Nags Head Real Estate

Nags Head is in the heart of the Outer Banks, just south of Kill Devil Hills, and is a great community to own real estate. The newly completed beach nourishment project has greatly enhanced the 10-mile stretch of beach, and now offers some of the best in the Outer Banks. Whether your preference is a condo, townhouse or single family dwelling, you can find a perfect beach home in Nags Head.

Popular Subdivisions in Nags Head

You can find a great home for sale in Nags Head no matter what your preference. The Village at Nags Head is a 400-acre community that has both Oceanside and Soundside properties. It boasts great amenities including a Scottish links style golf course on the Soundside and a beach club with an Olympic sized pool and direct beach access. If boating is your pleasure, make sure to check out the homes for sale in Old Nags Head Cove, many of which are directly on a canal. And if a condo is your preference, Heron Cove and Diamond Shoals (in S. Nags Head) offer spacious, Oceanfront condos and great locations.

Nags Head History

Nags Head is the oldest town in the Outer Banks, and was established in the early 1800's as North Carolina's first tourist colony. Like the neighboring town of Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head is still characterized by high sand dunes, visible from miles out at sea. Jockey's Ridge, the highest of the dunes, has migrated over the years from wind and erosion. In fact, the Nags Head Hotel, built in the 1840's and which was once the center of the social scene in the Outer Banks, met its demise because of the shifting sands. The hotel, which is said to have stood two stories high and be able to host 200 guests, stood at the base of Jockey's Ridge, but eventually succumbed to the shifting sands and is said to remain intact under 100 feet of sand!

How Nags Head got its name

Similar to other towns in the Outer Banks, the name Nags Head is somewhat obscure. The most famous story revolves around pirates! If you have read through any history on the Outer Banks, you'll know it has been called "The Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the historic number of shipwrecks off its shores. Pirates would use this to their advantage by tying lanterns around the necks of "old nags" with hopes of luring ships into the treacherous and shallow waters. Sea captains, seeing the bobbing lights, would believe them to be an anchored ship, until too late! The pirates would then attack and make off with their goodies!

Why buy here?

Nags Head recently completed one of the largest beach nourishment projects on the East Coast, bringing nearly 5 million cubic yards of sand to a 10 mile stretch of beach.  The result--Nags Head now has some of the best beaches in the OBX.  Additionally, there are many things to do, including golf, boating, and getting kite lessons on Jockey's Ridge.  Nags Head is also home to Jennette's Fishing Pier, now newly rebuilt and 1,000 feet long.

See the most recent listings of homes for sale in Nags Head below.