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How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage

Vacation home near Surf City Beach in Topsail Beach

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Photo gallery for How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage

A covered outdoor deck with a round table and metal chairs, surrounded by wooden railings.
A spacious kitchen with a dining area, a staircase, and a ceiling fan.
A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand, a dresser, a ceiling fan, and a door leading to another room.
A modern living room with two leather armchairs, a wooden coffee table, and a staircase in the background.
A two-story house with a covered porch and a staircase leading to the upper level.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Topsail Beach, NC
  • Place, Surf City Beach
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Place, Topsail Skating Rink Topsail Beach
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Place, Sea Turtle Hospital
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Airport, Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪59 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Topsail Beach

Seaside stay .You'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Surf City Beach and 2 miles (3 km) of Missiles and More Museum with a stay here. Also, Topsail Skating Rink Topsail Beach is within 2 miles (3 km) and Thomas Tackle and Seafood is within 6 miles (10 km).
View more Vacation homes in Topsail BeachOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Surf City Beach - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Topsail Skating Rink Topsail Beach - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Missiles and More Museum - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Sea Turtle Hospital - 19 min walk - 1.7 km
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington - 57 min drive - 72.2 km

Getting around

  • Wilmington Intl. Airport (ILM) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shaka Taco - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Oasis Bar - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Camino Real - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪The Lbc Bottle Shop & Beer Yard - ‬28 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage

Welcome to “How it Usta Be” | 4BR | 2BA | Classic Beach Cottage | Topsail Beach, NC

Looking to relive those simple, special beach vacations from childhood? “How it Usta Be” is the cozy 4-bedroom, 2-bath cottage that brings back the nostalgic charm of classic Topsail Beach getaways. If you remember summer trips to a beloved beach house—where memories were made, shells were collected, and laughter filled the salty air—this is that house.

Simple, comfortable, and true to its roots, this cottage offers everything you need to unwind and reconnect with what matters: sun, surf, and time together.

Cottage Features:
• 4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Sleeps up to 8
• Classic coastal décor with vintage charm
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Comfortable living space for family meals and late-night board games
• Outdoor area for relaxing after a day at the beach
• Just steps from the ocean and shoreline strolls

Included Starter Supplies from Sol Searching Properties:
We provide thoughtful starter items so you can relax from the moment you arrive:
• Coffee, sugar, creamer, sugar alternative, and filters
• Dish towel, washcloth, new kitchen scrubber
• Dish soap, powdered laundry soap
• Bar soap per bathroom
• Paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, ziplock bags
• Clean linens including comforters and shams
• Pack & Play, high chair, noise machines available upon request (first come, first served)

Booking Details:
• $200 security deposit and signed rental agreement required through Ownerez
• Renter must be at least 23 years old, with valid ID and matching credit card
• No smoking or parties permitted. Quiet hours apply after 9:30 PM

⸻

Managed by Sol Searching Properties, a boutique, locally owned rental company specializing in curated, comfort-forward vacation homes with a personal touch. We’re here to help you create new memories—and share the hidden gems of Topsail along the way.

Book your stay at How it Usta Be and experience the timeless charm of beach vacations the way they used to be.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services

Location highlights

  • Near the bay
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Motor boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 23

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

Must sign rental agreement upon booking
A security hold that will be placed 5 days prior to arrival and released 5 days after departure
Must follow all house rules including but not limited to no smoking and no parties

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

orp5b5bba0x

Frequently asked questions

How close is How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage to the airport?

This vacation home is 39.6 mi (58-min drive) away from the Wilmington Intl. Airport (ILM) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How close is How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage to the beach?

This vacation home is a short 4-minute walk from Surf City Beach and 10.6 mi (19-min drive) from Sea Haven Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage to downtown Topsail Beach?

This vacation home is 0.9 mi away from Topsail Beach.

How it Usta Be |4BR |2BA Topsail Beach Cottage Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

2.0/10

Amenities

2.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Jenn M.

Great Stay

Thank you for providing our group with a low stress vacation in a great location.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ashley S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We absolutely loved our stay here it was perfect for our family of 7 that went our only issue was the upstair toilet didnt flush and one of the lights wouldnt work everything's else was absolutely great!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Allison W.

Nothing Fancy but all you need!

House was clean and stocked with what you need. It was a pleasure to stay here and will stay on my list of rentals!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful experience

Wonderful all around. Enjoyed our time spent at How It Usta Be and loved the location. Money well spent. Will definitely reserve again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Victoria S.

NICE PLACE

We really like the house because is close to the beach, the neighbors are nice and is a calm and quiet neighborhood. We love the top balcony more at night. We enjoyed our vacations a lot.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ken S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Time together

We came in for the weekend to do some fishing with my family.Thanks for accommodating us
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Madison T.

Great older style beach house!!

Me and my family had the best time at the beach house. Reminds me of the beach house that we had growing up. We spent a lot of quality time and the house provided a lot of things that made our stay much easier. We had forgotten beach chairs, and it was really awesome Just show up and see that not only was their beach chairs, but many other great things that were useful. If you’re looking for a cottage style beach house that will remind you of how things were 20 years ago I recommend this house. So many memories were made.
Verified

4/10 Poor

Jeff

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Perhaps, at one time the property "Usta be' nice and cared for unless it always looked and felt run down.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Georganne C.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Shower

Wonderful but outside shower and first floor shower could use repairs. We had to use upstairs shower the whole week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Shannon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay but the weather didn’t cooperate. The house is clean and definitely dated - the name fits the house perfectly. No ice maker or dishwasher. It was kind of fun seeing some of the old cups and plates and things in the kitchen - reminded me of my grand parents. Definitely not a house to rent if you are cooking for a large family for a week. Washing dishes is not exactly what I want to do on vacation. I would rent again for a weekend. Beach is pretty close and neighborhood is great for walking.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

4/10 Poor

Christophe P.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Meh

No central AC, uncomfortable beds, no dishwasher... One ac window unit not repaired... Won't go back
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

We had a great time staying at How it Usta Be. It was a VERY short walk to the beach and the sound - and an easy walk to "downtown" Topsail Beach. The house was clean, the furniture and beds were comfortable, and we had everything we needed. Screen doors and decks were great!! Plenty of dishes and pots and pans and nice sink for washing. Air conditioning for the separate spaces was nice-we don't agree on temperature! (Master bedroom shares the ac for the main living space. )There is a nice yard below with a grill and a porch swing-and lots of birds. How It Usta Be was simple-and simply lovely! We see why the owner's cherish this Topsail Beach legacy.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

John H.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shayla A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025