Ocean Front Real Estate is a great buy for many different reasons.  It makes a great second home and a great investment or business opportunity.  If you’re searching for beachfront property you have two options, either buy land with an existing home on it or land without a home already built on it.  There are a few things that you need to keep in mind if you’re buying either.

If you buy a house already built,make sure that you always have a licensed contractor inspect it before you sign your name to the final paperwork.  He will look at the foundation and the construction of the house in general.  This is incredibly important because ocean front property is especially vulnerable to foundation problems because it’s built on sand, which make an incredibly bad base for a foundation if the right construction methods aren’t used.  The salty sea breeze that blows off the ocean also makes the home vulnerable to corrosion.  Make sure that all the pipes and siding are in good condition.  Finally, if the home is close to the sea, make sure that you know if the shoreline is eroding at all.  You want an oceanfront home, not an ocean home!

If you’re buying land with a home already built, also make sure to keep money in your budget for any potential remodeling that you might want to do.  This is especially true is the house is older and doesn’t have modern wiring or some leaky plumbing.  If you’re planning to use your home as a rental property as well, you might need to make a few improvements to bring it up to code.  Always make sure to have someone look at this and know the laws regarding rental property before you buy a home.

A Home in Need of a Remodel

If you’re searching for land without a home on it, you also need to look at things like shoreline erosion, but also make sure that you have access to utilities on the property.  Also make sure that you either have direct access to the property from the road or an easement that gives you access through another piece of property.  Without it you could end up with land that you can’t access!

Ocean front real estate not only makes a great home, but also makes a great investment.  Make sure you’re aware of all the risks and things to watch out for before you buy and you will no doubt have a great piece of property in no time.

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1. Beachfront Real Estate: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
2. Buying Ocean Front Properties
3. Getting Your Dream Ocean Front Homes

Oceanfront properties are some of the most sought after pieces of real estate in the world. This makes them incredibly expensive in most areas, especially in developed countries, and a huge financial investment for anyone thinking about buying one. But why buy one in the first place then? Why not shun the oceanfront property and buy land a few blocks back for much less money? The answer is that land right on the ocean will give you several benefits that land further away won’t. It has enough value as an investment, rental, or vacation property that many times it is more than worth its price.

Value as an Investment Property

As far as investment properties go, you can’t get much better than a beachfront property. With the exception of pricy, exclusive areas in large cities, no type of property holds its value and is in the same demand as beachfront property. This is true in both the United States and even in developing Latin American countries like Costa Rica, where beachfront properties have been snatched up in droves in the last ten years, pushing prices to astonishing heights.

Even in a down economy, while property on the beach may lose much of its value, it is some of the first property to recover as people look for discounts on a second or vacation home. All of this equates to beachfront property being a great investment that you can reasonably expect to appreciate in value over time.

Value as a Rental Property

Sri Lankan Beach Living

Beachfront homes are also some of the best rental properties in the world, and they work much better than even properties that are a few blocks further inland. When people go on vacation to the shore, they usually search for the closest place they can find to the beach within their price range. This means that even when the tourism in a beach town does take a hit, you can still expect your property right on the ocean to have plenty of guests if you adjust your prices accordingly.

Not only can you have more customers if you own a rental property right on the ocean, but you can also charge much higher rates per night than other places further inland. The higher premiums and more tenants that you can expect with a property that has direct access to the shoreline will help you cover the higher mortgage costs much easier than you might think.

Value as a Vacation Property

Finally, oceanfront properties have value as a vacation property as well. While this may not make you any money or help cover mortgage payments, it will give your family a great place to relax and enjoy all the ocean has to offer. You’ll have access to anything from early morning surfing and fishing to late night dinners outside on a deck or balcony while the waves crash in the background. There really is nothing like a vacation right by the ocean.

Real estate is all about location, location, location. And one type of property that has a better location than almost any others are oceanfront properties. These properties offer great investment opportunities, income opportunities through using them as a rental property, and even just the benefits that you can get from using them as a second, or retirement home. If you’re interested in buying a property at or near the beach, search the internet to find a realtor that can show you your options today!,

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1. Renting Oceanfront Real Estate: Essential Tips
2. Buying Ocean Front Properties
3. Beachfront Properties: Should You Rent Them Out?

