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A coastal home above the ocean at sunset, fading into a fine-line drawing of a compass, a dotted route and a home with a red pin

Relocating To The New Jersey Shore

Moving here from out of state? Learn the towns first, see homes from wherever you live now, and buy with someone who grew up here and still lives here.

Areas We Serve

MonmouthOceanMiddlesexBurlingtonMercerSomersetCamdenGloucesterBergenEssex counties, New Jersey

See where we work

Winding two-lane road leading toward the ocean under a soft evening sky

Local Insight, Local Living

New To The Area? Start With The Towns

When you're moving from somewhere else, the hardest part isn't the house. It's the town. Every shore town has its own feel, its own commute, its own taxes and its own pace, and you can't learn that from listing photos.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. I grew up in Monmouth County, live in Ocean County, and cover every town in both. I call myself a Lifestyle Connector, because the job starts long before the showing: where to eat, where to walk, what a Saturday looks like, and which towns match the life you're moving here for.

My job is to help you understand the towns first, so the home search starts in the right place and every trip here counts. Moves like that are a big part of my work. One recent example: a $1.65 million purchase in Howell for a buyer relocating from Las Vegas.

How I Help You Buy From Out Of State

Previews

Eyes On The House First

My team and I preview homes in person and walk you through them on virtual tours, so you can rule a house in or out before you book a flight.

Town Guides

Free Town Guides

Downloadable guides to the towns I cover, with the parks, dining, events and housing in one place. Start with the Brick Township guide.

Neighborhoods

Notable Neighborhoods

Many town pages break the town down by neighborhood, so you can see the difference between one section and the next. Try Toms River.

Numbers

Market Snapshots

Town pages carry a Market Snapshot built from MLS data, and the monthly market report tracks where prices are going.

Straight Talk

No Sugar Coating

If a house or a town doesn't fit what you told me, I'll say so. I tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

Updates

Informed From Afar

Showing feedback, offers and inspection results come to you in writing, so you know where things stand without being in the room.

Out-Of-State Buyers

In Their Own Words

Two clients who bought here while they lived somewhere else, in their own words.

"Dennis and his team went above and beyond!! I live across country and they previewed multiple houses for a short term rental I needed while searching for the "forever" home to buy. Dennis always responses to my call / texts and answers my questions with extensive knowledge. He has saved me ALOT of money by guiding me and using his vast knowledge of why a house may not be right for my family's needs. He doesn't sugar coat things and explains the area, market, prices with complete honesty. He even talked me out of a home with a possible huge commission and recommended he work harder to find us the right home! If you are searching for ANY home in NJ or need advice. Dennis is your man!"

Michael M., Google review

"Dennis was a great support through the whole process -- from site visits to offers to negotiations to closing. He was a terrific voice and incredibly helpful during what can be a very stressful time -- weighing in on all the pros and cons, plus his deep knowledge of the housing industry was vital for me when making such a large life decision. I recommend working with Dennis"

Jeanne M., Google review

Learn Explore The Towns

Start with the Where We Work page for every town in Monmouth and Ocean County, then read the town pages, many with a free town guide to download.

Where We Work: Learn Explore The Towns

Selling Where You Live Now?

If you're selling a New Jersey home before your move, I can handle that side too. I recently listed and sold a $1.2 million home in Freehold for a seller who was relocating to Pennsylvania. See how I sell homes and get a free home value.

"I was living out of state during the process of selling my home. Dennis helped me out time and again in getting my house ready for sale, arranging for repairs to be made and helping me with some last minute details (furniture) that needed attending to. I had virtually no stress and I attribute it to working with Dennis Mark Interdonato."

Diane T., Google review

Moving within New Jersey? Monmouth and Ocean County are home base, and my team represents homes anywhere in the state. The full list is on the Where We Work page.

Photo: Dennis Mark Interdonato

Moving To New Jersey Questions

What people moving here ask me first, and what they search for most. For anything legal or tax-related, your attorney or tax professional has the final word.

Which towns do you cover?

Every town in Monmouth and Ocean County. My team also represents homes anywhere in New Jersey, and in 2025 we handled listings and purchases in Gloucester, Burlington, Atlantic, Middlesex, Essex, Somerset, Passaic and Bergen counties. The full list is on the Where We Work page.

Can I start my search before I move?

Yes. I'll set up your search and send you homes that fit as they come on the market, so you're ready when you visit.

Can you preview homes for me if I can't be there?

Yes. My team and I tour homes in person and walk you through them on virtual tours, so you can decide which ones are worth a trip.

How do I compare towns I've never visited?

Start with the town pages and the free town guides, then check the Market Snapshot on each town page and the monthly market report for prices. When you've got a short list, we talk it through and I tell you what I see on the ground.

Are you from the area?

Yes. I grew up in Monmouth County, graduated from Howell High School, and now live in Ocean County.

What's the best town to live in at the Jersey Shore?

That depends on what you're moving here for, so my first question is always about you. A town on the ocean, a town on the bay, a town with a train to New York and a town with more room for the money are four different searches. Tell me your commute, your budget and what you want a Saturday to look like, and I'll give you my short list. Then read the town pages and their free guides on the Where We Work page and compare.

How long do I have to switch my driver's license and car registration to New Jersey?

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission gives new residents 60 days from the move, or until the current license or registration expires, whichever comes first. You can transfer both in one appointment. If your car is financed or leased, the lender holds the title, so the MVC needs the lender to release it first with Form OS/SS-54. Start that paperwork early (NJ MVC, Moving to New Jersey, checked October 2026).

What do I need to transfer my out-of-state driver's license?

Your current, valid license and documents that meet the MVC's 6 Points of ID. If your license is valid, non-provisional and in good standing, the knowledge and road tests are waived. The transfer permit is $10, you surrender your old license, and you get a four-year New Jersey license. Transferring a vehicle title costs $60, or $85 with one lien, plus the registration fee (NJ MVC, Moving to New Jersey, checked October 2026).

How are property taxes figured in New Jersey?

Each town sets a general tax rate from what it has to raise for the town, the schools and the county, divided by the total assessed value of property in town. Your bill is that rate times your home's assessment (NJ Division of Taxation). Two homes at the same price can carry very different tax bills in different towns, so I pull the current bill for every home on your short list. To compare towns, the State publishes every town's 2025 general tax rates.

What are average property taxes in Monmouth and Ocean County?

According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the average residential property tax in 2025, before deductions and credits, was about $11,830 in Monmouth County and about $8,167 in Ocean County, compared with about $10,570 statewide (NJ DCA property tax information, 2025 data, checked October 2026). Those are county averages, and the range from town to town is wide, so we look at the actual bill on each home you're considering.

Is Point Pleasant in Monmouth or Ocean County?

Ocean County, along with Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, Brick, Toms River, Jackson and Lakewood. North of the Manasquan River, Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake and Wall are in Monmouth County. Monmouth has 53 municipalities and Ocean has 33 (NJ DCA). Every town in both counties is on the Where We Work page.

Can I commute to New York City by train from the Jersey Shore?

Yes. NJ TRANSIT's North Jersey Coast Line runs to New York Penn Station, with stops including Secaucus and Newark. Most trains from Aberdeen-Matawan, Hazlet, Middletown, Red Bank, Little Silver and Long Branch run direct. South of Long Branch, most trips change trains at Long Branch, with direct trains at weekday rush hours (NJ TRANSIT, checked October 2026). If the train matters to you, it belongs at the top of the town list.

Do I need a lawyer to buy a home in New Jersey?

New Jersey contracts prepared by real estate licensees include a three-business-day attorney review period, and weekends and legal holidays don't count. During those days, an attorney for the buyer or the seller can review the contract and disapprove it (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2). I recommend lining up a New Jersey real estate attorney before you make an offer, so the clock never starts without one. Your attorney gives the legal advice, not me.

Will I get New Jersey property tax relief in my first year?

Usually not all of it. ANCHOR is based on the home you owned and lived in on October 1, with an income limit of $250,000 for homeowners. Senior Freeze and Stay NJ require you to have owned and lived in a New Jersey home for a set period first, so they usually don't apply in your first year. Each program depends on the State budget, so check the current rules with the NJ Division of Taxation or your tax professional.

This page describes my general approach to helping buyers move to New Jersey. It is not legal, tax or lending advice. Please speak with your attorney, lender or tax professional about your own situation. Facts in the answers above come from the sources linked beside them, checked October 2026.

Insider Insights

Town-by-town guides for people new to the area, plus how long buying takes in New Jersey.

Success Stories

Real stories from the people we've helped buy and sell their homes.

I would 10/10 recommend him to anyone!!!

Dennis helped us buy our current house and has both professional work ethic and is extrememly knowledgeable. He was always there to answer any questions we had and was very patient with us in the process. I would 10/10 recommend him to anyone and he will continue to be our agent for any future needs.

SPENCER & SARAH RAITT-FOREST

57 Google reviews as of October 2026. Read them all on Dennis Mark’s Google Business Profile.

Start With The Towns

Every Town In Monmouth And Ocean County, On One Map

Explore The Towns

Have Questions About Relocating? Contact Us Below

Tell me where you're moving from, when, and what matters most in your next town, and I'll send you a plan. Want to read more first? See how I help buyers, the buying guide, or the contact page.

Have a question? Get your answers right now.Dennis Mark’s AI Concierge answers your questions without you having to commit to anything up front.

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