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East coast of Maine, the farther north you go (except for Camden and Cape Elizabeth) the less expensive it is to buy or rent. Being big tourist areas, rents during the summer are high. Moderator cut: snip
Last edited by Keeper; 08-07-2011 at 04:22 PM..
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Any suggestions for inexpensive beach towns in which to live , if they exist? Or relatively inexpensive with reasonable apartment rents?
I rented a place for the year in Kure Beach NC while I divest myself of baggage, tangible and intangible - I'm not sure what is considered inexpensive because I have lived in too many areas that are outrageous and so my sense of reality is skewed. However, I think it rather amazing that I can rent a place where I can see and hear the ocean, walk across the street and be on the water, have a fenced in yard 2 br and a bath, full screened in porch, all for 850.00 a month, which includes water/sewer/trash. Electric has averaged 110.00 per month for the previous resident and thus far, I am below that. There were a number of places that rented in that area and for less. Houses can be had for less than 200 (pretty rustic, which ps describes my abode as well) - a nice house can be had for 275-300 plus /and of course there are the much higher ones. All in all, for beach property, it's "reasonable".
On the combined islands of kure/carolina beach, you have a library, grocery store, post office, all the basics one would need. You can cross over off the island and be at lots of stores, services in 5/10 miles. If you wish to be in the city, Wilmington downtown is 30 minutes away.
For beach living, this area seems to combine lower price and lots of action. The towns provide dog parks and lots of events, particularly in the summer. Not overly crowded and definitely quiet when the season ends.
I don't know Top Sail and the other beaches real well around here - have been to Sunset, Ocean Isles etc - few have the commercial/businesses that Carolina Beach provides so as I said, you can actually live on the Island and have most all you need (if Food Lion is sufficient...........harris teeter is supposedly coming soon).
Since many people would like to live on or near the beach, the laws of supply and demand dictate that an "inexpensive beach town" is an oxymoron. There may be some exceptions and I hope for your sake that people will post here about some of the exceptions.
Not sure how close to the ocean you want to live, but the solution may be to find a relatively inexpensive beach town and purchase a home which is four or five miles away from the beach, as actual beachfront property tends to be expensive anywhere.
Just a thought, a twist on inexpensive beach town living:
If you can relocate seasonally, i.e., leave town during high season, you might be able to do so economically at the beaches I'm familiar with in Maryland/Delaware.
The greater Ocean City/Rehoboth beach area is full of empty rentals off season and they can be had for relatively reasonable rates during late Sep-May. An alternative is to own in those areas and rent the place during high season (generally June through Lador Day++) and live somewhere else during the season.
I've known several folks who've done both. They use the high season period for RV traveling and live there off season.
Galveston Texas actually IS a cheap beach town. It's got some downsides (distal Mississippi mud makes the water sort of brown) and some run down sections but it's got the largest Victorian home collection from the late 19th century in the country. Real nice in winter when all the tourists and Houston daytrippers stay away. Great warm water for swimming in the summer - like a warm bath-tub!
Inexpensive and beach don't go together well. I was going to say Maine but someone already beat me to it. I haven't seen Galveston post-hurricane or I would have said check there too.
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- I'm not sure what is considered inexpensive because I have lived in too many areas that are outrageous and so my sense of reality is skewed. However, I think it rather amazing that I can rent a place where I can see and hear the ocean, walk across the street and be on the water, have a fenced in yard 2 br and a bath, full screened in porch, all for 850.00 a month, which includes water/sewer/trash. Electric has averaged 110.00 per month for the previous resident and thus far, I am below that. There were a number of places that rented in that area and for less. Houses can be had for less than 200 (pretty rustic, which ps describes my abode as well) - a nice house can be had for 275-300 plus /and of course there are the much higher ones. All in all, for beach property, it's "reasonable".
