On The Waterfront...

August 2007

My Grandfather, Harry McGettigan, a realtor in Atlantic City most of his ninety-three year life, always used to say that shore real estate provided an extra hedge against a national housing downturn. We heard the tried and true testimonial like clockwork every Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and any other familygathering- holiday. Of course, while we were listening we weren't really listening... if you know what I mean. In retrospect, of course, he was right. Southern New Jersey shore real estate has weathered many a national downturn over the past fifty years, some periods more hurtful to the market than others. But this area's real estate market has always held steady over the long haul, with the home value trend line increasing impressively during those fifty years. That's probably because, as the old saying goes... "...demand is high and God ain't making any more of it!"

Pretty hard to argue with that one. Toss in the fact that the shore home inventory commodity is finite, it's easy to see how that would be. Now, let's face it, most Americans love the water. Most islanders aspire to live on it, near it, or around it, so we can get in it, and enjoy the view of it, anytime we desire.

There's a certain unspoken statement that comes with living on the water, and as soon as I get there I can more accurately articulate what that statement is. I do know I aspire to live and own a home on the water, and God willing, one day I believe I will.

Now, when it comes to water front living you've got your ocean people, and your bay folk. Me? I'm a bay folk. I'll take the ocean if it's all I can get, but there's something about the wrath of mother nature knocking on my doorstep that makes me a bit uneasy. The bay, no doubt, can be just as unpredictable and occasionally furious, but for the most part, the bay behaves itself and actually offers shelter against the elements.

When it comes to bay front living, nobody builds them better than Bay Front Properties, a division of Bentley Homes, developers on Philadelphia's Main Line for years.

If I had to use a single word to describe a Bay Front Property, it would be anticipation. You can easily see, and feel the quality of their homes during a walk through, but the one thing that really sets these guys apart from other highend home developers is that they anticipate every detail of waterfront living.

President Anthony Almeida is a master builder with an acute eye for the very reasons people buy a waterfront home.

"When I am wrapping up a Bay Front Property home I like to add some special touches that really define the whole purpose of a luxury waterfront home." said Almeida.

"Depending on the design, I may add a couple of Waverunners because that's what you want to have. It gives buyers a real sense of what they are buying. My homes are all of the finest quality and craftsmanship, and built as if I were going to be living in them myself. When we spec real imported Italian marble counter tops, that's exactly what it is. There are some products out there that contain just enough of the real marble needed to call it that. And, some of the stuff today has all of the characteristics of the real deal. The thing is, that's not how we do business, and that's why people fall in love with our homes.

I don't want to sound corny, but there's a lot of love and passion that goes into each and every one of the homes we build. It's really that simple" he said.

Talking with Almeida you can definitely feel his passion, and a recent walk through 40 Sunset Boulevard in Seaview Harbor Marina had me day-dreaming about my new home as delightful bay breezes blew through my hair. Or better yet, check out the cover of the magazine. It looks like the front of the house...on the bay side. Just gorgeous.

Then check out the decks. Looks like everybody gets a deck in a Bay Front Property. I count four on the cover, and I know there are at least three on the street side. There's also those little touches I noted earlier. The rooms are spacious with highvaulted ceilings and oh, so well appointed. You have to see these homes for yourself in order to really appreciate the level of intelligence that goes into each Bay Front Property home. The comfort, design and added extra touches are apparent as soon as you walk through the door.

There are a few Bay Front Property Homes available for your inspection via open house or by appointment.

They are: 40 Sunset Boulevard at Seaview Harbor Marina in Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234. 1702 Atlantic Avenue, Longport, NJ 08403. and 119 33rd Street in Longport as well. For more information on touring a Bay Front Property Home call Nikki May at (609) 602-7308, or Donna Cline at (609) 287-8488.

You can also call Bay Front Properties direct at (610) 587-3094. Set up an appointment to be awed today.

Dan Klein is publisher of the South Jersey Insider Magazine, as well as host of the weekly radio show by the same name, heard Saturdays from 1PM to 4PM on LifeRadio 1020 AM - WIBG.