Moving to Manahawkin N.J. (Ocean Acres, Barnegat: real estate, house, neighborhood)

[Mike Rogers]

Hi,
I couldn't figure how to get back into this forum, sorry for the late response, but thank you for responding.....any info is appreciated......what was your experience with the hospital? treated well? old fashioned, or updated?.......Look forward to hearing from you.
Kathy

[Mike Rogers]

Hi Sum1Else,
You said you were recently back up to Manahawkin.....Is it the same as when you left? Any Pos or negs?
Thanks

[taurus430]

I have family in Beach Haven West (Manahawkin), a waterfront community. The main highway (72) from the parkway going east to LBI is loaded with good shopping. This includes a new Costco, Target, Best Buys etc right at 72 and the pkway, close to Ocean Acres and the hospital. North of Manahawkin is Barnagat which suppose to be nice also.

[TallyNJ]

Hi Mike & Kathy,

You don't mention if you have kids or not..?? The schools have steadily improved and I am for the most part satisfied with them. The Oaks are nice but small lots...they have sidewalks which is a good thing...The Hospital just laid off 45 people.....the Pool at the "Country Club" (it is not a country club, just a golf course, not like Florida) filled in the pool and the lake is too gross to swim in. So if you want a pool put one in or buy one with it. If you do have kids there are no recreational activities except soccer, basketball or baseball. They are run very well however. There is no town recreation center with a pool, indoor hockey/roller rink, gymastic center such that we had in Florida. There is a bowling alley WOOHOO!!!!

There are other nice homes within Ocean Acres...and in other sections of Manahawkin that might fit your price range. It is a street by street house by house situation. It isn't the kind of neighborhood you are thinking about as in Florida. (I lived in Florida for 11 years before moving back to NJ). "OA" is a mix of old and new houses with a mix of people to go along with it. I do live in the Oaks and if I had it all to do over again would not have chosen to live here. Now that is just my observation but since I did live in Florida I know what you are expecting and it isn't here. You have to change your way of thinking. Just like I changed my way when I moved from NJ to FL.

Good luck..
TallyNJ

[TallyNJ]

Hi Mike and Kathy again...

FYI SOCH (pronounced sosh) website is www soch dot com . Check out the career link. Even though there was a layoff as always there are still jobs posted. As far as the hospital goes most people will not have major surgery there. It is just a small town hospital. Not a regional major teaching hospital. As always there are good and bad things.

One thing to remember about Manahawkin. It is all alone down here at the end of Ocean County. Many people are dragging trying to commute to North Jersey where there is money and jobs. Don't know your particular situation but thought you should know that. If kids and a real job close with no commute aren't a factor and retirement is near by all means it is a good place.


Good luck again...
TallyNJ

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by Mike Rogers

Hi,

Mikes wife here,thanks for the quick reply.... we would be moving from Florida.....our price range would be no more than 375.....You mentioned that you lived down the street from the hospital, which hospital would that be? and do you know anything about it, as that you be a consideration for my employement. Look forward to hearing from you.
Kathy

Hi Kathy, do a search of this forum for Manahawkin there are a lot of posts. I used to live 30 minutes away and worked in Manahawkin and can tell you it has changed a lot since then. There are tons of deer on Rt 72, so you have to be careful at night. My son used to date someone down there, he's hit 3 or 4 deer.

As was mentioned.. traffic - one way in, one way out. Route 72 is very heavily traveled in the summer months, my guestimate would be from March (if we have a nice March) until probably September or October. The heaviest is Memorial Day until Labor Day. I used to go to work at 9:30 am on weekends, had to leave 15 or 20 minutes early during shore times.

Shopping is excellent. I loved Browns Mills (where I lived) because I was close to everything. If I drove 30 minutes I could go any place I wanted for shopping, Manahawkin, Mount Holly/Burlington area, Brick, Medford.

What is the reason you are looking at Manahawkin and what exactly do you need in a town? We just moved to Williamstown & I can tell you that it's great around here. 15 minutes gets me to an awesome mall in Deptford, 10 minutes is shopping.. food shopping, Walmart, Target, Circuit City & other computer stores, Depot/Lowes, and tons of strip malls. I'd have to say that this area is going to be very hot in the next few years.

For $375 you can buy a brand new 3/4 bedroom 2/3 baths with powder room. You just have to watch who you buy from. I love our house but like all new homes we do have minor problems & I wish I would have held escrow money. Would I move here again? yes, but I'd do things different.

[Mike Rogers]

Hi Tally,
Soooo many questions for you.....First though thank you for all the info.
Kids are not an issue for us we're in our 50's (grown son) just have 2 little doggies.... My first question to you is why after 11 years in Fl. did you move back to Jersey if you don't mind me asking?.....We are from North Jersey and originally were going to move to the shore area, but then LONG story short, decided to give Florida a try....4 years later we feel we had our fun? here and are seriously considering a move back...we always liked what south jersey had to offer, and Manahawkin, through our research seems to be a location that would be far enough from some things, and yet close enough to the things we want to be close to......that being said I really would like to find out from you since you live in Ocean Acres what areas you really feel would be a good choice, and which would be wise to avoid..We're looking in the price range of $350,$375....What's your take on Ripple Ave? Anchor Ave? saw some homes via the net that looked nice, how are those neighborhoods.......Look forward to hearing from you.
Kathy

[JERSEY MAN]

My parents lived on Nautilus Drive and I had a summer home on Forecastle Ave and a few years later a lagoon home in Beach Haven West. If you are retired I would say it's a good fit coming back. Southern Ocean County Hosp. is decent and very close by. The only thing is summer traffic, but as I posted in another thread you make best when you know the best times to travel .(don't complain when you go to Home Depot at 1200 in the summer on a saturday).

[Mike Rogers]

Thanks for the info, what else can you tell me about the hospital? .....know any nurses that work there? I'm interested in nursing positions and what some input re those jobs
Thanks again

[njsocks]

Originally Posted by Mike Rogers

Hi Sum1Else,
You said you were recently back up to Manahawkin.....Is it the same as when you left? Any Pos or negs?
Thanks

We were looking there at one time but saw there was a nuclear reactor plant nearby. Actually the neighbor next door works there and he is one weird dude lol! We don't want to glow in the dark lol (joking!)
Also SOCH-the hospital nearby,well, we had a cruddy experience with their outpatient lab! My daughter had to get bloodwork for something and the nurse dropped the bandaid onto the dirty floor and used the same ONE! ew! I was in laboratory/hospital environment and we wouldhave gotten written up for that one! I am not impressed with that hospital at all for various reasons. Just my two cents!