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Thinking of buying a summer place in Westport near Horseneck Beach. On its face, this area seems nicer and a much better value than similar ocean beach spots in Rhode Island and generally much less expensive to buy. My question is why?
Coastal Westport is closer to Providence than Narragansett, Charlestown or South Kingstown. Around 40 minutes as opposed to an hour to Narragansett or SK/Charlestown. Making the commute to Providence arguably easier.
The Westport/Mass. taxes are way lower. Westport, the town, is at least as beautiful as any of the RI ocean beach towns. The beaches in Westport are just as attractive and maybe even a bit less crowded than RI's. The newer Horseneck Beach Pavillion is very nice with inexpensive parking. Am I missing something? Or not? Thanks for any insight.
Parts of Westport can be very pretty. Horseneck Beach, however, attracts the Fall River/New Bedford crowd and is not less crowded in swimming weather than RI beaches. Read reviews of the beach itself on the net. It is also known as a surfing beach because of the waves- don't know if that is what you like. Have you visited much in the summer?
There are probably spots in Westport that are near more picturesque areas and are perhaps more peaceful. Drift Rd area is pretty.
Parts of Westport can be very pretty. Horseneck Beach, however, attracts the Fall River/New Bedford crowd and is not less crowded in swimming weather than RI beaches. Read reviews of the beach itself on the net. It is also known as a surfing beach because of the waves- don't know if that is what you like. Have you visited much in the summer?
There are probably spots in Westport that are near more picturesque areas and are perhaps more peaceful. Drift Rd area is pretty.
I'm very familiar with Horseneck Beach. It's my favorite public beach in the RI area. I haven't found the summer crowd any more or less desirable than Narragansett or SK. What I like about Horseneck is it's long enough that you can get away from the masses who typically drop themselves at the spot nearest the parking. Unfortunately many RI beaches are shorter and getting away from the loud crowd is more problematic, regardless the distance one is willing to walk to try.
Great- obviously you are happy with it- what's the source of uncertainty?
In a real estate investment sense, anytime you observe what looks to be a rationally unexplainable discrepancy in the comparison of price and value, it calls for some research. Very likely, only anecdotal information can be sourced here, but its still worth a try to get opinions which may lead to an explanation the statistics and logic miss.
I'm just told the difference between the Westport and Narragansett/SK/Charlestown beach real estate markets is STUDENTS. The winter rental market for near beach properties is strong in RI because they serve as private student housing and this winter market is non-existent in Westport. Consequently, all other things being the same, this brings more $$$ value to the equivalent RI houses. Many are income producers in the winter and private homes in the summer. I don't know that this is all of the story, but makes some sense.
It sounds like you answered your own question then. Buy the Westport property! It's a great area. My family had always gone to Horseneck over the years
I'm just told the difference between the Westport and Narragansett/SK/Charlestown beach real estate markets is STUDENTS. The winter rental market for near beach properties is strong in RI because they serve as private student housing and this winter market is non-existent in Westport. Consequently, all other things being the same, this brings more $$$ value to the equivalent RI houses. Many are income producers in the winter and private homes in the summer. I don't know that this is all of the story, but makes some sense.
I've had students rent our Gansett beach home. Notice it is past tense. Three years is all it took to turn me off. Just not worth the aggravation. I'd say within the past 10 years there are far fewer student rentals in our little neighborhood.
There's far more money to be made with weekly summer rentals...........and much less aggravation!
Wouldn't a beach cottage win Westport be a possible winter rental for UMass Dartmouth students-if one were interested?
I think most students at that school either live in dorms or at home. More like a 4 year CCRI than URI.
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