LBI Real Estate Property Values and the September 2026 Nor' easter
Long Beach Island Real Estate Property Values and the September 2026 Nor'easter
LBI Real Estate Property Values and the September 2026 Nor'easter: Long Beach Island Real Estate Property Values and the September 2026 Nor'easter
LBI Real Estate Property Values and the September 2026 Nor'easter
The LBI real estate market just went through the most impactful weather since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. There is no doubt about that! In my years living on Long Beach Island full time, this is the third-worst storm I have seen, after another, larger nor'easter in 1992 and Hurricane Sandy. While the storm's impact is undeniable, buyers and sellers will be asking what will happen to LBI real estate property values after the September 2026 Nor'easter. The short answer is, I doubt there will be any meaningful impact on home prices in the Long Beach Island real estate market.
By: Nathan Colmer | LBI Real Estate Agent | The Van Dyk Group
Cell: 609-290-4293 | Office: 800-222-0131 | ncolmer@vandykgroup.com
What History Tells Us About Storms and the LBI Real Estate Market
The best and most recent example we can use for LBI real estate prices after storms is, of course, Hurricane Sandy. While home prices did fall on average in the LBI real estate market in the year or so after the storm, it is important to understand why and what the real impact was. The average price of a single-family home did fall, but the total investment made was much higher. This was because storm-damaged homes needed renovation or rebuilding, which must be accounted for. Using prices from 2012, a move-in-ready home may have been worth $500,000 before the storm and sold for $350,000 after the storm. However, the buyer was not really paying $350,000. They still had to rebuild or renovate the home, so the total investment was no longer $500,000. It would have been closer to $750,000. Therefore, while the average price fell in the very short term, the larger investments made drove prices higher throughout the LBI real estate market. In short, the storm did not scare buyers away; rather, it compelled them to spend MORE on a home in the Long Beach Island real estate market.
Long Beach Island in 2012 Compared to 2026
The Long Beach Island that suffered from the September 2026 nor’easter is very different from the Long Beach Island that was hit by Hurricane Sandy. Far more homes have been rebuilt and are more prepared to weather a storm. This is already clear in the scale and scope of damage that Long Beach Island suffered. While this doesn't minimize the damage or the impact it can have on an individual or a family, much of the flooding and damage was localized to garage areas, since many homes have been raised or rebuilt on pilings. There is a big difference between a garage flooding and a home’s living space flooding. This is especially true because a garage on Long Beach Island typically isn't waterproof and is designed to get wet to some extent. Therefore, the optics of the damage on Long Beach Island will be radically different this time around, which will lessen the impact on the LBI real estate market.
What Areas of the Long Beach Island Real Estate Market Will See An Impact
There is never a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the LBI real estate market, and the September 2026 nor’easter is no exception. While I firmly believe there will be no significant, wide-ranging impact on the Long Beach Island real estate market, I do predict individual cases where a homeowner may have to adjust prices and/or the home will take longer to sell. A major weather event like this draws scrutiny to areas that are more or less prone to flooding, and buyers will undoubtedly react. Buyers in the LBI real estate market will ask more questions about flooding, storm damage, and flood insurance. Homes better positioned to answer these questions will get more attention and, perhaps, higher prices, while homes that suffered the most will have more difficulty selling. I don't foresee this changing the dynamics of the LBI real estate market; instead, it will center on individual homes and specific situations. To be clear, just because a home took on water and experienced a flood event does not automatically mean it lost value; rather, it means the seller needs to be prepared to answer the questions that buyers will surely ask and, if handled properly, the impact on the home’s value should be minimal.
What The September 2026 Nor’easter Means for Long Beach Island Real Estate Buyers and Sellers
The most important thing for all buyers and sellers in the LBI real estate market to understand is that while this was a significant weather event, it is part of life on a barrier island. We routinely get nor’easters throughout the year; this one was just stronger and more impactful than most. Buyers in the LBI real estate market need to understand that some homes did flood, mostly in the garages, and when purchasing, they should double-check all the key things that can be damaged in a flood. Top of the list would be mold and electrical items, but every home is different and should be evaluated on its own. Sellers need to document any damage and repairs and ensure things were corrected. That way, when selling a home in the LBI real estate market, they are prepared to answer the questions that smart buyers will ask. Buyers and sellers need to understand the nuances of these events and how to handle them; with the right guidance, they will be fine!
If you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in the LBI real estate market, contact me, Nathan Colmer, for expert guidance backed by years of local experience, deep market insight, and a proven track record in helping clients navigate LBI's unique market. My experience extends over 20 years of selling homes on Long Beach Island, incuding during Hurricane Sandy, with a special focus on second homes and investment properties. In addition to representing buyers and sellers, I personally invest in the LBI real estate market and can share my firsthand knowledge of this investment strategy. Whether you are searching for a vacation home, planning a wise investment, or ready to list your property, I can offer you personalized strategies and unmatched knowledge to help you succeed.