Buying undeveloped oceanfront land and building a house on it can be a great, more cost-effective way to obtain your dream home.  Not only is it generally cheaper, but you get a new house that’s made to your specifications and that will be exactly what you want.  You won’t have to worry about aging siding, shoddy construction, or cracked foundations because you will be able to decide what types of materials and construction methods are used to build all the different rooms of your homes.  Before you jump right in though, there are a few basic pitfalls that you need to avoid so you don’t end up with a property lemon – one where you can’t build your home and you find it increasingly difficult to sell.

Know Why the Property is for Sale

The first thing you need to know to make a good purchase of land is to know why the property is for sale and why the previous owner didn’t develop it.  Ocean front property is a scarce resource, especially in tourist hot spots, and finding land that isn’t developed is even rarer.  Find out why other beachfront land was developed while this land wasn’t.  It may be because the owner never had the time or money to do it or the property was recently split off from a larger tract of land, but you do need to watch out for a few things.

First, there may be local zoning restrictions on the property preventing any construction from taking place on it.  It could be in a key watershed area or the home to the breeding ground of an endangered species.  Find this out at the local zoning board before placing any bids for the property.  Also have someone come in and examine the property.  There may be sinkholes or the ground may be so unstable that it won’t support the heavy foundations of a home.  Make sure you’re not spending a fortune to build a home on sand.  Finally, there may be problems with shoreline erosion.  If the shore is eroding around the property, soon the home may be too close and have to be moved or succumb to the tides.

Make sure that you find out all the answers to these questions before seriously considering buying the property.

Look For Local Utilities

Another reason that a oceanfront property may not have been developed is the lack of local utilities.  Make sure that the property is close enough to, at the very minimum, electric and water lines and has sewer access or can have a septic system installed.  Cable TV, internet, and gas lines are also near essentials, especially if you plan on living in the house full time or renting it out.  In properties that are close to other developed areas this may not be a big problem, but if you are looking at more secluded beachfront property, always check this, otherwise you might find yourself digging trenches in the backyard and reading by candlelight!

What Other Potential Development Might Take Place

Finally, when you’re deciding whether or not to buy a certain beachfront property, always try to think about what other development might take place on the land around yours.  While you won’t ever be able to know for sure, inquire about who owns the land around yours.  Is it owned by other single-person landowners with homes on it?  Or is the beautiful coastal forest behind your property owned by a large hotel chain that is eyeing permits to develop it?

Some development can be good for your investment, especially if it places your property closer to nightlife, shopping, or other attractions, but some development may be bad, particularly if you were hoping for a more quiet atmosphere yourself.  Always have an eye on the future.

Buying oceanfront land for sale to build your dream home on can be incredibly rewarding.  You’ll get to see your dream home sprout up exactly the way you want it without having to make any sacrifices.  However, before you can do this you have to make sure that the property is able to support a home.  By following this advice you’ll be well on your way to making sure that you can build a home on the land you purchase.

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1. Build Your Dream Home on Oceanfront Land for Sale
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3. Renting Oceanfront Real Estate: Essential Tips

If you own a piece of oceanfront real estate and you aren’t planning on living in it year round, renting it out can be an easy way to pay for at least the upkeep, and many times will give you a significant portion, or maybe all of the mortgage payment back as a result. While it is not incredibly time intensive, being a good landlord requires at least a little bit of commitment of money and time on your end. Here are some tips to keep your renters happy, coming back for more, and more likely to give you beachfront property a good recommendation to their friends.

First, make sure that you get a good realtor and know all the rules that apply to investment property in your area. Some areas require that rented homes only can be visited by their owners for short periods of time for “maintenance” purposes or will place other restrictions on the property. Before renting your home out, make sure you know any rules and regulations it will be subject to.

Having a good realtor is also essential to successfully renting out your property. If you have a good realtor, you’ll be getting more and better quality tenants than you would with a lesser quality one who doesn’t know how to market beachfront homes as effectively. They will also be able to advise you on what that rules your property is subject to are and will help you more fully understand them. Make sure that your realtor screens the renters that are using your property. If you end up with lower quality renters that are likely to throw a party and wreck your prize home, you’ll end up losing more money on renting out your property than you’ll gain! And it will leave your home in bad condition for the next people that are in line to rent it, causing them to complain about the condition of your home.

