OCEAN CITY — The pastel pinks, oranges, reds and blues on the horizon as the sun sets over the wetlands are on full display from the second-floor condominium at 35 Safe Harbor in the city’s deep Southend neighborhood.
The 1,221-square-foot home, offering three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as an open great room and multiple decks, is located almost as far south in the city as possible.
That means the majority of the city’s popular tourist attractions — such as the world-famous boardwalk, award-winning downtown shopping district and action-packed watersports area — are just a few miles away from the peaceful enclave.
But the Southend certainly has its highlights as well, including Corson’s Inlet State Park, Captain Bob’s restaurant, Mike’s Seafood, Boyar’s Market and Mallon’s Homemade Sticky Buns, as well as sparsely populated beaches and access to all points south, including the Strathmere section of Upper Township just across the bridge and Sea Isle City across another bridge.
The home, situated on an oversized corner lot (55 feet by 103 feet), provides the ultimate in maintenance-free living. The gravel yard gives way to mulched beds with mature shrubs lining the first-floor porch. Vinyl siding and railings eliminate the need for painting.
A sheltered, carpeted staircase around the left side, just steps away from a small lot with off-street parking, provides access to the second-floor unit.
A door with nine glass panes opens onto a small tiled area. The open-concept great room unfolds before the eyes, including the kitchen, dining room and living room. The area has wall-to-wall carpeting except for the kitchen.
Multiple windows provide a view of the wetlands just across the street, where after a long day of relaxing on the beach, shopping and dining around town the sun will set on another great day at the shore.
A tall, peaked ceiling makes the spacious area fell even larger. The living room to the right features a gas fireplace with a tile surround and wood mantel flanked by double windows. A cushy sofa and love seat share the space with a wicker coffee table featuring a glass top and a collection of seashells by the seashore.
The dining area is in the corner and features a glass and wood table beneath a lamp hanging from high above. A sliding glass door opens onto a covered wrap-around porch where chilling with a cold beverage to watch the light show at the end of the day is highly recommended.
A peninsula jutting out from the wall, creating space for several barstools, partially separates the dining room and kitchen, which has abundant cabinets and counterspace on two walls. All of the standard appliances are included.
A carpeted hall leads back to the bedrooms. Along the way, a laundry room with a full-size Whirlpool washer and dryer is artfully hidden behind double bi-fold doors. There is plenty of shelf space for detergents and extra beach towels.
Across the hall on the right is a full bathroom with a tile floor, wood vanity with a ceramic top and mirror above, and a one-piece fiberglass tub/shower with a curtain.
Next door is the master bedroom with carpet, a queen-size bed and closet with double sliding doors. The en suite bath has a tile floor, ceramic-topped vanity beneath a mirror and fiberglass shower with a curtain.
Turning left, the second bedroom is in the corner of the house and has double windows on two sides. It has wall-to-wall carpeting beneath a day bed and a closet with double sliding doors.
The final bedroom has a queen-size bed, a double wide closet with two sets of double bi-fold doors and carpet.
Ocean City is known as America’s Greatest Family Resort and is well deserving of the moniker. The island is dry in the sense that no alcohol is sold or served in any of its many fine eateries. Violent crime, and crime in general, is almost nonexistent and the schools are among the best in southern New Jersey — for those looking for year-round living and not just a vacation home.
There also are many family-friendly activities offered from Wacky Wednesdays — contests involving sculpting french fries, saltwater taffy and other items — to simply strolling the oceanfront boardwalk filled from end to end with shopping, dining and entertainment destinations.
The city also has two major theme parks with rides for kids to adults, as well as children’s theater and the Ocean City Music Pier, which hosts popular recording artists and several scholarship pageants.
Who wouldn’t want to live in a city where two iconic Ferris wheels define the skyline?
Surfing is popular and the city is home to one of the oldest surf shops on the East Coast — Surfer’s Supplies at 31st Street and Asbury Avenue has been in business since 1962. Parasailing, fishing, boating and personal watercraft rentals are all available between Second and Fourth streets on Bay Avenue, while the Bayside Center offers sailing lessons and the Ocean City Beach Patrol Museum.
The home is listed for $479,900 with William Godfrey of Marr Agency. Call (609) 780-7363 or (609) 399-7036, or email wsg@marragency.com for more information or to set up a tour of this wonderful home.
