Is It Better to Rent or Buy Your Dream Beach Home?

Owning a beach home is a dream for many people. While living in the city can certainly offer you access to amenities, and life in the burbs provides a lot of bang for your buck, you may be ready for something a little different. And a beach home can offer you the gorgeous views, lilting water sounds, wildlife sightings, and general ambience that you won’t find anywhere else, all in one neat package. The main downside, of course, is the cost. And if you’re still in the rat race, it could make for one heck of a commute, depending on where you work and how close the beach is. That said, there’s no reason you can’t get the beach home you want in one way or another. You simply need to consider your particular circumstances and determine whether renting or buying is more your style. Here are a few factors that could help you to decide which route suits you best.

The first thing to think about is how much you’re going to use your beach home. If, for example, you’re ready to retire and you’re planning to live at the beach full-time, or if you have a job in an area that allows for an easy commute from your beachfront property of choice, there’s really no reason not to think about purchasing the property. Of course, money is also a factor. But with a decent down payment you might actually end up paying less monthly when you buy than if you opt to rent a property year-round from the owner. You’ll have to factor in additional costs like insurance, property tax, maintenance and repairs, and so on. But if you’re looking for a permanent home, it’s definitely worth crunching the numbers to see whether buying or renting is smarter budget-wise. Just keep in mind that when you buy you end up with a salable asset as a result.

Now, you might not have any intention of living in your beach home full-time, whether you’re still working or not. In this case, renting may be more advantageous in terms of both money and upkeep. There are plenty of people who own beach homes and use them for vacationing rather than as a primary residence. And this can be to your advantage if these homes are also rented out during the rest of the year to bring in some passive income for the owners. Thanks to sites like Airbnb and VRBO (vacation rental by owner) you can find all kinds of beach homes for rent, potentially for days, weeks, or months at a time. So if all you want is a week here and there, you can pay a small amount for your intended usage rather than laying down millions of dollars to buy a home that you’ll rarely use.

On the other hand, you might be the type of person that is interested in buying a vacation home on the beach for the purpose of earning additional income through rentals. This is a great way to enjoy beach living when you have the time while bringing in the rental cash that will help to pay for your property the rest of the time. You will have to maintain it from afar, perhaps, but it’s just another option when you’re weighing the prospect of renting versus buying a beach home. If you’re unsure of how to proceed, you might want to speak with a realtor from a reputable and qualified business like Realty Associates Florida Properties, or a company that offers services in your region of choice. These professionals can offer the facts, advice, and insights you need to make an informed decision.