Bay Frontage, a Private Pool, and a Two-Block Walk to the Beach in Fenwick Island
$2,699,000
Fenwick Island sits at the southern edge of Delaware's beach towns, right at the Maryland line — quieter and less commercial than Rehoboth or Bethany, but still walking distance to real restaurants and shops. Little Assawoman Bay runs along the town's back side, a shallow, protected tidal bay separated from the Atlantic by the barrier spit itself, which is exactly what makes bay-front living here so different from ocean-front: calmer water, boat traffic instead of surf, and sunsets instead of sunrises.
Here's what makes this one rare: bay frontage, a private pool, and beach access all in the same property. The house is 2,450 square feet on an oversized one-and-a-half lot, four bedrooms, three and a half baths, extensively renovated with a custom chef's kitchen, shiplap accents, cable railings, and a teal metal roof that reads as intentional, not incidental. The main-level primary suite has direct waterfront position; three upstairs guest bedrooms share an upper balcony with panoramic bay views. Outside is where the real value sits: a private pool, a fire pit, an outdoor bar, a fenced yard — rare at this price point on the water — plus a 7,500-pound boat lift, a floating dock, and a dedicated jet ski lift. The beach itself is a two-block walk.
At $2,699,000, or roughly $1,102 a square foot, you're paying serious Delaware-beach premium, but you're getting the combination that almost never comes together: bay-front boating infrastructure, a resort-grade pool and outdoor setup, and true walkability to the ocean. One seller is a licensed real estate agent, which is standard disclosure but worth knowing going in. Confirm flood zone and insurance costs directly given the barrier-island setting. Listing courtesy of Nancy Reither, Coldwell Banker Realty.
Life at the Water
Water Access & Depth
The property sits directly on Little Assawoman Bay with a floating dock and a 7,500-pound boat lift already in place, plus a dedicated jet ski lift — genuinely complete boating infrastructure rather than a partial setup. The bay is shallow and protected compared to open ocean, which makes for easier, calmer boating most days. Confirm current depth at the dock with the agent, since Little Assawoman Bay's shallower areas can affect what draft of boat works comfortably.
Recreation & Boating
Little Assawoman Bay is popular water for crabbing, kayaking, and light-tackle fishing — flounder, striped bass, and blue crab are the regional standards, and the bay's protected nature makes it good water for paddleboards and kayaks in addition to powerboats. Being two blocks from the ocean beach means you get both worlds without a long drive: calm bay mornings and full Atlantic beach afternoons. The floating dock and dual lifts here suggest a property built for people who actually use the water daily, not occasionally.
Dock & Waterfront Features
The floating dock, boat lift, and jet ski lift are all current and already installed — real, usable infrastructure from day one. Given the extensive 1982-to-present renovation history, ask the agent for the dock and lift installation dates specifically, since those may or may not be part of the same renovation timeline as the house. Delaware DNREC handles permitting for any future dock modifications on Little Assawoman Bay.
Flood & Insurance Considerations
Fenwick Island is a barrier island, and any bay-front or ocean-adjacent property here carries real flood and storm exposure — this is not a property where flood insurance is optional or an afterthought. Pull the current FEMA flood zone designation for this specific parcel before closing, and get an actual, current quote from a Delaware-licensed insurance agent experienced with barrier-island coastal property. At this price point, understanding the true insurance and flood-risk picture is a meaningful part of the real cost of ownership, not a minor line item.
Beyond the Property Line
Local Flavor & Small-Town Character
Fenwick Island keeps a noticeably quieter profile than its more commercial neighbors up the coast — no boardwalk, no amusement pier, just a low-key beach town with walkable restaurants and shops close to this property. The town holds a summer concert series and beach patrol lifeguard tournament tradition that draws the local community together without turning into a tourist spectacle. Being right at the Delaware-Maryland line also puts Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk and larger-scale beach-town amenities within easy reach for anyone who wants more action without living in the middle of it.
Outdoor Recreation & Natural Surroundings
Fenwick Island State Park, with beach access and a nature trail along the bay side, is essentially in the neighborhood and a genuinely good option for a quieter beach day than the more crowded stretches further north. The James Farm Ecological Preserve, a short drive away in Ocean View, protects tidal wetlands and forest with several miles of walking trails and kayak access into the Inland Bays system. Holts Landing State Park, on Indian River Bay, adds crabbing piers and additional bay access for a change of scenery beyond Little Assawoman.
Listed on Zillow
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