Do you dream about living the good life with sand between your toes in one of America’s beach towns?
We have good news: You don’t have to be a millionaire to own a house on the beach — or at least to live within walking distance of the ocean.
While you might not be able to afford a home in the Hamptons or Malibu, there are plenty of beachfront bargain towns with houses within your financial reach, according to Realtor.com.
Realtor.com recently compiled a list of the most — and least — affordable beach towns in the U.S.
In an effort to level the beachfront-bargain playing field, Realtor.com limits its list to a maximum of two towns per state separated by at least 30 miles. Each town has between 1,000 and 100,000 residents. Realtor.com says:
Some of our top picks won’t ring a bell, but that’s a good thing — they’re less likely to be clogged with tourists, hoity-toity neighbors, and overpriced artisanal ice cream cones. In other words, you’re practically guaranteed a peaceful seaside getaway. Possibly one with lots of upside potential on the resale side.
Here are Realtor.com’s most affordable beach towns in America by median home price:
- Atlantic City, New Jersey: $117,500
- Keansburg, New Jersey: $125,000
- Gulfport, Mississippi: $154,700
- Deerfield Beach, Florida: $157,900
- La Porte, Texas: $193,600
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: $199,000
- Port Lavaca, Texas: $199,700
- Daytona Beach, Florida: $199,900
- Ocean Shores, Washington: $232,500
- North Bend, Oregon: $239,000
On the flip side, unless you’re among the very rich, you probably can’t afford to live in the following beach towns, which were rated the five most expensive:
- Malibu, California: $3.95 million
- Water Mill, New York: $3.75 million
- Manhattan Beach, California: $3.1 million
- Nantucket, Massachusetts: $3 million
- Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina: $2.45 million
If you’re living by the water, having a boat is often an extra — albeit expensive — plus. But it doesn’t have to be.
Check out “It’s Boating Season: How to Buy a Boat and Not Sink Your Budget” for tips on how to shop for a boat. MTN contributor Jim Gold says it’s important to find a boat you can afford to maintain as well as purchase.
What do you think of the beach towns that made Realtor.com’s list? Sound off below or on Facebook.
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