North End Virginia Beach Guide: Oceanfront Beach Homes

The North End is one of the oldest and most established oceanfront areas in Virginia Beach. Stretching north from around 42nd Street to 89th Street along the Atlantic Ocean, the North End is where the resort strip gives way to quiet, tree lined residential streets, a locals beach instead of a tourist boardwalk, and homes that range from historic cottages to oceanfront estates. Every home in the North End is within walking distance of the beach, and the area is home to several of the most desirable neighborhoods in the entire city, from the deep water peninsula of Bay Colony to the walk to the ocean enclave of Princess Anne Hills. For buyers who want to live at the oceanfront rather than visit it, on a quieter stretch of sand with a genuine neighborhood feel, the North End is one of the defining areas of Virginia Beach.

If you are searching Virginia Beach for an oceanfront or oceanside home on a quieter, more residential stretch of the beach, the North End belongs at the top of your list. This guide covers where the North End sits, what makes it different, the neighborhoods within it, current pricing, schools, and what buyers should know before writing an offer.

Where the North End Sits in Virginia Beach

The North End is the oceanfront residential area of Virginia Beach that runs north of the main resort strip. It stretches roughly from 42nd Street, where Atlantic Avenue splits near the historic Cavalier Hotel, north to 89th Street at the edge of First Landing State Park, in zip code 23451. The area sits on either side of Atlantic Avenue, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Crystal Lake, Linkhorn Bay, and the North End neighborhoods to the west.

The defining geographic feature is simple: every home in the North End is within walking distance of the beach. Homes east of Atlantic Avenue often sit on oceanfront or oceanside lots with direct beach access, while homes to the west enjoy short walks to the sand along with proximity to Crystal Lake and Linkhorn Bay. At the end of 64th Street, a boat launch provides access to the Narrows, the waterway that links Broad Bay with Linkhorn Bay, opening up the entire Lynnhaven system for boaters.

The North End is bounded by First Landing State Park and Fort Story to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Linkhorn Bay and Crystal Lake to the west, and the resort strip to the south. That position, oceanfront but set apart from the tourist center, is the heart of its appeal.

The Locals Beach

One thing sets the North End apart from the rest of the Virginia Beach oceanfront more than anything else: this is the locals beach.

Unlike the bustling resort strip to the south, with its boardwalk, hotels, and summer crowds, the North End beaches are quieter and more residential. Public beach accesses with ramps run from roughly 43rd Street to 89th Street, and the stretch is known among residents as a calmer, more local alternative to the Oceanfront. There is no boardwalk here, no high rise hotels, just wide sand, the Atlantic, and the residential streets behind it. For many North End residents, that quieter beach is the entire reason they choose the area.

A Quick History of the North End

The North End is one of the oldest established parts of oceanfront Virginia Beach, with roots reaching back over a century. The area began developing as an oceanfront residential community in the early twentieth century, with sources placing its founding around 1917, well before Virginia Beach became the large resort city it is today.

That long history shows in the character of the area. The North End retains historic beach cottages alongside decades of later construction and, more recently, large custom homes and rebuilds. Recent sales have included homes originally built in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s selling alongside brand new construction, so a century old cottage and a newly built custom home can sit on the same block. The tree lined streets and the walk to the beach unify it all. The North End also has a well established civic league that has represented the community for generations.

The Neighborhoods of the North End

One of the most important things to understand about the North End is that it is not a single subdivision. It is a large oceanfront area that contains several distinct and highly desirable neighborhoods, each with its own character and price point. Understanding these neighborhoods is the key to finding the right home in the North End.

Bay Colony is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the entire city, a peninsula reaching into Linkhorn Bay with deep water docks, stately homes, and a history reaching back to a 1607 landing. Birdneck Point is a deep water peninsula neighborhood around the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club, with custom homes and genuine deep water access to Linkhorn Bay. Princess Anne Hills offers the rare combination of deep water access to the Lynnhaven Inlet and a short walk to the ocean beach, in a quiet enclave of custom homes.

Alongside these established neighborhoods, the oceanfront and oceanside streets of the North End themselves, running block by block from the low 40s up to the high 80s, hold everything from historic cottages to condominiums to large custom beach homes. Together, these neighborhoods and streets make the North End one of the deepest and most varied luxury markets in Virginia Beach.

What Makes the North End Different

Several things set the North End apart in Virginia Beach:

Walk to the beach from every home.The single defining feature of the North End is that every home is within walking distance of the Atlantic. For buyers who want to live at the beach rather than near it, few areas anywhere match it.

