A perfect potential Ocean Groovy Airbnb rental–all the charm of our special town. Blogfinger photo. © (This is not actually an Airbnb rental; just an illustration)
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger At the bottom of this post is a 2019 update and a 2021 update..
In a recent “just wondering” segment, we began to consider the facts surrounding the new rental phenomenon where people in town can turn their homes into impromptu hotels, making fast money by renting living spaces for short visits—even just one night.
Or course, there have always been rentals, especially summertime, in Ocean Grove, going back to the town’s founding when there was a huge religious tourism industry along with many rooming houses and hotels.
But now, all over the world, homeowners are accepting tenants who connect with others on the Internet—Airbnb has an app.
A hotel owner in the Grove (Nov. 2019) has told Blogfinger that the Airbnb phenomenon has hurt business for those OG hotels that pay taxes, salaries and expenses year round.
According to one Grover, this has become a problem because these Airbnbers ride into town and expect hotel amenities. They don’t know our rules and customs and they bring parties with them. Some think that this phenomenon threatens our neighborhoods.
But, regarding the rules of the road, Neptune Township has control, and I have spoken to Code Enforcement.
The fact is that Airbnb rentals in Ocean Grove are no different than any other short term rentals in town:
You may not rent a room. You may rent an apartment or a house, but with each rental, a CI (Certificate of Inspection) is required. If you are doing rapid turnovers, such as one night at at a time, you must renew the CI with each rental.
August 24, 2019 update:
August 2019: Airbnb. Check their website. Currently there are 118 listings for Ocean Grove. There are 14,000 homes, apartments, condos, etc. available for Airbnb in NJ.
Of the 25 top NJ towns, (NJ.com) over half are at the shore. OG is not listed, but Asbury Park is. Starting in October renters must charge the New Jersey 6.625% sales tax and the 5% hotel occupancy fee. VRBO is another online service.
Demand for rentals of all kinds will increase in OG and the rest of the Shore.
Many young couples who want to live at the shore prefer to rent instead of buy. Also many new home buyers are not interested in our town other than as a cash cow for rental properties at the beach. Realtors could help us out with this, but will they contact Blogfinger?
The CMA is planning to make its programming year-round, and those religious tourists will need housing, and the new North End “boutique” hotel may not be so appealing now that Airbnb is in town. It may actually never be built or it might take years.
How housing evolves in the Grove will reflect changing demographics and lifestyles of those who live here and those who are just passing through.
We know what happened when the gays clashed with the CMA in 2007, but what will happen if the CMA clashes with the residential secular community?
Parking may become the turning point issue regarding the future of the Grove.
2021 update: Of course the pandemic has resulted in a rental frenzy in the Grove. And those rentals are still hot and expensive. One small cottage on the south side just booked an October rental for 10 days for $2,500.00.
House prices have risen to unbelievable levels in the Grove. Some say that Grover home owners can get an average of $100,000 more for their home compared to what they could have received a few years ago.
On our North End street near Firemen’s Park, we often see new faces—renters and sometimes new owners. It is now September, but the place is alive with events, visitors and renters. And now, in addition to Airbnb, there is VRBO.
Change is inevitable, so let’s get the facts straight.
JOE WILLIAMS imagining an autumn rental in quaint OG:
