All of these summers spent on Lengthy Seashore Island — fishing and crabbing in Barnegat Bay within the mornings, body-surfing the waves in Harvey Cedars within the afternoons, attempting for a hole-in-one to win free video games at Invoice Burr’s Flamingo Golf in Ship Backside at evening — got here in useful on Thursday.
The Google Road view of Supreme Courtroom Justice Samuel Alito’s trip dwelling gave us a touch of the place to look, and whereas we’re not revealing the handle, right here’s what we find out about his getaway by the bay on Lengthy Seashore Island:
It’s a four-bedroom, three-bath dwelling with a little bit greater than 2,000 sq. ft on so much that’s roughly 4,000 sq. ft, and realtor.com estimates its worth at $1.6 million.
Bay sunsets are majestic on LBI, however we’re informed Alito’s dwelling, due to its orientation, doesn’t have a terrific view of them.
Seashore properties usually are within the eye of a storm, however that is no extraordinary no’easter: Alito has been caught flying a controversial flag at his trip dwelling on the Jersey Shore, in keeping with a report by the New York Instances.
Final summer time, two years after an upside-down American flag — an emblem of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists — was flown exterior Alito’s dwelling in Virginia, one other controversial flag was displayed at his home in New Jersey, in keeping with interviews and pictures obtained by the Instances.
An “Enchantment to Heaven” flag — additionally carried by insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — was flown on a flagpole exterior Alito’s dwelling on Lengthy Seashore Island in July and September of 2023. A Google Road View picture from late August additionally reveals the flag, in keeping with the report.
The flag-flying has raised critical questions on Alito’s objectivity in ruling on instances associated to Jan. 6, together with former President Donald Trump’s declare for presidential immunity from any crimes dedicated whereas in workplace. Trump is arguing in opposition to any authorized publicity he may need in allegedly planning or aiding the revolt.
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It seems Alito’s LBI neighbors, who requested to stay nameless, ratted him out.
The house, in keeping with actual property information, was bought by Alito in 2014 for $580,000 in a sale by a lady’s property.
At the moment, actual property taxes have been $6,954. In 2022, the final 12 months for which we have now tax data, the taxes have been $10,285.
And whereas Alito and his eight courtroom colleagues are deciding whether or not a president has immunity from legal legislation, Alito is aware of this: Supreme Courtroom justices aren’t immune from New Jersey tax hikes.
Different properties on the road vary in worth from $1.2 million to $1.8 million, so Alito’s dwelling falls in that candy spot: He didn’t purchase the costliest dwelling on the block, often an actual property funding no-no.
The justice is more likely to see a gradual climb in his fairness, as a result of the LBI market has remained robust for the reason that pandemic, and if mortgage rates of interest fall later this 12 months, the market is likely to be juiced much more.
Many information on judges’ properties are sealed, so we are able to’t make sure whether or not there’s a mortgage on it, however information seem to point Alito owns it free and clear.
However even when charges stay the place they’re, the luxurious seaside home market in New Jersey often chugs alongside, immune (there’s that phrase once more) from financial vagaries — particularly on Lengthy Seashore Island, which incorporates a number of the most fascinating beachfront and bayfront properties on the East Coast.
Harvey Cedars, Loveladies and Barnegat Mild are engaging to the wealthy and influential as a result of they comprise huge properties and restricted public entry — a hot-button challenge for a lot of who imagine New Jersey seashores and bayfronts are public assets supported by tax {dollars} and, as such, ought to be open to all. In the event you dwell in these cities, you don’t should take care of beachgoing riff-raff.
Homes close to the justice’s summer time dwelling lately have offered for between $1.3 million and $3.3 million, in keeping with realtor.com. Even the smallest properties close to New Jersey seashores can run $1 million or extra.
And earlier than Alito guidelines on Inexperienced New Deal insurance policies or any local weather change lawsuits, he would possibly need to bear in mind this: In line with actual property websites, the flooding danger for his bayfront house is rising.
Identical to the strain on him to recuse himself on Jan. 6 instances.
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