Speaking of the condition of your home, if your oceanfront property is being rented out, it is absolutely essential that you keep up with the maintenance on it. This includes keeping the lawn cut and the house clean and in good condition. It also includes preparing for any emergencies. You should have a first aid kit, working smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher, and all the pertinent contact details for the local emergency response teams in a well-marked and defined location. This will make sure that your renters have a good experience and will make them more likely to return and rent again and much less likely to complain about anything.

Renting out your property means that you won’t be around it for a long period of time, so try to lower the crime risks on the property as much as you possibly can. Install motion sensor activated security lights to deter nighttime criminals and if you can, install a home security system for when no one will be using the house. Use your common sense as well. Don’t put expensive electronics, priceless family heirlooms, or other expensive decorations into the house when it’s likely that they could get broken by tenants or stolen by thieves.

By following these simple steps you should be able to get your oceanfront real estate in the best condition to be rented out and make some money to cover maintenance and maybe even some money for your mortgage. Always make sure to keep your home in good condition and have a good realtor represent you who can find great tenants who will make the most of their experience and won’t ruin your home.

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One of the greatest dangers that faces properties directly bordering the ocean is the threat of erosion. No matter where you buy your property, the shoreline is constantly changing. Luckily, most of these changes happen from season to season and year to year and the shoreline generally maintains the same shape and distance from one’s home. But in some areas, there is a significant amount of long term erosion happening where sometimes feet are lost from the shoreline every year never to return. Shoreline erosion is particularly bad on ocean properties that border inlets because inlets constantly change their shapes and locations. There are some steps that you can take to prevent erosion and sea damage to your home, but unfortunately most of them are also very tightly regulated by local government because they can affect the entire shoreline, not just your property.

Reducing Damage From Storms

One of the major causes of huge shoreline shifts is the huge storms that can sometimes strike shorelines. In fact, if the area your buy beachfront property in faces a significant stormy season you can temporarily lose up to 100 feet of the coastline in front of your house every year. It usually reappears in the spring however. Major storms like hurricanes and typhoons also destroy and rebuild coastlines in new shapes and formations.

To protect your home and property against waves and short term shore erosion, build up all of the dunes between your property and the beach. Dunes protect the property behind them from damage in the event of storm surges so do your best to keep people off them and make sure they retain their natural shape. Also try planting some dune grasses on them to help the dune hold together during high winds or big storms. This may not help the beach directly in front of your home, but it will help prevent serious short term erosion and will dampen the blows your beachfront home takes from storm surges.

Dealing with Long Term Erosion

Stopping Erosion

Your options for dealing with the long term erosion of a shoreline are much less optimistic. You can build several different types of structures that can reduce the amount of erosion the sea does to your property. These structures can include jetties, breakwaters, seawalls, or bulkheads. Unfortunately for you, the construction of all of these is tightly regulated. This is because installing something like a jetty on your property will keep the sand on your side o the island, but it will increase the erosion that your neighbor’s property is suffering from. Rebuilding the shorelines is another option, but it must be done all along a coastline and is only a very expensive, temporary solution. Before taking any actions to try to curb the erosion on your property make sure you check with the local authorities.

If your property is suffering from serious erosion, sometimes the only option may be to move your home back away from the shoreline and hope the current shift in the near future. Most states require homes to be built a certain amount of feet from the high water line of the ocean. Usually, this is the average amount of shoreline erosion in a year times thirty to forty years. It’s not an ideal situation and it doesn’t solve the problem, but it does let you enjoy your oceanfront property for a few more years before you have to give it up.

The biggest danger that faces any ocean property owner is the threat of shoreline erosion leaving him with a highly priced piece of ocean in the place of his property. If your area is only subject to short term erosion, you can build and strengthen sand dunes to cut down on the erosion and make sure that your home doesn’t suffer from the worst blows of a hurricane or other major storm. If your home is facing long term erosion however, you options are much more limited. There are structures that you can build to protect your property, but they will most likely be in violation of local ordinances. Always check to make sure that you are legally able to build a structure in the ocean before you do.

