives, Kurlander said.

“We’ll need more rental housing, middle-market housing and luxury homes,” he said.

Posted in General | 45 Comments

What spring market?

Posted on March 20, 2026 by grim

From NJ.com:

The surprising reason N.J.’s housing market is stalling: ‘No end in sight’

Buyers typically come out in droves and are greeted with an influx of new listings after the Super Bowl. 

But that didn’t happen this year.

In an unexpected turn, the Iran conflict stalled the spring real estate market.

“It’s definitely been a unique start,” said Tyler Pontier of Howard Hanna Rand Realty, who works primarily in Morris, Essex and Bergen counties. “It’s much slower than I anticipated and compared to years past.” 

The U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury, a military operation targeting Iran, on February 28. 

Just one week earlier, interest rates dropped below 6% to about 5.86%. But by early March they were back up to nearly 6.4%.

“Half a point is a pretty big jump,” he said.

Interest rates were expected to trickle down this spring, prompting more people to list their homes. An increase in the number of homes for sale would have helped stabilize prices and given buyers more leverage, shifting the market away from the seller‑dominated conditions seen since the pandemic, according to experts.

But instead, the number of home sales in New Jersey so far in 2026 is down 7% compared to the same period last year, according to Jeffrey Otteau, a real estate economist who heads the Otteau Group.

“It’s not a dramatic drop, but when we’re running on low volume already, it’s just getting closer and closer to empty,” he said.

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Where's the Beef? | 130 Comments

Businesses or Affordable Housing?

Posted on March 19, 2026 by grim

From NJ.com:

N.J. town sued for plan that could build huge data center instead of affordable housing

A North Jersey town is facing a legal challenge over a plan that could allow a massive data center to be built on a 34-acre site instead of affordable housing.

Fair Share Housing Center, a statewide advocacy group, claims Montvale in Bergen County has proposed a settlement agreement with a developer that violates New Jersey’s affordable housing laws.

Under the agreement signed by borough officials last month, the developer could either build about 250 housing units, including 50 affordable homes, on the site or construct a data center, according to court documents. 

The data center option would also come with a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement — known as a PILOT — that would exempt the property owner from paying standard property taxes in exchange for yearly payments to the municipality. 

Critics say the plan is unfair because it could make it more appealing for the developer to build the data center than affordable housing.

The site slated for development is a former office campus of the global accounting firm KPMG on Chestnut Ridge Road. It is one of the largest redevelopment opportunities in Bergen County, housing advocates said.

“Montvale’s mayor, Mike Ghassali, is so dead set on blocking affordable housing that he promised special treatment and tax breaks to a developer building a massive data center — without giving residents of Montvale and surrounding towns an opportunity to weigh in on its impacts,” Adam Gordon, executive director of Fair Share Housing Center, said in a statement.

However, borough officials dispute that characterization of the plan.

Montvale filed a response in Bergen County Superior Court on March 2 arguing its housing plan, built around agreements with multiple developers, complies with state law and should be approved. Officials say the plan would allow for hundreds of new housing units, including more than 100 affordable homes, across several redevelopment sites.

Posted in General | 125 Comments

Northeast slipping?

Posted on March 18, 2026 by grim

From the WSJ:

US pending-home sales rose in February

The number of homes going under contract in the U.S. rose in February, according to a monthly index.

The pending home sales index, a leading indicator of house sales based on contract signings, rose 1.8% on month to 72.1. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a 0.6% decline.

“The slight gain in pending contracts appears to be driven by improved affordability conditions,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “However, those conditions could reverse if higher oil prices lead to an uptick in mortgage rates,” he added.

Over the month, pending home sales slipped 3.6% in the Northeast region. Meanwhile, homes under contract rose 4.6% in the Midwest, 2.7% in the South and 0.9% in the West.

Sales decreased year-over-year in the Northeast and Midwest, but increased in the South and West. Northeast pending home sales saw the biggest on-year decline at 12.1%.

On year, pending home sales fell 0.8% nationwide, the NAR said.

“For first-time home buyers, purchasing a home is not a snap decision,” Yun said. “Still, there is sizable pent-up demand that could be released into the market.”

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 113 Comments

New year, same housing headaches

Posted on March 17, 2026 by grim

From MPA:

Listings drought tightens competition even as US housing prices hold steady

The US housing market headed into spring with a familiar imbalance: prices that barely budged, homes that moved faster, and a sharp pullback in would‑be sellers.