A quieter locals beach.The North End beaches are residential and calm compared to the resort strip, with no boardwalk or high rise hotels, just sand, ocean, and neighborhood.

One of the oldest and most established oceanfront areas. With roots reaching back over a century, the North End carries a depth of history and an established character that newer areas cannot replicate.

A range from cottages to estates.The North End spans historic beach cottages, condominiums, large custom homes, and oceanfront estates, offering a genuine range of options within a single oceanfront area.

Multiple prestigious neighborhoods in one area. The North End contains several of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city, including Bay Colony, Birdneck Point, and Princess Anne Hills, giving buyers real choice within one location.

Boating and bay access alongside the ocean. Beyond the Atlantic, the 64th Street boat launch and the neighborhoods along Linkhorn Bay and Crystal Lake give the North End genuine boating access to the Lynnhaven system, a rare pairing of ocean and bay.

North End Home Prices

The North End is one of the deepest and most varied luxury markets in Virginia Beach. Based on recent sales along the North End streets, prices have run from about $360,000 for an entry level condominium up to roughly $7 million for a premier oceanfront estate, with a median around [median from MLS]. The specific position, whether a home sits directly on the ocean, on an oceanside street, or west toward the bay, drives much of that enormous range.

Condominiums and entry level (roughly $360K to $900K)

The most accessible ownership in the North End, generally condominiums and smaller attached homes, offering a foothold in a walk to the beach location.

Established homes and cottages (roughly $900K to $1.6M)

Established single family homes and the North End's historic beach cottages, some dating to the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, on the tree lined streets between Atlantic Avenue and the ocean.

Core custom and rebuilt homes (roughly $1.6M to $3.5M)

The active heart of the single family market, including extensive new construction. Recent new build attached and detached homes from 2024 through 2026 have sold from roughly $1.79 million to $2.9 million, reshaping the streetscape block by block.

Oceanfront estates ($3.5M to $7M and above)

The premier tier, concentrated on Oceanfront Avenue, where homes sit directly on the sand. Recent oceanfront sales have reached from roughly $3.5 million to $7 million, the top of the North End market.

Because the North End spans condominiums, historic cottages, custom rebuilds, and oceanfront estates, pricing varies dramatically by position and water access. For a precise picture, it helps to look at the individual neighborhoods within the North End, since each carries its own market. Bay Colony recently showed a median around $1.8 million, Princess Anne Hills has seen sales from the mid $800,000s past $7 million, and Birdneck Point spans from roughly $450,000 to $2.5 million and above. Always review recent comparable sales for the specific neighborhood, street, and water position when evaluating a home.

Schools Serving the North End

The North End falls within the Virginia Beach City Public Schools attendance zone and generally feeds Frank W. Cox High School, one of the well regarded high schools in the northern part of the city. Elementary and middle school assignments vary by address across the area.

Because the North End is large and school assignments can vary by street, always verify the specific elementary, middle, and high school assignments using the Virginia Beach City Public Schools street level lookup before writing an offer.

Lifestyle and Amenities

The North End combines an oceanfront lifestyle with a residential setting and access to the wider Virginia Beach area.

The North End beaches. The quieter locals beach, with public accesses from roughly 43rd to 89th Streets, is the heart of North End life.

First Landing State Park.The 2,888 acre First Landing State Park sits at the northern edge of the area, offering more than 19 miles of trails, a Chesapeake Bay beach, and paddling, a short distance from any North End address.

The Bayfront Trolley. Seasonally, Route 35, the Bayfront Trolley, runs from mid May through Labor Day, connecting the Oceanfront, First Landing State Park, Fort Story, Shore Drive, the Chesapeake Bay beaches, and the North End beaches.

Boating access. The 64th Street boat launch opens onto the Narrows and the Lynnhaven system, and marinas nearby offer slips and storage.

Oceanfront dining nearby. Dining options near the North End include oceanfront spots along Atlantic Avenue and, a short drive away, the Shore Drive corridor and the Laskin Road restaurants and shops.

The resort strip and boardwalk. The full Virginia Beach resort area, with its boardwalk, dining, and entertainment, sits just south for residents who want it, close enough to enjoy and far enough to escape.

Commute Notes for the North End

The North End sits at the oceanfront with the following approximate drive times in good traffic.

