10 Cheapest Places in the U.S. to Buy a Beach Home

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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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