Boater's Paradise
Deep water and stunning sunsets make this a heavenly home
BY WHITNEY JOSEPH
It’s a long way from Fort Pierce to Brighton, New York. But that’s not stopping Dave and Deborah Underhill from packing up their belongings and saying adieu to their beautiful waterfront home on South Hutchinson Island. Despite enjoying long days on the open water and nights relaxing in the Jacuzzi, family ties are pulling them north. The couple has opted to spend their golden years watching their two grandsons grow up within arms’ reach rather than 1,300 miles away.
The Underhills say they’re excited about moving closer to their two daughters and their families in Brighton, even if it’s bittersweet to sell their 2,379-square-foot, lagoon-front property. Handling the sale is Fort Pierce Realtor Joanne McCurdy of McCurdy & Co. Realty, a firm with 19 agents and listings throughout the Treasure Coast.
McCurdy described the Underhills’ move-in ready home — “completely upgraded with the most high-end finishes”— as an example of a “true, Florida, coastal-living oasis.”
The most impressive feature of this listing is plain to see. “As soon as you walk in the door, you say, ‘Oh my gosh, look at this view,’” she says. “And just the quality of the construction — all the upgrades and the furniture. The furniture is negotiable; every piece was chosen by an interior designer.”
Another great selling point of this one-floor dream home? It’s not only got a 16,000-pound boat lift and 48-foot dock, but the water depth is 9 feet plus. McCurdy says that’s unusual in these parts. “You’re normally lucky to get 5 to 6 feet, so this is a boater’s paradise. It is directly on the deep-water Intracoastal so, if you are a boater, it can be heaven. I sold a house down the road for $1.8 million with no dock, a couple of years ago, and it had nothing like these upgrades. A different house closed for $1.4 million, with no pool and no dock — nothing. So, this price is very good.”
Underhill says that the things he and his wife treasured most about their home revolved around the water. “We are avid boaters and love the access to the Indian River and Atlantic Ocean,” he says. “We love the beautiful sunsets over the lagoon. It truly is a slice of paradise.”
CHARMING MIX
McCurdy says others are beginning to realize that Fort Pierce may indeed be paradise on earth, as it’s become a hot market in the real estate world. “Fort Pierce is becoming the spot for our waterfront community because we do have deep water,” she says. “We have the mega yachts coming in for Derecktor Fort Pierce Yachts, because they can bring them right up to our waterway — huge mega yachts that cost $60 million to refurbish them. You don’t have this kind of water in Stuart or even Vero.”
Derecktor received a $37 million 30-year contract in 2019 from St. Lucie County to run a mega-yacht repair center at a 12-acre section of county-owned land at the Port of Fort Pierce.
“There have been huge changes in Fort Pierce: the downtown, the waterfront community,” says McCurdy. “We sell a lot of ranches and equestrian places, also. There are a lot of cattle ranchers and horse ranchers — and then there’s the waterfront.
“PSL doesn’t have a downtown or waterfront,” she points out. “We host all of the events in downtown Fort Pierce: all of the art, all of the culture, all of the theater. We have the historic waterfront, and everybody wants to come here. We have one of the largest farmers markets, too.”
The Underhills’ home has the lagoon in the backyard and is a mere three blocks from the beach. The nearby historic downtown, featuring original Florida architecture from generations ago, broadens the city’s appeal.
“We are still a small town, so we don’t have a lot of inventory,” adds McCurdy. “If something comes up, it goes pretty quickly. Unlike other high-end properties in Port St. Lucie, for instance — like in the PGA development and in Tradition — Fort Pierce has the acreage. A lot of people want the acreage, so they have to come to Fort Pierce. If you want to be in this county and on the water, it’s Fort Pierce or Indian River Drive.”
SPECIAL PROPERTY
Underhill outlined why he and his wife loved their abode so much, and what they’ll miss most while living up in New York.
“The beauty of the lagoon, especially during high tides — clean, clear water,” he says. “There are spectacular wide-water sunsets. We will also, though, really miss our sunset cruises, our wonderful neighbors, fishing off the dock and evenings in the hot tub. After 22 years in St. Lucie County, we hate to leave, but our family comes first.”
While the Underhills will surely be missed on South Hutchinson Island, the new family that moves into 1713 Bayshore Drive will likely adapt quickly to the 3-bedroom 2.5-bathroom home. It’s outfitted with top amenities, including a custom high-end kitchen with induction cooking, a pot filler at the coffee station, sea-glass counter tops and wood cabinetry. The private den has its own half bath. Next to the saltwater, heated pool with sundeck, stools and an outdoor shower, there’s a hot tub and tiki hut with a sunset view over the water.
McCurdy points out that “it’s all on non-restricted lots, where you can have an RV or you can have boats, or you can have a workshop.”
The home was built in 1971 but has been completely updated. There’s a new metal roof and all new impact windows and doors. There’s also a brand-new, 100-foot seawall, which cost $100/foot.
“I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been doing this since 1986, all on the Treasure Coast,” McCurdy says. “It’s not often at all that something like this is on the market. I’ve had numerous showings to people waiting for something like this to come on the market. If you’re a boater, it’s very hard for something like this to come on the market, with no fixed bridges. You can be right in the ocean in 10 minutes.”
McCurdy expects the home to sell quickly — the asking price is $1,640,000. Most waterfront properties — especially one in such great condition with so many amenities and at a fair price — don’t last for long on the open market.
“It probably will go this week,” she said. “Five years ago, it might have been $900K; five years from now definitely it will be over $2 million.”
See the original article in print publication
Dec. 21, 2023
