Shore summer rentals see early surge as travelers book ahead

MARGATE, N.J. (WPVI) -- With 14 weeks to go until Memorial Day, the countdown to summer is already driving interest at the Jersey shore, where real estate professionals say vacationers are booking rentals while winter weather still lingers.

Those in the shore real estate business say many people, weary of cold, ice and snow, are already planning a week or two by the beach to get through the winter months.

"I just got three calls this morning," said Kenny Robinson, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway/Fox and Roach in Margate.

Robinson said he is seeing early interest in summer rentals, a sign of a strong start to the season.

Local tourism experts noted that last year, many renters booked shorter stays and waited longer to commit.

That trend matched what Maria Kirk saw last summer. Kirk runs Shore Summer Rentals, a direct vacation booking website focused exclusively on the Jersey shore.

"Last year, it started out much slower. But by the time June arrived, most of my hosts were booked," Kirk said.

This year, however, demand appears to be picking up sooner.

"This year already, we're seeing an increase, where this time last year, it was a little less. This year, people are like - whether they didn't come last year or not - they're ready to come back. And our traffic's been tremendous," Kirk said.

Both Robinson and Kirk are urging renters not to wait too long, especially if they have specific preferences.

"Those properties that are left, they're still nice, but if you want to get something if you're picky, you want modern, you want updated, you need to book now," Kirk said.

Robinson echoed that advice, warning that options and affordability can change quickly as summer approaches.

"By the end of March, you better have your plans really focused. Because when it starts getting to April, the selection becomes smaller and smaller. And with the smaller selection, you're going to get higher prices," he said.

The economy remains a major factor in the rental market. Robinson said that while some property owners do raise prices, he encourages renters to negotiate, noting that compromises can often be reached to secure the rental they want.