Barbara's Coastal Carolina Real Estate Blog

Atlantic Beach, NC  July 10, 2008: 

After almost three years of a progressive real estate slump on the North Carolina coast there are signs that buyers are taking note of the values available in beach and mainland properties. Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path and Emerald Isle have struggled with excessive inventories, huge numbers of days on the market and sinking prices. With the full beauty of summer on the coast , low interest rates and a country tired of gloom and doom, the thought of a second home or investment property on the beach has new allure for many and they are making the move to own on or near the beach for long term residence or second homes.

Consider the affordability of a 2 bedroom oceanview condo in an oceanside complex like Sea Spray listed at just under $200,000 with rental income potential of about $15,000 a year. Within the reach of the average family? Certainly!  Thinking of something larger? How about an oceanfront home in Pine Knoll Shores under a million dollars? Or a Bogue Sound side villa in Emerald Isle just under $500,000. Perhaps a lovely brick range on the ICW with a dock just over $400,000? The opportunities really are endless at this point.

No one can time the market. We will be well past the bottom and on the rise before anyone catches the trend and at that point you'll have missed the best of the deals. While it's still too soon to tell if we are on the way up or still on the way down, I am confident that this summer and fall offer values to vacation and second home buyers and investors that are unprecedented in waterfront and coastal properties. If big city glitz is your style, Florida may be a better fit, but if you want an island strand with 22 miles of unbroken public beach, a quiet atmosphere with a relaxed lifestyle and no hustle and bustle then check out the Crystal Coast. Once you experience it you may never leave.

Barbara Johnson, Broker/Realtor/GRI
Call me at 252-241-1152
Email me at barbarajohnson@ec.rr.com