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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]+1 to the rent, don't buy camp. Do you know any friends with older children (say, 2nd grade on up)? I would say that 85% of our weekends from September through June are taken up by sports--often times with both kids having games--or birthday parties or school events. And our kids aren't particularly sporty, either. They each do one sport a season (fall, winter, and spring).

I also agree with the walkability factor. Have you ever rented a house or stayed at a hotel ON THE BEACH? It is a totally different, super fun, extremely convenient vacation. I would try that and see how you like it. For $260K you can rent a very nice house for many summers directly on the beach.

Also, you're not factoring in upkeep and insurance. Painting is a once a decade deal, if that, and its cheap. But, you need to factor in things like replacing appliances, fixing toilets, replacing roofs, plumbing leaks, etc.etc. Also, you don't get tax benefits from a vacation house the way you do with the mortgage for your primary residence.

FWIW, we have friends with a beach house they try to use every weekend and every summer, and their sons, in particular, have suffered socially. Most boys bond over sports, and being away every weekend and not being able to play on a team has really hampered the boys' social life.  [/quote]

OP here. It's really hard for me to understand the sports thing.  I did not play any sports in my whole childhood, and spent my weekends watching TV indoors while my parents did yardwork (not that this is a good thing, but I don't really understand the appeal of filling up weekends with sports).  I do know a few friends with older kids, I will ask them about this.  Honestly from what I've heard from one friend who has older kids, her weekends sound absolutely exhausting and sort of miserable with all the waking up early, driving and shlepping around to sports games.

Yes, we have stayed at hotels within walking distance of the  beach (usually 2 or 3 blocks).  I don't really see much of a difference though, we still have to lug a ton of beach gear to the beach by walking from the hotel to the beach which is annoying, when you're walking with a huge beach umbrella, beach cart full of chairs, toys, towels, etc.  How is it less annoying to walk with all that stuff than loading up the car with beach gear, finding a parking spot, and walking a short distance to the beach?  I see these two situations as comparable.  Finding a parking spot can be tough if you go at prime time, but usually we're ready to be at the beach by 7:30 am, so parking isn't usually an issue.

I will make a list of all the upkeep and insurance issues, that is more of my concern.  However, this is a newer built house (2008) so hopefully most systems should be in working order.[/quote]

OP, 3 blocks away is not ON the beach. BTW, what does your husband think of this idea? Can he afford two mortgages? Will you stay home indefinitely?[/quote]

OP here.  Husband is on the same page, we're both interested in the idea but on the fence.  We've been talking about buying a beach house for years, recently went to the beach and happened to find a great one (we've looked at properties before but this time found one that has all our "must haves.")

Yes, we can afford the beach house with no problem.  I work part-time (20 hours per week, from home, can work remotely) and my salary covers the monthly mortgage.  But even if it didn't we could still afford the beach house.  [/quote]

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