We normally rent a house in Oak Island every year after school gets out, and haven't had a problem renting. This year, we wanted to move the location up to the Nags Head area, but every place I've looked into has a policy that doesn't allow non-family tenants. I understand why they do it, but it also makes it impossible for a group of students who aren't going to tear the place apart to find a place to stay.
Do any of you have any recommendations for either homes rented out by and individual or a company that will rent to a younger crowd or has some non-family units available. The only one I've come across is Cove Realty, but they only have one house and its kinda run down.

Also, if you have any suggestions for NC beaches that have a lot of places to visit in the area (museums, aquariums, lighthouses, that kind of thing), that would be helpful too. I'm just trying to find the best option for the trip, the place where we can find more to do than sit around on the beach.

1/23/2007 5:27:07 PM

try emerald isle.. but no guarantee you'll find somewhere

it's still prety laid back and non-touristy, but there's an aquarium, and putt-putt and go-kart places

1/23/2007 5:32:43 PM

paging Jax883 --pretty sure he works for a rental company in the nags head area

1/23/2007 5:33:35 PM

yeah, I thought about Emerald Isle. We've rented with another company in the southern beaches twice now without issue, and I was just hoping to find the same situation here. It just sucks cause you KNOW youre not going to have a party, and your not gonna throw the couches off the back porch, and you'd take care of the place, but you dont even get a chance.

1/23/2007 5:47:28 PM

who all have you checked out?
http://www.sunrealtync.com <--- Family only
http://www.villagerealtyobx.com <--- high school and college groups aren't allowed
http://www.carolinadesigns.com <--- family + 1 guest per family member, or name must be listed on lease agreement
http://www.kittydunes.com <--- family only
http://www.outerbanksrentals.com <--- family only
http://www.beachrealtync.com <--- family only
http://www.joelambjr.com <--- family only
http://www.outerbanksvacations.com <--- NO PUBLISHED LIMITATIONS
http://www.resortrealty.com <--- family only
http://www.southernshores.com <--- family only or groups with most (all?) members over 24 yr old.

those are all of the companies I know have houses in Nags Head. most have a 25yr or older limit for the person on the lease, but I've seen lots of groups that basically have a parent sign and pay, then friends and such are the ones that stay. Most limitations come about specifically naming frats/sororities as being banned, but groups with older members, so called business retreats, are allowed.

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 6:43 PM. Reason : ]

1/23/2007 6:26:45 PM

Ive tried all but, I think, two of those. I'll check the other two. Thanks.

1/23/2007 6:43:56 PM

did they actually ask?

way i see it, schedule a trip, pick up the keys by yourself and no problems. if you don't draw attention to the house, no one will bother you.

1/23/2007 7:15:28 PM

http://www.midgettrealty.com

1/23/2007 7:18:19 PM

^^ If you put on the lease you have X number of people there and they check and see more, and find out they aren't family then kick you out with no refund.

1/23/2007 7:22:05 PM

^^^ yeah, im not going to chance something like that. I think Im just going to call the place that doesnt list a age restriction, and just see if they let me do it. The realtor we use in Oak Island doesnt have an age restriction, and lets us rent without question, and so maybe this place will work the same.

^^ that place has a family only policy on their website. Have you stayed with them before?

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 8:32 PM. Reason : add ]

1/23/2007 8:20:26 PM

Hey Muzition00.... I've been in the same situation with renting snow/ski resort houses multiple times each season but I always contact the owner directly (usually found on http://www.vrbo.com) and explain to them what we want and that I have rental references I could provide and that I'd be willing to pay an additional deposit. To make a long story short, every person has always agreed to rent to me.

But clean up, etc. when you leave and keep up good communication with whoever you deal with and they'll probably be glad to serve as a reference for you as well.

Good luck. But yeah, check out http://www.vrbo.com and try and deal with the owners directly.

PS - I mean honestly, if you're not renting from them... their house could be empty. Meaning a lack of rental income. They have the incentive to work with you.

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 9:53 PM. Reason : ...]

