Should we buy a beach house?

[Anonymous]

It's been our dream to own a beach house for years. Finally we have saved up and can afford it. Have been looking at properties with a realtor and found the cutest one. It's 260 K and about a 5 minute drive from the beach (not within walking distance though). I have no problems with that because it's new, modern, and spacious and a good value for the money. We would not rent it. I'm trying to decide if we should buy this beach house. What considerations should I be thinking about?

[Anonymous]

Where is it?

[Anonymous]

We've considered it but haven't moved on it yet. Friends who have a house at the beach say the biggest deal for them is concern during hurricanes/tropical storms and that the back and forth on summer weekends is sometimes a pain with traffic. Any time after 3:00 pm on Friday and all day Sunday usually means slow movement over the bridge (to me, that's nerve wracking). They'll sometimes get up early and leave Monday, but it's also difficult to do.

Probably wouldn't be a problem if you don't have to be back in DC for work and kids.

[Anonymous]

If you want a beach house, can afford a beach house, and will actually use a beach house, then buy the flipping beach house.

We know a lot of people with beach houses who rarely use them. No clue why they bought them in the first place.

But if you buy it, please don't post multiple pictures on Facebook every single weekend. Post some pics, and then move on. We don't want to see a pic every Saturday and Sunday morning of your coffee mug on the deck.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My husband has 6 weeks of vacation each year to use (and he uses all of it) and I'm a SAHM. So we have flexibility to use the beach house both in summer and in the off season. We are thinking 4 weeks each summer, every other weekend from April-October, all holidays, and one long weekend per month in the winter. We have family all over the country and are hoping that we can host a lot of family reunions there too.

[Anonymous]

Upkeep - lawn, gutters, weatherizing it for storms. Additional insurance, floods. Those are additional considerations. Plus extra plates, cups, towels, linens. And furniture. Can you offer all that?

Plus do you want to do things on vacation? Does not seem relaxing to have to clean showers and do laundry and vacuum floors when on vacation. You really have to think about it like a second home. That you need to do all the things for your first home for it, but from afar.

[Anonymous]

5 minute drive but isn't walkable?

[Anonymous]

I just don't consider a 'beach house' a beach house if it is not on the beach. At the VERY least - I would have to see the ocean. You have the enviable ability to really spend time at whatever house you buy but you also have time. Why not wait until you can buy a house that you don't have the reservations you must have to be posting this question here. A friend bought what she calls a 'beach house' in Bethany that I see as a dumpy little home in a shady subdivision 5 long blocks to beach. Sure you can walk to the beach but I do that when it is just me on a girls weekend - not dragging all the stuff I need for my kids for a day on the beach. Another friend has a very nice new townhouse in Ocean City. Gorgeous but it is a mile walk to the beach. Again - love it for the girls weekend she invited me to but I would rather rent a real beach house on the ocean 6 weeks a year and gain zero equity as life is too short for almost

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don't consider a 'beach house' a beach house if it is not on the beach. At the VERY least - I would have to see the ocean. You have the enviable ability to really spend time at whatever house you buy but you also have time. Why not wait until you can buy a house that you don't have the reservations you must have to be posting this question here. A friend bought what she calls a 'beach house' in Bethany that I see as a dumpy little home in a shady subdivision 5 long blocks to beach. Sure you can walk to the beach but I do that when it is just me on a girls weekend - not dragging all the stuff I need for my kids for a day on the beach. Another friend has a very nice new townhouse in Ocean City. Gorgeous but it is a mile walk to the beach. Again - love it for the girls weekend she invited me to but I would rather rent a real beach house on the ocean 6 weeks a year and gain zero equity as life is too short for almost

Sour grapes. Sounds like you are taking up every invite to someone else's beach house that you then disparage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5 minute drive but isn't walkable?

Will be on the water in 10 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5 minute drive but isn't walkable?

Do you just bring a towel with you to the beach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don't consider a 'beach house' a beach house if it is not on the beach. At the VERY least - I would have to see the ocean. You have the enviable ability to really spend time at whatever house you buy but you also have time. Why not wait until you can buy a house that you don't have the reservations you must have to be posting this question here. A friend bought what she calls a 'beach house' in Bethany that I see as a dumpy little home in a shady subdivision 5 long blocks to beach. Sure you can walk to the beach but I do that when it is just me on a girls weekend - not dragging all the stuff I need for my kids for a day on the beach. Another friend has a very nice new townhouse in Ocean City. Gorgeous but it is a mile walk to the beach. Again - love it for the girls weekend she invited me to but I would rather rent a real beach house on the ocean 6 weeks a year and gain zero equity as life is too short for almost

Snobby enough to snipe about your friends who don't own REAL beach houses, but you're content to show up when they invite you. I hope they read here

[Anonymous]

Kids sports. That's the only downside.

[Anonymous]

How is Parking by the beach? If it's a pain, then it's not worth it if you have to drive.

[Anonymous]

It will be underwater and unsellable. Global warming is real unfortunately.