New data from real estate intelligence platform Property Prospect, covering 20 metro areas including New York, Phoenix, Richmond and Tucson, showed a median sale price of $636,165. Prices edged up 0.3% in recent months.

Median days on market fell to 40, a 9.5% improvement. New listings, however, dropped to just 18,532 across the sample – a 57.9% decline that pointed to a severe squeeze in fresh supply.

These figures were drawn from the firm’s proprietary dataset and had not been independently verified or benchmarked against National Association of Realtors (NAR) or Redfin totals.

“Inventory constraints continue to shape housing market dynamics,” Levi Thornton, founder of Property Prospect, said.

“Prices remain relatively stable and homes are selling faster, but the sharp reduction in new listings is tightening supply and increasing competition among buyers.”

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 73 Comments

Miami too expensive for Floridians

Posted on March 16, 2026 by grim

From the Guardian:

Florida’s real estate ‘gold rush’ draws the super-rich as rising costs push others out

To a casual observer, everything in south Florida’s real estate garden is looking rosy. There’s a “gold rush” in Miami as ultra-wealthy buyers snap up mega-mansions and luxuriously appointed condos as soon as they hit the market; and the Guardian has also reported recently on the “Mamdani effect” of elite New Yorkers arriving in the sunshine state with bulging pocketbooks in search of a high-priced escape from the city’s new mayor.

Yet alongside the boom, there are rumblings of a more troubling parallel reality. Undoubtedly, the billionaire class is helping to pump even more dollars into an already thriving Florida economy. But as prices rise and the less affluent find everything from housing and insurance to gas and groceries increasingly expensive, many are considering doing something about it.

A recent poll by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) showed at least half of the state’s residents were thinking about leaving because of the cost of living, with 80% of those citing concerns with housing affordability.

Experts say there is no full blown panic, and little indication that traditionally lower-paid essential workers in education, healthcare and other service industries that cater to the newcomers are yet leaving in droves. Even Eric Levy, senior business economist at FAU and co-author of the poll, said he prefers to see it as confirmation that the American Dream is alive and well as families make plans to better their circumstances.

Evidence pointing toward trouble to come is more than just anecdotal. Significantly above-average housing costs in many areas have helped propel Florida into the top 10 most expensive states to live; and the popular metropolitan region incorporating Miami and Fort Lauderdale – where new-built condos can reach well into the tens of millions of dollars – is also notoriously “house poor”. It has three cities in the top six of a Consumer Affairs report into affordability where the percentage of household income spent on housing is 32% or above, compared to the national average of 24%.

A May 2025 report in the Miami Herald, meanwhile, said that while Miami’s population of millionaires increased by 94% between 2014 and 2024, Miami-Dade county experienced a net migration deficit of more than 130,000 people between 2020 and 2023, largely but not entirely because of soaring housing costs.

Some who have moved away speak of high prices and choking traffic driving them out.

“Floridians believe in the American Dream, but they are paying dearly for it,” Monica Escaleras, chair of FAU’s department of economics, said in a statement accompanying the poll. “The Florida promise of sun, growth and upward mobility remains alive, but it is getting expensive to hold on to.”

Levy said the “grass is greener” sentiment was not exclusive to only Florida residents, but the growing wealth disparity of those coming and going was notable.

“It’s certainly thought provoking that if a lot of wealthy people are moving in, are they going to displace the lower income and middle income folks?” he said.

“It’s definitely an interesting question. I don’t think that our data shows that, but I guess the shocking thing from our survey was that a lot of people were considering leaving Florida.”

Posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 89 Comments

That don’t sound good

Posted on March 15, 2026 by grim

From the Bergen Record:

Home sellers dropped prices in this North Jersey county. Here’s why

When a home sits on the market too long — whether because it’s priced too high or there’s something just not quite right about it — a seller can hope to draw buyers in by reducing the price.

Happens all the time.

But why did did it happen so significantly recently in one North Jersey county?

In Passaic County in February, there were 338 active listings — and 48 of them had a reduced price, according to Realtor.com.

While it may sound like a small — and it is, relatively speaking — this is a 71.43% month-over-month increase and a 50% year-over-year increase in price reductions. This is compared to the other five North Jersey counties, which all saw much lower increases, or even decreases, in price reductions.

Essex and Hudson counties had a 15.63% and 20.45% month-over-month increase, while Morris and Sussex counties had 16.67% and 15% decreases. Bergen County had a 12.96% month-over-month decrease.

