The Truth About Outer Banks Rentals in 2025 | #33
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
Release Date: 08/08/2025
Was 2025 Really a Down Year for Outer Banks Real Estate?
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
As 2026 gets underway, I’m joined by Lynn, my local real estate colleague here on the Outer Banks, and together we take a look at what actually happened in the 2025 market. There’s been plenty of talk that last year was a downturn, but when you look at the data, the picture is more stable than many people expect. Nationally, home prices rose modestly, inventory increased, and days on market moved higher, while total sales stayed near a 30-year low at roughly four million transactions, compared to the long-term average of five million. Here on the Outer Banks, residential sales increased...
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Surfing with Humpback Whale in the Outer Banks | #43
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
Winter in the Outer Banks has a way of settling in quietly, and for many people it brings more than colder temperatures and shorter days. Once the holidays pass, there’s often an emotional and financial strain that shows up, especially in a seasonal, resort-based community like this one. Work slows down, businesses feel the shift, and the outdoor lifestyle that draws so many of us here isn’t always as easy to access when the weather turns, which can make the offseason feel heavier than expected. I also want to share a quick update on the podcast. After a bit of a technical pause, I’m...
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Will Holmes on Surf, Community, and Why the Outer Banks Still Feels Like Magic | #42
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
Growing up on the Outer Banks shapes a person in ways that are hard to fully explain unless you’ve lived it. Today’s episode taps into that local heartbeat through someone who embodies the true spirit of this place: Will Holmes, a lifelong OBX native who grew up in Chicahauk in Southern Shores, surrounded by salt air, bikes on the paths, and a tight-knit community of friends who are still connected decades later. His story is full of nostalgia for a time when kids spent sunrise to sunset outside, knocking on doors, riding bikes, and living life without screens in their hands. Will has...
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How To Make Sure Your Real Estate Transaction Closes. Lynn Sherman with eXp Realty Outer Banks Joins Me | #41
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
More real estate deals are falling apart today than at any time in recent memory, and anyone watching the 2025 market can feel the shift. With inventory inching up, days on market stretching longer, and buyers becoming more selective, the Outer Banks are seeing a noticeable rise in contracts that don’t make it to the closing table. It’s a change that affects every seller, every buyer, and every agent working here right now. My guest today is Lynn Sherman with eXp Realty Outer Banks, my longtime business partner and a seasoned agent who’s worked through multiple market cycles along our...
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"We Are Not Broken" Allison Brown OBX Local And Life Coach Shares How To Handle Adversity And Thrive | #40
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
Some conversations stay with you, and this one will. Allison Brown has a calm, grounded way of talking about things most of us struggle to face including loss, change, and learning to trust ourselves again. She’s a life coach, mentor, and spiritual guide, as well as a wife, mom of three, and active member of the Outer Banks community. With a background in psychology from UNC Chapel Hill and advanced training in Jungian life coaching, she combines psychology, spirituality, and neuroscience to help people live into wholeness after hardship. After the sudden passing of her mother, Allison began...
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Business Leader, Wife, Mom And Top Real Estate Broker, Sarah Spencer | #39
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
There’s something about the Outer Banks that stays with you. It’s not just the beaches or the slower pace, it’s the feeling that people here are building something meaningful. They work hard, raise families, and find ways to stay close to the coast no matter what life brings. Sarah Spencer has done all of that and more. She’s managed to grow a thriving career while staying grounded in the place she loves most. Sarah is a longtime real estate broker, business owner, and community leader who’s spent nearly thirty years helping shape the local market. She built Keller Williams OBX, now...
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Why Locals Don’t Fear Hurricanes | #38
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
When hurricane season hits the Outer Banks, the question isn’t if—it’s how you’ll handle it. Today, Randy pulls back the curtain on what really happens when a major storm threatens coastal life. Forget the TV panic—Randy shares the real rhythms, risks, and resilience of a community that’s weathered decades of hurricanes. Hear firsthand what it’s like to prepare (and sometimes stay put) through roaring winds, flying debris, and unpredictable tides. Learn how locals decide whether to evacuate, what they do to protect their homes, and why new homeowners may be dangerously...
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Investing Smarter in the Outer Banks with Jonathan St. Ledger. | #37
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
The Outer Banks market is shifting—so how do you stay ahead? In this episode, Randy sits down with returning guest Jonathan St. Ledger, an investor, developer, and builder, to unpack what’s really happening with rentals, construction, and investment opportunities in 2025. Jonathan shares how he balances buying and selling in today’s climate, why tax benefits like bonus depreciation matter more than ever, and the creative ways he adds serious value to his properties (rooftop pools and dive-in movie theaters, anyone?). Key takeaways include: Why short-term rental demand is evolving, not...
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When Community Becomes Family | #36
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
What happens when life throws an unexpected tragedy your way? On today’s episode, Randy sits down with Patty McKenna, Executive Director of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, to share how neighbors step in when storms of life hit hardest—not just hurricanes, but personal crises like illness, job loss, or family emergencies. Patty tells the story of how the foundation began with one little girl’s battle with leukemia and has grown into a lifeline for countless Outer Banks families. From helping parents keep their homes during medical crises to partnering with community surf contests that...
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From Belarus to the Outer Banks | #35
Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast
What does it take to leave everything behind and rebuild a life from scratch? YuliYa Hristov moved from Belarus to the Outer Banks with little more than determination—and today she’s a thriving real estate professional, Airbnb host, and mom of two. In this episode, YuliYa shares her journey from growing up in Eastern Europe to carving out success in one of the most competitive resort towns in America. She opens up about the challenges of being an immigrant, finding her path in real estate, and balancing family with business. Key themes include: Starting fresh in a new country...
info_outlineAre short-term rentals in the Outer Banks really slowing down—or just shifting? In this episode, Randy and Lynn break down what the numbers are really saying about the first half of 2025, from unexpected inventory dips to why some rental homes are sitting empty while others stay booked solid. They reveal how guest behavior is changing, why flexibility is crucial, and what smart homeowners and agents are doing to stay ahead in a market that’s anything but predictable.
Key themes:
- Inventory is down for the first time in years
- Self-managed vs. professional property rentals
- How buyer and renter expectations are reshaping the market
Whether you're a homeowner, buyer, or curious about what makes this coastal market tick, this conversation is packed with honest insights, local know-how, and practical tips to keep your investment thriving.
Host: Randy Jones → @jonesgroupobx