Fit Out Grant Opportunity Incentives offered for Businesses Locating in Downtown Toms River   Downtown Toms River is offering incentive grants and assistance to businesses that locate in Downtown's Village Business Zone. A $5,000 fit out grant is available to a jeweler, bakery, clothing store, stationary store, art gallery, barber, entertainment venue, gourmet grocer, or restaurant serving dinner that is new to Downtown Toms River. A 33 percent matching facade improvement grant of up to $2,500 is also available. The facade grant is available to both new businesses and qualifying existing businesses.   10/06/2008

    Municipal Switchboard:Phone 732-341-1000 and add one the following 4-digit extensions:Mayor's Office:. 8257Senior Services:. 8461Housing & Property Code Enforcement:. 8440Recreation Department:. 8415 Zoning: .8359   OR Direct-Dial one of the following:POLICE (Non-Emergency):. 732-349-0150Animal Control:. 732-367-5044Municipal Court:. 732-797-3914VISIT THE MUNICIPAL WEBSITE: Township of Toms River (formerly Dover Township}   And For ALL your Real Estate Needs : Ron Shaffery (732) 232-0904 10/06/2008

I started a neighborhood website a few years back and have not had a major response from it. I have done mailings to promote it but that is the only time I have seen a good hit count on it. If anyone would like to check it out the address is www.mywestdover.com Let me know what you think and if there is anything you might suggest to make it more succesful. There is also an oppurtunity to advertise on the site for a service you may provide like catering,babysitting etc. etc. 10/05/2008

  Click Photo for Additional Media and Enlargement   (Click for Virtual Tour) Status: Active (9/20/2008) Cat:SF MLS#: mv Type: Detached ListPrice: $349,900 County: Ocean OrigPrice: $349,900 Muni: TOMS RIVER TWP ApxYrBlt: 1977 Postal   ApxSqFt: 1,778 SqFt Address: TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 Rooms: 11 Area/Sec: GEORGETOWN Bedrooms: 4 Cmplx/Sub: NONE Baths: 2/1 ParcelID: 00442-0051-00016- Levels: 3 LotSz/Acr: 101X149/0.330 Bsmt: Y ElemSch: HOOPER AVENUE FP/#: Y/1 MiddleSch: TR INTR EAST Garage: Y/2 Car HighSch: T.R.HIGH EAST WF: N OthElem: ST. JOSEPHS WV: N OthHigh: MNSGR DON WtrTyp:   Style: Colonial, SplitLvl Handicap: N: Model:   LsePurch:   Zoning: Resident LnkdML#:   Directions:   Beautiful split level home in very sought after Georgetown development. Close to everything, this home has it a... 09/30/2008

Downtown Toms River's weekly farmer's market will be held rain or shine every Wednesday through October 22 from noon to 6 p.m. in Huddy Park, located at the intersection of Main and Water streets. Adding variety to the fresh produce, you can bring to your family's table are a wide assortment of homemade products that will be for sale, which includes breads and pastries from Lithuanian Bakery, Elizabeth; cheese, breads and olives from Italian Treasures, Brick; pickle products, including tomatoes, olives, peppers and mushrooms from Pickle Licious, Teaneck; honey products from Herbertsville Honey, Brick; peanuts, nuts and candy from The Peanut Man, Toms River; and fresh mozzarella, ravioli and sauces from High Mountain Foods. Shoppers are invited to take a break, and enjoy a delicious meal... 09/30/2008

  In an effort to meet its affordable housing requirements without constructing any new apartment buildings or units in town, Toms River officials recently unveiled a potential solution for residents who are feeling threatened by foreclosure.   At a press conference held last week at town hall, Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher announced a proposal to turn homes threatened by foreclosure into affordable housing units Kelaher called the proposal "a creative approach to provide affordable housing while at the same time helping out our residents that are in jeopardy of losing their homes." "Children can remain in their own schools, and the family would not have the stigma of foreclosure," said Kelaher. "I think it is something that could catch on throughout the state and the country." Other town off... 09/30/2008

The recently-passed Housing and Economic Recovery Act, including the $7,500 tax credit for first-time buyers, presents an excellent opportunity for those looking to make their dreams of homeownership a reality. Nonetheless, many first-time buyers might be unsure just exactly how the tax credit works. We want  to help prospective first-time buyers understand the advantages of the $7,500 tax credit and capitalize on this financial incentive before it is no longer availab This free, no-obligation, special seminar, beginning at 11 a.m., will include a brief presentation followed by a question and answer session. An experienced tax professional will be on hand at each seminar to provide an overview of the $7,500 tax credit and to explain the tax benefits of owning a home. 09/06/2008

