10 Best Towns Where You Can Find a Beach Bargain
Life + Money

10 Best Towns Where You Can Find a Beach Bargain

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If your Fourth of July beach vacation has you thinking about getting permanent digs by the ocean, you’re not alone. Four in 10 buyers of vacation homes purchase property near a beach, according to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors.

While prices in many shore communities are up, it’s still possible to find a deal on a beach house, according to a new report from RealtyTrac.

Slideshow: The 10 Best Towns to Find a Bargain Beach House

“Buying a second home or investment property in a beach town can help families save on summer vacations for years to come and also potentially generate vacation rental income,” RealtyTrac Senior Vice President Daren Blomquist said in a statement. “While real estate close to the ocean tends to be pricier, bargains are still available, particularly in smaller towns off the beaten path where home prices have been slower to bounce back from the housing downturn.”

The best bargain beach town in the country, according to RealtyTrac, is Keansburg, New Jersey, a town that offers residents a free beach with a view of New York City. The town was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy and many homes there remain in foreclosure, pushing the median price down to just $71,000.

To come up with the best beach town bargains, RealtyTrac considered all cities bordering the ocean with a population of less than 50,000 and an average summer temperature of between 60 and 80 degrees. The report also looked at air quality, density of registered criminal offenders and median home prices.

Here are the 10 Best Towns Where You Can Find a Beach Bargain.

1. Keansburg, N.J.
Median home price: $71,000
10-year home-price change: -68 percent
Average summer temperature: 71 degrees
This town along the northern New Jersey shore offers a free beach with views of New York City’s skyline.

2. Mastic Beach, N.Y.
Median home price: $99,000
10-year home-price change: -59 percent
Average summer temperature: 67 degrees
Located on the South Shore of Long Island, Mastic Beach is a haven for artists who enjoy not only the surf, but also the growing Village Center.

3. Crisfield, Md.
Median home price: $51,000
10-year home-price change: -46 percent
Average summer temperature: 77 degrees
The southernmost town in Maryland, this Chesapeake Bay community bills itself as “the Crab Capital of the World.” Next to its Wellington Beach is a harbor lined with seafood packing plants.

4. Riverside, R.I.
Median home price: $181,000
10-year home-price change: -27 percent
Average summer temperature: 72 degrees
A suburb of Providence, the beach here is a great place to sunbathe and watch the boats.

5. Palm Beach, Fla.
Median home price: $497,500
10-year home-price change: -44 percent
Average summer temperature: 77degrees
The most expensive town on this list, Palm Beach is a destination for both vacationers and retirees, with beautiful beaches, golf and plenty of cultural events.

6. Emerald Isle, N.C.
Median home price: $322,500
10-year home-price change: -28 percent
Average summer temperature: 60 degrees
Located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this town has a thriving restaurant and shopping scene, along with clear water and sandy beaches.

7.  Dauphin Island, Ala.
Median home price; $184,350
10-year home-price change: -41 percent
Average summer temperature: 75 degrees
Known as the “Sunset Capital of Alabama,” Dauphin Island is a family-friendly community where residents can enjoy a bird sanctuary, golf courses and white sand beaches.

8. Madison, Conn.
Median home price; $378,000
10-year home-price change: -31 percent
Average summer temperature: 67 degrees
Madison is home to Hammonasset Beach State Park, Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, with more than two miles of beaches.

9. Florence, Ore.
Median home price; $217,000
10-year home-price change: 4 percent
Average summer temperature: 61 degrees
The cooler weather here means that enjoying the beach is more about boating and camping than swimming and sunbathing.

10. Bethany Beach, Del.
Median home price; $467,500
10-year home-price change: -21 percent
Average summer temperature: 70 degrees
A classic, family-friendly shore town, Bethany Beach has a bustling boardwalk and is a great spot for swimming, boating or windsurfing

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