Blame the winter weather — and a change in the market that isn’t being fully realized by sellers.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the brutal cold we’ve experienced over the last few months, but I think the market still has a lot to do with it too,” said John Pordon, a Realtor with Century 21 Gold Properties Realty in Totowa.

While it is still predominantly a seller’s market in North Jersey, with high buyer demand and low inventory, he said he believes many sellers have unrealistic expectations for what their home is worth.

Sellers are stuck in the mindset of peak 2020 to 2022, he said, when homes would get many offers over asking price within days of being listed. But buyers are now skipping houses that they don’t think are worth the money.

“Sellers are saying that if they can’t get the number they want, they’re not selling because most of them don’t need to sell. There’s no urgency,” Pordon said. “The homes that are not priced accurately will not sell. And you’re going to see price reductions if the seller is motivated to sell now.”
…
“Some sellers are still saying, ‘I don’t want to give the house away,’ not fully understanding that you’re not giving anything away. Buyers are going to pay what they see they see the house’s value is,” Kraft said.

Posted in Housing Bubble, New Jersey Real Estate, Price Reduced | 16 Comments

Northeast strongest in February

Posted on March 13, 2026 by grim

From National Mortgage Professional:

Clear Capital Report Signals Cooling Housing Market In February

Home price appreciation slipped into negative territory in February, as affordability pressures and uneven regional performance weighed on housing markets. The latest Home Data Index (HDI) report from Clear Capital found national home prices declined 0.5% quarter-over-quarter, though prices were still up 1.7% year-over-year. This suggests the housing market continues to stabilize after several years of rapid pandemic-era growth.

Regional performance varied widely. The Northeast posted the strongest results, with home prices flat on a quarterly basis but up 4.9% annually. The Midwest followed, with prices down 0.8% quarterly but up 4% year-over-year. The South and West both recorded quarterly declines and weaker annual gains.

Among major metro areas, the report showed a mixed landscape. Of the 15 largest metropolitan statistical areas analyzed, 10 recorded positive quarterly growth while five posted declines.
…
Several Northeastern metros led the nation in price growth. The strongest regional metro was Providence, where home prices increased 1.8% quarter-over-quarter and 5.1% annually.

Hartford also ranked among the top performers, with prices rising 1.1% quarterly and 6.2% annually.

In New York City, prices increased 0.4% quarter-over-quarter and 5.1% annually, while Philadelphia posted similar quarterly gains of 0.4% and annual growth of 4.1%.

Posted in National Real Estate, New Jersey Real Estate | 184 Comments

A conservative budget?

Posted on March 12, 2026 by grim

From Politico:

Mikie Sherrill puts fiscal restraint at center of her first budget for New Jersey

Gov. Mikie Sherrill entered office promising a more affordable New Jersey. Her first major test of that is here.

The Democratic governor on Tuesday unveiled a $60.7 billion state spending plan — which includes $2 billion in cuts and is $980 million more than the state’s current budget. Among the largest reductions is $500 million from New Jersey’s property tax relief program for seniors — a move that could challenge her campaign pledges of affordability.

The spending plan comes as Democrats across the country are focusing on an affordability message headed into the midterms — hoping it will secure majorities in Congress and down-ballot victories in Statehouses. And it comes as polling shows voters don’t trust President Donald Trump’s handling of pocketbook issues.

But promises of affordability are quickly running into the reality of choppy economic waters and rising costs of running the government. Sherrill said her cuts are needed to prevent New Jersey’s financial decline — recently, she warned that the state is projected to spend $3 billion more than it received in revenues. That gap is now expected to be $1.7 billion for the upcoming fiscal year under Sherrill’s plan.

“It’s time to close the deficit the right way, structurally, so we’re not just plugging new holes every year,” Sherrill said in her first budget address. “It’s a simple lesson we learn as kids: You can’t spend more than you earn.”

The high-profile speech also previewed the legislative agenda for the new governor. She promised to address rent-setting algorithms and a will usher through a “historic” reform bill on pharmaceutical middlemen known as pharmacy benefits managers (former Gov. Phil Murphy also made PBM reform a focus during his second term in office).

Sherrill’s push to cut funding for the senior property tax relief program, known as Stay NJ, could become an early political battle with the Democratically-controlled Legislature. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat, is the largest supporter of the tax program, which provides a maximum of $6,500 in property tax relief for seniors making up to $500,000 in the state. It was expected to cost the state about $1.2 billion a year.

