OCEAN CITY — A real estate agent said during a recent tour of the magnificent property at 232 Bay Road that he could describe it in three words: “Location, location, location.”
He’s obviously not being paid by the word.
The agent’s point, though, was well said and well taken — nothing but an extensive deck with a swimming pool and multiple areas for lounging, dining and entertaining separates the home from Great Egg Harbor Bay.
With a comfortable seat and a cold drink in hand (and maybe a cooler within reach), a day could be whiled away watching the fishing and pleasure craft float by, the salty bay breeze whipping passengers’ hair back as the sun shines down on their tanned faces. Nature lovers can hop aboard a kayak and explore a bay teeming with life in, on and above the water.
The home at 232 Bay Road — which has four bedrooms each with a private bath, an eat-in gourmet kitchen, dining room, living room and family room — is spacious at 3,120 square feet and designed to take advantage of its fabulous views from inside and outside.
All of the rooms on the first floor have sliding glass doors that open onto the deck as well as multiple windows to provide a sightline from almost every vantage point. The deck, by the way, stretches 100 feet along the water, offering one of the largest amounts of frontage on the island.
“Enjoy the best views and sunsets Ocean City has to offer,” listing agent Ryan Price said.
The neighborhood also makes the home a wonderful location. 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 beach. There also is an award-winning downtown business district centered on Asbury Avenue and a watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue.
The Gardens is popular with many for its slow pace, huge beaches and winding, pedestrian-friendly streets. The west side is a boater’s paradise with safe anchorage just outside the door and access to Great Egg Harbor Bay and through the inlet to the open Atlantic Ocean.
From the street, the two-story home has a traditional design with multiple gables, while the one-car garage on the right likely was added at a later date.
A grassy yard with landscaped beds is bordered by a short stone wall and split down the middle by a walkway leading to the covered front porch.
The front door opens onto a tiled foyer with bead board wainscoting. A handsome wooden staircase ascends along the left wall while a hallway leads to a rear wing, the kitchen and family room.
Straight back, a door opens onto the rear area, which contains the dining and living rooms. The brick floor is covered by large area rugs, creating a tactile contrast reminiscent of the sand and surf.
Jutting out onto the deck, the living room has windows on three sides, creating a light, bright area beneath a terraced tray ceiling with a lighthouse cupola. On a recent stormy day, the sense of comfort was palpable inside as the wind-whipped waves pounded the bulkhead outside the windows.
Off the dining area, pocket doors open to reveal the ground-floor suite. Featuring a king-size bed, full bathroom and fireplace with stone hearth, the space if perfect for an older couple wishing to retire for the evening while the party continues in the rest of the house. The wood mantel provides the perfect place for a wooden ship model.
Back in the hallway, there is a powder room under the stairs.
Across the hall is the kitchen, which stretches from front to back, drawing in light from both east and west. The room features multiple KraftMaid cabinets — including a center island with a four-burner range and two stools — with granite countertops and a tile backsplash. The cabinets stretch in a horseshoe around the room and there is another section next to the table with glass-front doors.
A wide, two-basin sink faces the front beneath three windows, while another is in the counter above a wine refrigerator just steps from the table.
Two steps down is the family room, which could be used as a fifth bedroom for an au pair or older teen. It has access to the deck as well as a side entrance and a kitchenette with stainless-steel appliances, as well as a full bathroom.
Back in the foyer, the stairs ascend to a carpeted second floor, where there are three bedrooms. Each is a private haven with space for lounging as well as sleeping and an en suite bathroom. One has direct access to the back deck while the other two are near a second slider.
The back patio features a 32-foot by 15-foot gunite pool and enough space to entertain a large family with many friends. Along the bulkhead, a pier leads out to a private deck over the water and a boat lift that can accommodate up to a 40-foot craft.
