Where should we buy our beach home?

[Anonymous]

Within 3-4 hours drive of DC, not necessarily beach front but no more than a 10-15 minute drive, and there must be a nice community pool. 5 bedroom for under $2m. We plan on keeping it forever so that kids can visit when they are older.

[Anonymous]

Are there any places you've visited and liked? Do you care about town or community feel or simply looking for the real estate dimensions (SQ ft, pool, etc)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any places you've visited and liked? Do you care about town or community feel or simply looking for the real estate dimensions (SQ ft, pool, etc)?

We liked Sea Colony waterfront complex but the condos are smaller than we would like and also there’s the risk of beach erosion

[Anonymous]

OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

[Anonymous]

Sea Colony in Bethany has pools.

Further inland, there are new homes in Millville by the Sea or the more established golf resort community Bear Trap in Ocean View (both have nice pools).

Personally, I would buy in Fenwick or Bethany North or South. Not sure which neighborhoods might have a pool.

Contact a realtor. Look around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

Only you can answer that question.

I wish my parents or in-laws had bought a beach house. We would have used it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

Only you can answer that question.

I wish my parents or in-laws had bought a beach house. We would have used it all the time.

What I mean is, the long-term commitment in terms of beach erosion and environmental changes, etc. We are in our late 30s now, and would ideally play host for 40 years. So it is a long timeframe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

We're also on the fence. I grew up with a big family beach house but depending on how many kids you have and where they end up as adults your house may not be what they want as adults. Not everyone (or every spouse) wants to travel with extended family and stay in a house. They may not live close enough for it to be convenient. They may want their own space, etc etc. Point is, get it if you'd enjoy it but don't count on the family compound concept working out long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

We're also on the fence. I grew up with a big family beach house but depending on how many kids you have and where they end up as adults your house may not be what they want as adults. Not everyone (or every spouse) wants to travel with extended family and stay in a house. They may not live close enough for it to be convenient. They may want their own space, etc etc. Point is, get it if you'd enjoy it but don't count on the family compound concept working out long term.

So, to clarify, if someone were to tell me “This house meets your requirements and my crystal ball tells me it will definitely be around in 40 years” I would buy in a heartbeat! My uncertainty is not around whether I want to have a compound or not. It is around where to locate it so it sticks around for a long time. Or if there are no places within 3-4 hour drive like that, then save my money for rentals instead of buying a soon-to-be-extinct home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

Might be better to rent if interested in experiencing different locations. Do you value flexibility or do you favor tradition ?

During the last real estate bubble burst, there were tremendous buying opportunities on oceanfront properties in Florida (I did not check other markets).

[Anonymous]

Families in our town tend to go to the same few beaches, in the same general area. As your kids get older, it might be fun for them to be in a town where more of their friends and classmates are. And for us, our neighbors and friends are there too.

[Anonymous]

Rent. More flex.

[Anonymous]

Do you live in the dc metro area?

Are you beach people?

If so, then I think you could start building memories at your beach house now. Enjoy it now with your kids and extended family. Build traditions. Most kids who are raised going to a family beach house will be inclined to return as adults.

Bethany is very small town-ish. We know tons of families who head there each summer so it’s easy for our kids to hang out with friends from school.

The beaches won’t be gone in 30 years.

If you don’t want any hassle, buy a new home further inland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again - or would it be better to save our money and just do rentals? I like the idea of hosting and having a “compound” for my children when they are adults with their own children, but maybe the long-term commitment is not worth it?

We're also on the fence. I grew up with a big family beach house but depending on how many kids you have and where they end up as adults your house may not be what they want as adults. Not everyone (or every spouse) wants to travel with extended family and stay in a house. They may not live close enough for it to be convenient. They may want their own space, etc etc. Point is, get it if you'd enjoy it but don't count on the family compound concept working out long term.

So, to clarify, if someone were to tell me “This house meets your requirements and my crystal ball tells me it will definitely be around in 40 years” I would buy in a heartbeat! My uncertainty is not around whether I want to have a compound or not. It is around where to locate it so it sticks around for a long time. Or if there are no places within 3-4 hour drive like that, then save my money for rentals instead of buying a soon-to-be-extinct home.

I have a house 2.5 miles back from the beach in Bethany. In Bethany Meadows, and it's just outside the flood plain. I love the neighborhood, but the houses are far more modest than what you are talking about. However, there is a lot of construction with bigger homes just to the west of me. You can check the flood plain for Delaware here. https://floodplanning.dnrec.delaware.gov/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sea Colony in Bethany has pools.

Further inland, there are new homes in Millville by the Sea or the more established golf resort community Bear Trap in Ocean View (both have nice pools).

Personally, I would buy in Fenwick or Bethany North or South. Not sure which neighborhoods might have a pool.

Contact a realtor. Look around.

If you’re going to look in that area, I loved my realtor Shelby Smith.