1896 New River Inlet Inlt #1413, North Topsail Beach, NC 28460
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About this home
Unit 1413 at Shipwatch Villas is not just a penthouse, it is the penthouse. The original. Owned since 1984 by the very first resident to call this building home, a founding member of the HOA who helped shape the community that surrounds it, and now, for the first time in four decades, available to someone new at a price that reflects genuine motivation. SELLER is motivated. Step inside and feel it immediately. Soaring vaulted ceilings and transom windows flood the top floor with the quality of coastal light that only this level can access. A bird's eye view of the Atlantic Ocean and the complex oceanside pool stretches before you from the highest residential position in the building. Rattan furnishings, sailing ships, coastal art, and the kind of carefully curated vintage beach aesthetic that designers spend years trying to recreate and never quite do, fill every room with a warmth and character that zero other units in this building can claim. This home was loved. It shows in every corner. Two spacious bedrooms. Two full baths. An open living and dining space anchored by those signature penthouse ceilings that stretch toward the sky. A private oceanfront balcony with direct access from both the living room and the primary bedroom means the sound of the Atlantic is never more than a few steps away from wherever you are. And because this was always a cherished personal retreat, never once offered as a rental in forty years of ownership, it arrives in pristine, meticulously maintained condition that will stop buyers mid-tour. Topsail Island is a 26-mile barrier island along the southeastern North Carolina coast, largely undeveloped and consistently ranked among the most sought-after coastal destinations on the East Coast. North Topsail Beach delivers breathtaking Atlantic sunrises, Intracoastal sunsets, and the kind of pace that makes people stop checking their phones. From this address, Ocean's Edge Restaurant and Aarr Pirate Bar at the St. Regis Resort are a short walk up New River Inlet Road, panoramic oceanfront dining and sunset cocktails without moving your car. The community delivers the rest: an oceanfront pool with the best view in the building directly below this unit, direct private beach boardwalk access, outdoor grilling areas, rinse-off shower station, pet-friendly policy, and elevator service to every floor. Shipwatch Villas is now VA approved. Qualified veterans, active duty service members, and military retirees may be eligible to purchase with little to no down payment and no PMI. Contact a VA-approved lender for current rates and terms. Camp Lejeune, MCAS New River, MARSOC, and Stone Bay are all within comfortable reach. There are newer penthouses at Shipwatch Villas. There are renovated penthouses. But there is only one original, only one unit that has watched this community grow from its very first day, cared for by the hands that helped build it. Whether this becomes a primary coastal residence, a short-term vacation rental investment, or a long-term income property, this unit arrives with zero rental wear, zero deferred maintenance, and a completely clean slate. Topsail Island vacation rental revenue grew 17 to 26 percent year over year. The pristine condition, the top-floor position, the pool and ocean views, and the vintage character are exactly what discerning renters seek and return for. Unit 1413 is not a flip. It is not a project. It is forty years of coastal living distilled into one extraordinary top-floor address, offered now, with great care, to whoever falls in love with it next. Two elevators and multiple stairs for access, pet friendly.
Est. $1,431 per month, based on comparable rentals
Sale and tax history for 1896 New River Inlet Inlt #1413
Sale History
Tax History
Date
Event
Price
Hive MLS #100565834
Sep 25, 2026
Sold
$370,000
$301/sq ft
Sep 3, 2026
Contingent
—
Aug 29, 2026
Price Changed
$388,900
$316/sq ft
Aug 29, 2026
Price Changed
$398,000
$324/sq ft
Aug 4, 2026
Price Changed
$398,900
$325/sq ft
Jul 24, 2026
Price Changed
$399,900
$325/sq ft
Jul 15, 2026
Price Changed
$400,900
$326/sq ft
Jun 30, 2026
Price Changed
$404,900
$329/sq ft
Jun 1, 2026
Price Changed
$414,900
$338/sq ft
May 13, 2026
Price Changed
$424,966
$346/sq ft
Apr 25, 2026
Price Changed
$429,966
$350/sq ft
Apr 8, 2026
Listed
$434,966
$354/sq ft
As the MLS and public records start to fill up, we'll list the details here.
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Permits
Beds
—
Baths
—
Stories
—
Lot width
15 ft.
Lot depth
54 ft.
Lot size
—
Year renovated
—
Sq. Ft.
—
Year built
—
Style
Condo/Co-op
County
Onslow County
APN
039273
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
—
HOA Dues
—
Garage
—
Features
—
Last updated by owner on Apr 8, 2026.
R-5
Multi-Family Residential
The purpose of this district shall be to provide for single-family and multi-family residential developments where both central water and central sewer are available.
Nov 29, 2018 • Active
Renovation
Remodel
Permit history is from public records and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Redfin and its agents make no representations about the property condition or permit status. Buyers should independently verify all information.
Directions: From police station/town hall take New River Inlet Road along the coast to Shipwatch villas on the ocean. This unit is in the left tower, top floor when facing the ocean.
Subdivision Name: Shipwatch Villas
Community Information
Community Features: Pool
Public facts
Beds: —
Baths: —
Sq. Ft.: —
Stories: —
Lot Size: —
Style: Condo/Co-op
Year Built: —
Year Renovated: —
County: Onslow County
APN: 039273
Home facts updated by county records on Apr 8, 2026
Other
Listing Information
List AOR: Jacksonville Board of Realtors
About this building
12 for sale
1896 New River Inlet Rd, North Topsail Beach, NC 28460