
North Carolina Fixer-Upper for $115,000: Historic Farmhouse, Pine Timber and Creek Access
Historic North Carolina Farmhouse on 12.99 Acres With Creek Frontage Listed for $115,000
A historic farmhouse, nearly 13 acres of rural land, standing pine timber, and direct access to Jones Creek are among the features of a property listed at $115,000 in Scranton, North Carolina. Located at 1934 Loop Road in Hyde County, the property offers a combination of rural acreage, recreational potential, and a home that may appeal to buyers interested in a substantial restoration project.
The asking price was reduced from $129,000 to $119,000 before dropping again to $115,000 on September 3, 2026. The total reduction of $14,000 represents approximately 10.85% off the original asking price.
The property encompasses approximately 12.99 acres across two contiguous tracts and includes an early-1900s farmhouse with approximately 1,600 square feet of reported livable space. The house is currently unheated, with its former wood stoves removed, meaning buyers will need to evaluate the cost and feasibility of installing a permanent heating system before treating it as a move-in-ready residence.
For someone seeking a rural property with water access and room for outdoor recreation, the land may be a major part of the appeal. However, the home’s condition, utility systems, and potential renovation expenses will be important considerations before making an offer.
Property Details and Asking Price
The property is located in the coastal plains of eastern North Carolina, in a rural area of Hyde County. Its combination of residential acreage, a historic house, and creek frontage distinguishes it from a vacant-land purchase.
Key property details include:
- Asking price: $115,000
- Location: 1934 Loop Road, Scranton, NC 27875
- County: Hyde County
- Total acreage: Approximately 12.99 acres
- House: Early-1900s farmhouse
- Reported living area: Approximately 1,600 square feet
- Bedrooms: Three upstairs sleeping spaces, according to the supplied listing information
- Bathrooms: One
- Additional feature: Approximately 165-square-foot screened porch
- Water: Reported public water connection
- Electricity: Electrical service reported available or connected on site
- Land features: Approximately 7 to 9 acres of pine timber
- Water frontage: Jones Creek
- Road frontage: Approximately 725 feet along Loop Road
- Reported annual property taxes: $1,135 for the stated current tax figure
At the current asking price, the property works out to approximately $8,853 per acre. Dividing the asking price by the reported 1,600 square feet of living space produces a figure of approximately $71.88 per square foot, although that calculation does not account for the separate value of the acreage, creek access, or the cost of restoring the house.
These figures provide a starting point for comparison, rather than proof that the property is underpriced. Buyers would need comparable local sales, verified parcel information, and an inspection of the farmhouse to establish a more reliable valuation.
An Early-1900s Farmhouse That Needs Attention
The farmhouse is one of the property’s defining features, but its reported unheated condition makes it a project rather than a straightforward move-in-ready home.
The supplied details describe approximately 1,600 square feet of living space, three upstairs sleeping areas, two living rooms, one bathroom, and a screened porch. The existing layout could offer a starting point for a renovation, subject to confirmation of the home’s actual floor plan and condition.
The absence of a permanent heating system is a particularly important issue. The former wood stoves have reportedly been removed, so prospective buyers should determine what equipment remains, whether existing ductwork is present, and what modifications would be necessary to install a suitable heating system.
A complete inspection should also examine the roof, foundation, framing, floors, exterior siding, windows, plumbing, and electrical system. Older rural houses can have hidden deterioration that is not apparent from exterior photographs or a basic listing description.
The house’s age may appeal to buyers who appreciate older architecture, but age alone does not establish historic significance or guarantee that original materials remain. Anyone interested in preserving its character should document the existing features before beginning work and obtain specialist advice where necessary.
Nearly 13 Acres With Pine Timber
The land represents another substantial component of the offering. The property reportedly includes approximately 12.99 acres across two contiguous tracts, with an estimated 7 to 9 acres of pine timber.
For buyers interested in rural recreation, a larger parcel can provide room for walking trails, wildlife observation, outdoor activities, and a private base for spending time away from more developed areas. The actual uses available will depend on the land’s physical conditions, applicable regulations, access, and any environmental restrictions.
The standing pine timber may also have commercial value. However, the supplied estimate of $1,200 to $2,000 per acre should not be treated as a confirmed timber valuation. Tree species, age, diameter, density, timber quality, access for harvesting equipment, transportation costs, and local mill prices all affect what a timber buyer might pay.
