strongly considering home in OBX--need some guidance

[paul_c]

Guys, I'd like to look into buying an oceanfront home to enjoy as a vacation home, mainly to surf fish from (of couse!). I could start by asking a realtor, but I thought I'd start with the NC fishermen. Any recommendations as far as what town/beach to begin with? Is the Outer Banks the place to be for a fisherman? I'm looking for some seclusion on the beach (remember, I'm from New Jersey---seclusion doesn't exist). Looking to target drum for the first time in my life. Jersey shore home prices are and have been untouchable for some years (and I wouldn't buy one anyway). Thanks for any guidance!

[spada84]

Tread carefully with ocean front property. Many of the homes are un-insurable at this date. Consider a few rows back (ocean side), or even sound front or sound side. There are many nice homes on the market. I am planning on buying in the next 2 or 3 years, so have started studing the market. I am renting a house Thanksgiving week in Buxton, less than a mile from Ramp 44 . We're planning on talking to realtors while we are there (if there is time between fishing .

My employer built a house in Avon, and reccommended a "great, laid back real estate agent". They looked for almost 10 years, and he never pressured them, or got frustrated. E-mail to me if you would like his name.

Roger

[ObxFish]

If you mainly want to fish for Drum, Avon, Buxton, Hatteras are probably your best choices. BUT what else are you going to want to fish for? Are you going to get a boat and fish in the ocean; if so, which would you rather be closer to, Oregon Inlet or Hatteras Inlet? Do you want to be closer to stores (ie Wal Mart Kitty Hawk or Kmart Kill Devil Hills) There is a hospital in Nags Head and Regional Medical Center in Kitty Hawk if health care is a concern. In general sales are down right now with lots on the market so more willing sellers(but still not cheap)! And anywhere you choose to live on the Outer Banks you are not too far from fish!!!

[John M]

From a strictly surf point of view i would choose avon. I would maybe go as far north as rodanthe but avon would be my first choice.

[paul_c]

Thanks for the replies, guys, you all brought up good points. I was little surprised to hear from my wife that she was concerned with being too secluded. I said, don't worry, it is a beach. I'm sure there are many towns nearby. Personally, I don't need/want to be too close to WalMart. I think we just want to be reasonably near (30 minutes or less) from shopping and restaurants. As far as launching a boat, I have no need. I think I will give Avon a good look. And I guess I really don't need oceanfront (at the cost of not being insurable). I've got a beach buggy. As far as sticker shock, it is all relative. I can't spend a bundle for sure, but we have little lots here in NJ going for 1.2 million, without a house on the lot. You'd be so busy with work trying to pay off that mortgage that you wouldn't have free time to fish. Thanks again all.

[John M]

I would spend some time there, learn the lay of the land before you buy. It sounds like you havent been to the obx much. Im leaving for the obx in the morning

[paul_c]

Originally Posted by John M

I would spend some time there, learn the lay of the land before you buy. It sounds like you havent been to the obx much. Im leaving for the obx in the morning

Thanks for the advice, John, I will put some time in down there. Good luck tomorrow.

[Duckwump]

I love it but Hatteras Island can seem pretty isolated. You should also look farther up the beach around Nags Head if your wife wants to be closer to restarants or shopping. Tom

[OBXSalt]

I'd look at Nags Head also. With all the Bonner Bridge issues, I wouldn't buy out there until the new bridge goes in. It'd be terrible (depending on your POV) if the bridge does fall into the inlet and you have to rely on a ferry to get to the northern banks.

That being said, if I was to live on Hatteras Island I'd live in Avon. You got the Big Cat there and a few shops and restaurants. During season though it could take you up to an hour to get to Nags Head (it's 2 lane the whole way). Also you are really exposed for hurricanes down there. Look at the lot topography. My lot in Kitty Hawk is on a big old sand dune; meaning: no flooding issues.

[Plug]

I'd go with Frisco. If I wanted more seclusion Hatteras Village. Neither will be anywhere near secluded in the summer. Reason I'd pick them is traffic is a little lighter and the south beaches warm up sooner in the spring. We've seen days in April where the water in Frisco was pushing 70 and the air temps in the upper 70's. But at the same time the water on the north beaches ie. Avon was in the upper 50's and the air temp in the upper 60's.

Frisco is closer to Cape Point for fishing and Avon for shopping or going to the movies. Hatteras Village is a few miles further.

If Buxton had near oceanfront homes on the southside of the cape I'd go Buxton. But all the houses near the beach are on the north side.

We are considering retiring down there. Frisco will likely be our first place to look. One thing we will sure do first is spend a couple of weeks there in the summer. We always go in the off season because that's when the fish I want to catch are around. Every time I go I think about what a zoo Rte. 12 must be in the summer. We'll spend a few summer weeks there first to see if we can handle the crowds.

[paul_c]

Thanks for all the great info guys. What I'd plan to do potentially is rent the place out in the summers, then use the place myself in the fall when the fishing season kicks in a little more.

[Cabo2005]

Lived in Old Nag's Head Village for quite some time. The summer is a crazy time to be there but the middle of September on is great. I use to sit on our back deck and watch the cars backed up heading towards Manteo whenever a hurricaine was coming. Good luck and enjoy.
Cabo

[Mike S]

Buxton seems to have more high ground and is a wider part of the island. That might make you feel a little more comfortable when a hurricane comes. I love renting in Avon though.

[pksurfish]

You have a choice:
(A) Live in Nags Head area and be close to shops more people, etc. and drive 45 min south for best fishing OR (B) live in Avon/Buxton area and be right at best fishing but drive 45 minutes north for real suburbia. (Avon and Buxton have plenty of houses, but most of them are empty out of season.) Here's an idea. Go further out and move to Ocracoke. Live on a real island with great fishing, beautiful uncrowded beaches, and a postcard cute town; check it out while you are visiting OBX. Best idea: rent a house in Avon or buxton for a eeek in November - rates are riduculously low. You will get a real feel for what you want and where you want to be.

[paul_c]

Originally Posted by pksurfish

You have a choice:
(A) Live in Nags Head area and be close to shops more people, etc. and drive 45 min south for best fishing OR (B) live in Avon/Buxton area and be right at best fishing but drive 45 minutes north for real suburbia. (Avon and Buxton have plenty of houses, but most of them are empty out of season.) Here's an idea. Go further out and move to Ocracoke. Live on a real island with great fishing, beautiful uncrowded beaches, and a postcard cute town; check it out while you are visiting OBX. Best idea: rent a house in Avon or buxton for a eeek in November - rates are riduculously low. You will get a real feel for what you want and where you want to be.

Yep, I'm going to do the renting thing first; home ownership + hurricane potential does worry me, though.