By: Nathan Colmer | LBI Real Estate Agent | The Van Dyk Group
Cell: 609-290-4293 | Office: 800-222-0131 | ncolmer@vandykgroup.com
LBI Real Estate Property Values and the September 2026 Nor'easter
The LBI real estate market just went through the most impactful weather since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. There is no doubt about that! In my years living on Long Beach Island full time, this is the third-worst storm I have seen, after another, larger nor'easter in 1992 and Hurricane Sandy. While the storm's impact is undeniable, many will be asking what will happen to LBI real estate property values after the September 2026 Nor'easter. The short answer is, I doubt there will be any meaningful impact on home prices in the Long Beach Island real estate market.
By: Nathan Colmer | LBI Real Estate Agent | The Van Dyk Group
Cell: 609-290-4293 | Office: 800-222-0131 | ncolmer@vandykgroup.com
What History Tells Us About Storms and the LBI Real Estate Market
The best and most recent example we can use for LBI real estate prices after storms is, of course, Hurricane Sandy. While home prices did fall on average in the LBI real estate market in the year or so after the storm, it is important to understand why and what the real impact was. The average price of a single-family home did fall, but the total investment made was much higher. This was because storm-damaged homes needed renovation or rebuilding, which must be accounted for. Using prices from 2012, a move-in-ready home may have been worth $500,000 before the storm and sold for $350,000 after the storm. However, the buyer was not really paying $350,000. They still had to rebuild or renovate the home, so the total investment was no longer $500,000. It would have been closer to $750,000. Therefore, while the average price fell in the very short term, the larger investments made drove prices higher throughout the LBI real estate market. In short, the storm did not scare buyers away; rather, it compelled them to spend MORE on a home in the Long Beach Island real estate market.
Long Beach Island in 2012 Compared to 2026
The Long Beach Island that suffered from the September 2026 nor’easter is very different from the Long Beach Island that was hit by Hurricane Sandy. Far more homes have been rebuilt and are more prepared to weather a storm. This is already clear in the scale and scope of damage that Long Beach Island suffered. While this doesn't minimize the damage or the impact it can have on an individual or a family, much of the flooding and damage was localized to garage areas, since many homes have been raised or rebuilt on pilings. There is a big difference between a garage flooding and a home’s living space flooding. This is especially true because a garage on Long Beach Island typically isn't waterproof and is designed to get wet to some extent. Therefore, the optics of the damage on Long Beach Island will be radically different this time around, which will lessen the impact on the LBI real estate market.
What Areas of the Long Beach Island Real Estate Market Will See An Impact
There is never a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the LBI real estate market, and the September 2026 nor’easter is no exception. While I firmly believe there will be no significant, wide-ranging impact on the Long Beach Island real estate market, I do predict individual cases where a homeowner may have to adjust prices and/or the home will take longer to sell. A major weather event like this draws scrutiny to areas that are more or less prone to flooding, and buyers will undoubtedly react. Buyers in the LBI real estate market will ask more questions about flooding, storm damage, and flood insurance. Homes better positioned to answer these questions will get more attention and, perhaps, higher prices, while homes that suffered the most will have more difficulty selling. I don't foresee this changing the dynamics of the LBI real estate market; instead, it will center on individual homes and specific situations. To be clear, just because a home took on water and experienced a flood event does not automatically mean it lost value; rather, it means the seller needs to be prepared to answer the questions that buyers will surely ask and, if handled properly, the impact on the home’s value should be minimal.
What The September 2026 Nor’easter Means for Long Beach Island Real Estate Buyers and Sellers
The most important thing for all buyers and sellers in the LBI real estate market to understand is that while this was a significant weather event, it is part of life on a barrier island. We routinely get nor’easters throughout the year; this one was just stronger and more impactful than most. Buyers in the LBI real estate market need to understand that some homes did flood, mostly in the garages, and when purchasing, they should double-check all the key things that can be damaged in a flood. Top of the list would be mold and electrical items, but every home is different and should be evaluated on its own. Sellers need to document any damage and repairs and ensure things were corrected. That way, when selling a home in the LBI real estate market after the September 2026 nor ' easter, they are prepared to answer the questions that smart buyers will ask. Buyers and sellers need to understand the nuances of these events and how to handle them; with the right guidance about what to do after a home floods, they will be fine!
If you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in the LBI real estate market, contact me, Nathan Colmer, for expert guidance backed by years of local experience, deep market insight, and a proven track record in helping clients navigate LBI's unique market. My experience extends over 20 years of selling homes on Long Beach Island, incuding during Hurricane Sandy, with a special focus on second homes and investment properties. In addition to representing buyers and sellers, I personally invest in the LBI real estate market and can share my firsthand knowledge of this investment strategy. Whether you are searching for a vacation home, planning a wise investment, or ready to list your property, I can offer you personalized strategies and unmatched knowledge to help you succeed.
By: Nathan Colmer | LBI Real Estate Agent | The Van Dyk Group
Cell: 609-290-4293 | Office: 800-222-0131 | ncolmer@vandykgroup.com
