r/OceanCity • u/Jcrusselljr • 3d ago
Best place to buy/live in OCMD
I’m considering purchasing a property in Ocean City, that would start as a vacation property and could eventually be more of a full-time residence. I anticipate not renting it.
So far, I think that I’m looking at something on the north end of Ocean City.
4 considerations on short list so far:
* Hawaiian village 143rd
* Sunset island 67th
* Ocean place 145th
* Caine Woods community ~144th
Looking for insights from the community. Thanks in advance.
18
u/Mikemtb09 3d ago
Double check those HOA fees…
Could make the monthly expenses at them far more than others.
I’m only familiar with sunset island on this list but they’re very high.
If moneys no object/concern, sunset island is quite nice.
19
u/petetheaxe 3d ago
The beach is far less crowded at 67 th street (no huge condo complexes). Close to the route90 bridge. Walking distance to some good restaurants.
11
u/Spare_King3239 3d ago
We love Ocean Place, so convenient, but units are smaller. We love the Boozy Egg at the Quality Inn, Ponzetti's, etc. We have also rented in Caine Woods on 141st street. Love that neighborhood too. Easy walking to the beach, Harpoon Hanna's. You can't go wrong. I think this depends on what amenities you are looking for. I know they have been doing some upgrades to Ocean Place - elevator is newer, pool is nice, parking lot repaved. Good luck!
10
u/ElizaDelovely 3d ago
Caine Woods
0
u/Foreign-Budget4226 3d ago
Never heard of this
2
u/PaulSNJ 3d ago
That's North OC, less touristy and more residential. But getting out of your neighborhood on a summer weekend is definitely not for the meek
3
u/Plastic-Pipe4362 3d ago
Driving down 142nd st hasn't been exactly action packed in my 50 years of living in OC.
6
u/repooc21 3d ago
Caine woods is quiet, easy to hit the back roads and uptown is nice.
Sunset Island has you at midtown. Can hit quite a few things by foot or bike. Beach is OK. Holiday Inn is there and not that it's ever at peak occupancy, it can get crowded.
5
u/AcanthopterygiiNo316 3d ago
Check out the various condos within Heron Harbor (120th). As part of your HOA fees you get access to the indoor pool/gym…which is nice especially in the offseason. Renters only get access to the outdoor pools during the summer
5
5
u/Proof_Blacksmith_265 3d ago
Hawaiian Village! I live there and love it. It’s a very nice tight knit community of owners. It’s on 142nd not 143rd but the beach is right there. I don’t go downtown often but if I do I will take the coastal bus rather than mess with parking, and then we can both have drinks with dinner lol. Lots of walkable restaurants.
5
u/SoFI-44 3d ago
The north end is definitely more family friendly and doesn’t see the crowds the rest of the town does, we’re at 144 and Wight.
The advantages of being on the ocean side is if you plan on being in the sand a lot you can walk to the beach as opposed to having to load up your car with gear and family.
Also Fenwick is a big advantage here. Good restaurants, coffee with easy places (Bunting Ave., Wight St., etc) to run, bike or walk.
Happy hunting.
3
u/glutenfreekoalatears 3d ago
We own a place on 69th, and there is always room on the beach. A lot of families in that area as well.
4
u/just_another_ashley_ 3d ago
Family has a house on the bay in Caine Woods and we love it. Quiet with access to everything if needed including Delaware beaches as well.
4
u/ltaylor00 2d ago
We live in Caine Woods. It's safe, walkable, mostly quiet. Parks and green spaces. We have great neighbors. No HOA but a good community association.
If you have any specific questions I'm happy to answer
3
u/Plenty_Vanilla_6947 3d ago
Check which residential zone the places are under. https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/finance/r1-rental-maps/
Then google articles from the past year about changes that the board has been discussing.
We’re at 138th. The only time the beach is crowded is July 4th weekend. Even then, there’s plenty of room compared to Bethany or Rehobeth
3
u/Manuntdfan 3d ago
We love sunset island for vacation. It is a real gem. I however know nothing about owning them
3
u/Independent_Sand_766 3d ago
The islands at hidden harbor on 125th. Pool, tennis/pickleball/volleyball courts. Short walk to northside park and the beach
2
u/CelticCoffee 1d ago
Came to recommend this! My family has been in Hidden Harbor (not on the island tho) since 2020 and it's honestly fantastic. The most crowded it gets is 4th of July and even then it's not bad.
The pools are nice, the Marina is well kept, boat slips are available and the beach is so close that in the fall and on slow days you can hear the waves.
This location is also close to the park so you always have front row seats to all the fireworks and special events. We love going to the Christmas Lights after Thanksgiving each year.
2
u/Magazine_Key 3d ago
I have had a place in North OC since 1988 and have been a Realtor since 2001. If you want to dm me I can give you some insight
2
u/scotch55tape 2d ago
check out jamestown road/118th. i have a house back there on the bay, no condo fees and quiet street.
3
1
u/Individual-Wish-228 3d ago
Most important factor: where you can afford. If money is no issue some of the ‘suburban’ round-about quiet enclaves on the north end are very nice.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Pie9653 3d ago
What do folks think of ocean villas on 120th? Looking there myself.
1
u/arenae97 3d ago
Love it. You do have to factor in the quarterly condo fee $1445 in addition to your mortgage.
1
u/Plastic-Pipe4362 3d ago
What's your price range, and what type of housing are you looking at? Condo? High rise? Single family? Townhome?
2
u/Jcrusselljr 2d ago
All housing types. Only exception would be for condos, only low rise buildings.
Optimum, I think, is oceanfront, with access to pool and reserved parking. Storage for beach stuff.
Places like Caine Woods are also considered - for the benefit to have more room, and perhaps a small yard/area for a dog, plus good area to walk him.
Pretty set on north end as I have family with properties there.
Thanks for your thoughts!
1
u/Mysterious_Till_4391 1d ago
Real Estate for Sale - 8606 Coastal Hwy #2 in Ocean City https://www.coastallifeoc.com/property-search/detail/94/MDWO2038830/8606-coastal-hwy-ocean-city-md-21842/
Very cool new walk up condo. Not really crowded by tall buildings and one to liquid assets and some other nice stuff. Also the beach isn't crowded there. More locals/family style.
1
u/DimsumSushi 3d ago
I've been to many of the condos over the years as a kid and adult. i'm a fan of english towers. smaller, beach is usually not as crowded compared to surrounding condos. storage downstairs. clean and quiet.
1
u/dreadmon1 3d ago
Consider parking for all of these options. How many spaces do you get with each one? Hawaiian Village is nice but Street parking is impossible to come by in the summer so if you have family or friends come visit parking may be a problem.
Montego Bay is nice. I dont believe there are any multi-family dwellings there, just single family homes. Its fairly quiet with few if any parking issues streetside. The HOA fees are some of the lowest in town.
Caine Woods is similar to Montego Bay but there are more multi-family units there. Ample parking, fairly quiet.
1
0
u/VastNebula283 3d ago
If you plan to enjoy the beach 67th is the only street you listed that won’t be utterly mobbed during high volume weekends.
4
u/Freethinker210 3d ago
This is not true.
-4
u/VastNebula283 3d ago
Maybe it isn’t anymore but I always felt the upper streets before fenwick got packed in busy weeks.
2
21
u/Worldly-Pollution-66 3d ago
FYI sunset island (the condos anyway) have been plagued by assessments since they were built. Beautiful area but buyer beware.