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Local Voices

North Jersey Couple's Day Trip Leads to a New Home and Lifestyle at Greenbriar Oceanaire

Richard and Joyce Lipman Fall in Love with Community’s Scenic Beauty, Amenities and Friendly Neighbors

WARETOWN, NJ – When Richard and Joyce Lipman saw an ad in the newspaper for Greenbriar Oceanaire one weekend morning, they decided to take a day trip to the active adult community in Waretown, NJ, just north of Long Beach Island.  It turns out that they were driving to the site of their future home.

As soon as the Lipmans drove through the landscaped gated entrance of the community, they were instantly impressed. The lush fairways and manicured greens of Greenbriar Oceanaire’s golf course snaked through the wooded residential areas, providing a park-like setting for the entire community. The recreational options were outstanding as well.  The Lipmans toured the community’s palatial clubhouse and explored all 38,000 square feet of the facility, including its indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and bocce courts, fully-equipped fitness center/spa, game rooms, library, computer and craft rooms, grand ballroom and the Grille Room.  Although the Lipmans weren’t ready to move from their home in Mahwah, Bergen County just yet, the visit left a lasting impression on them.

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“We came down for a day and we absolutely loved the place,” Mr. Lipman said. “I wasn’t quite ready to move, so it took us about a year of coming back and forth. We were probably here four or five times before we purchased and we met a lot of the people living here. In fact, we were invited to a luncheon and even invited into people’s homes. We got a great feeling about the place. For us, it was a hit right from the moment we moved in and it still is.”

The Lipmans moved to Greenbriar Oceanaire in August of 2011. They purchased a Chesapeake floor plan with three bedrooms, three full baths and 2,945 square feet of living space. They moved onto one of the smallest streets in the community and quickly got to know all of their neighbors.

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“It’s the shortest street in the community, and every single person on our block and around the block knows each other,” Mr. Lipman said. “It was never like that when we lived in North Jersey. Here we do things with our neighbors. We have progressive dinners. Tonight we’re going to a wine tasting party. We went on a cruise together with a lot of people. There was a New Year’s Eve party that was a lot of fun. It’s a really friendly, fun place to be.”

The Lipmans spend a lot of time enjoying the amenities and activities available at Greenbriar Oceanaire. Mr. Lipman uses the fitness center and goes for regular walks on the property or at the nearby Barnegat nature trail. He plays cards once a week and is an active member of the Hooks and Anchors Fishing Club. He works a full-time sales and marketing job from home, but his schedule is flexible, which allows him to fit in plenty of rounds of golf on the community’s private, 18-hole championship golf course. 

Mrs. Lipman is retired and is active in the community’s Women’s Club, The Gardenaires Club and one of several book Clubs, as well as “The Do Nothing Club” which actually offers frequent trips to NYC, various restaurants and Atlantic City.  They play Bocce in the summer and Mr. Lipman plays water volleyball and horseshoes. One of their favorite activities is dining out at the restaurant in the community’s clubhouse, or at one of the popular nearby eateries. 

“We didn’t do a lot of cooking for the first five months we were here,” Mr. Lipman said. “We explored all of the restaurants in the area.”

The couple still dines out frequently and they often enjoy a Saturday night of Bluegrass at Albert Hall. When their children or their friends from out of town visit, they make sure they take them to one of the nearby seafood restaurants. The Lipmans also visit Long Beach Island regularly, even in the off-season. They take day trips to destinations such as Atlantic City and the Tuckerton seaport every few months. In the summer, you can find them at the beach or lounging by the pool.

“We really enjoy everything the community offers,” Mr. Lipman said.

Located just off of Exit 69 on the Garden State Parkway, Greenbriar Oceanaire is a resort-style community built on a grand scale that is unlikely to ever be duplicated again in New Jersey. The 1,400-home community spreads across 950 acres of rolling terrain and lush greenery, includes a private, Arthur Hills-designed 18-hole championship golf course located entirely within the community, and boasts an award-winning clubhouse and spectacular outdoor terrace and pool as its recreational centerpiece.

Yet the resort-like lifestyle is only part of what makes Greenbriar Oceanaire so special. Large tracts of beautiful, wooded landscape separate distinctive neighborhoods within the community, some of which back up to the picturesque tees, fairways and greens of the golf course. Ten thoughtfully-designed Ranch home designs are available, with 1,532 to 3,124 square feet of living space, and prices starting in the low-$300,000s.

Homes at Greenbriar Oceanaire include such upscale interior appointments as dramatic vaulted, sloped or step ceilings; oversized windows and ceramic tile floors. Kitchens include GE stainless steel appliances, breakfast nooks and granite countertops; while sumptuous master baths feature Roman-style soaking tubs, separate shower stalls, double vanity sinks and decorator vanity cabinets.  

Additional value is offered through Lennar’s nationally-acclaimed “Everything’s Included” program which provides buyers with today’s most popular features and upgrades already included in the purchase price.

For more information on Greenbriar Oceanaire, please call Internet New Home Consultant Iris Barrios at 609-349-8258 or email Iris.Barrios@Lennar.com. More information can also be found at http://www.greenbriarnj.com.  The Welcome Home Center is located at 10 Beach Haven Way, Waretown, NJ 08758.

To visit Greenbriar Oceanaire from Northern New Jersey, take the Garden State Parkway South to exit 69.  At the end of the ramp turn right onto Wells Mills Road (Route 532 East).  Oceanaire is about ¾ of a mile on the right.

From Southern New Jersey, take the Garden State Parkway North to exit 69.  At the end of the ramp turn right onto Wells Mills Road (Route 532 East).  Oceanaire is about ½ mile on the right.

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