$1,644,461Average Value$901Average Price per Sq Ft35Homes For Sale
Summer tourism and year-round community life in Sea Isle City
A sunglass-wearing sun shines over the southern New Jersey community of Sea Isle City from atop its water tower, painted next to the slogan: SMILE, YOU’RE IN SEA ISLE. The southern tip of Ludlam Island has transitioned from a barrier island community centered on fishery and resorts to one dedicated to nostalgic shore town tourism. “Obviously, our beach and wetlands on the back bays are the biggest attractions. We’ve also got wonderful restaurants and terrific shopping and bars. I like to point out that we’re a family-friendly shore community with nightlife,” says Katherine Custer, Sea Isle City’s director of community services, public information officer and a resident of over three decades. Whether they’re the couple thousand residents that smile in Sea Isle year-round or the hundreds of thousands that spend a shorter part of the year in the city, people come down to this part of the shore for the same things: the sun, the surf and the beloved traditions that have long bolstered community life in New Jersey’s beach towns.
Bring the family out to the public beaches on Sea Isle City.
The water tower that tells you to smile welcomes vacationers into Sea Isle City.
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Recreation from the beachfront to the back bays
Pedestrian traffic flows toward Sea Isle City’s east side through the summer, made up of seasonal beach tag holders heading to surf, swim or lounge at sandy Atlantic Ocean beaches. Joggers and cyclists travel down the city’s Promenade nearby, a shore-hugging cement pathway that replaced a wooden boardwalk swept away by a hurricane in the 60s. The connected tidal waterways that wind between salt marshes along the mainland are collectively referred to as the back bays and are teeming with fish and crustaceans that support recreational and commercial fishing enterprises. Boaters and anglers get out on the water through membership at private businesses like the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City or by heading to the municipal marina and launches. Sandwiched between the two waterfronts are plenty of land-based recreation hubs, from the athletic courts, playground and skate park at Dealy Field to Excursion Park, a beach-block event space centered around a band shell.
Sea Isle City is a lively southern New Jersey Shore town set on a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ride your bike along the Sea Isle City promenade next to the beach.
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The city’s single-family homes, condos and seasonal rentals
Tightly packed grids of beach houses with multi-story porches fill Sea Isle City from the back bays to the beach block. Though many single-family homes carry over older architectural details like gambrel roofs and rambling Victorian silhouettes, expansive contemporary construction has replaced many smaller, older homes over the past few decades. Condos range from small one-bedroom units in larger complexes to entire floors of classic beach homes. The extreme variability in home sizes, luxury levels and distance from the waterfront means price ranges are also wide. Single-family homes can go for $400,000 to over $6 million, and condos can range from around $200,000 to over $3 million. Many buyers in Sea Isle City are looking for a second home and may participate in the city’s robust summer rental market when they’re not down the shore.
Contemporary beach houses sit directly on the Sea Isle City promenade.
Single family homes often have private parking with covered garages on the bottom floor.
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Community events in the on- and off-seasons
Summers in Sea Isle City are packed with community events, from weekly free cover band concerts at the Excursion Park band shell to once-a-year vendor markets like the Skimmer Festival. Other traditions like the Fall Family Festival and fundraising or donation-based events put on by institutions like St. Joseph Catholic Church and the largest VFW Auxiliary in the state, Post 1963, draw people together well into the off-season. "Our civic groups are thriving. It’s not just the tourism business – we have volunteers doing a lot of the good that’s going on,” Custer says. The Sea Isle City Beachcombers group is a marriage of the city’s commitment to service and the surf. On Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer, volunteers educate families about the city’s unique coastal ecosystem before setting them loose to discover shells, seaweed and other beach treasures for themselves.
Shopping and dining in Sea Isle’s commercial strips
Boutique shops, community staple restaurants and lively bars are all over Sea Isle City, but tend to collect in walkable, themed commercial districts. Fish Alley is defined by fresh seafood eateries and watersports businesses. Downtown Sea Isle coats a stretch of Landis Avenue with shops, bars and restaurants, paralleling a sparser strip along the Promenade. The rest of the city is pocketed with smaller business districts that Custer calls, “little nuggets of happiness.” Many businesses shut down completely or significantly reduce hours as tourist season ebbs, but some mainstay businesses and the local ACME Markets stay open year-round.
Sea Isle City is home to many small boutiques on Landis Ave.
Mike's Seafood is a legendary seafood store in Fish Alley that has been around for over 100 years.
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A sending relationship with Ocean City School District
Sea Isle City sends students to Ocean City School District, starting with Ocean City Primary School, which earns an A from Niche. Ocean City Intermediate School earns a B-plus. A-minus-rated Ocean City High School partners with Stockton University for an accelerated dual degree program, offering students a six-year path to earning both a high school diploma and a four-year degree.
Ocean City Primary School has 280 students in grades PK, K-3.
Ocean City Intermediate School has 370 students in grades 4-8.
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Getting around Sea Isle City and driving to the mainland
Through the warmer months, people often walk, bike or take a Jitney bus to get around Sea Isle City. When it’s time to leave the island, most residents rely on personal vehicles rather than limited regional NJ Transit bus service. The Garden State Parkway hugs the south shore across the salt marshes, offering a nearly 12-mile drive to Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional and connection to the Atlantic City Expressway for a 75-mile trip to Philadelphia. Atlantic City International Airport is nearly 30 miles from home.
Biking on the roadways is a safe and popular form of transportation in Sea Isle City.
Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional is the closest hospital to Sea Isle City.
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Mitigating Sea Isle City’s flood risk
Almost all of Sea Isle City falls into a significant flood zone, which can be caused by major storms or more frequent combinations of high tides and heavy rain. Buyers will need flood insurance, but the city’s participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s community rating system means that those living in impacted areas can receive a 35% discount. Sea Isle has been lauded for its above-and-beyond approach to floodplain management, including strict resiliency-based regulations for new construction and investment in projects like pump stations and bulkheads.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
Photography Contributed By
Jesse Roehrer
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Julietta Morris,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Sea Isle City, NJ sell after 76 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Sea Isle City, NJ over the last 12 months is $1,508,500, down 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 21 E 62nd Street, Sea Isle City – Your Dream Shore Home Just Five Houses from the Beach!This beautifully maintained and spacious property offers everything you need for luxurious coastal living. With 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a fully finished basement, this home provides room for the whole family and guests. The open-concept main floor features a bright and airy living area, a modern
Newly Updated!! This well maintained and well-appointed condo has 3 bedrooms and two full baths, large living room with fireplace, spacious dining room, kitchen with wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances and ceramic tile backsplash. The unit also has front and rear decks. Walking distance to beach and entertainment.
Chuck InsalacoLONG and FOSTER REAL ESTATE INC-Cherry Hill
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
