The Outer Banks Voice

Park Service sets beach driving permit prices

A plan designates areas for beach driving. (NPS)

Driving on the beach at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will cost $50 for a seven-day permit and a $120 for a year.

The fees were announced Wednesday as the National Park Service prepares to put new rules for beach driving into effect Feb. 15.

Originally mandated by a presidential directive in the 1970s, management of access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore went through a years-long process before the final rule for off-road vehicle use was published on Jan. 23.

The rule restricts driving to designated areas to protect shorebirds and vegetation.

Permits will be available beginning on Feb. 15 at three NPS
ORV permit offices — Coquina Beach just south of Nags Head, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Visitor Center in Buxton Ocracoke Visitor Center.

The offices will be open year-round, seven days a week, except on Christmas Day, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with expanded hours on weekends and holidays during the
summer.

An annual permit is valid for the calendar year and the seven-day permit is valid from the date issued.

“In order to provide the public with ample time to obtain a permit, there
will be a transition period between February 15 and March 15 before the
rule is fully implemented and enforced,” the park service said in a statement.

Answers to frequently asked questions and a map showing designated off-road vehicle routes and pedestrian areas where ORVs are not allowed can be found at www.nps.gov/caha.

The Outer Banks real estate market has put 2011 in the rear view. The market started off hot in 2011 and continued throughout the summer until Hurricane Irene came to town. Irene hit the brakes on the market right in the middle of the fall selling season for about 60 days and that put a damper on sales. Even with all of the hurricane clean up in September and October sales came roaring back towards the end of the year. Buyers have made their mind up that now is the right time to invest in the Outer Banks real estate market. 2011 ended up being the best year the Outer Banks real estate market has seen since 2006. The number of houses sold hit its highest level since 2005, average sold price was up 5.5% from 2010 marking the first appreciation the Outer Banks has seen since 2005-2006. With that said I am real optimistic that the winter and spring selling season will be the best it's been since the last boom year of 2006. The number of active listings has declined 16% from one year ago and has brought inventory back to within our market average. Distressed property sales continue to fall as the active foreclosures and short sales declined almost 15% from 2010. With mortgage rates hovering around all time lows its never been a better time to get a loan . 2011 will also go down as a record year for the rental market and number of visitors. Rental income is strong and stable with room to grow which combined with sales prices back to 2004 levels offers a great investment opportunity. The Outer Banks market, as I have said many times over the years, does not follow the national market. Now is the time to seriously look at real estate on the Outer Banks. The market has turned, mortgage rates are at all time lows, and the stock market is unpredictable. The Outer Banks offers an opportunity to purchase income producing property which has reached its bottom plus you get enjoy your property and all of that the Outer Banks has to offer.

July was an outstanding month for property sales on the Outer Banks. Buyers have made their mind up that now is the right time to invest in the Outer Banks real estate market. So far in 2011 there are no signs of a slowdown as pending homes sales in July were at the highest levels for any previous July going all the way back to the boom year of 2005. The number of active listings has declined 18% in July from a year ago. Prices on average are starting to rise and year to date the average sold price has increased 5% from 2010. Distressed property sales continue to fall as the active foreclosures and short sales have declined almost 20% from 2010. With mortgage rates in the low 4% range I antisipate the fall selling season will be better than the spring. 2011 will also go down as a record year for the rental market and number of vistiors. Rental income is strong and stable with room to grow which combined with sales prices back to 2003 levels makes for a great investment opportunity. The Outer Banks market, as I have said many times over the years, does not follow the national market. This is the first time I have made this statement here and that's if you are seriously looking to buy on the Outer Banks now is the time. The market has turned, mortgage rates are at all time lows, and the stock market is unpredictable. The Outer Banks offers an opportunity to purchase income producing property at depressed values plus you get enjoy your property and all that the Outer Banks has to offer.

It’s a full on recovery for the Outer Banks real estate market in 2011!! Sales are taking off at a pace not seen in years. The average selling price for Single Family Homes, Condos, and Townhouses are up 11.7% from 2010!!

What is driving all of the sales??

Buyers realized that now is the time to get a jump on the next market upswing while there are still great deals to be had. Also low interest rates, currently at 4.5-4.75% for a 30yr fixed and Jumbo loans at 5% up to $1,000,000. Home sales in the $500,000 + range have exploded, up 33% from 2010. Mortgage lenders are starting to sound the alarm for rates to go up as the Federal Reserve pulls back on their quantitative easing which is causing rates to remain so low. Even if home prices remain the same when rates go up your purchasing power will decrease. Active listings continue to decline as more and more property is being sold. This helps bring the number of listings more in line with our normal market cycle. So far the number of active listings is down 16% from 2010. In the last 2 months of showing property I have noticed when a great house hits the market it’s under contract almost immediately.

At the current sales pace I predict that by the end of next summer the OBX market will start to turn into a new sellers market. If you have the ability to purchase now don't put it off, it will only cost you more.

I really enjoy living on the Outer Banks with all of the natural beauty that surrounds this special place. The one thing I love the most is watching the sun set over the sound. There is such an peaceful easy feeling that comes over you as you watch the sun slowly fall out of the sky and dip below the horizon. The colors that light up the sky are so amazing you wonder how such a thing is even possible. The next time you make it down to the Outer Banks treat yourself to one of natures greatest shows. One of the best places to watch the sun go down is on top of Jockeys Ridge, the big sand dune, in Nags Head or any place on Hatteras Island where you can look west over the vast waters of the Pamlico Sound.

Below are 2 sunsets I was able to capture recently:

Rodanthe Sunset Over The Pamlico Sound-Photo By Matt Huband Copyright April 2011

Martin's Point Sunset Over The Currituck Sound-Photo By Matt Huband Copyright May 2011