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One of the best ways to add value, beauty, and functionality to any property is to install landscape lights. When done properly, they let you enjoy your property late into the night while also adding an element of security and a lot of curbside appeal. However, if you plan on using landscape lighting on your oceanfront property, there are several hurdles that you need to overcome and limitations you will have. Most of the problems with lighting by the shore come from the corrosive atmosphere of seawater and salty air present at the shore.

Dealing with Corrosion

Unfortunately, most garden lights contain metals that will react with salt and moisture, two things which are in abundance if you own ocean front property. The metal has a chemical reaction which causes it to break down, how fast it does so depends on the type of metal, any protective coatings the metal has, and how much exposure the metal has to the salt and water. Whatever metal the light fixtures you are going to install is made out of, studies have shown that it corrodes at least ten times faster when its placed eighty feet away from the ocean than when its placed eight hundred feet away.

Because of the incredibly harsh nature of the environment around your ocean front property, all the light fixtures and components that you plan on using in the system need to be chosen for their ability to resist corrosion first and foremost. This affects not just the fixtures but also the transformers and wiring used. For your light fixtures, solid bronze is by far the best metal to use. It is incredibly resistant to corrosion and will actually begin to look better as it ages instead of worse.

On final note, because beachfront property is subject to more violent storms than properties further inland, make sure that you have all your light fixtures securely staked down or fastened to objects. It will prevent you from losing them in high winds, and perhaps more importantly prevent them from becoming high-speed projectiles.

Using Landscape Lighting Effectively

How you actually use landscape lighting actually differs for oceanfront property than it would be on landlocked properties. Lighting should always complement the natural surroundings of the landscape. For properties right next to the sea, that natural beauty comes from the light of the moon off the ocean. To complement this, you could try to use moonlights perched in some trees on your property along with some dimmer fixtures along paths. The paths should look natural and draw the eye to the ocean. If you are lucky enough to have a dock or a pier, you can light that as well, but it should be with glare-free lights.

Whatever you do, do not use lights that interfere or distract from your home’s view of the ocean. You paid a lot of money for an oceanfront view – enjoy it!

One of the best ways to beautify beachfront homes is to install landscape lighting. However, you need to take special precautions when using lighting next to the ocean. Make sure that you use corrosion resistant light fixtures, wires, and transformers to protect against the salty sea air and water. The lighting techniques you use will be a little bit different as well. You won’t need as much light because you have the natural light of the moon reflecting off the water. Instead, use lights to draw the eye out to the ocean to admire the all-natural beauty out there.

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2. Build Your Dream Home on Oceanfront Land for Sale
3. Caring for Beach Front Properties

So you’ve been to a vacation destination several times and decided that you love the place so much you’d like to have a permanent base there. It’s a great thought, and one that enters many people’s head. Unfortunately, the decision of whether or not to buy beachfront property should not be entered into lightly. There are many different factors affecting whether or not you should buy property in a given area at a certain time. Make sure that you know everything that you are getting yourself into, your personal financial situations, and the property that you are buying inside and out. If you know these things, and you do the proper research, you’ll be able to come to the best decision you possibly can in no time.

Before you even start looking at specific beach front properties, you should first and foremost look at your own financial situation. Examine if you really can afford to buy beachfront property. If you can, always set a budget based on what you think you can afford and make a vow to yourself not to go over this. Make sure to include not just mortgage costs in this, but also costs of upkeep, maintenance, and of furnishing the home or condo. This is to help you if you should happen to fall in love with a certain property that is just out of your price range. If you are planning on using the property to rent it out, always do the math to see how many renters you need each year to break even in case the market in the town your are buying property in collapses for some reason.

After you have gotten your personal finances in order, the next step is to familiarize yourself with the local housing market. Start by looking around the internet for various different places you would be able to own property in. You may already have an idea of where you would like to own a beachfront condo if you have a favorite vacation spot, but there may be other areas that are cheaper or more attractive than this. Doing research on the internet will also allow you to compare property prices so you’ll have a rough idea of what sellers are asking for before you actually take the time to go down to your future beach home.

