OUR fixer upper at the B E A C H

Yesterday, we closed on a fixer upper in Surf City, NC.  Did you see our Christmas card/announcement? Here is some of the background and details of this story. 

We have looked at waterfront property (river or ocean) off and on the past few years. We even offered on some riverfront land a few years ago. We love our current home and do not want to move, but we were looking for more of an investment property that can also be used for ministry. As many of you know, Jake & I have a heart for foster care. Our plan for this beach house it to renovate it, rent it out (probably via AirBnB) in the peak season to cover the mortgage, and then use the beach house as a ministry for Foster Parents and Social Workers to have a free getaway to refresh, relax and reset.

In mid September, Jake found this beauty on Zillow.  We went to Surf City to look at it back on September 15. We did not bring a ladder, and the home currently has no stairs. So... we pulled our van right up under the front door and then we leaped and climbed on in. We fell in love with this cute little home from 1958. It is around 680 square feet. The home was raised up on pylons in 2013 and has been vacant ever since.

The interior is gutted. No HVAC. No plumbing. No electrical.

The current front of the home faces west and looks out to the intercoastal waterway (sunset). Back side of the home looks out over the marsh and then out to the ocean (sunrise). The views are just beautiful.

Our beach home is circled in red. We are on an island (Topsail/Surf City) and on a separate island which means less traffic and more privacy. You can also walk straight up the street to the beach access; it's just a couple of blocks. I can already envision families filling a wagon and walking to the beach with their kids.

Around Thanksgiving, we started brainstorming, with the kids, for beach house names.

We were originally scheduled to close on December 10. On Tuesday, December 8, we picked up the kids from school and headed to the beach house.  We remembered a ladder this time! The big kids had not been up in to the house yet.

Jake & I measured it all out - the existing floor plan.

Exploring the land - we even saw a blue heron.

We're starting to work on the redesign. Here is a sneak peek that is subject to major and minor changes.

STAY TUNED for many more updates on our fixer upper at the BEACH.