A professional timber cruise would help establish the quantity and quality of the trees and whether harvesting is economically practical. Buyers should also investigate whether timber rights or other interests are subject to existing agreements.
Harvesting timber is not automatically a profitable way to reduce the purchase price. Logging expenses, access limitations, market conditions, and potential impacts on the land must be considered before making any financial assumptions.
Jones Creek Offers Recreational Potential
Direct access to Jones Creek is another feature that may attract prospective buyers. The creek provides a potential setting for paddling, fishing, wildlife observation, and other water-based activities, depending on access conditions and applicable rules.
The property information describes a connection through the surrounding waterways toward Slade Creek, the Pungo River, and the Pamlico Sound. Buyers interested in using a boat should independently confirm the route, water depth, seasonal conditions, tidal influences, and whether the property’s actual shoreline provides suitable access for their intended vessel.
Water frontage can add recreational appeal, but it also warrants careful investigation. Low-lying coastal areas may be exposed to flooding, erosion, drainage problems, and changing water levels. The presence of creek frontage does not establish that a parcel is suitable for building additional structures or that every part of the property is accessible year-round.
Anyone planning to use the property for waterfowl hunting should verify applicable hunting seasons, licensing requirements, access restrictions, and local regulations. Wildlife presence and hunting opportunities should not be assumed solely from the property’s location.
Public Water and Electrical Service
The reported public water connection and electrical service may be useful advantages for a buyer undertaking a renovation. Establishing utilities on undeveloped rural land can be expensive, so existing infrastructure deserves consideration when comparing this property with vacant parcels.
Nevertheless, buyers should confirm that each service is active, functional, and available to the intended structures. The existence of a connection does not establish the condition of the home’s internal wiring or plumbing, nor does it guarantee that the current systems meet modern requirements.
The status of the septic system is especially important. The supplied information does not establish whether the existing system is operational, properly permitted, or suitable for continued residential use. A qualified local professional and the appropriate county department should determine what inspections or approvals are required.
Before estimating renovation costs, buyers should obtain written quotations from licensed contractors and establish whether any permits or system upgrades will be necessary.
The Price Has Fallen by $14,000
The listing history provided for the property shows an initial asking price of $129,000 on August 13, 2026. It reportedly went under contract on August 18, returned to the market on August 21, dropped to $119,000 on August 27, and reached $115,000 on September 3.
That represents a total reduction of $14,000, or approximately 10.85%, from the original asking price.
The initial contract indicates that a buyer expressed sufficient interest to proceed, but the subsequent return to the market does not establish why the transaction ended. The reason could involve inspection findings, financing, title matters, buyer circumstances, or other issues; the supplied information does not confirm the cause.
Prospective buyers should ask the listing agent for any available explanation and review relevant disclosures. A previous contract termination is not necessarily evidence of a serious property defect, but it is a sensible reason to investigate unresolved concerns before waiving contingencies.
The two subsequent price reductions may bring the property within reach of a wider group of buyers, but the lower asking price should be assessed alongside the expected cost of rehabilitation and any work required to make the home legally and practically usable.
What Could Renovation Cost?
Restoring an older farmhouse can involve a wide range of expenses, particularly when the heating system, electrical service, plumbing, bathroom, kitchen, and structural components require attention.
The preliminary budget supplied for this property includes the following estimates:
| Renovation item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Heating and heat-pump installation | $9,000–$15,000 |
| Electrical upgrades and rewiring | $7,500–$13,500 |
| Septic repairs or replacement | $8,000–$14,000 |
| Plumbing updates | $6,000–$11,000 |
| Kitchen and bathroom work | $12,000–$22,000 |
| Roofing, siding, and structural repairs | $8,500–$18,000 |
| Interior refinishing | $6,000–$12,000 |
These are preliminary figures, not contractor bids or verified costs for the property. The actual scope of work could be significantly different after inspections, and the budget may not include every required expense, such as permits, professional fees, environmental work, unexpected structural repairs, or temporary accommodations.
There is also a mathematical issue with the supplied total: adding the listed renovation ranges produces approximately $57,000 to $105,500. Including the $115,000 purchase price gives a preliminary combined total of $172,000 to $220,500, before closing costs, financing expenses, and any additional work not covered by the estimates.
