JoAnn Donahue, Realtor with Exp Realty

09/26/2026

Mother Nature decided my birthday needed a little drama this year...a rainbow last night and a nor’easter this morning. 🌈🌊

Funny how life can feel a lot like the Shore sometimes… ebbs and flows, calm and rough, and somehow you keep finding your way through it.

67 today. Grateful for all of it. ❤️

09/18/2026

THIS!

Come see this one at the marsh's edge.

This home sits where the creeks wind out toward the bay, so the view changes with the tide and the time of day. Nothing is built between the house and the marsh — on a clear day you can see the Atlantic City skyline on the horizon.

Inside, vaulted ceilings and skylights bring in the light, and sliders across the back keep the water in view from the main living space.

Open house Saturday, 9/19, 11 AM–3 PM. 35 Stoney Creek Dr, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234. Stop by I'll be there and happy to walk you through it.

JoAnn Donahue, JoAnn At The Shore · 609.517.5306

09/18/2026

Come see this one at the marsh's edge.

This home sits where the creeks wind out toward the bay, so the view changes with the tide and the time of day. Nothing is built between the house and the marsh — on a clear day you can see the Atlantic City skyline on the horizon.

Inside, vaulted ceilings and skylights bring in the light, and sliders across the back keep the water in view from the main living space.

Open house Saturday, 9/19, 11 AM–3 PM. 35 Stoney Creek Dr, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234. Stop by I'll be there and happy to walk you through it.

JoAnn Donahue, JoAnn At The Shore · 609.517.5306

09/07/2026

A little fruit from my labor. 🌺

I spent part of Labor Day cleaning out flower beds I had allowed to get completely out of control.

And this viney Black-Eyed Susan and I?
We had ourselves a struggle of wills. 😂

I pulled. It held on.
I cut. It fought back.
And by the end of the day, I think we both just gave up.

Then, in the middle of all that mess, I found this one little flower.

So I saved it.

And sitting here looking at it, I thought how fitting it was for Labor Day.

Most of the things worth having in life don’t come without some work. A home. A business. A garden. A relationship. A dream. Even ourselves.

Sometimes we let things get away from us.
Sometimes the weeds take over.
Sometimes we look around and wonder, How in the world did I let it get this far?

So we roll up our sleeves and start again.

Maybe we don’t get it all done.
Maybe we wrestle with a stubborn vine until we’re both exhausted. 😂
But we do the work that’s in front of us.

And every once in a while, we get a little reminder of why the work matters.

Today, mine is sitting in a tiny glass bottle on my windowsill. ❤️

Happy Labor Day to every hardworking human out there. Whatever you’re working toward, or working your way back from, I hope you stop long enough to notice a little fruit from your labor, too.

08/18/2026

**Sometimes Closing Day Is Really Opening Day ❤️**

This closing was a little different for me.

The seller and I have known each other since third grade, so this wasn’t simply about selling a house. It was about helping a longtime friend move through a major life change.

Her home had held 26 years of memories, raising kids, welcoming grandkids, holidays, everyday dinners, and a whole lot of life.

After losing her husband, she decided it was time to downsize and move into a 55+ community. She had one plan in mind… and, as often happens in real estate, ended up falling in love with a completely different home.

The move wasn’t easy. There were tears, decisions, packing, and all the emotions that come with leaving a place that has meant so much.

And then came the part I love.

The very next day, she told me she was happy and already being welcomed by her new neighbors. First came homemade Jewish apple cake. Now they’re still showing up with little gifts and kindness as she settles in.

That’s the part of real estate people don’t always see.

Sometimes my job isn’t simply helping someone sell a house. It’s helping them get from **“I know it’s time”** to **“I think I’m going to be okay here.”**

And maybe there’s another little lesson in all of this.

Neighborly kindness can sometimes feel like a lost art these days.

We live in a world where people can go years barely knowing who lives next door. Everyone is busy, everyone is moving fast, and sometimes we forget how much a simple gesture can mean.

A cake. A small gift. A knock on the door. A “welcome to the neighborhood.”

Those things may seem small, but when someone is starting over in a new place, they can mean everything.

Maybe being a good neighbor never really went out of style. Maybe we just need to practice it a little more. ❤️

And remember, sometimes closing day really is opening day.

08/12/2026

Family matters. ❤️

It’s why we make the trip to Maine on the regular.

Our daughter and her little family live here, and whenever it works, we bring another grand along for the adventure.

This trip took us from the mountains to the Maine coast in one day, and the rest was family, beaches, sunsets, and time together.

Maine is beautiful, but this little family of ours is the real reason we keep coming back. ❤️

08/12/2026

Family matters. ❤️

It’s why we make the trip to Maine on the regular.

Our daughter and her little family live here, and while I wish they were just around the corner, they’re not ...so we go to them.

And whenever it works, we bring along another grandchild or two who can make the trip with us.

There’s something pretty special about watching cousins pick right back up where they left off, spending time with our daughter and son-in-law, and simply being together without needing much of an agenda.

This trip, it was beach time, sandy feet, a few laughs, probably a little chaos… and memories I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The older I get, the more I realize that these are the things that matter.

You make the drive.
You rearrange the schedule.
You bring the extra kid. 😂
You stay a little longer when you can.

Because family matters.

And if it means a few more miles on the car between South Jersey and Maine, so be it. ❤️

08/12/2026

Here's a question that comes up this time of year:

If your shore property is still booked through the end of summer, should you just wait until after Labor Day to sell it?

Maybe... but I wouldn't automatically assume that's the best answer.

There may still be rental income on the books, reservations that extend beyond a potential settlement date, and decisions to make about what transfers to the buyer.

Sometimes it makes sense to finish the season.

Other times, selling while bookings remain can work very well.

The important part is getting the numbers and expectations clear before we put the property on the market.

Before we decide when you're selling, let's first decide exactly what you're selling.

08/05/2026

Sellers often begin preparing a home for sale by making a list of everything they think should be updated.

The kitchen may feel dated. The bathroom may not look current. The flooring may not match what buyers are seeing online.

But before spending thousands, there is a more important question:

Will the market care?

A major improvement does not automatically add the same amount to the sale price.

A home can become over-improved for its block. At the luxury end, the seller may spend a large amount and still not create what buyers in that price range expect.

Sometimes clean, functional, and neutral is enough.

Sometimes the layout, failing cabinets, outdated systems, or water damage justify more extensive work.

The answer depends on the home, the location, the likely buyer, the current competition, and the price range.

Major improvements should be part of the selling strategy—not a guess made before it.

Real estate is not rocket science...but it is serious business.

08/04/2026

I often meet Ocean City buyers who have a very specific picture in mind: beautifully updated, close to the beach and within the price range where they feel comfortable.

There is nothing wrong with wanting all of that. But sometimes the honest truth is that the home they are picturing simply does not exist within that particular budget.

That is when the question changes.

Is the dream the perfect location, or is the dream owning a home in Ocean City?

Your first Ocean City home may be farther from the water. It may need updating. It may not be your forever home on the island.

But it can still be the home that turns a dream into something real.

Real estate is not rocket science, but it is serious business.