Things you need to know when buying a beach property in the USA
Who among us has never dreamed of living in a beach home? If a survey was taken, the number would be very small. There is something about living right on the beach that creates peace of mind and a sense of being successful.
Of course, everything we do in life comes with pros and cons. As your might expect, there are pros and cons related to buying a beach house for the family. As you contemplate whether or not a beach home is right for you and your family, you should take a moment to consider the pros and cons listed below.
The Pros
Here are the Pros of beach house ownership:
Providing a Healthy LIfestyle
If you live in a larger city, you are probably aware of the poor air quality you face every time you go outside. Even poor water quality makes it necessary for you to purchase purified water from your local water merchant.
If you buy a beach home and spend the majority of your time living there, you will get a chance to breathe fresh air. The constant winds off the ocean will typically move the dirty air back to the city or out into the ocean.
The benefits of clean air should be no secret. A few months of breathing fresh ocean air will likely improve both your circulation and respiratory function. That will result in you having a better immune response and a better mental disposition.
Enjoyment of the Great Outdoors at Your Doorstep
Most people have to transverse heavy traffic and lost time in order to get somewhere that they can enjoy the great outdoors. Should you own a beach home, the great outdoors will be right there at your doorstep.
If you have easy access to sunshine and fresh air, you would be far more likely to leave the comforts of home to enjoy outdoor activities. At the beach, outdoor activities might include swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, building sandcastles, and taking moonlit walks along the beach. All of these things and more can lead to a better overall quality of life.
Getting Extra Value
While beach homes are typically expensive, having such a home does offer extra value in other ways. First, the need for air conditioning would drastically diminish. That would lead to energy savings. Also, having all of that entertainment value right outside the front door would save on travel and entertainment costs. Of course, there is another way your family could gain financial benefit from beach house ownership.
If your beach home were to be a vacation home, think of all the money you could save on hotel expenses. That extra savings could be used to take more vacations or to enjoy more activities while on vacation. Also, your rental income would significantly offset the cost of the home.
You can check the current listings of beach homes for sale in the United States to get an idea of the options available to you.
The Cons
Before you go all in because of the pros, you owe it to yourself to also consider the following cons related to beach home ownership.
Paying the Price
Depending on the location, owning s beach home is generally reserved for people with the financial means to do so. Of course, the financial means someone would need to buy a beach home would be significantly higher than the financial means needed for a home in a residential area. On major coasts in places like California and Florida, the difference could be quite substantial.
Luxury living comes at a price. Beach homes are notoriously overpriced. Add to that high repair and maintenance costs, and a substantial financial investment is required for such a purchase. Here's the caveat. Beach home prices are a bit more volatile than residential home prices. If you would ever want to sell your beach house, you might not get the price you want due to supply and demand issues.
Trouble Finding Renters
Assuming you wanted to use your beach home as a rental or vacation property, you might discover that it's not always easy to find renters. Even if you find renters, they aren't usually interested in long-term commitments. That's why the rent for beach homes tends to be high. The owner has to claim as much rental income as possible when possible to compensate for the time their unit might have to sit empty.
Keeping the Home Clean
Having access to clean air doesn't necessarily mean a beach homeowner will always have a clean home. Why? Beaches are filled with sand. Sand has a habit of ending up in places other that the beach. This problem is exacerbated by the fact beach weather conditions can be windy and volatile. It takes a daily effort to keep a beach home clean.
Knowing yourself as you do, you can now weigh the pros and cons before you contact your real estate agent and take the plunge into beach home ownership.
