It’s been over a year since super storm Sandy hit the Jersey shore, and things will never be the same again. Here in the low-lying parts of Rumson, Fair Haven, Monmouth Beach, Little Silver, Oceanport, etc. many homes have been raised to meet or exceed the proposed new FEMA guidelines.
If you drive down streets like Waterman Avenue in Rumson you’ll also see what’s happening to new construction. New homes are being built with nothing on the ground floor except the garage(s) and a storage area, and the majority of the real living space is on the 2nd and 3rd levels. The homes have elevators to take you directly from the garage to the upper levels, and the elevators are designed to automatically rise from the lower level whenever significant moisture is detected.
This may be a relatively new idea for single-family homes, but it reflects the reality of living along the coast. The new homes on Waterman Avenue were listed for $1,350,000 and if you’re interested in something like these, please give me a call. In 2013, Rumson real estate (single-family homes) had had an average selling price of $1,282,196 and a median price of $1,100,000 so these homes are listed slightly above those numbers.
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Residential elevators have become more common in the past decade. You may be familiar with The Bluffs, luxury condominiums on Front Street in Red Bank, which were built in 1985 and have great views of the Navesink River. These 2- and 3-bedroom townhouses appeal to people of all ages, especially older individuals/couples who decide to “downsize” but want to stay in the area. Several of these units are currently on the market for $675,000 - $995,000.
Private elevators are becoming more common in lower-priced condominiums as well. There’s a nice condominium complex in Aberdeen that was built in 2003 that has 2 bedroom units with single-car garages and a private elevators. Sales this year ranged from $335,000 to $367,000.
Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The idea for this post happened yesterday while I was driving on Ward Avenue in Rumson. I thought about using the photo below with a provocative title like, “Much Higher FEMA Height Requirements for Rumson” but decided that some people might not appreciate that kind of humor. If YOU thought it was funny, I’m glad this post “lifted” your spirits!
Len
Leonard “Len” Dunikoski, GRI
REALTOR® Associate
Diane Turton Realtors – Rumson Office
8 West River Road
Rumson, NJ 07760
(732) 239-0739 (cell) (732) 530-6686 (office)
