So many permanent Sebastian area residents started out as vacationers or snowbirds, spending more and more time at their Florida home away from home until finally retiring or relocating here.
The turn-key, riverfront duplex at 9440 and 9448 52nd Ct can perfectly accommodate every stage of that migration, with the bonus of being a potential income property. Each side of the two-story, raised building is a distinct, luxury, furnished townhome with one bedroom downstairs and either three bedrooms or two bedrooms plus a loft upstairs that could be adapted as a reading and lounging area, a den or even an entertainment room.
With the duo on the market as a package deal for $1 million, the new owners could live in the side they like best and rent the other one out, either annually or seasonally. Or, as North Beach Realty Broker-owner Susie Wilson suggests, a large family could knock out a wall or two and join the units into one spacious seven bedroom, six-bath home with two garages, two covered balconies and nearly 3,300 square feet under air.
The location is great – walking distance from Publix, minutes from restaurants and within sight of the Wabasso Causeway to some of the area’s best beaches. And the construction is solid, with these 2005 residences being built to weather the elements with poured concrete walls, a metal roof and decorative, functional storm shutters. But Wilson said the best selling point about this particular property is that it’s ready to move in, perfect for two families and that it epitomizes the best of what the laid-back Sebastian lifestyle has to offer.
“People say Susie sells lifestyles, and here I tried to focus on the lifestyle of the river and the views and the breeze,” said Wilson, who has worked as a real estate professional specializing in luxury homes for 25 years. She was a top-selling agent in Seminole County before moving to Indian River County in 2010 and buying North Beach Realty from her mother in 2011.
Wilson staged the home to reflect the serene retreat that one or both of these townhouses could be for the buyer who falls in love with the panoramic view of the lagoon and the endless show of wildlife, boats, kayaks and the changing colors and seasons on the riverfront.
“When I stage a home, I come in and get rid of all the personal items and try to simplify it to make the house less cluttered so people can see the home and the lifestyle.”
The kitchens are slightly different in each townhouse, with the unit on the south side having light and cheery off-white cottage-style cabinets and a more open and airy feel, and the unit on the north side having a cozier feel with rich wood cabinetry and a breakfast bar with stools for enjoying a casual meal.
The woodgrain flooring and tile in both units promise easy maintenance and features like the jetted tubs in the master bathrooms and stainless steel appliances in both kitchens show attention to detail and no shortage of high-end features. A central vacuum system, security system and sprinkler system add to the list of amenities found on the property. Both units provide abundant closet space both in the bedrooms and in the hallways.
Beyond the covered balconies is a good-sized back yard – large enough to toss a football around or play Frisbee with the family dog – that overlooks the river. And just off the front porch, a few steps across the brick paver driveway is an extended, covered dock with two boat lifts, a tiki hut with table and seating and a sheltered canal for quick access to the lagoon and to the Sebastian Inlet for some of the area’s best deep-sea fishing.
Total 7 bedrooms, 6 baths
Total 3,270 square feet under air, plus two garages
No pool
Features: Panoramic river views, poured concrete construction, covered boat dock and lifts, potential income property, metal roof and decorative hurricane shutters.