Where to Live on The Water

People want to live on the water for various reasons, but almost everyone simply enjoys water views. If you came to the website via the ad in the New Jersey Marine Digest, it is most likely you like to fish salt water.

As you probably know the price of waterfront properties has risen sharply over the last 5 years, even outpacing the rising pricing of the overall Real Estate market. It is simply a function of supply and demand; lots of people would like to live on the water, as either a primary residence or second home, and there is limited supply of waterfront property. In addition to the limited supply, most waterfront communities are preventing development of waterfront acreage; gone are the days of dredging and creating lagoons that create entire waterfront communities.

Waterfront can be broken  into several categories, and price (and value) is determined by the supply and demand.  For the most part, the overall cost of the properties will be the most for Oceanfront, and generally become lower as we go down following the list. That is not to say you will not find multi-million dollar homes on the bay or rivers, but you will not find one for less than millions that is directly on the ocean.  With any type of waterfront, you will find the following two New Jersey links informative.

To get the definitions of  New Jersey Tidelands  go to the following link-

      New Jersey Division of Environmental Protection, Tidelands Program (click for link)

To get detailed information on usage, permitting, and compliance- Coastal Area Facility Review Act - CAFRA

      New Jersey Division of Environmental Protection, Coastal Permitting (click for link)

Location, Location, Location

Oceanfront- This is the most expensive and most limited in supply. You can imagine that little sliver of land that sits right on the ocean; out the back door and into the waves of the Atlantic. The views and prestige are unparalleled, but if you are a boater, you  probably will have to hop in your car and drive to the marina.

Riverfront- We have two major Rivers in Southern Monmouth and Northern Ocean Counties with direct access to the ocean (not through the Bay), they are the Shark River and Manasquan River. They both offer a relatively short ride to the inlets and open ocean.

Properties directly on the rivers are also very limited in supply, and we will discuss each River separately. In my opinion, these are the best places to live if you are a fisherman. Most homes or condos will have a bulkhead and dock or a pier for your boat(s), however, there are a lot of areas in both rivers that are mud flats at low tide.

Barnegat Bayfront- A lot more properties available in this category. Here again as with the Ocean and Rivers you will have terrific views. What you will also get is a pretty good beating when there are strong winds coming towards you from the open bay direction. Your boat will get tossed around unless you have a lift.

Barnegat Bay Estuaries- These are rivers, coves, and natural “creeks” that branch off of Barnegat Bay. Beaver Dam Creek, The Metedeconk River, Kettle Creek, Silver Bay, Toms River, Cedar Creek, and Forked River are the major estuaries, but there are a lot of smaller ones.  I think these are terrific places to live. You will be somewhat protected and generally have a fairly large (or huge) open view. Most properties will have a bulkhead or a pier for your boat.

Lagoon Properties- There are far more lagoon properties than any other type. Typically there will be homes on both sides of the lagoon. These are the areas that your home and boat will be most protected. Your view will mostly be limited to the homes on the other side of the lagoon, but it will be a short ride to the open bay.

Although this web site is about waterfront properties, we will be glad to send you information and listings throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Simply send us an e-mail as to what you are looking for, and be specific as possible as to number of bedrooms, baths, garage, price range, or anything else you wish to have in your new home, and we will tailor a search to look for those exact requirements and e-mail you any new listings as soon as they appear on the Multiple Listing Service. If you wish you can include your phone number if you would like us to call you. We pride ourselves in not being "pushy" Realtors®, and you will not get any phone calls or other e-mails from us unless you invite us to do so. 

North of Shark River

Although the areas much north of Shark River are out of our "immediate" area, we have relationships with several REALTORS® who service those areas, and will be glad to provide you with their names. The following are links to properties available in those areas. Click on the blue "Homes" or "Condos" links next to the area for currently available properties.

Oceanfront Only, Monmouth County-     Homes    Condos

Waterfront Properties "Inside" Sandy Hook (Leonardo, Atlantic Highlands, Navesink)-         Homes    Condos

Red Bank, Fair Haven, Rumson, Oceanport, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch-   Homes     Condos

Shark River Waterfront Properties-          Homes    Condos

The Shark River is relatively short and shallow in most areas. A Boater will not be more than 3 miles to the inlet, so the ride is short. There is a sizable Charter Boat and Party Boat Fleet located west of the RT. 35 bridge, as well as the

Belmar Municipal Marina  (click for link). The river is a popular winter flounder spot, and fluke are caught in the deeper spots. Striped Bass and weakfish are also available.

Manasquan River Waterfront Properties-    Homes   Condos

From the mouth of Manasquan Inlet to the entrance of the Point Pleasant Canal is about 2.6 miles, but the River continues to the west for an additional 1.1 miles to the Route 70 Bridge, then further west for 2 miles where it enters the Manasquan Wildlife Management Area.  The areas on both sides of the River up to and above the Route 70 Bridge have many multi-million dollar homes. As you go  further west the river becomes more shallow, and the channel  narrow. Some of the waterfront homes will only have mud flats when the tide is out. The river has some excellent fishing spots if you can stand the boat traffic. See the Fishing Spots Page for details about fishing the river and canal.

Manasquan Twp. and Point Pleasant Beach-    Homes   Condos 

Although both of these towns border the river, only "Point Beach" has several riverfront homes. A turn to Port at the end of the Manasquan Inlet seawall will take you into Cooks Creek and the entrance to Lake Louise. You will pass the charter and head boat fleets on your left, and the commercial fleet on your right. After going under the Broadway Avenue Bridge (low) there will be residential waterfront homes on both sides of Cooks Creek,  as well in Lake Louise. The ride to the inlet is short, and that coupled with the proximity to the beach make these homes pricey. The only Riverfront homes will be west of the RT 35 bridge on the right.

Manasquan waterfront homes will be found by turning to Starboard just before the Railroad Bridge and Hoffman's Marina (new condos are replacing the marina, that is Brielle). You will be in Crabtown Creek, which will lead you toward an area called the "Glimmer Glass" and the waterfront home area. Here again it is a short ride to the inlet, close to the beach, and expensive.

The Intracoastal Waterway runs parallel to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey, to the Mexican border (Brownsville Texas). Aids to navigation marking these waters have some portion of them marked with yellow. Otherwise, the coloring and numbering of the aids to navigation follow the same system as that in other U.S. waterways. The New Jersey section from the Manasquan Inlet to Cape May is 118 miles, most  of which have good fishing. Aid to Navigation Page 

There are many Waterfront Homes along the Point Pleasant Canal, but only a very few have a "cutout" into the canal bulkhead for a boat. There are no docks or projections into the canal for boats, and if you travel the canal and see the swift current and turbulence from the uneven bottom, you will be glad there is nothing blocking your way.

At the southern end of the Point Pleasant Canal is the northern beginning of Barnegat Bay. From this point Waterfront Properties are on both the west, or mainland side, or on the ocean side (east), which is a barrier Island.  A similar property on the east side of the bay will be priced much higher (probably about double) due to the proximity to the ocean beaches.

At the southern end of the canal, and the beginning of Barnegat Bay, you will have the town of Bay Head on the East Side and Point Pleasant Borough on the west.  The following are the towns from north to south, with links to waterfront properties in each area.
 

Waterfront Properties

                       West Side of Barnegat Bay Areas                                                          East Side of Barnegat Bay