OCEAN CITY — Owning the home at 105 Breton Court in the Ocean Reef condominiums is like being at a Caribbean resort.
The complex is a tree-lined enclave on the bay off Tennessee Avenue, behind the Ocean City Municipal Airport and sports fields, as well as the Humane Society animal shelter and clinic, and offers a cozy headquarters from which to explore the entire island, from its 8 miles of beach to its 2.5 miles of oceanfront boardwalk.
It has tennis courts and two swimming pools, as well as a shelter for bicycles. Ocean Reef also offers boat slips and is close to a municipal boat ramp, making Great Egg Harbor Bay and the Atlantic Ocean easily accessible.
A walkway along the bay is a nice place for a stroll, especially as the sun sets. Keep an eye out for the extraordinary variety of birds and other wildlife, from the majestic great blue heron or strikingly beautiful snowy egrets and other brilliantly white wading birds to the glossy ibis at the other end of the spectrum, with a curved bill and feathers touched with iridescent green or violet that look almost black.
Less common are the marsh hawks — more properly known as a northern harrier — that glide and hover over the wetlands as they hunt, and the muskrats that seem more at home in the water than waddling along through the tall grasses.
Dan Williams, the listing agent with Grace Realty, said the home is in a very secluded area.
“It’s extremely quiet and you’re not going to get any traffic,” Williams said, calling it a destination rather than a throughway.
One of the pools is just outside the back door, along with a hot tub, tennis courts and the clubhouse.
The first-floor unit is located on the left side, one of eight in the building lined by a grassy yard and mulched flowerbeds with mature trees and evergreen shrubs.
The entrance is sheltered by the walkway above and includes a door with a large window that opens into a tiled foyer. A coat closet with double bi-folds doors is to the left.
Featuring narrow-plank hardwood flooring, the living room, dining area and kitchen are to the left.
Spacious with a sliding glass door providing natural light and access to the backyard, the living room has a wood-burning fireplace in the corner with a wood mantel featuring dentil molding and plenty of space for a large television above.
In the back left corner, the dining area features plenty of room for a large table to seat six and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Three windows provide natural light and two are casements, so crank out to let the cool bay breeze inside.
The galley-style kitchen is just steps away. Abundant white cabinets wrap around on all three walls. A stainless steel sink is just beneath a large cutout, allowing whoever is stuck cleaning up to talk with those lounging on the sofa. A Whirlpool dishwasher is just to the left.
Other appliances include a GE four-burner range/oven with a Samsung microwave above and a GE refrigerator with freezer drawer to the right.
Two bedrooms and a laundry closet are located in the front of the home.
The master suite has wall-to-wall carpeting, room for a king-size bed, walk-in closet, linen closet and sliding glass door opening onto a cozy, enclosed porch. The private bathroom has a tile floor, ceramic-topped vanity and fully enclosed one-piece fiberglass tub/shower with a sliding glass door.
A bit smaller, the guest bedroom has hardwood flooring, a closet with double bi-fold doors and two tall casement windows overlooking the front yard.
Exterior maintenance and landscaping are covered by homeowners association fees.
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.
The home is right on the border of the Riviera section of the city. 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 Gardens is popular with many for its slow pace, huge beaches and winding, pedestrian-friendly streets. The Riviera is a boater’s paradise with many Mediterranean-style homes set right on inland lagoons. The Central neighborhood is bustling with business both downtown and on the boardwalk, while the Southend is narrow with fewer homes and room to stretch out. The Northend contains many of the island’s historic homes and Merion Park, in the south, features wetlands and wildlife along with wonderful sunset views. The Goldcoast has some of the best beachfront homes on the island, while Merion Park offers beautiful sunsets over the bay and wetlands.
The home is listed for $445,000 with Dan Williams of Grace Realty. Call (609) 335-7445 or email danielrwilliams88@gmail.com for more information or to set up an appointment to see this wonderful home.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
