Marion Romano of the Van Dyk Group, the Realtor who sold the most homes in Ocean County in 2013, said she wasn’t counting, in this turbulent post-Sandy year where each client’s transaction was a one-at-a-time achievement.

She lives in the Beach Haven West section of Stafford Township, where tidal surge deluged retirees and familiesand overtook longtime vacation havens. The devastation forced decision-making amid so many challenges.