Find Your Place Along the South Jersey Shore
Ocean City and the communities around it may be only a few miles apart, but they can feel very different once you spend time there. The right place often comes down to more than the house itself—it's how you want to spend your time at the Shore.
Choosing the right place starts with the things you enjoy most about being at the Shore.
Bedrooms, price and distance to the beach are important, but they're only part of the picture. A home can look perfect online and still feel very different once you see the street, the neighborhood and what's around it.
Whether you're looking for a year-round home, a vacation place or something you may rent part of the year, it helps to think about how you really want to use it.
Shore and Mainland Communities to Consider
You don't have to know exactly where you want to be before you start looking. These are the areas Matt works in most, and each gives you a different way to be part of life at the Shore.
Ocean City
Ocean City is where Matt grew up, and knowing the island means knowing that one part of town can feel very different from another. Being near the Boardwalk isn't the same as being tucked into the Gardens, living along the bay or heading farther south on the island.
Where you look really depends on how you see yourself using the home. Maybe walking to the beach matters most. Maybe you want to be close to restaurants and shops. Or maybe you'd rather have a quieter spot to come back to at the end of the day.
Explore Ocean City
Somers Point
Somers Point is just across the bridge from Ocean City, but it has a feel all its own. The bay, marinas and waterfront are a big part of the community, and there's plenty of life here after the summer crowds head home.
It's worth a look if you want to stay close to Ocean City and the water without necessarily living right on the island.
Explore Somers Point
Longport, Margate & Ventnor
Longport, Margate and Ventnor sit next to one another on Absecon Island, but you shouldn't assume they'll all feel the same. The streets, homes, beach and bay access, walkability and nearby places to go can change quite a bit as you move along the island.
If you're drawn to this part of the Shore, it's worth getting to know all three before deciding where you want to focus.
Northfield & Linwood
Northfield and Linwood give you a more traditional mainland neighborhood setting while still keeping Ocean City and Absecon Island beaches close by close by.
They're next to each other, but they don't feel exactly the same. The neighborhoods, parks and day-to-day setting are different enough that it's worth looking at each one on its own.
Marmora & Upper Township
Marmora is one of the areas buyers often get to know first when they're looking just outside Ocean City. But Upper Township covers much more than Marmora, with a number of different villages and residential settings to explore.
If you like being close to Ocean City but don't necessarily need to be on the island, this area can open up some very different possibilities.
Explore Upper Township & MarmoraSometimes the little differences matter the most.
Two towns can be only a few minutes apart and still give you a very different experience. That's why Matt likes to look beyond the map and the listing and talk about what will actually matter once you're spending time here.
You don't need to have every answer. These are simply some of the things worth thinking about as you start to narrow your search.
Island or Mainland?
Do you want to walk out the door and immediately feel like you're at the Shore? Or would you rather have a more residential setting and drive across the bridge when you want the beach? Neither is better—it comes down to what feels right for you.
Beach, Bay or Boating?
Being near the water can mean different things. For some people, it's an easy walk to the beach. For others, it's keeping a boat nearby, getting out on the bay or simply having the water close.
How Much Activity Do You Want?
You may love being able to walk to restaurants, shops and Shore activity. Or you may want to enjoy all of that and then head back somewhere a little quieter. Where you look can change depending on which sounds more like you.
How Will You Use the Home?
The right place for a year-round home may not be the same place you'd choose for summer weekends or a vacation property. Once Matt understands how you plan to use the home, it's much easier to focus on the areas that make sense.
You don't need to know the right town before you start looking.
Growing up in Ocean City gives Matt a firsthand feel for the Shore and the communities around it. He can help you look beyond the number of bedrooms or the distance to the beach and think about the things you may not see in a listing—the street, the surroundings, how easy it is to get where you want to go and what the area feels like when you're actually there.
If you're buying from out of town, relocating, looking for a vacation place or just aren't sure which side of the bridge makes the most sense, that's okay. You can figure that out together.
