The dream of owning an oceanfront condo in Emerald Isle, NC is on the bucket list for many families. It’s not as far out of reach as you may think. With a wide selection of oceanfront condos for sale in and around Emerald Isle, NC , there are plenty of opportunities, both oceanfront and soundfront. If you go to my website, you can easily search for a home for sale online, review the photos, marvel at the view, the listing details and the price. If a home is of sufficient interest to you, contact me by clicking here and I can get you into the home at your earliest convenience.
5 Key Factors: Buying Oceanfront Condos for Sale in Emerald Isle, NC
Purchasing a condominium has its unique set of challenges. Some are related to construction, some are related to size and some are factors important when buying any property in Emerald Isle, NC. Let's take a look at FIVE.
#1 Weather impact on north facing units and saltwater corrosion
Many agents use keywords in their listing description to describe the sun exposure or location of a condo for sale. For example, this unit has southern exposure, or this is a north facing condo unit. Not all listing descriptions state the exposure or location of the unit, but take note if it does to better prepare yourself for a showing.
North facing units receive a greater, direct impact from Nor’easters that can and do impact Emerald Isle, NC. . Nor’easters can occur anytime throughout the year, but typically occur between September and April. Nor'easters in Emerald Isle nearly always bring heavy precipitation, in the form of wind-driven rain [not snow], over several days. Rain often is accompanied by winds of gale force, rough seas and occasionally coastal erosion and local flooding. For all these reasons, when looking at a condominium in Emerald Isle, one of the most important areas to focus on is the condition and integrity of windows and sliders that face towards the north. Salt water and salt air corrosion can be more damaging than rust so the north facing side of a building may require more maintenance from nor’easters and other storms.
#2 Examine the exterior & interior condition of oceanfront buildings
It’s important to not only focus on the condition of just the condo unit you want to buy, but also to also focus on the condition of the entire building. Home or condo inspections are an important tool for evaluating the physical condition of your real estate investment. Older buildings, poorly constructed buildings or buildings not well maintained may need future repairs, which could affect all of the owners in a building if the condo association plans to impose a future special assessment. This happens more often than you can imagine. One condominium complex, Grand Villas, has assessed owners well over $100,000 in recent years to make repairs to shoddy workmanship. When touring properties, walk around the building and take notes of the exterior and interior. As a condo owner, you have a share of all the common elements of the building, and will be responsible for your share if the building needs repaired.
#3 Exterior HVAC units at the beach will have a shorter life span
Most condo buildings in Emerald Isle have exterior HVAC units on the roof, which is a perfect place for exposure to moisture, oxygen and salt. Inland, most central air conditioning units have a life span of about 15-20 years. At the beach, you can halve that lifespan. At about 5 years, your air conditioning unit is passed its mid-life point!!! That's because the amount of salt in the air accelerates corrosion of the metals that make up the units.
#4 Choosing condo unit location for Vacation Rental Income
Sometimes, the location of a unit is a deciding factor for a family considering an Emerald Isle, NC Vacation Rental. If you want to get the most out of placing your condominium in the Vacation Rental portfolio, you’ll want to buy in a prime location. The location of the building is not the only factor to consider. If you’re considering buying a condo for sale in the Grand Villas or Sound and the Sea, just to name a couple, you may want to consider some vacationers don’t like heights and may avoid renting on one of the top floors. Lower floors may also have its disadvantages. They can be convenient for easy access, but If it's close to the pool or parking lot, they may have more noise than a renter may be interested in. And, views may be compromised by dunes and swimming pools, and other amenities. Each condo complex in Emerald Isle has its sweet spot. Contact me by email at DRaczkowski@fathomrealty.com and I will give you the scoop.
#5 Amenities can help with vacation rental income
A lot of buildings have amenities. A pool is helpful to your rental income, but it's not always a deciding factor for a renter. Sometimes, renters have an interest or a history with a particular condo complex, so the familiarity of a building may offset a building lacking amenities. If a condo has a vacation rental history, you could get an idea of your estimated earnings. Also, working with a real estate agent that can help you get estimates from a local rental company and this rental income information can be helpful in deciding which condo to write up an offer on. Most vacationers want to rent on or near the beach, and vacationers usually rent in the warmer months. For these reasons, proximity to the beach usually trumps amenities like tennis courts adn volley ball and basketball courts. Pools however, especially heated pools are ALWAYS a desired amenity.
When you get ready to think about purchasing property in Emerald Isle, contact me by voice or by text @ 919-308-2292 or send me an email to: DRaczkowski@fathomrealty.com and I'll send you a copy of my report: Relocating to Emerald Isle, NC.
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