As you get closer to looking to buy a beach home, talk to a local real estate agent and, if possible, friends and other locals that have lived in the area. Find out what property prices are doing in the area and if there are any proposed projects underway that could affect property prices either way in the near future. This could involve plans to station lifeguard, beach renovations, new roads, or other new infrastructure projects. The condition of the beach is of particular importance. The cleaner and better kept the beach is, and the less erosion that it suffers, the more people will be willing to come and you will be able to charge higher prices for rents.

Try to find out more about the overall economy of the town surrounding the beach as well. Are more and more tourists coming year after year? Or have people lost interest in this location and are slowly beginning to migrate to other areas? The one bodes well for your future property value, while the other one doesn’t.

Finally, find out as much as you can about the individual property that you are planning on buying. When did the seller buy it? For how much? And why is he selling it now? Asking why a seller is selling a piece of property should be a particular importance. If they’re moving, figure our why. Do they just need more money, or have they seen the writing on the wall and want to get our of town before they lose more money on their investment?

There are many different factors that influence whether or not you should buy beachfront property, and only you yourself can figure out if the investment is worth it for you. The major thing which should influence your thinking is what order your personal finances are in. After this, make sure that you find out as much as you can about the property you are going to buy, the town surrounding it, and the housing market in general. If you follow these simple steps, you can find yourself in the beach house of your dreams in no time.

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One of the easiest ways to make a return on your beachfront property, or just to earn a little bit of extra money for it, is to rent it out for certain times of the year. Whether you are looking to buy the property as an investment and rent it out full time, or would just like to keep your house making you some money when you’re not around instead of letting it sit empty, there are several things that you need to think about before renting out your beachfront properties.

The first thing you should do before deciding to rent a property out is to get acquainted with the local housing market. This is especially true if you are buying the property as an investment and want to rent it out full time. In some areas, beachfront property prices have dramatically outpaced the prices that people are willing to pay for a rental for a week. This results in rental prices that won’t actually cover the mortgage and upkeep costs for the property. Beware of this if you are planning to be making a profit off of your beach home.

When you are doing this, it would be advisable to talk to a local real estate agent about the different opportunities for rental in the area. They will be able to tell you about how much a property like yours will rent out for and the different costs and fees that will be associated with renting your property out. On top of having to pay the normal maintenance costs for your home, when you rent out the property the real estate agent that you use will most likely get a cut, you will need to hire a maid service to clean it after the guests leave, and you will most likely need to invest a little more in things such as sheets and dishes.

Next, before you decide to rent out your home, get familiar with the local and state laws that govern rental properties. Some states place restrictions on properties that are rented out so that the owners can only stay in them a few weeks a year to perform maintenance. If you’re planning on making lots of visits down to the beach, this might make you choose not to rent your home. Also make sure that you’re not running afoul of any building codes. Many times homes or condos that are used for renting will need to have additional safety features, like frequently tested smoke detectors and fire extinguishers that allow the local authorities to come into your home and check if they are up to date. If privacy is a concern of yours, this may also make you a bit more wary to rent out your vacation home. Insurance on homes that are used to rent can also be higher than on homes just used as residences.

Renting out beachfront properties can be an extra source of income for people that have the money to invest in property by the beach. Just make sure that are well aware of all the rules and regulations that your house or condo will be subject to and that the revenues from the renting will be enough to cover the costs of owning if you’ve bought it as a strictly rental property. Only you will be able to know if the costs and benefits of renting our your property will be worth the costs associated with it as well.

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1. Oceanfront Properties: Advantages of Owning One
2. Renting Oceanfront Real Estate: Essential Tips
3. Caring for Beach Front Properties

Almost everyone is familiar with the saying that real estate is all about “location, location, location” and beachfront property is no different. Depending on how close to the beach you are and which beaches you are trying to live near, your property value is going to vary accordingly. After this though, there are five very important factors that you have to take into account when buying beachfront property that probably wouldn’t cross your mind when you’re buying a suburban home. Be on the lookout for these to make sure that you pay the right amount for your land.