Virginia Beach Oceanfront and boardwalk: a short drive or bike ride south
First Landing State Park: adjacent at the northern edge
Hilltop and Laskin Road shopping:approximately 10 minutes inland
JEB Little Creek-Fort Story:approximately 10 to 15 minutes
Virginia Beach Town Center:approximately 15 minutes
Norfolk International Airport:approximately 25 to 35 minutes
Naval Station Norfolk:approximately 30 minutes, no tunnel

Who Buys in the North End

Common buyer profiles for the North End include buyers who want to live at the oceanfront on a quieter, residential stretch of beach, luxury and executive buyers seeking oceanfront or deep water estates, boaters who want both ocean and bay access, buyers drawn to the historic cottages and the established character of the area, second home buyers who want a walk to the beach property, and buyers who want a prestigious oceanfront address within one of the city's most established areas.

The buyer pool is broad because the North End spans condominiums, cottages, custom homes, and estates. The shared appeal is the oceanfront location, the quieter locals beach, and the walk to the sand from every home.

What Buyers Should Know Before Writing an Offer in the North End

Identify the right neighborhood and position

The North End contains several distinct neighborhoods and a wide range of streets, each with its own character, price point, and water access. Determine whether you are looking at an oceanfront lot, an oceanside street, a deep water neighborhood like Bay Colony or Birdneck Point, or a walk to the beach enclave like Princess Anne Hills, since each is a different market.

Oceanfront and waterfront due diligence

For oceanfront homes, understand the dune and beach dynamics, any relevant setbacks, and the exposure to storms and erosion. For deep water and bay homes, walk the dock and bulkhead at low tide and verify the water access. Pull a flood insurance quote early for any home in the area.

Flood zones and insurance

As an oceanfront and waterfront area, much of the North End sits in FEMA flood zones. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood, and in Virginia Beach wind and flood are typically separate coverages. Review the flood designation and elevation for the specific home and pull an actual quote during due diligence.

Inspect according to the era

The North End spans historic cottages over a century old, decades of later construction, and brand new custom builds. Inspect according to the age of the specific home, and pay particular attention to older cottages and to the quality and permitting of any rebuilds.

Verify the school assignment at the address level

Always verify the specific elementary, middle, and high school assignments using the Virginia Beach City Public Schools street level lookup before writing an offer.

North End FAQ

Where is the North End in Virginia Beach?

The North End is the oceanfront residential area of Virginia Beach running roughly from 42nd Street, near the historic Cavalier Hotel, north to 89th Street at First Landing State Park, in zip code 23451. It sits on either side of Atlantic Avenue, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Linkhorn Bay and Crystal Lake to the west.

What makes the North End different from the Oceanfront?

The North End is residential and quieter, a locals beach with no boardwalk or high rise hotels, while the main Oceanfront to the south is the resort strip with the boardwalk, hotels, and summer crowds. The North End offers oceanfront living in a neighborhood setting rather than a tourist center.

How much do homes cost in the North End?

Based on recent sales, homes along the North End streets have run from about $360,000 for an entry level condominium up to roughly $7 million for a premier oceanfront estate. Condominiums and entry level homes run roughly $360,000 to $900,000, established homes and cottages roughly $900,000 to $1.6 million, core custom and rebuilt homes roughly $1.6 million to $3.5 million, and oceanfront estates from $3.5 million to $7 million and above. Pricing depends heavily on the specific position and water access.

What neighborhoods are in the North End?

The North End contains several distinct neighborhoods, including Bay Colony, a prestigious Linkhorn Bay peninsula, Birdneck Point, a deep water neighborhood around the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club, and Princess Anne Hills, which pairs deep water access with a walk to the ocean. The oceanfront and oceanside streets themselves also hold cottages, condominiums, and custom beach homes.

Are North End homes on the beach?

Every home in the North End is within walking distance of the beach. Homes east of Atlantic Avenue often sit on oceanfront or oceanside lots with direct beach access, while homes to the west are a short walk to the sand and often near Linkhorn Bay or Crystal Lake.

Is the North End good for boaters?

Yes. In addition to the ocean, the 64th Street boat launch opens onto the Narrows, which links Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay, and several North End neighborhoods sit on Linkhorn Bay and Crystal Lake with deep water access. It is one of the few areas offering both ocean and bay access.

What schools serve the North End?

The North End generally feeds Frank W. Cox High School, with elementary and middle assignments varying by address. Always verify the specific assignments using the Virginia Beach City Public Schools street level lookup.

How old is the North End?

The North End is one of the oldest established oceanfront areas in Virginia Beach, with development dating back over a century, to around 1917. It retains historic beach cottages alongside later construction and modern custom homes.

About the Author

John King is a Navy veteran and licensed real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty, serving Hampton Roads including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. Known for his straightforward approach and market expertise.

📞 757-270-3994 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.757King.com

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