Vermont Republic Second Vermont Republic
Owning a beach house is every person’s dream. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves splashing in your backyard as seabirds screech from one stretch to the next. Walking across white sandy beaches and shells or staring at the sunset from your beach home. That is the prime reason why they do not come cheap. Beach houses are high-value properties, and getting one, even if you can afford, is not a walk in the park.
If you are in the market looking to buy a beach house, there are things you first need to be on the lookout for, and they include the following.
Location
The proximity to the sea does not make any land suitable for a beach house; the location has to be safe in the first place. You have to consider the stability of the land if it is atop a cliff, how prone is the area to landslides? Can it withstand the daily barrage of waves and winds? The location also has to be accessible from various points. It must also be close to social amenities like schools, hospitals, and shopping centers.
Room for Upgrades
One of the perks of owning a beach house is the freedom to set up other structures that will make the property to be more comfortable. If your property is connected directly to the sea itself, you may consider setting up a floating platform, a small marina, or a boat dock if you own a boat. Floating docks are gaining more popularity these days as you can remove and relocate them easily. You can check out high-quality floating docks at reasonable prices here. It may cost you a lot to set them up, but they, in turn, will increase the value of the home if you ever have plans of selling it in the future.
Are you searching for a team of immigration lawyers who can help you relocate abroad? In case you are thinking of moving to Germany, this team of attorneys is at your disposal – Immigration-Germany.co.
Inspect the House
Unless you are building your own house from the ground up, never commit to purchasing any house before doing a thorough inspection. People sell their houses for various reasons, they may be cash strapped, or they simply want to get it off their hands. When advertising for it, they will never reveal the reason explicitly, that will be on you, the buyer to find out or you would end up with an uninhabitable house. Always conduct due diligence beforehand.
Your Budget
As earlier stated, beach houses are not cheap, in Delray Beach, Florida, for instance, the average cost of a beach house stands at $230,000 as of 2024. This is very expensive compared to other houses on the market. Always go for what you can afford, do not blow all your funds on a beach house which may need renovations within a year. The consoling fact, however, is that a beach house rarely depreciates in value, and you always have the option of creating a venture out of it.
Neighbors
Who lives next to you should not really stop you from getting that prime beach house you have been eyeing for years, but it does help a little to have amicable neighbors. If you are just starting your retirement, you may want to avoid having a frat house for a neighbor, beach houses are synonymous with parties, and you may find yourself stuck in one that holds loud parties every weekend. Scout the neighborhood beforehand to get a picture of the type of people that live there.
Size of the House
How big do you want the house to be? Are you single or do you have a family? The size of the house is a huge factor that should guide your beach house hunting. If you have a large family, then you will need a bigger house with enough rooms for every single person. If you are alone, then a condo with enough space to accommodate you and a couple of visitors once in a while would do just fine.
Rental or Residential?
Are you looking to live in the house, or are you planning to rent it out and make money from it? If you are looking to live in the beach house yourself, then all you will need is to check that the house is in order then simply move in.
A rental, on the other hand, will require you to procure the appropriate licenses, depending on the state you are in since that is now viewed as a business. Renting out a beach house has its advantages, for example, high returns since the charges are premium. You can even choose to turn it into Airbnb during the holiday season.
Insurance Rates
As you may have guessed by now, the insurance rates for beach houses are exorbitantly high, and the reasons are understandable. Being that close to the sea, there are many things that can happen to the house. Strong winds can rip off the roof overnight. There is a risk of flooding, especially during the hurricane season. All of these factors play a major role in influencing the cost of insurance. Before committing to buying a beach house, look around for the best insurance charges that are within your budget.
Future Plans
If you are looking for a permanent beach home where you will live out the rest of your days, then look for a homely house, one that is sturdy and can withstand all the vagaries of nature. It should be big enough to accommodate other family members who will most likely be visiting from time to time. If your future plans involve reselling the house, then go for something that needs work so that you can renovate it to your taste before putting it on the market.
Conclusion
Like any other property, beach houses come with their own challenges. It is not guaranteed that your new home will be heaven, neither is it a given that turning it into a rental house will bring you constant cash flow. It all depends on other prevailing conditions like the economy. However, if you are convinced that a beach house is what you need, then do not hesitate to cash in on one.
For a more affordable option, you may opt to forego the beachfront and find a place that’s a few steps away from the shore. There are many options like this in various beaches, like the ones located in The Beaches in Ontario, Canada: https://condowizard.ca/new-condos/the-beaches-pre-construction-condos/.