That range should therefore be regarded as an initial planning scenario rather than a reliable prediction of the final investment.
Before purchasing, buyers should prioritize a structural inspection, an electrical assessment, plumbing evaluation, septic inspection, and a heating-system plan. Those findings will help determine whether the project is manageable and whether the house can be restored within the buyer’s budget.
Property Taxes and Ongoing Costs
The supplied information reports annual property taxes of $1,135, equivalent to approximately $94.58 per month. It also lists a county assessed value of $103,819.
The tax history provided indicates that the property’s assessed value increased substantially in 2024. However, the figures in the supplied tables do not fully reconcile: the 2024 tax bill is listed as $910 in one table, while the headline annual tax figure is $1,135. Buyers should obtain the latest official tax bill and confirm the applicable assessment and tax rates with the county.
Property taxes are only one part of the cost of ownership. Insurance, utilities, maintenance, tree management, road access, repairs, and possible flood insurance could add considerably to annual expenses.
Given the property’s coastal location and creek frontage, checking flood maps and obtaining insurance quotations before closing would be particularly prudent. Buyers should not assume that flood insurance is either required or unnecessary until the property’s flood designation, lender requirements, and insurance options have been verified.
Important Due Diligence Before Making an Offer
The property may appeal to several types of buyers, but its condition and permitted uses need to be established before its potential can be evaluated accurately.
Recommended checks include:
- Investigate the previous contract termination. Ask the listing agent for any available information about why the earlier transaction ended and whether relevant inspection reports or disclosures exist.
- Inspect the farmhouse. Obtain a qualified assessment of the roof, foundation, framing, floors, plumbing, electrical system, and other major components.
- Verify heating requirements. Request professional advice and written estimates for installing a permanent heating system appropriate for the house.
- Confirm septic status. Establish the system’s location, condition, permitting history, and suitability for continued use.
- Check flood and drainage conditions. Review official flood maps, investigate elevation information, and obtain insurance quotations where appropriate.
- Confirm boundaries and access. Verify the acreage, the relationship between the two tracts, road frontage, legal access, and any easements or restrictions.
- Evaluate the timber independently. Hire a qualified forestry professional to estimate timber volume, quality, and potential net proceeds after harvesting expenses.
- Verify creek access and land-use restrictions. Investigate shoreline conditions, environmental constraints, hunting regulations, and any limitations on building or altering the land.
- Reconcile taxes and property records. Obtain current county records and confirm that the parcel information and tax figures correspond to the property being purchased.
These steps are especially important for a property whose value depends partly on land, timber, water access, and a house requiring substantial work.
Who Might Be Interested in This Property?
The combination of rural acreage and creek frontage may suit buyers who prioritize outdoor recreation over immediate residential convenience. Hunters, paddling enthusiasts, and people looking for a rural retreat may find the setting appealing, provided the property supports their intended activities.
It could also attract restoration-minded buyers who want to renovate an older farmhouse while retaining the surrounding acreage. However, this type of project requires sufficient financial reserves, realistic expectations, and a willingness to manage inspections and repairs.
Land buyers interested in holding timber acreage may also want to investigate the opportunity, although the timber’s actual value and harvesting potential need independent confirmation.
The property may be less suitable for someone seeking a fully updated home that qualifies easily for conventional mortgage financing. The unheated condition and unknown state of the major systems create additional hurdles that should be resolved before assuming the property can be occupied or financed under standard terms.
Final Thoughts
Listed for $115,000, 1934 Loop Road offers approximately 12.99 acres in rural Hyde County, North Carolina, with an early-1900s farmhouse, reported public water and electrical service, pine timber, and direct access to Jones Creek.
The $14,000 price reduction may encourage buyers to take a closer look, but the central question is whether the land and recreational features justify the purchase price once the farmhouse’s actual condition and rehabilitation costs are known.
The strongest approach is to evaluate the property in separate parts: the land, the creek frontage, the timber, and the house. Each has potential value, but none should be assigned a firm financial benefit without appropriate verification.
For a buyer prepared to undertake a careful restoration and interested in rural coastal acreage, the property may warrant further investigation. For anyone seeking a low-maintenance, move-in-ready residence, the unheated farmhouse and unresolved due diligence questions make a detailed inspection and realistic budget essential before proceeding.
































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