Outdoor Living Trend
Create Outdoor Living Spaces
Outdoor Living Trend
bars or coffee bar areas; even media areas with projector screens or outdoor flat screens, are all growing in popularity.
If you are adding to or replacing some of your outdoor furniture in 2025, one of the factors to consider for your larger, heavier pieces is durability and sustainability in the products you choose. If year after year, you’ve been buying and replacing lightweight plastic chairs and tables that end up broken and sitting sadly at the side of the road at the end of the season, it may be time to say goodbye to them for good. Polywood and a variety of similar brands use recycled and reusable HDPE (high-density polyethylene) from post-consumer and post-industrial materials. It’s weather-resistant, easy to clean, durable and environmentally friendly. Polywood products come in many colors, and it can easily complement the décor of many beach homes. It’s a more expensive material than plastic, so it’s an investment for sure, but one worth considering.
easy to stow away at the end of the season. They come with pillows in many colors and are available in many styles and sizes. You may even want to buy one to take home. They’re great for napping anywhere! Take advantage of any unused covered deck space or ground level space, such as a carport area, to hang your hammock or a swing. If you have extra carport space, dedicate an area for games like cornhole. Especially delightful on rainy days or muggy nights, the ground level is a great addition to outdoor living. It can also be the perfect place for a cocktail bar with seating. Keep the drinks (and the spills) outside while you and your guests enjoy the ocean breeze. Entertaining outdoors is fun for all ages and really is a bonus living area for homeowners and vacationers alike.
As you dress up your outdoor areas why not create or enhance a media area with an outdoor flat screen TV? These specialized flat screens are available with full sun, partial sun or shade exposure and most are weatherproof! Imagine being able to soak up some rays or monitor the kids in the pool and still catch a live sporting event you don’t want to miss (or chance hearing the outcome before you are able to view it? We all hate when that happens.) And what could be more fun while on vacation than an outdoor movie night under the stars, watching your favorite flick on a projection screen cozied up on comfortable outdoor seating? We can smell the popcorn now! If you want to leave technology behind for a bit, don’t forget about one of the most popular pastimes at the beach! Lounging or swaying in a hammock and reading a book. A good reading nook is always a popular outdoor getaway at any beach home. Hammocks are easy to install and
Fire pits or fire tables will not be for everyone and may not be right for the windier locations, but sitting by the fire can be enchanting when coupled with chair sets and perhaps a couple strings of outdoor lights. Firepits come in different shapes, sizes and colors — with lids or no lids — and varying materials. The fire pit can create another area for friendly conversation as you expand your “inside, outside.”
FEATURED COMMUNITY
Comfortable sectional sofas are available in many durable materials. Outdoor wicker products are historically available in Spring and well into Summer on the Outer Banks in many locations. You will want to be selective about the fabric of the covers. Sunbrella is a popular fabric selection on the Outer Banks. Sunbrella fabrics are UV protective, easy to clean and resistant to fading and stains. Sunbrella fabrics also come in a variety of patterns and colors to complement your outdoor space.
These are just a few ideas and not every one of them will work for every home, every size home or certainly every location of home on the Outer Banks. We hope at least one of the ideas will work for your home or inspire the “outdoor you” this Spring. Utilizing your outdoor space is key in 2025!
MARTIN’S POINT, KITTY HAWK
Our Favorite Spring Shopping on the Outer Banks
Our sales brokers know the best spots to find high-quality furnishings, décor, and outdoor essentials along the Outer Banks. These local businesses offer exceptional service that keeps customers coming back.
Vanessa
Since 1974, Nags Head Hammocks has provided comfortable high-quality, built to last hammocks. Today they offer a complete line of products for the true relaxation experience. When you visit one of their stores in Kill Devil Hills, Duck or Corolla you will discover not only hammocks, but weather-resistant rope swings and stands, stylish DURAWOOD® furniture, accessories and so much more. The colors and collections are amazing! If you’re sprucing up your outdoor space Nags Head Hammocks is an absolute must stop spot! On a side note, I’ve sold second homes where the only exclusion to the sale is the outdoor hammock or the outdoor swing because they’re taking it home! SHOP LOCAL – IT’S THE BEST!
https://www.facebook.com/ NagsHeadHammocks
nagsheadhammocks.com
Randy
One of my favorite establishments on the beach is Manteo Furniture. If my wife and I are interested in buying new furniture or in need of a new appliance, Manteo Furniture is our first stop. They are a local, family-owned business offering quality choices in furniture, bedding and appliances. They also offer the best after-thesale service on appliances of anyone on the beach. Manteo Furniture has been in business for 70 years and has an excellent reputation. Their staff is always super-friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help you find what you’re looking for. https://www.facebook. com/manteofurniture
Jessica
My favorite holiday activity on the
For all beach house needs, my goto is The Cottage Shop. They have everything from beautiful (and often reasonably priced) wall art, décor, bedding, & more. Their tableware and dishes are the perfect accent for
entertaining. You may want to spruce up your outdoor space this spring. I would highly recommend their outdoor furniture selection. It is a quality, wellmade product, and comes in a variety of bright colors to make your outdoor living spaces vibrant and fun. I love being able to support a local business who also has multiple locations on the OBX with great sales in the off season. Visit their website at cottageshop. com, or Facebook page, https://www. facebook.com/thecottageshop
Connie
Daniel’s Homeport in Kitty Hawk has everything you need to furnish your home: indoor/outdoor furniture, kitchen and dinnerware, rugs, decorative items, window treatments, etc. Daniel’s offers an impressive selection of outdoor furniture and accessories, from firepits and planters to seating and decorative items. Their merchandise is quality, stylish and smartly priced, and the service is great. They assist with your selection, deliver and install all items and help with repairs. Whole house packages are available. Daniel’s Homeport is locally owned, managed, and has been an Outer Banks premier merchandiser for over 30 years. They are nice folks to do business with. Go see them. https://www.facebook.com/ danielshomeport outerbanksfurniturestore.com
MARKET SALES
DATA OBTAINED FROM OUTER BANKS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FOR PERIOD 01/1/2019 THROUGH 03/01/2025.
MARKET NOTES
• Inventory is up 45% over March 1, 2024. Yet 40% below the pre-COVID range for active Residential Listings of 1200–1500.
• YTD Residential sales are up 1% from 2024.
• Single-Family Home sales are up 6% YTD but Average Sales Price is down 3.5%.
• Condo sales are flat and Average Sales Price is down 9.5%.
• On average, listings are selling at 96.5% of list price, down 1% from a year ago.
• Though Units Sold are down slightly from pre-COVID year of 2019, property values remain about 60% higher than the 2019 values.
• The Average Days on Market this year is 69 days, slightly higher than this time last year, but still historically low.
UNIT SALES
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MEDIAN SALES PRICE
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TIPS FROM THE BROKERS
FOR BUYERS:
1. Get pre-qualified from a local OBX lender.
2. Be ready to move quickly on your chosen listing.
3. Be prepared to offer some amount of Due Diligence Fee to the seller with your Offer to Purchase.
4. For cash offers, make sure you have a Proof of Funds verification letter.
5. Shopping for homeowners insurance should be a top priority upon getting a listing under contract.
FOR SELLERS:
1. Make sure your agent uses a professional photographer for listing photos.
2. Address any known repair issues.
3. Know your closing costs:
a) Realtor Commission;
b) Dare County Transfer Tax @ 1%;
c) NC State Stamp @ .2%;
d) Closing Attorney ~$500; and
e) Prorated property taxes & HOA dues
Interested in receiving an accurate assessment of your home’s current market value? Call our experienced sales brokers at 252.489.2121.
