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Buying a beach house can be tricky in this current day market. If you are looking for a beautiful home in Florida, then you have probably thought about waterfront homes for sale in Jacksonville, FL. These beautiful homes can be a significant investment. However, it is not the best idea for everyone. It is important for you to consider whether this type of purchase is right for you. One thing you should do is look at a few common mistakes people make when they are buying a beach house. That way, you can avoid them.
The Most Common Mistakes People Make When Buying a Beach House
Not sticking to the budget
One of the first mistakes people make when buying a house on the beach is not sticking to a budget. You need to develop a budget for your house. Then, you need to make sure you stick to it. There are a lot of expenses you will incur when you purchase a house. For example, you need to cover the down payment, the mortgage payment, home insurance, and real estate taxes. If you are purchasing a house on the beach, it is possible that you will have substantial HOA fees as well. One issue many people overlook is that real estate taxes on a second home are usually significantly higher than they are on a first home. Therefore, make sure you can cover this cost.
Buying a house that is too far away
If you purchase a house on the beach, you probably think you will use it; however, if you buy a house that is too far away, you might not be able to. It is important for you to look at your geographic limits and ensure you stick to them. If you purchase a house and never get to use it, this could be one of your biggest regrets. Your real estate agent can do some research and look at how far away these houses are from your current residence. That way, you can make sure you get to visit your beach house from time to time.
Cheap insurance
One of the biggest expenses you will have to cover if you purchase a second house is home insurance. Even though you probably already buy home insurance for your current house, home insurance for a house on a beach will be significantly more expensive. Natural disasters are a bigger risk when you have a house on the beach. So your insurance is going to be more expensive. Even though you might think you can save money by buying cheap insurance, you need to make sure you have money to cover repair expenses if a natural disaster hits. Therefore, make sure you buy quality insurance.
Forgetting about maintenance
You probably have an easier time remembering maintenance for the house in which you live; however, cover maintenance expenses on your beach house as well. If you do not take care of your beach house, it will fall into a state of disrepair. Therefore, make sure you get the roof inspected at least once per year. You need to get the HVAC inspected at least once per year as well. Another thing is to check your hot water heater and make sure that it works properly. You should also inspect for mold and mildew from time to time, particularly because you are taking care of a house on the beach. Make sure you take care of your beach house.
Relying Too Much on Rental Income
Finally, another common mistake people make when they purchase a house on the beach is relying too much on rental income. You can make some extra money by renting out your beach house to other people. However, if you think your rental income is going to cover all of your expenses, you could be in for a rude awakening. This may be the case for some years, but not every year. You need to have some money set aside to cover other expenses related to your beach house, particularly emergency repairs that could arise with an older home.
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About the Author: Ashley Edwards