The Toms River Fire Company Number 1 committee for this year's Halloween parade is in full swing. The Toms River parade is well known as the biggest parade this side of Greenwich Village. The parade will be held on October 31. If anyone has any questions, comments or concerns, please either write to the committee at PO Box 905, Toms River, NJ 08754, or you can e-mail them at trfd25no1@aol. com. If anyone has any old photos of the Halloween parade that could be used in our rules and regulations booklet, please forward them to the above email address 09/06/2008

  Pairs N Squares, a square dancing club, located at 139 Santiago Drive, Holiday City South, is offering square dance lessons. They are beginning on September 9. Enrollment runs through September 30. The first lesson is free, and after that, the lessons will be $3 per person per night. They dance every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. You do not need to have a partner; hopefully, they can find one for you. They also would like to welcome experienced square dancers. If you are looking for a square dancing club, come on Tuesday nights. For more information, call Bill Seigel at 732-797-1601 09/06/2008

The Polish American Club of Toms River has announced their upcoming events. October 23 - Trip to Atlantic City and dinner at the winery for Oktoberfest. Call Bill Tomaspolish qewski at 732-349-0908 for information about these events. October 29 - Memorial Mass at St. Joseph's Church with brunch following Mass. For information, please contact Frank Zwolinski at 732-240-0556 for information about these and other events. 09/06/2008

        The George P. Vanderveer American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 129 in Toms River,will be having an all-you-can-eat breakfast on September 14 from 8 a.m. to noon. Adults are $7, children under age 10 are $5 and children 3 and under are free. They are offering many delicious foods and beverages. The breakfast will be held at 2025 Church Road at Post 129, and all are welcome. For more information, contact Susan Darrow at 732-831-9896 09/06/2008

  The township council this week passed by a 4-2 vote a mandatory water hook-up ordinance requiring residents to connect to public water line if and when it becomes available in their neighborhood.   The ruling begins the process of bringing public water to East Dover homes, where hundreds continue to rely on well water. Once the lines are run, residents will be required to pay for the lines to connect to their homes from curbside. The ordinance mandates that residents in Windsor Park, Shelter Cove and Bayshore sections of the township must cap their wells and pay for city water hook-ups when lines bringing public water are installed in their neighborhoods. Windsor Park is the first area slated for the public water lines. Residents would have 120 days to comply and pay the connection fe... 09/06/2008

Welcome back, to school that is!In her wonderful article, Inside the Mind of the Consumer, in the September issue of REALTOR magazine, author Wendy Cole quotes a top Chicago broker as he answers the question, "What exactly are buyers and sellers seeking these days?" His answer:"Nordstrom service, Disney innovation, and K Mart prices!"Today's "First Time Homebuyer" is a completely different consumer, or "mutant" as one of my salespeople might say, than the FTHB of the past! They have access to too much information and despite all that information, and misinformation, at their fingertips, they seem to take an almost "whimsical approach to determine fair pricing."As reflected in yesterday's lesson, today's FTHB is convinced prices will drop further. When presented with the data that shows ... 09/04/2008

Today marked the return to the classroom for school children across Ocean County, NJ. By most accounts it was a long, dry, hot summer. Am I talking about the weather? An interesting analogy could be drawn between this past "Summer Break" and the Summer Real Estate Market here in Toms River... "We want to be in our new home before school starts." Traditionally, these words meant the three months of June, July and August were our biggest closing months here at the Jersey Shore. But if we compare 2007 with 2008, two of those three months were down from the same time last year and August of this year was significantly below August of 2007: Category - Single Family-Toms RiverMo/Yr Monthly Sales Avg List $ Avg Sale $ % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Mos Inventory June 2007     88   $44... 09/03/2008

Paddling on Silver Bay This past weekend I finally got to bring my dog out on the boat for the first time this summer. She just loves it. I think she is part fish and will swim all day if you let her. Summer is a Golden Doodle.  (that's French for 'I paid a lot of money for a Mutt')  Her dad was a Golden Retriever her Mom a Standard Poodle. She is not supposed to Shed.. (she does just not like a typical dog) She has been a great dog, a true people person. My initial intention was to run down to Tices Shoal which is on the bay side of Island Beach State Park, one of my favorite places.... because one of the goals was to go Kayaking at the same time, and the Sedge Islands on the southern end of the park make for great kayaking.  I also wanted to bring the new Kayak, but it's a little big ... 08/25/2008

