OCEAN CITY — The beachfront condominium at 5543 Central Ave. checks every box of a terrific shore getaway for a large family and friends.
With four bedrooms, there is enough space to sleep eight plus overflow in the wide-open great room if necessary.
But as terrific as the 1,620 square feet of waterfront living space is inside, it’s the unobstructed panoramic view of and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the island’s miles of sandy beaches that make the home worth the asking price.
Set deep in the Southend neighborhood close to Corson’s Inlet State Park, the home is a true treat for those who like nothing more than sitting on a beach and soaking up the rays all day every day before heading out to a terrific dinner and returning to watch the sun go down with a cold drink in hand.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring a 2.5-mile-long oceanfront boardwalk filled with hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as miles and miles of pristine beaches. There also is an award-winning downtown business district centered on Asbury Avenue and a watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue.
And that’s terrific for those on the go, since it’s all just a few miles away.
But a great location doesn’t mean only beachfront or bayfront on this 8-mile-long island — there are 10 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own characteristics. The Southend neighborhood, from 34th to 59th streets, is narrow with fewer homes and businesses than the center of the island, which makes it the perfect getaway.
Everything needed for a beach vacation is located on the 34th Street business corridor or along 55th Street on its way to locations south.
The Garden State Parkway provides access just across the 34th Street bridge in Upper Township, so there is no need to schlep through downtown to get there, and all of the attractions that make Ocean City America’s Greatest Family Resort are just a couple of miles away on foot or bicycle.
From the street, a paver brick parking pad is large enough for one car in front of the single-car garage.
A path leads around the south side to the open staircase, atop which is a small porch and the main entrance.
The door opens to reveal … the beach and ocean outside.
Spacious with a peaked cathedral ceiling, dual three-panel sliders and six accent windows, the room is like a front-row seat for the wonders just outside.
The porch, which is a terrific spot to enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the sun rise on another great day at the beach, has a peaked roof that mimics the cathedral ceiling inside.
“An uncommonly high roof over the beachside porch shields from the midday sun but allows the breeze to pass through,” listing agent Disston Vanderslice said.
Light wide-plank laminate flooring inside keeps the aesthetic bright, adding to the feeling of spaciousness.
A sitting area with a sofa, love seat and two chairs arranged around a fireplace and 50-inch television takes up the right side of the great room.
The dining area is in the front left, just inside one of the two sliders, and features a long table that seats eight beneath a chandelier hanging from high above.
An island with cabinets and a trash bin separates this space from the kitchen, which has a tile floor, wood cabinets in an L shape and a mix of white and stainless-steel appliances. The dishwasher is to the right of the two-basin stainless sink.
Up three carpeted steps, a long hallway leads to the four bedrooms, two of which have access to the street-side porch where watching the sun set is in order after the day’s adventures.
Three of the bedrooms have a queen-size bed and the fourth has twins.
The primary bedroom, in the rear left corner, also has a private bath with a vanity that matches the kitchen cabinets and one-piece tub/shower with sliding glass doors.
While looking at the beach is fantastic, going to the beach is much, much better and the location of this home makes it quick and easy.
The second house fro the corner, it is just steps from the beach entrance at 56th Street.
There’s a covered concrete patio for storing all of the necessary gear as well as room inside the garage, where an enclosed shower has hot and cold water.
