"The results of a new study are out this week saying that New Jersey is one of the most livable states in the country. The study has a margin of error of 100 percent." - Conan O'Brien
Okay, so you wanted to live in New York, but the prices were too high, so you decided to live in a place that's just as snobby as New York, but without the high cost of living. Well, you've come to the right place -- Welcome to Margate! This oceanfront town is very desirable among everyone so don't be surprised if you see your mom here. This beach town is very typical of any other beach town: you know, they have water, sand, loud and obnoxious birds (not the Angry birds, but those birds that sound as if they're laughing at you -- yeah, seagulls, those ones!) and plenty of surf shops.
If you're considering living any portion of your life here, there's one thing you should know -- you'll have to do everything possible to locate places to rent at the right times
"The results of a new study are out this week saying that New Jersey is one of the most livable states in the country. The study has a margin of error of 100 percent." - Conan O'Brien
Okay, so you wanted to live in New York, but the prices were too high, so you decided to live in a place that's just as snobby as New York, but without the high cost of living. Well, you've come to the right place -- Welcome to Margate! This oceanfront town is very desirable among everyone so don't be surprised if you see your mom here. This beach town is very typical of any other beach town: you know, they have water, sand, loud and obnoxious birds (not the Angry birds, but those birds that sound as if they're laughing at you -- yeah, seagulls, those ones!) and plenty of surf shops.
If you're considering living any portion of your life here, there's one thing you should know -- you'll have to do everything possible to locate places to rent at the right times. The problem with Margate (or perhaps it's a blessing for locals) is that there aren't many vacancies. Many of the residents here love it and don't plan on moving, so it's kind of hard to find available rental homes in town. If you want the best chance at landing anything from a studio apartment to three-bedroom houses for rent, try your search in the fall and winter. People despise living close to water in the cold seasons and are more likely to move.
If you're going to work anywhere outside of Margate, you'll need a car or a good strong pair of legs to get you up to the 504 bus, which will bring you to connecting buses.
Since this is a highly desirable area, landlords aren't that lax about the move-in requirements so you need to have everything they ask for. This includes your fee (in full, don't try to haggle; it won't work), deposit, key and mailbox fee (if applicable), copy of bills, deed or lease, references and financial records. The apartment complex will most likely do a credit check before processing the application any further. If you owe anything on past properties you've lived in, this will show up on the credit report. However, some complex managers may still be willing to work with you. Ask ahead of time though.
Also, looking for an apartment in hurricane season isn't advisable. Unless you want the wind to help you transport around the town it isn't a good idea.
While this area is more of a getaway for those who live outside of the area, it is a highly residential little island. Margate City pretty much runs from Longport to St. Fredericksburg Avenue, east to west. The northern and most southern tips of the city stop at the Atlantic Ocean, so there's a bonus. So aside from being walkable and accessible by at least one of the city's hundreds of buses, this city is a biker's dream --- if that dream only consists of riding down one street. Pretty much all of the biking in this area is done along Atlantic Avenue. However, getting away may be the best option if you really want to cycle around. For this, most residents travel over to Fredericksburg.
Residents in this area have some of the best ocean views in NJ with none of the smell of New Jersey! Well, aside from the pungent fish aroma that will come along the shorelines in the summer. If you're into seafood, this might be your kind of thing.
What's there to do? Surprisingly, there isn't much to do in the city, but there are a lot of (you guessed it) beach activities, like sailing, boating, swimming, fishing and, of course, surfing.
Getting Around: Getting around the city is pretty easy. There's really no way to get lost on this small island and walking from place to place is easier than driving. There is only one bus that services the area, and that's the 504 and it pretty much runs in a loop around the outskirts of the city. There aren't any buses that will take you north or south. Since there's only a difference of a few blocks, they just expect you to be able to walk that -- I mean, come on!
Nighttime Fun! Although we said there are more beach activities to do here than anything else, Margate has a pretty entertaining nightlife, and we'd love to tell you about it, but what goes on in Margate, stays in Margate. However, we will tell you that many residents from neighboring towns as well as the locals come here to try their luck at the casinos. The most notable casinos in the area are the Tropicana Casino and Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. Other nighttime hangouts include Chelsea Pub, Chef Vola's, Dock's Oyster House (there isn't a need to say anything about why this is a nighttime hangout; we'll leave that to your imagination), Dusk Nightclub and Kelly's Corner Pub.
There is one park in the area, which is the Tx Avenue Playground Park. If you're looking to get some shopping done, forget about it. Shops certainly aren't a priority for this town.
Since this is a residential town, you can run through all the options in no time if you're a busybody, so locals travel up into New York or into other cities within New Jersey to have a little fun. If you'd rather stay close to home, that's okay too. The cities neighboring Margate are Ventnor City and Ducktown.
Ventnor City: This is the place to go if you want to see a bit of the local wildlife or to get some R&R. The biggest attraction here is the Ventnor City Protected Wetlands and the fishing pier located in the southern end of Ventnor City.
Ducktown: Now, this is the place to go if you want to get some serious shopping done. In fact, there are so many places to shop you won't know where to start first. We would advise stopping in the Tanger Outlet though. This place is always packed with visitors! In this outlet you'll find name brand clothes such as Calvin Klein Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors for wholesale prices.
