There are many considerations when you are buying beachfront or oceanfront property. Both are excellent choices. But which is better? Let’s find out!
Beachfront means the golden beach is a few steps away from your doorstep, while oceanfront means you can see the blue ocean waters from your house, but it could also mean your house is not directly facing the ocean, only that you have a view of the ocean from your house.
If you are looking for beachfront or oceanfront properties and are not sure which is better, you might at first think they are alike, but we can assure you they are not. This article looks at the differences between beachfront and oceanfront properties and explains in detail which is better.
Beachfront vs. Oceanfront What are the Differences?
Beachfront
When we refer to a property as being on a beachfront, it describes the property as having an ocean view with direct access to a sandy beach along the shoreline.
When you have a beachfront house, you can step out of the house directly onto the beach or walk a few steps to reach the beach.
The disadvantage of living in a beachfront house is that you will probably have less privacy because beachfront homes typically share beaches with noisy tourists.
Oceanfront
When we talk about an oceanfront property, it means that the property has a sea view and lies near the coastline but does not have direct access to a sandy beach. An oceanfront property can also be a bit further inland with ocean views.
The one disadvantage of living in an oceanfront house is that you cannot access the beach directly but must walk or drive to get there.
Beachfront Properties – What’s on Offer?
Beachfront properties are typically right on the beach, as the name suggests, and have a clear view of the ocean with direct access to the beach only a few steps away.
When you live in a beachfront property, you have constant access to the beach with all the outdoor fun activities you love right outside. There’s always something to do on a beach like long walks, beachcombing for seashells, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, or just enjoying the beach with the kids.
Living in a beachfront home gives you easy access to pop out the door, and voila, you are on the beach ready to swim and surf or just set up your beach chair with a favorite book and relax.
A beachfront home typically has a higher value than similar homes not on the beach. Beachfront homes cost more, but beachfront homes tend to retain their value longer, making them perfect investments.
However, living so close to the beach has a few disadvantages. Privacy and noise pollution might become a problem. Beachfront properties generally share beaches with tourists, so you might have to share your beach view with a few noisy tourists on a day when you only want some peace and quiet enjoying the view.
Going to sleep at night with the sound of the waves breaking on the shore is a dream come true for many; a beachfront property will give you that luxury.
Oceanfront Properties – What’s on Offer?
Oceanfront properties typically have scenic views of the ocean but are further away from the beach, requiring a short walk or drive to reach it.
Some oceanfront properties have lovely balconies from where you can enjoy the sea views by having a coffee, enjoying breakfast, or a sunset cocktail. With an oceanfront property, you might not be able to step out onto the beach directly to enjoy the sand, but you have the privacy to enjoy the lovely views without the noise of tourists playing on the beach.
Being a little further away from the beach, where you can still see the ocean and enjoy its beautiful views, is what an oceanfront property offers you.
Why a Beachfront Property is a Great Investment
Phycologists have studied people’s love of the ocean for years. The smell of the sea, the sound of the waves crashing, long walks on the beach, swimming, surfing, fishing, watching the sunset, painting the ocean, and photographing the ocean all call us to the shoreline.
The calm spiritual rest we get by the ocean is priceless and cannot be recreated anywhere else. Most people in cities crave the quiet peace ocean life offers and flock to its shores yearly.
That’s one of the reasons investing in a beachfront property is an excellent idea. A beachfront property will provide many advantages investment and health-wise.
According to Statista.com, the holiday rental revenue for 2022 is projected to reach $17.66bn, and the average revenue per user is expected to be $305.80.
A Beachfront property can be worth millions. For example, some beachfront properties in San Diego are on the market at $2,598,000.
If you move further inland, that same two-bedroom condo would be worth around $200,000; the beachfront location with spectacular sea views is what drives the value of a beachfront property up. Beachfront properties are well sought after, making it an investor’s dream. Investing in a beachfront property is an excellent idea.
The advantage of beachfront property is limitless. Owning a beachfront property will bring a significant return on investment with a reliable income from renting it as holiday accommodation. Most beachfront homeowners buy beachfront properties that can subsequently be rented out during the peak holiday season.
Beachfront property owners say their rental income from the holiday season covers their expenses for the whole year, allowing them to live in the beachfront house for free during the off-season.
Disadvantages of a Beachfront Property
Unfortunately, living in a beachfront property has a few disadvantages; harsh coastal conditions can devastate a property. Salt air, flooding, high winds, high maintenance costs, and direct sun are all factors that can quickly cause damage to beachfront property.
Owning a beachfront property may be most people’s dream come true, but that’s because they don’t completely understand what disadvantages can influence that perfect beach lifestyle.
Beachfront Properties are more costly
Owning a beachfront property directly on the beach can cost a lot more than a property that is further away from the beach. On average, a beachfront home can cost five times more because it is on the beachfront rather than further away.
Unwanted Seasonal Visitors
People living in a beachfront homes are regularly overrun with visitors who want to visit. It can be a sensitive situation when family and friends want to visit at inconvenient times. Most people don’t understand your life isn’t permanently on holiday mode.
Beach Sand Everywhere
The beach is lovely, but living right on its doorstep can be challenging. There is sand everywhere. Everyone who lives in a beach house will tell you that sand gets into everything. Care should be taken to keep the sand of a beach house because it can damage drains, floors, and furniture. Living in a beachfront home, you should be prepared to be constantly on cleaning duty.
Sun, Salt Air, and Sea breezes
Direct sun affects beachfront properties significantly. You should understand that living in a beachfront property will require yearly maintenance. The sun can be brutal to wooden fixtures that are not adequately maintained. Maintenance costs are high for beachfront homes.
Sandblasting from high winds that are typical on a beach can severely damage a beachfront home. The salt air is highly corrosive on the beachfront. Salt air can quickly corrode metal and other objects in your beachfront property. Salt damage to appliances and interior furnishings is one of the issues of living in a beachfront home. Extra care should be taken to keep salt air away from the inside of your home.
High Humidity Levels
Humidity and moisture buildup is high on the beachfront. When living so close to the ocean, you can expect high humidity levels in your beachfront property. High humidity is a recipe for mold, fungi, and other pathogens. Not only can high humidity levels make you sick they can also damage the interior and furniture in your beachfront home.
Climate Change – Storm Protection
Climate change is a huge consideration when thinking about buying beachfront property. With rising global temperatures, it is estimated that ocean levels will rise in the foreseeable future. Frequent storms can erode the land of beachfront properties and pose a high flood risk. Before buying beachfront property, it’s vital to understand that climate change can damage a beachfront’s value.
A recent study published in PLOS One at https://journals.plos.org/climate/ states that more than 13 million beachfront residents could be forced to move inland by 2100 from rising ocean levels.
That might sound like a date far into the future, even if some say climate change isn’t an immediate issue. It is a consideration to make for people who consider investing in real estate for their children and grandchildren.
Advantages of Oceanfront Properties
Living in an Oceanfront property has many advantages. Oceanfront properties are typically further away from the beach. This makes them less likely to experience the harsh beachfront conditions that go hand in hand with living on the coast.
Oceanfront properties are further from busy beaches, providing more privacy to their owners. You get a more scenic ocean view from being higher or further away from an oceanfront home.
Because oceanfront properties are further away from the beach, they are often more affordable than beachfront properties.
Oceanfront properties are shielded from being sandblasted by high winds that beachfront properties must handle daily. Maintenance costs are less for oceanfront properties.
Oceanfront homes located further away from the beach are less likely to face land erosion that happens to beachfront properties.
The further away or higher an oceanfront property sits, the less the risk of flooding. Saltwater damage from flooding is devastating and costly to a property. Flood insurance is another thing you will save on when living on oceanfront property.
All beachfront properties must have appropriate flood insurance. Climate change flooding at the beach is less likely to affect a home further away from the ocean. Living in an oceanfront property slightly further from the beach provides some storm protection. Your oceanfront home will be better protected against flooding and high winds.
Oceanfront properties are considered better investments than beachfront properties due to the risk of flooding, land erosion, high winds, and saltwater damage, tsunamis. Beachfront properties are more expensive and costly to maintain. High taxes and flood insurance on beachfront properties are generally higher than on oceanfront properties.
Beachfront vs Oceanfront
Stepping out your front door onto the beach to be able to swim, surf, snorkel, and sunbathe are all positive benefits living on the beachfront brings. Most people dream about feeling the sea breeze each morning and listening to the waves break on the shore at night. Beachfront properties are an excellent investment and a great source of income from holiday rentals.
Beachfront living is excellent, but it also has disadvantages. Harsh beach conditions like salt air corrosion, sandblasting from high winds, flooding, and high humidity. Beachfront properties also come with higher maintenance and expensive repair costs.
Oceanfront properties are typically further away from the beach and are not exposed to the same harsh beach conditions as beachfront properties are. Being further away from the ocean has benefits if you can look past the fact that you must drive to the beach. Maintenance costs for oceanfront properties are typically less than beachfront properties.
Oceanfront properties might be a bit further from the beach but can also bring in high rental income. Buying an oceanfront property will cost you substantially less than buying a property right on the beach.
Deciding which is better is a personal choice; beachfront properties have their own benefits, and so do oceanfront properties. Both types of properties are great investments. However, beachfront property is not necessarily better than oceanfront properties.
You decide which property suits you better. Whether it’s a beachfront or an oceanfront property it might not matter as much if it’s near the ocean.
We hope you found this article informative and have a clear idea of the differences between beachfront and oceanfront.
Sources
- https://www.waterfrontcentral.com/renting-beach-house-to-tourists/
- https://www.domain.com.au/living/coastal-costs-the-downsides-of-living-by-the-sea-812552/
- https://www.premierestateproperties.com/blog/2020/02/11/8-maintenance-tips-for-your-oceanfront-home
- https://journals.plos.org/climate/
- https://www.taomexico.com/post/6-reasons-off-beach-better-oceanfront
