Nights in Rodanthe House in the Headlines Again after Being Listed for Sale

The famous house from the 2008 movie “Nights in Rodanthe,” (based on the book of the same name by Nicholas Sparks), is up for sale, and listing agent Frank Jakob of Cape Hatteras Realty & Construction says that it’s already garnering a ton of attention.

“We’ve had calls from all over the world, and at least half a dozen from Beverly Hills,” he says. “I expect it to go under contract shortly.”

The 1988 built home, originally known as Serendipity, has made headlines over the years for its role as a movie set, as well as for its move in 2010 to a less precarious position along the ocean. Originally, it was one of the northernmost homes on Hatteras Island, however regular oceanside flooding along the S-Curves necessitated a relocation to a safer spot.

The move, which was orchestrated across the span of several days, involved shuttling the 83,000 pound home down N.C. Highway 12, and relocating it to a spot roughly 2,500 feet away.

The January 2010 endeavor was managed by Expert House Movers, which was the same company that relocated the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1999.

“It’s probably on one the highest points in Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo now, to be honest with you,” says Jakob.

Once successfully in its new locale, the owners meticulously transformed the home to mirror its role as the Inn at Rodanthe – the fictional bed and breakfast where Diane Lane and Richard Gere meet and fall in love in the movie.

“[The owners] were very meticulous and paid attention to every little detail,” says Jakob. “It even has the name plaques from the movie – every room has its own brass plate.”

And while most of the scenes in the movie were filmed in Wilmington, the house was featured prominently in sweeping aerial shots before a fictional approaching hurricane – scenes that were appropriately filmed during a fall nor’easter.

The weekly vacation rental is represented by property management company Sun Realty, and has been a hit since it earned its Inn at Rodanthe status. “Sun has reported 52 week [per year] rentals on it,” says Jakob.

Bought by the current owners not long after the 2008 movie was released, Jakob says that the owners are selling it simply because they haven’t been able to visit it as much as they would like.

“They live in Newton, North Carolina, which is seven hours away from here, and they work [all the time], so they just don’t get a chance to enjoy it,” says Jakob.

But since being listed a little more than a week ago on March 23, the home’s new “for sale” status has garnered attention from the media and interested buyers everywhere, from as far away as Germany and South Africa.

Jakob is familiar with selling local landmarks, too. Since completing his first Outer Banks real estate deal in 1970, Jakob says that he has been the broker for the sale of Jennette’s Fishing Pier to state of North Carolina in 2002, the former Pilot House in Buxton, and the Berkley Manor in Ocracoke.

“We sell a lifestyle down here. Besides being an oceanfront home, it would be a great asset [for rentals]” says Jakob. “And the home is an icon, like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – It’s like selling Jimi Hendrix’s guitar.”

The home is currently still on the market, as of April 3 anyways, with an asking price of $1,250,000.

For More Information on the Listing click here.

Serendipity is returning to its movie-star status – March 19, 2010
http://islandfreepress.org/2010Archives/03.19.2010-SerendipityIsReturningToMovieStarStatus.html

Serendipity arrives at its new home in Rodanthe….with video and slide show – Jan. 18, 2010
http://islandfreepress.org/2010Archives/01.18.2010-SerendipityArrivesAtItsNewHome.html

Serendipity moves but not all the way to its new home with video and slide show – January 15, 2010
http://islandfreepress.org/2010Archives/01.15.2010-SerendipityMovedButNotAllTheWayToItsNewHome.html

The deal is sealed and Serendipity will be on the move – Jan. 6, 2010
http://www.islandfreepress.org/2010Archives/01.06.2010-TheDealIsSealedAndSerendipityWillBeOnTheMove.html

Serendipity has a suitor who proposes to move it and restore it – Dec. 18, 2009
http://www.islandfreepress.org/2009Archives/12.18.2009-SerendipityHasASuitorWhoProposesToMoveItAndRestoreIt.html

The filming of ‘Nights in Rodanthe’: Hollywood came to Hatteras – Sept. 23, 2008
http://islandfreepress.org/2008Archives/09.23.2008-TheFilmingfNightsInRodantheHollywoodCameToHatterasIsland.html

The mess at Mirlo Beach – Nov. 29, 2007
http://www.islandfreepress.org/Archives/2007.11.29-ShootingTheBreeze-MirloBeach.html