If oceanfront living is a dream of yours, buying a beach house is the first step in making your dream a reality. However, buying a beach house can come with its own unique obstacles and considerations. All homebuying requires careful research and planning, but there are some especially important things to do when buying beach property.
To help you make your coastal living dreams a reality, here is a basic guide to buying a beach house:
Before you begin your beach home search, determine your lifestyle wants and needs. It’s helpful to ask yourself questions like: will this be your primary residence or a vacation home? What features or amenities do you consider essential? Is it essential to be directly on the beach, or would you want to be slightly inland?
For coastal properties, it’s also crucial to decide whether you prefer a standalone house or a condominium. Both have their advantages and disadvantages to consider.
When learning about your potential new neighborhood, research any local development plans that could potentially affect your experience. For example, a brand-new condominium community or hotel being built between you and the beach could mean an interrupted ocean view and years’ worth of construction noise.
Consider other neighborhood factors like traffic, local businesses, parking and the proximity to your neighbors. Buying a beach house means learning all about the best beach towns in your area.
Beach properties are more exposed to the elements than inland homes. This means it’s especially important to scrutinize the quality and condition of every home feature. Hire a home inspector who specializes in the local area and the type of wear and tear beach homes are subjected to.
When it comes to insurance, make sure you have a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy. Include coverage for floods, wind damage and other region-specific hazards. If you have a boat or other watercraft, consider bundling insurance with the same provider for potential discounts.
Finally, hiring the right real estate agent will make your beach home search smoother and more effective. A local agent can provide valuable insight into the beach town housing market and the specifics of coastal properties. Additionally, they can represent you during the entire homebuying process and help you with all the paperwork.
Whether you’re moving to the beach or want an investment property, keep these tips in mind to have the best possible experience when buying a beach house.
Shana Lundell has been a real estate professional since 2003 in Bourne, Cape Cod, Plymouth and the surrounding areas, where she’s lived since 2000. Shana is a luxury and waterfront specialist who has represented hundreds of buyers and sellers, including representing builders in over 100 new construction transactions in her career. She consistently achieves recognition awards for top production, including membership in the Coldwell Banker® International President’s Elite, an honor reserved for the Top 3% of agents globally. Shana ranks in the Top 100 of 4,000 Coldwell Banker agents in New England.
Shana works with a range of clients, including lifestyle properties, vacation residences, down-sizers, trade-up buyers, land, first-time home buyers, and new construction sales. She understands that moving happens for a myriad of reasons and has had the honor of helping all types of transactions. Many emotions can come into play during this time, but Shana is skilled at keeping calm and carrying on with care, professionalism, open communication, and the ability to keep things on target to achieve results. She guides her clients smoothly through the process, from dynamic marketing measures, negotiation and solution strategies, connecting pivotal professional resources, to coordinating the essential closing details.
Shana is proud to have over 100 five-star client testimonials that rave about her positive, professional, responsive, and authentic approach to real estate service. Love where you live. Live where you love. Looking to buy or sell? Call Shana Lundell!
