In the quiet farm country of Bertie County, North Carolina, a century old farmhouse has come back on the market with a price that reflects just how much this corner of Eastern North Carolina has changed in the past decade. Located at 729 Old Merry Hill Road in Merry Hill, this 1902 built home sits on 2.69 acres and is listed at $349,000, or roughly $96 per square foot.
The property last changed hands in 2015 for $156,000, meaning this listing represents an increase of more than 123 percent in just over a decade, a jump that says as much about the surrounding region’s growth as it does about the house itself.
A Classic Eastern Carolina Farmhouse
The home spans 3,620 square feet and is described by the listing as offering four or five bedrooms, depending on how the space is configured, along with two full bathrooms and one half bath. Original wood flooring runs throughout, and the layout reflects what the listing calls the simplicity of rural Eastern North Carolina architecture from the early 1900s.
Outside, the home has a wrap around porch, a fireplace with a wood stove, mature trees, and wide open skies that the listing leans on heavily as part of the property’s appeal. There is covered parking with a one car garage and a carport, plus a separate storage building. The roof is metal, the foundation is a crawl space, and the home is served by a septic tank and county water. Heating comes from propane or gas, with central air and ceiling fans keeping the home comfortable through the humid Eastern Carolina summers.
One detail worth flagging for buyers: only 2,069 of the home’s 3,620 square feet currently have central HVAC, while the remaining 1,453 square feet is conditioned using portable methods such as window units or space heaters. That is a meaningful factor to price into any renovation budget, since extending central climate control to the rest of the house is a common project for a home of this era.
Recently A Hunting Camp
The listing notes that the property has recently been used as a seasonal hunting camp, which is common for older farmhouses in this part of the state given the abundance of nearby waterfowl and deer hunting land along the Albemarle Sound. For a buyer who wants a full time residence, this history suggests the home has been lightly occupied in recent years, which can be a plus for structural preservation but may also mean deferred maintenance in places a hunting camp tenant would not have prioritized.
Land And Location
The 2.69 acre lot offers space for gardening, small scale homesteading, or simply the privacy that comes with rural acreage. Merry Hill sits close to the Albemarle Sound and within a short drive of historic Edenton, one of the oldest towns in North Carolina and a popular draw for its waterfront downtown, colonial era architecture, and boating culture. Buyers drawn to this listing are often looking at Edenton’s charm and the Sound’s recreational water access as much as the house itself.
The tradeoff is walkability and daily convenience. The property carries a Walk Score of 0 out of 100, meaning it is entirely car dependent, and a Bike Score of 31 out of 100. This is farm country, and daily errands, schools, and services will require driving.
Financing Realities For A Property Like This
A pre-1940s farmhouse with a mixed HVAC setup and a septic system is still very financeable, but buyers should expect a lender to ask more questions than they would for a newer build. Conventional financing works well here if the home passes a standard appraisal and inspection, since the structure appears intact and the systems in place, even if only partially updated. USDA loans are worth strong consideration in this area, since Bertie County is rural and many properties like this one qualify for USDA’s zero down payment rural development program, which can be a significant advantage for eligible buyers. FHA financing is also an option, though FHA appraisers will look closely at the portable HVAC coverage and may require repairs or upgrades to meet minimum property standards before closing. For a buyer planning to extend central air throughout the home or make other updates, an FHA 203k renovation loan or a conventional HomeStyle renovation loan would allow the purchase price and renovation costs to be rolled into a single loan. VA financing is available to eligible veterans and would follow similar minimum property requirements as FHA, with particular attention paid to the home’s heating and cooling coverage across all living space.
Insurance Considerations
Given the property’s proximity to the Albemarle Sound, buyers should check the parcel’s FEMA flood zone status early in the process, since low lying land near the Sound in this part of North Carolina can carry flood insurance requirements even a few miles inland. A wood stove and fireplace should also be flagged to any homeowners insurance carrier, along with the age of the roof and any updates made to electrical or plumbing systems, since insurers often ask for documentation on these items for a home built in 1902.
Due Diligence Checklist For Interested Buyers
Buyers considering this property should have a licensed home inspector evaluate the crawl space foundation, given the home’s age and the humidity common to Eastern North Carolina. It is worth getting a clear cost estimate for extending central HVAC to the remaining 1,453 square feet of the home. Confirm the septic system’s age, capacity, and most recent inspection, along with the well or county water connection details. Check the property’s flood zone designation and get a flood insurance quote before writing an offer. Ask for documentation on the roof’s age and condition, and have an electrician review the wiring given the home’s early 1900s construction, since older homes in this region often carry a mix of updated and original electrical systems. Finally, confirm the tax assessment and review the full price history to understand what, if anything, has been done to the home since its 2015 sale.
From the Zillow listing:
Local Market Context
Bertie County and the towns surrounding the Albemarle Sound have seen renewed interest from buyers looking for larger lots, water proximity, and small town character within reach of Edenton and the broader Inner Banks region. Farmhouses like this one, with genuine early 1900s character and real acreage, are increasingly hard to find at this price point as renovated properties in the area command significantly more. For a buyer willing to finish the HVAC work and put some sweat equity into the details, this is a rare chance to own a piece of Eastern Carolina history on nearly three acres, minutes from the water.
From the Zillow listing:
