Bladdaow!

When you’re trying to assess beachfront property value, there are two considerations that many people don’t think about but are incredibly important.  They may not dictate price as strongly as “location, location, location” will, but they will determine how likely your home is able to stay where it is!  These two factors are the rate of soil erosion and how much flooding and rainfall the area gets every year.

Soil or coastline erosion is an incredibly important factor when trying to determine is you want a certain piece of beachfront property.  Realtors aren’t always required to disclose this information, so make sure that you ask for it specifically.  You should not only know the rate of yearly shoreline erosion, but also the rate of erosion in different seasons.  Coastlines are always changing and what it looks like outside your front window in the spring might be completely different than you see in the fall.  While historical averages might not be the best indicator, they will help you know what fluctuations you might be in store for.

You also need to look at the amount of rainfall and flooding each year.  You can check with the local authorities or just chat up any neighbors that might be out and about.  Flooding can be a local occurrence, so make sure that you look for any possible damages from standing water or flooding to the house.  This can include peeling pain, corrosion, soft wood, and other damages.  If you see any water damages to the property, proceed with caution throughout the rest of the sale.

Checking for the amount of flooding damage that a piece of property might receive and the amount of shoreline erosion in your area are two important things to look for when you’re buying beach property.  For more information on this and buying beach property in the US and abroad, visit the Beachfront Property Guide.