1/23/2007 9:51:56 PM

^ has good info, and stowaway has a good representation of the companies out here. Where on the outer banks you want to stay will be the largest determining factor of who you work with. Most of the companies out here are specific to a certain area

In Stowaways order:
Sun - has the largest selection, houses Carova & Corolla to Hatteras village

Village - Nags head, manages most of the Village of Nags Head

Carolina Designs - Kitty Hawk to Nags Head, they manage high-dollar properties

Kitty Dunes - has houses Corolla to the southern end of Nags Head

Stan White - Kill Devil Hills to S. Nags Head - Mostly mid to lower -dollar, older houses

Beach Realty - Kitty Hawk. I'm not sure how many houses they have. Theyre more into development/construction (I thought).

Joe Lamb - Corolla to S. Nags head, mostly in Kill Devil Hills

Sea Side - Southern Shores (maybe a few more north) to Nags head. They tend to also focus on
higher-earning houses

Prudential- Corolla to Nags Head, but theyre mainly in Kitty Hawk Duck & Nags Head

Southern Shores- Southern Shores, a few in Kitty Hawk


A few others, mostly on Hatteras Island:
Surf or Sound
Outer Beaches
Midgette ~ I think Novicane already mentioned this one
Cove










[Edited on January 24, 2007 at 1:29 AM. Reason : .]

1/24/2007 1:25:44 AM

Just a note to anyone in the same situation:

I know cove has 4 places that they rent to non-family groups, but they all seem pretty run down and are not very large. In all fairness, the price is fair for the kind of place it is, but they charge like $1000 to $1500 deposit. I passed on those places to try to find something nicer, but if it works for you...

1/24/2007 9:11:22 AM

village and sun are likely the easiest to deal with, especially if you want to stay IN nags head. Surf or Sound, Outer Beaches, and Midgette do not have any properties north of the inlet. They aren't bad companies to deal with but if you do stay on hatteras island and plan on somewhat frequent trips up here (nags head/manteo/etc) then rodanthe/waves/salvo are the only towns to stay in due to the drive. If you venture into the Duck area then you have a lot more rental companies you can use, and most of them are better companies, just from personal dealings.

http://www.resortquest.com <--- got too big for itself but still has a lot of homes
http://www.twiddy.com <--- very nice people and tons of houses
http://www.outerbanksblue.com <--- fairly new company but the people have been around for a while, very nice, also has a few houses in KDH/NH. NO POSTED LIMITATION ON FAMILY ONLY!!!

and then there's a ton of others that I don't have personal experience with, outside of just talking to them on occasion, but these are the bigger ones and nicer ones that I'd deal with.

1/24/2007 9:38:48 AM

If your not 25 then just get someone who is to sign the lease and then ask for a late pick up on the keys. Then after hours you can go get the keys and not worry about going through the company. Don't worry about people finding out how many people are going to be staying there the company has never checked me. Most places in Nags Head have parking along side streets if you are that worried park some of the extra vehicles on a side street near your place. Don't park a bunch of cars in the spots and on the grass. The cops look for places that are like that for breaking up any party's. I have been getting cottages there with my friends since I was 18 and 6 years since then I have had no problems. Just be smart don't get too loud outside late at night. The main thing is to get someone over 25 to get the cottage and ask for a late key pick up. How long are you wanting to rent the house????

1/24/2007 10:35:56 AM

^^ outerbanksblue.com has a family only statement in their rental terms, which is alright. The house we found with the Seaside Vacations place is pretty nice, and not terribly expensive. I think I'm going to try to book online and see how that works out.

^ I know thats an option, but I would fucking hate for them to somehow find out we were a student group and evict us. I know the chances are small and we probably dont have anythign to worry about, but I dont want to gamble or feel like we have to hide ourselves.

1/24/2007 12:06:33 PM

Its not hidding yourself man. Don't worry alot of people that rent those houses know that its not always family that will be there. They will not kick you out unless you cause a problem. How many people are you planning on taking down there? if you get a place avoid on the ocean its more expensive. If you want cheaper rates go across the main road to sound side it will be about one or two hundread dollars cheaper.

1/24/2007 12:09:16 PM

my family has rented from midgett several times.

