Going, Going, Gone...Vacation Rentals are Going Fast at the Jersey Shore

With Punxsutawney Phil's bleak prediction for six more weeks of 30 below temperatures, panic has officially set in. People across the northeast are scrambling for warm weather plans to pencil into their calendars. And so begins the rush for summer shore houses in South Jersey. Throngs of college students, young professionals and families head east to the Jersey Shore in the summer for months, weeks and sometimes days, to get away from city life. Some start scouring the seaside for vacation rentals months in advance, while others wait until the cold weather scares them into aggressively searching websites and making phone calls to secure a spot at the shore for the summer. But this year, more and more people are booking early, making leftover rentals sparse at the eleventh hour. Experts estimate as many as 60,000 vacation rentals are available in the southern shore region, and the Philadelphia Inquirer recently reported that the number of rented properties is already 10 to 20 percent higher than it was a year ago. Online websites like www.craigslist.com and getnj.com are loaded with postings from people looking to rent or hoping to snag an open spot in an already rented property through friends. While some people scour ads and postings online, others believe that heading straight to the realtor is the best way to make sure you're getting what you pay for. Philadelphia-based Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors has offices in Ocean City, Stone Harbor, Brigantine and Margate, and offers vacation rentals and plenty of Jersey shore real estate to buy, for those looking to head to the shore for the summer. Real estate agents in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties gave the Inquirer some tips to keep in mind before booking a vacation rental. * Show up. Make an appointment with a real estate agent, and search in person. The Internet is great for a preliminary search, Realtors say, but a computer cannot tell you whether you will smell the sea air - or fumes from a gas station. * Start early. It's never too early to start looking, even if it's while you are still on vacation. The sooner you start, the better the chance you will find what you're looking for. * Wear comfortable shoes. Don't take the first place you see. Plan to search an entire day, or even a weekend. Take your time at several properties, and then weigh your options. * Be flexible. While you may have specific dates in mind, as well as the type of unit and its location, you may find a better deal if you are willing to compromise. Of course if you want to avoid the summer vacation rental rush altogether; you can always shell out the extra cash now to make a house your home at the shore. Owning is a popular alternative if you can afford it, eliminating the headache of finding a shore rental year after year.