Sherrill’s plan includes $700 million for Stay NJ, and would reduce the eligibility threshold to $250,000 and reduce the maximum benefit to $4,000 across the board.

And while lawmakers traditionally include last-minute add-ons to the state budget — amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in special line item spending — Sherrill vowed to end that practice. She called out legislative leaders who sat behind her and Murphy — albeit not by name — for approving billions in new tax credits and new spending items last year.

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 161 Comments

Business Friendly?

Posted on March 10, 2026 by grim

From NJBIZ:

Business leaders praise Sherrill for early outreach efforts

It has been a busy start for Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

Since taking office in January as New Jersey’s 57th governor, Sherrill has been assembling her administration while rolling out policy initiatives, responding to immediate challenges, and making a sustained effort to recalibrate the relationship between Trenton and the state’s business community.

On her first day in office, she kept a central campaign promise – declaring a state of emergency on utilities and signing two energy-focused executive orders right on the inauguration stage. The move was an early signal of her administration’s pace and priorities — particularly concerning affordability.

Another set of executive actions aimed at regulatory reform quickly followed the energy orders, which business leaders immediately applauded.

Sherrill established the Office of the COO and created a centralized permitting office intended to streamline approvals and reduce bureaucratic overlap. She also paused certain rules and regulations for a 90-day review, launching what she described as an effort to ensure that state government is operating efficiently and predictably.

“We thank Gov. Sherrill and her administration for moving so quickly on both EOs to drive efficiencies and reduce permitting delays and costs, as promised,” said New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michele Siekerka Jan. 21 about EO Nos. 4 and 5. “Both initiatives send a strong message that help is on the way for businesses, their customers and residents of the state. These are very positive developments that we look forward to helping with and seeing the results of.”
…
Sherrill expressed her commitment to working with the business — stressing that her administration hears the concerns.

“I’m really excited to get this going – because I want our government to work better for you,” said Sherrill. “And the other thing that I’m so excited to see, our legislators here today. Because I think there is a sense – and I’ve even shared that sense – that Trenton doesn’t like business. And I think, in some cases, that’s not quite true.

“But what is true is maybe Trenton doesn’t always have the engagement with business that we need – to make sure that we’re understanding the benefits that you bring so many: the jobs, the opportunities, and how, if you are a public servant, that getting small businesses up and running as quickly as possible is really serving the public quite well.”

Posted in Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 221 Comments

Are the kids alright?

Posted on March 9, 2026 by grim

From NJ1015:

The Shore summer job is back — but will Jersey kids show up?

Something happened this week that made me smile. Wawa announced it’s hiring hundreds of workers for the summer of 2026 at more than 35 Jersey Shore locations. And honestly, it hit me in a few ways at once.

First, the practical part — there are real opportunities right now with a great company for hard-working South Jerseyans who are ready to make a move. But the other thing it did was remind me that summer is not as far away as it feels. The snow has melted. The daffodils are cracking through. The motorcycles are back weaving between lanes. And hiring is happening all up and down all 141 miles of Jersey Shore coastline.

It’s not just Wawa. State parks are looking to fill more than 800 seasonal positions — lifeguards, naturalists, maintenance staff, visitor services — with starting pay around $16.50 an hour and paid training provided. Boardwalk amusement parks like Casino Pier and Morey’s Piers are hiring kids as young as 14. And from there, the list goes on — boardwalk food stands, pizza joints, fudge shops, novelty stores, ice cream windows, sundry shops. Every single one of them needs people. The Shore machine runs on summer workers, and the engine is warming up right now.

Here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough. Over the past few decades it’s become harder and harder to fill Shore positions with local young people. The gap has been filled — quietly and significantly — by international college students here on J-1 visas, arriving from Europe and beyond to work the summer season. It became a system that worked. And now that system is suddenly uncertain, with federal cuts threatening the State Department programs that support it. Shore business owners are genuinely worried. One operations director put it plainly — the volume of jobs in such a short window simply can’t be filled by local workers alone. At least not the way things have been going.

But here’s what I’d say to any Jersey kid or young adult who’s on the fence: the opportunity has always been there. It’s there right now. And I hope they see it — not just for the money, but for everything else that comes with it. The skills you take home from a Shore summer have a way of staying with you for the rest of your life. The memories do too.

The Shore is hiring. Go get it.

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Shore Real Estate | 86 Comments