You pretty much pick up the keys. Stay. Drop off the keys. That is about all the interaction you have. You can setup everything over the phone. The cottages down near hatteras are so spread out, I doubt you'll have many (if any) people calling the so called "law" on you.

Like mentioned earlier, just get someone 25+ to sign off on everything. They won't kick you out.

1/24/2007 12:36:50 PM

If you looking near hatteras or rodanthe, i know it wouldn't be an issue. We always rent a house for fishing thoughout the year and it is never family, just the guys out fishing. Fishing is a major part of the industy there, so i do not know how they can't accomidate it.

1/24/2007 3:35:46 PM

Do you just call them up, and when they ask if its a family, you say, "yeah".?

1/24/2007 4:41:50 PM

^Actually, they probably wont ask that, but they will flag you to be checked on if they suspect something.

Quote :

"I know cove has 4 places that they rent to non-family groups, but they all seem pretty run down "

They do, and they are. I think theyre all aound the breakers in Nags Head, near mp11

Quote :

"Don't park a bunch of cars in the spots and on the grass...Just be smart don't get too loud outside late at night. The main thing is to get someone over 25 to get the cottage and ask for a late key pick up...They will not kick you out unless you cause a problem."

Pretty much sums it up. People out here dont want to go through the trouble of evicting, and so if you mind your manners and dont give off obvious clues that youre an nfg, you will most likely not have a problem

Quote :

"If you want cheaper rates go across the main road to sound side it will be about one or two hundread dollars cheaper."

Its actually hundreds to thousands cheaper for the same type of house/ammenities. Location is obviously the biggest thing in price


All that said, you're less likely to run into trouble in the tri-village area (rodanthe/waves/salvo) I started working out here in that area, and its less risk simply because theres less people down there.

1/24/2007 7:25:50 PM

I should also clarify that I would party at any of those cove properties cause those shacks are fucking cool in a broke-ass beach sort of way


Shamless bump

1/24/2007 9:55:24 PM

Is it at all possible to find a beachfront house that's only 1 or 2 bedrooms?
2-6 days, and under a couple hundred? We're pretty flexible.

3/17/2007 5:40:50 PM

unless it's in the winter, no way you'd find one that cheap. Joe Lamb has some less expensive houses, but most of those companies listed are pretty much only larger, more expensive homes.

3/17/2007 6:54:08 PM

absolutapril and I have a friend who lives in Avon near Hatty. She used to work for one of the rental companies down there and she owns her own house plus her parents have a house down there as well and they live in Mass. If you are still having trouble let me know and I can pass your info on to her and she would prolly be able to help you very easily! Hope you have fun...I love the Outer Banks

3/17/2007 8:29:32 PM

^^^Most of the oceanfront places that are 1-2 bedrooms these days will be either

a) a condo in a complex
b) a very old and run down shack.
c) a property that's been designated a historic landmark

The concept of highest & best use for oceanfront land has pretty muched forced out anything smaller than 4 bedroom, and you can bet that there aren't many new oceanfront properties that will be built with less than 6 bedrooms. The ammount that you can effectively charge for rent won't cover the property taxes & mortgage for anything smaller these days.

That said, I do know of a couple of 2-3 bedroom houses that are oceanfront, but I doub't you'll find them for that price...even in the off season

It comes down to a financial line, partiuclar to each homeowner, where they would actually lose less money by leaving the property vacant versus paying commission, cleaning fees, utilities, etc. for taking in a tenant.

3/18/2007 10:39:56 AM

bluewatergmac.com for emerald isle. I know they're pretty lax, just get a house that sleeps the amt of ppl you're gonna have, and don't worry about it. My mom rents from them every year and has a bunch of her friends for the weekend, so its like 15 people that aren't related, lots of cars and whatnot, and they never have a problem. They're also pretty nice and will definitely work with you on things.

I don't know if someone mentioned them earlier, I scrolled through the posts pretty quickly. I also second the idea that emerald isle is still pretty down to earth and wont kill you budget-wise so much as the nags head area.

good luck!

also, bluewatergmac actually has properties that will allow for things like family reunions or weddings and stuff, so the ppl know there will be larger 'groups' or un-family things. Ask about that maybe?

3/18/2007 7:28:06 PM