Location, Location, Location (But Make It Practical)

Everyone talks about location when it comes to real estate, but for vacation properties, you need to think about some specific factors that might not matter for your primary residence.

The Waterfront Premium (And Whether It's Worth It)

Let's address the elephant in the room: waterfront properties—whether oceanfront, riverfront, or lakefront—command premium prices. And we're not talking about a 10% bump. Waterfront can easily double or triple the cost of a comparable property that's just a few hundred yards inland. So is it worth it?

Oceanfront Properties:

The appeal is obvious—wake up to ocean views, step directly onto the beach, fall asleep to the sound of waves. But here's what you're really buying into:

• Significantly higher insurance costs (hurricane, flood, erosion)

• Constant battle with salt air and moisture (everything corrodes faster)

• Erosion and storm damage risks that are only increasing with climate change

• Strictest building codes and restrictions

• Higher property taxes

• Often limited availability, which means less negotiating power

• Maintenance costs that can be 2-3 times higher than inland properties

Oceanfront is the most expensive and highest-maintenance waterfront option, but for many people, nothing else compares. Just go in with realistic expectations about the ongoing costs.

Lakefront Properties:

Often the sweet spot for vacation properties. You get water access and views without quite the premium (or the risks) of oceanfront:

• Generally lower insurance costs than oceanfront

• Better protected from major storms

• Year-round activities in many locations (swimming, boating, fishing, ice fishing)

• Still expensive, but more approachable than oceanfront

• Private lakes vs. public lakes make a huge difference in traffic and privacy

• Water quality and lake management matter—research before you buy

The catch? The best lakefront properties in desirable areas are getting harder to find and nearly as expensive as oceanfront in some regions.

Riverfront Properties:

The overlooked middle child of waterfront real estate, but don't discount it:

• Typically the most affordable waterfront option

• Can offer excellent fishing and kayaking

• More privacy than popular lake or ocean spots

• Lower insurance costs than oceanfront (usually)

• Flood risk is real—check flood maps carefully and factor in flood insurance

• River speed and navigability vary wildly—do your homework

• Some rivers have seasonal water level changes that dramatically affect access

The "Near Water But Not On It" Strategy:

Here's the smart money play many buyers overlook: buying within walking distance or a short drive from water can give you 80% of the benefits at 40% of the cost. You get lake or beach access without the premium price tag, lower insurance, less maintenance, and more flexibility in your property search. You just have to carry your kayak a bit further.

Access to Airports and Major Conveniences

Unless you're planning to drive eight hours every time you visit (spoiler alert: you won't do this as often as you think), you need reasonable access to an airport. Think about it: if your friends and family can't get there without a heroic journey, they won't visit. And if you can't pop down for a long weekend without taking two days off work just for travel, you won't use the place as much as you'd hoped.

Major conveniences matter too. Being three hours from the nearest Home Depot might sound romantic until you need to fix something and realize you can't just run out for supplies.

Daily Life Essentials

Here's what separates a vacation property you'll actually use from one that becomes a burden: access to the basics of daily life.

You need to be within reasonable distance of:

• A grocery store (because you will not want to pack all your food every trip)

• Gas stations (running out of gas in the middle of nowhere gets old fast)

• Medical services (emergencies don't care that you're on vacation)

"Reasonable distance" is subjective, but think about it this way: would you be annoyed driving there every single time you visit? If yes, reconsider the location. Out here in Charlos Cove, I always have at least 200km of fuel left in my car -just in case.