OCEAN CITY — Sure, the home at 1717 Asbury Ave. is conveniently located in the center of the island, has four large bedrooms and a spacious great room for gatherings, but it’s the wrap-around front porch with striped awnings that really makes it stand out.
Nestled in behind mulched beds with mature shrubs bordered by a stacked-stone wall, the 1,466-square-foot home is filled with light from multiple windows on all sides, toned down on the porch by those functional and fashionable awnings.
The asymmetrical design has the stairs set to the left, while the porch wraps around the home to the right, leading halfway back to the rear and offering some private space for the teens to go out of the watchful eyes of grown-ups — or a grown-up to go ti get away from the teens.
A concrete walk leads to stairs up to the porch, where a glass door opens into the great room.
The sellers, who have made multiple upgrades to the property, weren’t shy about using color, something that is obvious upon first inspection. The walls in the living room, dining area and kitchen are a hearty blue, complemented by the light wood flooring.
The sitting area takes up the left side of the space, offering a sofa, love seat and a couple of easy chairs arranged around the gas fireplace with a large-screen television above. A triple front window paired with two flanking the fireplace offer abundant light.
The dining area, where a long wood table that seats eight awaits hungry beach-goers beneath a pair of lamps hanging from 9 feet above, is set in the front inside a curved bay of windows. Three clerestory window on the north side add even more light.
Overflow seating is offered at a low counter connected to the center island, which partially separates the kitchen and dining room.
The bright orange island and multiple wood cabinets lining two walls are topped by quartz countertops. White appliances include refrigerator, four-burner gas range/oven with a microwave above and a dishwasher to the right of the stainless-steel sink.
Past the pantry closet and one step up is the foyer off the side door, then a half-flight of carpeted stairs rises to the rest of the home.
The first bedroom, painted a soothing aquamarine, is on the left and features wall-to-wall carpeting, bed, dresser and large closet with double bi-fold doors. Across the hall, the second has a set of twin beds and is a pastel pink.
A shared bathroom is on the right, featuring a two-sink vanity beneath a long mirror and one-piece fiberglass tub/shower with a curtain. There’s also a window in the shower for light and ventilation.
The laundry closet is at the end of the hall between the two final bedrooms. It has a full-size washer and dryer and shelves for storing cleaning supplies.
To the right and around the corner, the third bedroom, whose color brings a band formerly fronted by Ozzy Osborne to mind, has access to the covered back porch via a sliding glass door.
Bright yellow and cheery, the primary suite is in the back left, featuring a queen-size bed, glass door opening onto the porch and a full bathroom with a granite-topped vanity, fiberglass shower and wood vanity.
Back outside, a concrete sidewalk leads down the north side of the property, past the sheltered staircase with access to both units and the enclosed outside shower to the rear, where there is room for two to three cars on the gravel parking pad and another in the one-car garage.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring an oceanfront boardwalk filled with hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as miles and miles of pristine beaches.
A great location doesn’t only mean beachfront or bayfront on this 8-mile-long island — there are 10 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own characteristics.
The beach and boardwalk — 2.5 miles of oceanfront entertainment, restaurants, thrill rides and souvenir shops — get most of the attention in this seaside resort, but the island has much more to offer.
An award-winning downtown stretches from Sixth to 14th streets along Bay Avenue and has expanded onto other nearby streets, offering more than 100 shops and cafes.
There’s also the popular watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue, where the brave can rent powerboats, go parasailing, join the crew of a pirate ship and take a kayak tour of the back bays. Private and party boat fishing tours are also available.
Upgrades made during the seller’s ownership include wood flooring in the great room, front porch awnings (2016), vinyl railings (2017), landscaping sprinklers (2019), dryer (2020), roof (2021), refrigerator (2021) and HVAC system (2022). The property is being offered mostly furnished, less exclusions.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