  Click Photo for Additional Media and Enlargement   Status: Active (8/17/2008) Cat:SF MLS#: m Type: Detached ListPrice: $349,500 County: Ocean OrigPrice: $349,500 Muni: TOMS RIVER TWP ApxYrBlt: 1973 Postal   ApxSqFt: 1,380 SqFt Address: TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 Rooms: 7 Area/Sec: NONE Bedrooms: 4 Cmplx/Sub: NONE Baths: 2/0 ParcelID: 00400-0005-00030- Levels: 2 LotSz/Acr: 50X100/ Bsmt: Y ElemSch: EAST DOVER FP/#: Y/1 MiddleSch: TR INTR EAST Garage: Y/1 Car HighSch: T.R.HIGH EAST WF: N OthElem:   WV: N OthHigh:   WtrTyp:   Style: Bi-level Handicap: N: Model:   LsePurch:   Zoning: Resident LnkdML#:   Directions:   Located in a great family neighborhood, this Bi-Level features 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Find hardwood floors throughout the main level and a beautiful updated eat in kitchen. Lo... 08/23/2008

I am always asked this question, and it isn't always an easy one to answer, especially in today's environment. If you just put contracts in on a house this weekend and you are applying for a loan I would advise that you lock in at the application if you are closing in the next 30 days or so, it will be the safer move... Here is why: The Market has been in turmoil with investors being overly cautious to invest in anything with the word "mortgage" attached to it.  And it is this pessimism that is leading the movement in the markets more so than the economic data. The problem is that Mortgage companies rely on Capital to operate, and when investors stop investing in mortgages, capital dries up... Warehouse lenders pull their credit lines from lenders which is equivalent to pushing the leve... 08/17/2008

  MLS# Ar S StaDate Address Model SqFt BR Bth YrBlt WF WV LPrice OrgPrice DOM/CDOM 20808759 TOM S 7/1/2008 32 BERKSHIRE CT QUAD 828 1 1/0 1965 N N $59,900 $69,000 88/88   SP: $55,000 SD: 07/01/2008 $/Sqft: $66 20750205 TOM S 7/7/2008 23 KEY WEST CT SARATOGA 1,092 2 1/0 1968 N N $114,900 $131,000 183/183   SP: $107,000 SD: 07/07/2008 $/Sqft: $98 20806688 TOM S 7/11/2008 36 PETUNIA WAY CARDINAL PLUS 779 2 1/0 1972 N N $140,000 $140,000 82/82   SP: $130,000 SD: 07/11/2008 $/Sqft: $167 MLS# Ar Sta StaDate Typ Location #Pkg #Units YrBlt WF WV LPrice OrgPrice DOM/CDOM 20816335 TOM CLS 7/31/2008 MBL 633 BUERMANN AVE 0 2 1935 N N $149,900 $214,900 64/64   SP: $140,000 SD: 07/31/2008 MLS# Ar Sta StaDate Typ Address Style SqFt BR Bth YrBlt WF WV LPrice OrgPrice DOM/CDOM 20816438 TOM CLS 7/30/2008... 08/04/2008

  The 6th Annual NJ State Rowing Championships will be held August 12 in Barnegat Bay. The 7 Mile race will start At Toms River Yacht Club. The race is open to any kind of rowing craft. Life guards and competitve rowers use everything from: Traditional Sea Bright Skiffs Modern Surf Rescue Boats Sculling craft Race registration starts at 4:30 PM. The entry fee is $30. For more information and registration forms you can visit rowrace.com or call (732) 785-0665 Just one of many events in our area that makes Ocean County a great place to live! Have a great weekend   Rob Robert Rauf www.RobertRaufHomeLoans.com   08/01/2008

NAR Releases June's Housing Market Report:The National Association of Realtors recently released their housing numbers for June 2008. Here's a brief synopsis: Nationally; sales were down 16.4% and prices were down 7.9% versus June 2007 Northeast; sales were down 19.9% and prices were down 3.0% " " South; sales were down 18.2% and prices were down 4.5% " " Midwest; sales were down 18.2% and prices were down 4.8% " " West; sales were down 10.1% and prices were down 17.2% " " What does all this information mean? Well, according to the "National Media Outlets", it's the beginning of the Apocalypse! Fortunately for us, there are a few reputable analysts who read the POSITIVE in all these negative numbers. "Overall, we've seen marked improvement in every region of the country over the previo... 07/30/2008