BEACH HOUSE BASICS: BE AWARE OF THESE 4 THINGS WHEN BUYING YOUR DREAM HOME
Owning a home on the beach would be a dream come true for many people. Soft, flowing sands, cool breezes off the crystal-blue water – it’s definitely what dreams are made of. However, beach home ownership isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Take a look at these four things you should be aware of before buying your dream home on the beach.
1. SECLUSION VS. HUSTLE & BUSTLE
You may think owning a beach house that’s walled off from the rest of the world is a good idea, and it might be for a short stay, but overall, secluded homes have their own downfalls.
From a lack of nearby conveniences and safety to boredom on extended stays, your secluded vacay getaway might end up being more of a hassle than you thought.
On the other hand, beaches tend to draw a bevy of tourist activity, so if you enjoy all the hustle and bustle, you’ll probably enjoy all the nearby conveniences and wealth of potential interactions, too.
2. BEACH-FRONT VS. OFF-THE-BEACH PROPERTIES
Beach-front houses sit on the beach and face the water. These are the homes tourists rent for vacation and the ones most depicted in the movies. While absolutely lovely, these homes require a great deal of maintenance. You have to constantly be on the lookout for mold or mildew caused by a constant barrage of water and humidity. On the other hand, beach-front properties garner high rents should you decide to rent yours out when you’re not using it.
Alternately, off-the-beach homes are just that – off the beach. They are near the beach, but most likely, you won’t be able to see the beach or water from the property. Less exotic than their beach-front counterparts, off-the-beach properties usually have lower mortgage payments, are cheaper to maintain, and are safer, which enables you to pay much less in insurance premiums.
3. SEASIDE HOMES ARE VULNERABLE TO MOTHER NATURE
Homes situated on or near the beach are vulnerable to flooding during storms and high tide. It’s important to research the history of the property well and ask a land surveyor or people who live nearby how badly the area floods.
4. WATER DAMAGE IS COMMON
Once you’ve determined an area to be safe and suitable for your new home, begin looking for properties in that area. Take an experienced home inspector along if you can to help you determine which homes are in good shape and which ones will be a bad investment.
Look beyond the superficial beauty of the home because underlying water damage is common in beach houses. They may look amazing on the outside, but there could be electrical issues, wood rot, and foundation crumbling caused by overexposure to water. If these issues aren’t brought to light before you buy, you will be responsible for making the repairs yourself to the tune of a huge financial loss.
The idea of owning a beach house is certainly attractive. People often dream of owning such a house, but many fail to realize the pitfalls they can come with. The list above gives you several things to consider if you’re in the market for a beach house of your own.
