Buying a beach property in 2020

Owning a beach house has many benefits. For start, you can live on the beach, wake up with the sound of waves, and having a beach as your backyard. In addition to this, you can always rent your house or one part of it during the tourist season. Finding a beach house should not cause too much trouble. However, buying a beach house is more complicated than buying one in the city or country. There are many variables to consider. For this reason, here is a guide for buying a beach property in 2020. Make sure to read it carefully before signing any purchase documents and hiring Miami Movers for Less for your relocation. 

Buying a beach property – do the research about your potential location 

Buying a beach property is easy in the sense you can easily find a house and sign the deal. However, if you want to make a smart purchase, then you have to research your potential location thoroughly. This is especially important if you plan to rent your house. For this reason, visit the property. Take a walk around the neighborhood. Is the house close to the ocean? Check if the house is easily accessible from the street so your moving companies Sunny Isles Beach can deliver your items without much trouble. Then, check the nearby airports and highways. In addition to this, do not forget about the grocery store and medical facilities. Restaurants and bars are also a huge plus when renting your beach house. Lastly, pay attention to the beach as well. It should be in good condition, clean, and safe. 

The exterior of the house 

Proximity to the beach is a huge advantage. However, it also means proximity to water and water can cause extreme damage to your property. That is why you should pay attention to the exterior of your home. Start with the roof. Roof repairs are expensive. Since many coastal areas experience drastic weather, a beach house’s roof has to withstand it all. Therefore, it has much more damage than the average home’s roof. The roof of your home should be water-proof and durable. The best ones are made out of metal. In addition to this, windows are next in the line of defense. Find a house with durable impact windows. Again, most coastal areas do experience harsh windows, some even have a hurricane season. Durable windows will protect your home, lower insurance costs, increase energy efficiency, and lower loud noise levels.  

Buying a beach property – insurance 

Apart from wind damage and hurricanes, there is a risk of floods. This is why it is really important to do proper research. You need to check if your potential home is in a high-risk flood zone. In addition to this, your new house should have flood-resistant materials. It would be smart to find a house that is either slightly elevated or located on a hill. Water can cause serious damage. Repairing such would be extremely expensive. A homeowner’s insurance rates will increase if you buy a beach house. For example, you can expect insurance premiums of $10,000 or more. This is extremely common in Florida. In order to avoid high rates, shop around. Beach house maintenance is already expensive enough. For this reason, find the most affordable yet solid insurance by contacting several providers.  

Hire a local realtor, an engineer or land surveyor 

If you plan to buy a beach house in an unfamiliar area, you will need some help. It would be wise to hire a local realtor. They know all the best places in the area. You should explain to your realtor the reasons behind your purchase. For example, will you use it all the time or just during the season? A professional realtor will know all the information that can help you to make a final decision. If you have a friend in this business, maybe they can recommend a good real estate agent. In addition to this, you should also find an engineer or a land surveyor. They can check the stability of the shore and the land. A geological inspector or land surveyor will look for erosion, tides, and storm surges. Lastly, let professionals do a home inspection to look for any sort of damage.  

Buying a beach property – potential rental income 

If you plan to rent out your beach house, you have to pay attention to more things. First of all, you should avoid a one-bedroom house. You will have an easier time renting out your house if you have two or more rooms. In addition to this, see if your potential home is located in an HOA community. You will have to respect all HOA rules and some of those rules might interfere with your plans. Also, check out nearby rentals. You can see the competition, houses that are popular among tourists, and prices. Lastly, neighbors are usually the best source of information. See if your new neighbors are nice people, not some loud members of a frat house. No one will want to rent your beach property if you have loud neighbors.  

The last things to consider 

There are a couple more things to consider when buying a beach property.  

• Beach-front or off-beach property – a beach-front property is more expensive since it has the view of the water. However, if you want to save money, find a property a couple of blocks away. Insurance rates will be lower as well. 
• Buy what you can afford – it would be smart to buy a house within your budget. Owning a beach house is expensive. Maintaining a beach house is expensive. Therefore, make sure you can afford it. 
• Construction and foundation – already mentioned but still, it is worth mentioning, do not buy a beach house for the sake of owning one. Owning a house in bad condition is not worth it. For this reason, make sure your new coastal home has solid construction and foundation.