Sun Surf Realty
Sun-Surf Realty is a family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage firm serving the Crystal Coast of North Carolina since 1978. It manages vacation properties for homeowners and brokers real estate sales across Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path, and surrounding Bogue Banks communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersEmerald Isle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Sun Surf Realty does
Sun-Surf Realty is a family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage firm headquartered at 7701 Emerald Drive in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Founded in 1978 as Singleton Realty and subsequently renamed after purchase by Alice Smith, the company has operated continuously on the Crystal Coast for nearly five decades. Warren and Tracey Chesnutt assumed ownership in 1997; in 2025 the firm merged with sister company Emerald Isle Homeowner Services and Recoast Homes, bringing Jamie Vogel into the leadership team alongside Warren Chesnutt. The company serves homeowners, vacation rental guests, and real estate buyers/sellers across Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path, and surrounding mainland coastal communities.
The company's core offering is full-service vacation rental management for homeowners on the Crystal Coast, with commission rates of 15-20% of rental income. It operates a multi-channel distribution model with property listings optimized across Airbnb, VRBO, and its own direct booking website, all powered by the TrackHS booking and e-commerce platform with dedicated guest and owner portals. Additional products include a real estate brokerage, an annual/monthly rental program for off-season extended stays, the Accidental Damage Program (ADP) covering up to $2,000 in accidental damage for short stays, and Sun Trip Preserver travel insurance distributed as an affiliate offering through Red Sky Travel Insurance. The vacation property catalog is segmented into 10+ rental categories (condo, oceanfront, second row, oceanside, soundfront, dog-friendly, nightly, winter, mainland, soundside).
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: commission-based property management (15-20% of managed rental income), transaction-based vacation rental booking payments collected from guests, real estate sales commissions on property purchases and sales across the Crystal Coast, and affiliate commissions from travel insurance and ancillary services (linens, rental items). Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer booking through the website and third-party marketplaces with a sales-led approach for property management acquisitions targeting individual homeowners and investors. Customer acquisition relies on content marketing (a blog covering local events and travel guides), email newsletters, Facebook, SEO-optimized property listings, and physical walk-in presence at the Emerald Isle office.
Sun Surf Realty firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sun Surf Realty
- Legal name
- Sunsurf Realty
- Website
- https://sunsurfrealty.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sun-Surf Realty is a family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage firm serving the Crystal Coast of North Carolina since 1978. It manages vacation properties for homeowners and brokers real estate sales across Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path, and surrounding Bogue Banks communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sun Surf Realty industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vacation Rental Management
- NAICS
- Residential Property Managers (531311), Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate (6500)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beachfront & Lakefront Homes (THAMAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Full-Service Vacation Rental Property Management (THAMAKAA), Luxury Beachfront & Waterfront Villas (THAMAEAE)
Keywords
Where Sun Surf Realty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emerald Isle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sun Surf Realty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vacation Rental Bookings: The company generates revenue through vacation rental bookings where guests pay for short-term property rentals. The company acts as the property management agent, collecting payments from guests and managing the rental experience.
- Property Management Commissions: Commission rates range from 15% to 20% of rental income, based on property size, location, and rental income. Homeowners receive professional hands-on management designed to maximize revenue while maintaining long-term property value.
- Real Estate Sales: The company also earns commissions through real estate sales and purchases in the Emerald Isle and Crystal Coast area, helping buyers and sellers with transactions.
- Travel Insurance and Add-on Services: The company earns commissions on travel insurance products (Sun Trip Preserver), linens, rental items, and various other services offered through the office.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vacation Rentals - Per Night/Week |
| Subscription | Monthly | Property Management - Commission Based |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Monthly/Winter Rentals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sun Surf Realty product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sun-Surf Realty is a family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage that manages short-term rental properties on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Homeowners contract the company for full-service property management including marketing, multi-channel distribution (Airbnb, VRBO, direct), maintenance, and accounting, while guests book vacation rentals directly through the company's website or third-party platforms. The firm also provides residential real estate sales and brokerage services across Emerald Isle and surrounding communities.
Product overview
Sun Surf Realty is a family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage firm serving the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, primarily in Emerald Isle and surrounding communities. Its product portfolio consists of two core service lines: (1) Vacation Rental Management, which encompasses the online property search and booking platform (with 10+ rental type categories), the Accidental Damage Program (ADP), and optional Sun Trip Preserver travel insurance offered through Red Sky Travel Insurance; and (2) Real Estate Sales, providing property buying and selling services across the Crystal Coast. The company also manages an annual/monthly rental program for off-season extended stays. The vacation rental platform is powered by TrackHS technology for booking and owner/guest portals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vacation Property Search and Booking Online searchable catalog of vacation rental properties in Emerald Isle and surrounding Crystal Coast communities, allowing guests to search by property type (oceanfront, condo, second row, oceanside, soundfront, dog-friendly, nightly, winter, mainland, soundside), amenities, bedroom count, and location, with real-time availability calendars and booking inquiry functionality. Targeted at families and groups seeking short-term coastal accommodations.
- Vacation Rental Property Management Full-service vacation rental management for homeowners on the Crystal Coast, including data-driven marketing, multi-channel distribution across Airbnb, VRBO, and direct booking, local property care, and accounting transparency. Commission rates range from 15% to 20% of rental income based on property size, location, and rental income. Targeted at coastal homeowners and investors seeking professional management.
- Residential Real Estate Sales Full-service real estate brokerage on the Crystal Coast, providing listing representation, buyer representation, comparable market analysis, and custom marketing plans for sellers. Covers vacation homes, investment properties, primary residences, lots, and condos across Emerald Isle and surrounding communities. Targeted at buyers and sellers of coastal residential real estate.
- Sun Trip Preserver Travel Insurance Optional travel protection insurance product covering cancellations and mandatory hurricane evacuations, provided through Red Sky Travel Insurance under the Sun Trip Preserver brand on trippreserver.com. Available to vacation rental guests up until the final payment due date.
- Winter and Monthly Rental Program Extended-stay rental offering during the off-season with monthly or winter rates, plus a separate fee structure including cleaning fee, refundable damage deposit, $200 processing fee, and utility cap. Linens are not included for monthly stays. Targeted at snowbirds, winter visitors, and longer-term guests.
Quantifiable outcome
- Established as one of the largest and most experienced property management companies on Bogue Banks
Companies that use Sun Surf Realty
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sun Surf Realty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Sun Surf Realty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sun Surf Realty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- VRBO: Major online vacation rental marketplace (owned by Expedia Group) and one of Sun-Surf's primary distribution channels alongside Airbnb and direct. A platform incumbent whose pricing, host onboarding, and policy decisions materially affect local property managers.
- Vacasa: Largest professional vacation rental management company in North America, offering full-service property management across many US destinations. Operates broadly in the same vacation rental category as Sun-Surf but at national scale and with significant capital, technology, and operational infrastructure.
- Evolve: National vacation rental management company providing full-service property management to homeowners across the US. Comparable business model to Sun-Surf's property management program but operating at much larger scale with a technology-forward, lighter-touch service offering.
- Airbnb: Global online marketplace for short-term vacation rentals and a key distribution channel for Sun-Surf. Not a direct services competitor but a dominant platform whose commission structure, host tools, and brand shape the economics of regional managers like Sun-Surf.
Direct peers
- Twiddy & Company: Long-established family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Most directly comparable to Sun-Surf in business model (whole-home beach vacation rentals + property management + real estate sales), geography (North Carolina coast), and target customer (family beach vacations).
- Kees Vacation Rentals: Family-owned vacation rental management company on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Directly comparable to Sun-Surf in business model, geography (NC barrier islands), and target guest (multi-generational family beach stays).
- Sun Realty: Vacation rental management and real estate sales company serving the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Operates with a similar full-service property management approach for beachfront homes, making it a near-analog peer to Sun-Surf in product offering and customer base.
- Brindley Beach Vacations: Vacation rental management company specializing in Outer Banks beach homes in North Carolina. Comparable to Sun-Surf in core offering (whole-home oceanfront vacation rentals) and target market (family beach vacations on the Carolina coast).
- Resort Realty: Vacation rental management and real estate sales company serving North Carolina destinations including the Outer Banks and Smoky Mountains. Comparable to Sun-Surf in combining full-service property management with real estate brokerage in a coastal/regional tourism market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sun Surf Realty social profiles
Digital presenceSun Surf Realty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sun Surf Realty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Sun Surf Realty subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Sun Surf Realty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sun Surf Realty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sun Surf Realty
What does Sun Surf Realty do?
Sun-Surf Realty is a family-owned vacation rental management and real estate brokerage that manages short-term rental properties on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Homeowners contract the company for full-service property management including marketing, multi-channel distribution (Airbnb, VRBO, direct), maintenance, and accounting, while guests book vacation rentals directly through the company's website or third-party platforms. The firm also provides residential real estate sales and brokerage services across Emerald Isle and surrounding communities.
Is Sun Surf Realty a public or private company?
Sun Surf Realty is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Sun Surf Realty founded?
Sun Surf Realty was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sun Surf Realty based?
Sun Surf Realty is headquartered in Emerald Isle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sun Surf Realty make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Vacation Rental Bookings are the primary driver. The others are property Management Commissions, real Estate Sales and travel Insurance and Add-on Services.
Who are Sun Surf Realty's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are VRBO, Vacasa, Evolve and Airbnb. Direct peers are Twiddy & Company, Kees Vacation Rentals, Sun Realty, Brindley Beach Vacations and Resort Realty.
Does Sun Surf Realty have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sun Surf Realty.
What industry is Sun Surf Realty in?
Sun Surf Realty's product category is Vacation Rental Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAMAAAF, Beachfront & Lakefront Homes, with a secondary code of THAMAKAA, Full-Service Vacation Rental Property Management. Its NAICS code is 531311 and its SIC code is 6531.