Topsail Island & Mainland Communities Real Estate
Straight answers across the Greater Topsail Area—from the agent who managed the rentals before he ever sold the real estate.
Searching active and pending residential listings in Hampstead, Holly Ridge, Sneads Ferry, Topsail Beach, Surf City and North Topsail Beach. For other areas, property types or statuses, use the full search.
Meet Tanner Gray
Topsail Island has been part of my life since 1995, when my family built a home here. I spent my summers fishing, surfing and learning the island from the water, moved here full time in 2004, and purchased my first Topsail Island home in 2007. That experience gives me an owner’s perspective on coastal real estate—and a practical understanding of the insurance, maintenance, weather exposure and long-term decisions that continue well after closing.
I’ve been licensed in North Carolina since 2008 and spent 11 years managing more than 150 vacation rentals and 120 long-term rentals across Onslow and Pender counties. Combined with my degree in business and economics, that work taught me to look beyond the listing photos and understand how a coastal property lives, rents, ages and performs over time.
Today, I work directly with buyers, sellers, investors and second-home owners throughout Surf City, Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach and the surrounding mainland communities of Hampstead, Holly Ridge and Sneads Ferry. My goal is simple: explain the tradeoffs clearly, ask the right questions and help you make a decision that fits how you intend to use the property.
Topsail is also where my family’s life is rooted. I’m married with three children, a Portuguese Water Dog and a Siberian Forest Cat. I also hold a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential and an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate—two interests that keep me closely connected to the water, landscape and communities I serve. This is not a market I visit; it is home.
Featured Properties
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The data relating to real estate on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Hive MLS, and is updated as of . All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) nor Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Treasure shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints, and shall be held totally harmless from any damages arising from reliance upon these data. © 2026 Hive MLS LLC
Listing information is provided for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
The “updated as of” time above is when the listing data on this page was retrieved from the MLS feed; where a page draws on more than one feed response, it is the earliest retrieval time. The date shown with each listing (“Last Modified” or “Last Updated”) is when that listing itself last changed.
The Topsail Edge
For 11 years I worked in property management on and around Topsail Island, across more than 150 vacation rentals and 120 long-term rentals.
That background helps me ask better questions about rental history, operating expenses, management terms and the assumptions behind a projection. Property-specific conclusions still need real records and the right specialists.
Property management
Eleven years managing more than 150 vacation rentals and 120 long-term rentals across Onslow and Pender counties, before moving into sales full time in 2018.
Real estate experience
Licensed in North Carolina since 2008, with more than 100 properties sold, and earlier work in construction supply that still shapes how I look at homes, new construction and land.
Topsail connection
More than 30 years of family property ownership on Topsail Island.
Luxury credential
Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™ (CLHMS™)
Every part of this island is different
Surf City, Topsail Beach and North Topsail Beach are three very different places to own, and the mainland is different again. Elevation, access, rebuilding considerations, rental demand and the shape of a season can all vary depending on where you are.
Flood zones and elevation certificates. Insurance. What rebuilding involves. Rental potential and the costs that come with it. Access, maintenance, and how a house holds up in a coastal environment.
Coastal ownership can be genuinely complicated. It gets much easier to weigh up once someone explains which questions matter, which paperwork to look for, and who to bring in — and that is a large part of what I do.
Areas and communities
What clients have said
Tanner is the GOAT of Topsail island realtors!! He quickly understood our needs and preferences and didn’t waste any time presenting us with a couple of purchase options. He took care of all details and made the purchase, funding and closing effortless. That was a tremendous help as we were out of town buyers. I 100% recommend Tanner for all real estate needs.
Doug Whitmer Have had a great experience working with Tanner the last few years on different projects. Great new addition to Better Homes
George Tapinekis Tanner is the professional of professionals when it comes to real estate knowledge on or off the island. We were blessed to have him help us through our sale process and eventually our purchase of our new home. 5 stars….
colin rice
Featured videos
- Video 1 of 5.
Surf City NC | 7 Likes and Dislikes Topsail Island NC
- Video 2 of 5.
North Topsail Beach NC | 7 Likes and Dislikes
- Video 3 of 5.
Topsail Island NC Clamming Catch Clean Cook | Clamming on Topsail Island NC
- Video 4 of 5.
Lewis Seafood and Lewis Food Shack | Topsail Beach NC with Topsail Tanner
- Video 5 of 5.
Surf City Smash | The Burger Joint Everyone's Talking About
Ask me anything about this island
No pressure and no script. If you are two years away from buying, that is fine — I would rather answer questions early than sell you something now.