If you've ever been to the beach you've seen a beachfront home. Some are large luxury homes while others are more modest. And if you are like me, you've probably wished to own one some day. Beachfront homes provide lots of summer fun and even some good investment and rental opportunities. But owning a beachfront home is not always a walk in the park.
With the destruction in recent years caused by hurricanes in Texas and Louisiana, many insurance companies are no longer writing policies for beachfront homes. Now, there are still companies writing these policies, but it is getting hard to find affordable coverage. It would be wise to speak to some local real estate brokers about statistics for storms in the area you are looking to purchase in. This information will deem beneficial before getting to the closing table.
Erosion is another issue that threatens beachfront homes. Erosion occurs when water washes away the soil from around the foundation. When the soil is eroded away from the foundation, the footers and piers become weakened thus resulting in settlement problems with the home. Large sand dunes act as a wall of protection from high tides and storm surges.
When you begin your search for a beachfront home, there are a few things you can look for that will help you keep your insurance cost down. A home with a hip configured roof and either impact glass windows or hurricane shutters will generally yield a 10-15% discount in premium. You will likely have to have an inspection of the property to document the roof and windows or shutters to the insurance company. The insurance company will likely request a copy of the documentation for wind rating of the impact glass windows.
Many shoppers are turning to the internet to wade through the seamlessly endless amount of homes for sale. Finding a beachfront home is simple with the Internet. Nowadays, nearly every realtor has their own website with their listings available for viewing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Homeowners don't have this same luxury. Online services where realtors and homeowners can list homes for sale are growing in popularity due to the ability to view both MLS and FSBO listings in the area of interest.
In Closing
Once you have found a beachfront home online, it's time to get in contact with the agent or seller. If you have questions about the home or the community contact a local Realtor to get information about the area.
Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an internet advertising service that provides Beachfront Homes and Beachfront Homes For Sale listings in the USA and Canada.
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