Have you been dreaming of owning your own place on the water?
Whether you are considering a bungalow, condo, cottage, or expansive home, buying a beach property for sale can be an excellent investment.
Not only will you be able to enjoy the property yourself, you could potentially secure rental income from it.
But to make this dream a reality, you have to consider some specific factors when you are looking for a beach property for sale.
Keep reading to learn the steps you should take to ensure you make it through the process quickly and easily.
1. Choose a Great Location
A great beach is nice, but you also need to consider the community that exists around it. These are the people you will be making friends with and socializing around.
Make sure that you consider what time of year you are looking at properties. There could be another time of year where traffic in the area explodes or tourism levels drop off sharply.
One town that this is true for is Myrtle Beach. Many people head there every year for spring break before heading back to school.
If you think Myrtle Beach might be the place for you, view here for more information and home listings.
2. Rent Before You Buy
You may think you found the perfect town on the beach, but do you know whether you want to be right on the water, on a small inlet, or a few blocks away in a wooded area?
Before you sign a contract try renting a property in the area you are considering. If you plan to own the house you purchase for a long time then this small rental period will have a minimal impact on your finances.
You will be able to see if there are restaurants near you that you want to go to. You can also look to see if there is a church in the area that you enjoy.
Many people also consider whether the beaches in that area allow dogs or have lifeguards to watch the children.
Give it a month in a rental property and answer some of these questions. It will cost you a lot less than moving a year later because you are unhappy.
3. Buy Under Budget
Buying a beach property for sale makes you feel glamorous and can cause you to want to stretch your budget as much as possible. But you need to make sure that you stick to a budget that you can afford.
You will have additional costs thrown at you for repairs and lulls in rentals so make sure you have enough money to cover those expenses if they come up.
4. Be Realistic
Before you invest a lot of money buying a beach property for sale, you should consider how much you will actually use the property.
If you have small children then you will probably use it often, but as they become teenagers and get involved with friends and after-school activities the home can start to sit empty for awhile.
Be realistic about how long you think you will own the home. That way you can buy in an area where the economy is going to hold steady so that you can sell your property in a few years.
5. Know Your Tax Information
Just because you are familiar with the average tax information for an area doesn’t mean you know what you’re in for with the home you are thinking about purchasing.
Make sure you take a look at what the actual rates are so that you can be prepared. Your real estate agent should be able to provide you with a lot of this information.
6. Estimate Rental Income from the Beach Property for Sale
Many people think that they will have rental income to help them make their mortgage payments and then are devastated when a rental doesn’t come through.
Make sure that you are realistic in estimating how much rental income you can expect from your property. If there is a hurricane or a dip in the economy then your stream of vacationers could dry up.
You may have to hire someone to give you tips on advertising your rental.
7. Stay Level-Headed
It’s easy to get swept away when you are touring a beach property for sale. The views are incredible and everything just looks so quaint and charming.
But before you start signing a contract, you should consider a few important things. The first thing is that not every day is going to be a vacation.
There are going to be repairs and maintenance that need to be done. That means that if you aren’t going to be living in the house year round you may spend the first week of your vacation time at the hardware store getting everything in working order.
8. Check to Make Sure You’re Not in a Flood Zone
Many homes near the beach are in flood zones. The insurance rates for living in these areas are absurdly high. You are better off finding a property that is located higher so that you can be safe in the event of a storm.
9. Estimate Cost of Upkeep
Once you buy the house you will be responsible for all of its upkeep. That means that anything that goes wrong will have to come out of pocket.
Make sure that you have enough money in the bank to cover any potential unexpected repairs.
10. Consider the Neighbors
In some beach communities, there are a lot of zoning laws and nosy neighbors. Make sure you know who you will have to deal with should you need to have anything done to your property.
Finding a Business in Your New Town
When you move to a new area it can be difficult to find the right people to hire. There are a lot of shady businessmen out there.
If you are looking for resources to help you hire the best contractors or workers to renovate your new beach house, check out our listings today.