After having a difficult time financially for quite some time, I realized that part of my problem was my personal housing costs. I really began evaluating what I wanted out of a home, and I realized that I needed to shop for a place that would work better for what I needed. I started paying more and more attention to real estate risks, and it occurred to me that I hadn't invested in a smart property. After talking with my real estate agent, I started focusing on changing my ways, and it was incredible to see how much brighter my future became.
Owning a beachfront home is a long-held dream for many Americans. There's something incredibly appealing about living in a home where the beach is only a few short steps away and the sea air makes you feel like you're on vacation all the time. Beachfront homeowners also enjoy a constantly evolving and dramatic vista, which is beautiful throughout every season.
Often, beachfront homes also come with a premium, and they are generally more expensive than similar properties that don't enjoy the same proximity and views of the beach. Even when your budget can stretch to accommodate this premium, it's important to ensure that you know exactly what you're getting when you purchase.
Before signing the sales contract on your new beachfront home, here are two vital things that you need to consider.
1. Future development
Two of the biggest appeals of beachfront homes for sale are the vistas and the enjoyment of the natural environment. Far too many people buy homes with these idylls as a priority, only to find that as the years pass, they're eroded by development occurring around them. This can come in the form of increased infrastructure or suddenly becoming the neighbor of a massive condo complex.
While development is essentially inevitable, you can save yourself a lot of stress and heartache by understanding the potential future development of the area before you commit to buy. The agent selling the property can help you with this issue, and you can also find out about planning regulations in the area through the county building department.
2. Structural issues
As well as the many benefits of beachfront living, there are factors that can have negative impacts on the structural integrity of a home. The constant exposure to salt air, ocean storms, and high levels of air moisture can wreak havoc on a home that isn't adequately maintained.
Sometimes the damage that's caused by environmental factors is clear to see but often it's a hidden time bomb waiting to explode to great expense. For this reason, it's vital that you organize a thorough structural inspection of the property before you buy. Key things to identify are corrosion of metal items, degradation of the foundation, and evidence of mold, damp, and rot due to moisture.
While none of these problems always preclude purchasing a property, being forewarned is being forearmed. If you understand from the beginning what work will be involved in remedying issues, it will prevent you from facing unexpected and expensive repairs down the track.