Unfortunately, there are far more people with this idea than there are houses to rent. So the cost of house rentals tends to be pretty steep. Local ordinances are strict on how many people can dwell in a rented house, and owners can be legally penalized for allowing more than the set limit. If you're planning on having friends or relatives join you while you're renting, be sure you rent a big-enough house.
Larger houses tend to get top- dollar in rentals.
There are a number of charming houses to rent here, but most of them date back 100 years or more. So while many of them are in fine shape, there are many more with various shortcomings. Renting a Cape May house, sight unseen, is just asking for disappointment. Take the time to look over what you're going to rent. Realtors are happy to show you properties, when the season is slow, but in the summer they simply may not have time to do more than show you photos and fact sheets.