#1: The Tides Play a Huge Role

Probably the most important factor that you have to look at when buying beachfront property is how the tides are going to affect the shoreline you’re hoping to have access to. Gentle predictable tides will almost always be more desirable than huge swings in tides. If the tide goes out too far, it can leave a large stretch of mudflats exposed. This will leave you looking at huge expanses of mud instead of gently lapping waves coming into the shore, make you walk the whole way across the flats sometimes getting stuck up to your knees in muck if you want to go for a swim, and possibly leave any boats you might have tied up high and dry. In many areas with extreme low tide the smell associated with it may take some getting used to as well.

Also be on the lookout high tides that come in too close to the property that you are considering buying. Having a balcony that allows you to stand out over the water at high tide may sound cool in theory, but it leaves the structure there open to large amounts of salt degradation and flooding. If there’s already a house on the property, try as much as you can to check the different plumbing fixtures to see if they’re corroded prematurely.

Before buying your beachfront home or parcel of land, make sure that you look at it at both high and low tide so that you know you are getting what you want. It something isn’t to your liking, find another property or ask for a discount on the price.

#2: Make Sure You Keep Your View

The view is one of the main attractions of owning land right next to the beach. From the time the sun rises in the Atlantic to well past when it sets over the Pacific, you’re guaranteed to get great views from any oceanfront property that you own. You’re also likely to pay a premium for the properties that have the best view.

If you are paying a premium to get a great view, make sure that you will be able to keep it. If you buy a home or condo that is away from the beach by a few blocks, but is still the highest building in the area, you’ll still get great views that you’ll likely pay a little bit more for. Before you do this though, make sure to check the building regulations in the local area. If someone decided to develop a lot in front of your building into another building or hotel higher than yours, instead of staring at sunsets at night you’ll be left staring at the back side of the brand new 4 Seasons. Not only that, your property value will take a hit as well. Make sure that you’ll be able to keep your view for years to come.

#3: Look At How the Sun Affects Your Property

When you’re examining the view that you have on your property, also look at how the sun rises an sets relative to your property and how long your parcel will be in the sunlight. Does your land get sun most of the day? Or is there a large building that blocks the sun at certain times of the day. If you’re looking for land on the Pacific coast, this is not as big of a deal unless you’re an early riser because the sun will always set over the ocean. However, if you’ve got property on the Atlantic coast, having a big building directly behind you could give you an early sunset and cast a shadow over your beach house. You also need to take how far away from the tropics you are when considering this. In the tropics, the sun will rise and set in largely the same location, making it a huge deal if something blocks the sun at the end of the day. However, in more northern latitudes, the sun changes the degree of sunrise and sunset much more, meaning if there’s something between you and your sunset, you’ll only have to endure it for a few weeks.

#4: More Plants Means Better Beachfront Property

When you’re looking at buying property right on the beach, one thing that many people overlook, but you should take into account is how much plant foliage is there and if there’s any natural dunes that protect you from the sea. More plants mean that land is going to have better drainage and in heavy rains the land will not wash away into the sea. Plants will keep your home better protect you and your property from excessive rain, by making sure you home and the area around it doesn’t flood as much, and also from the occasionally heavy storm that brings high tides because the dunes create a natural levee of sorts.

#5: Examine the Existing Structure

When you’re buying a home you should always have someone check out the structural integrity of the building. But, when you’re buying beachfront property, you have to be incredibly diligent in your structural checks. This is because buildings by the sea degrade much easier than those further inland due to the harsh, salt-laden sea breeze.

The easiest way to do this is find out how long a building has been standing in a certain area. Look at the walls, roof, floors, fixtures, and anything else you can observe to see the extent of any degradation. If the building has deteriorated much faster than you would suspect it to, it may be built in a bad location. Bring this up and demand a lower price. If the building’s been around for longer than 10 years and still is in good shape, it shows that the house was built well and is in a good location to resist the elements.

Buying property right on the beach is incredibly exciting. Follow these simple tips and make sure that you do your homework and follow these tips and you will have your dream home in no time!

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1. Beachfront Real Estate: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
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3. Common Pitfalls When Buying Oceanfront Land