From the Mayor.....Ocean City, NJ

March 31, 2020


Dear Friends,

I want to thank local real estate professionals for their cooperation in fighting the spread of coronavirus. Yesterday, I joined the mayors of Cape May County in urging the elimination of all short-term rentals for the duration of the governor’s executive orders, and I noted in an update this weekend that local leaders in the real estate industry have agreed to do the same. I want to clarify that most Ocean City real estate professionals will not accept any new rental agreement with check-in before May 1. I urge all private owners to do the same. It will be necessary to extend this suspension of new rentals beyond April if the governor’s orders continue.

The city’s message to renters and visitors must be clear: Don’t come to Ocean City during the State of Emergency.

I also signed a proclamation this afternoon that prohibits the operation of online marketplaces for arranging lodging for stays during the month of April. If the State of Emergency continues into May, so will this prohibition.

Read more …

How New Federal Guidelines Affect NJ Real Estate

The following message will be sent to the membership later this afternoon to clarify whether the newly released federal guidelines will have impact on New Jersey real estate.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA”) issued updated guidelines which provide that “residential and commercial real estate services, including settlement services” are part of the essential critical infrastructure workforce. Although CISA made it clear the guidelines are “advisory in nature” and should not be considered a federal directive, it provides direction for those states that previously have not considered real estate services to be essential services.

Read more …

Dear Friends,

First, I want to thank everybody for doing all they can to help stop the spread of coronavirus. I know this disruption to our work and way of life is not easy.

I am aware of the concerns about an influx of new visitors to Ocean City during the current public health emergency.

Although Ocean City ordinarily welcomes all visitors, at this time we must take all available steps to enforce social distancing recommendations and limit nonessential travel to Ocean City.

As authorized by Gov. Phil Murphy’s Executive Order No. 108, Ocean City will prohibit online marketplaces from offering short-term rentals until further notice.

In addition, I have spoken with leaders in the Ocean City real estate community, and they have agreed to suspend short-term rentals of any kind. I urge all private owners to do the same.

Read more …