If you’re tired of snowy weather or you enjoy the relaxation that the beach provides, you may be considering moving to the coast. Whether it’s the east or the west, coast living is much different than suburban living. Here are five things that you’ll want to understand before making your final decision to move to the coast.
Houses Are Expensive
There’s a reason that it costs a good chunk of change to rent a beach home. These homes tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum when it comes to real estate. Many people enjoy waking up to that beachfront view and having access to their own section of private beach. This desire drives up the price of these homes.
Expect High Insurance Rates
When you think of natural disasters, the first place you likely picture are homes on the coast all ripped apart. Hurricanes are a big problem for those living on the coast. Since there is a higher likelihood of damage for a home on the coast as compared to one in a suburban neighborhood, insurance companies charge more.
You can expect to pay a higher rate for both your homeowner’s insurance and flood insurance. While flood insurance is an optional type of insurance for most other areas in the country, it’s a mandatory type of insurance for coastal homes. When selecting a flood insurance policy, it’s important to consider what items will and won’t be covered in the event that your beach home gets flooded.
You Have To Be Prepared For Bad Weather
There’s a reason that most beach homes are up on stilts. The builders know that beaches are highly susceptible to flooding when big storms hit. Therefore, they take the necessary precautions to protect a home. You’ll need to think about beach home additions of items like hurricane shutters that can be closed to protect your windows during nasty storms.
Also, you’ll want to consider your own safety during hurricanes and mandatory evacuations. It’s a good idea to have an emergency plan prepared. This includes having travel bags packed so you can make a quick getaway if the situation warrants it.
Salt Is More Of An Issue
If you live somewhere where you get snow and ice in the wintertime, then you’re familiar with the dreaded salt. While it’s great for melting ice, it’s not so great for the surfaces that it comes in contact with. Salt can rust out your car and ruin your nice paint job. At the beach, salt from the water can cause the same damage, just much faster. You’ll need to consistently clean your car and wash off your home to ensure that the salt doesn’t cause deterioration.
Expect Lots Of Tourists
When you’re a visitor to the beach, you likely don’t give much notice to the tourist population. However, when you live on the coast, you’ll need to be prepared to deal with the effects of tourists during seasonal times. This means busier traffic, restaurants that are packed, and stores that are constantly crowded.
You can take advantage of the tourist season by taking on extra work at one of the many venues that hire seasonal workers. In fact, many coastal residents make a good bit of money during the summer months that helps to sustain them throughout the rest of the year.
Moving to the coast can be a great adventure. However, the above are some facts that you need to take into consideration during your move. They will assist you in making a more informed decision about whether or not coastal living is right for you and your family.
