@abasket mentioned sand… yes, that can be a problem, especially when it gets into plumbing when people shower! Many hotels in Hawaii plead with folks to rinse sand off outside, but showers still drain very slowly…
A friend bought a lakefront house. They discovered one unpleasant thing about being on a large lake. Recreational boats are NOISY! People like to play loud music to drown up the roar of the engine. Sitting on their lakeside porch was like sitting next to a busy road at times!
Well now the shower outside finally makes sense.
Our lake has restrictions. 8 hp maximum for motors for boats. So no jet skis or water skiing boats. It’s a paddle board, canoe, kayak, swimming, fishing lake. The people around the lake are very sensitive to noise issues. Many actually have electric motors for their boats, or electric powered boats.
We checked this before we bought.
Yes, many smaller lakes have associations and motorized craft restrictions. That’s why I said “large lake,” as there is only so much the sheriff with their limited resources can do when there are hundreds of boats zooming around, including some that made the world’s named yachts lists.
We are getting a little off topic…but the boating regulations and restrictions are set by the state DEEP, not the associations. The towns typically have patrol boats especially on the weekends.
We live about 3 blocks from the ocean and at a slight elevation of about 30 feet above sea level. I think we have the perfect location. We are just above the potential flood zone and although parking can be challenging on major summer holiday weekends, generally we manage. Parking throughout much of Southern California coastal communities is a bit of a problem.
We do need to keep the exterior well sealed to avoid issues with wood damage and resulting termites. And we also installed a Trex deck which is awesome and very weather resistant.
I love the morning fog and often awaken to a chorus of fog horns, overlapping with the sounds of barking sea lions. And as an avid swimmer, I love being able to walk down and swim in the bay, even in October.
Note I did not say the associations set up boating restrictions. They can control who has access though.
Which brings up another point about waterfront homes: know your state laws regarding water access. Some require owners to provide public access to the beach. Very state-specific.
Here is, for example, what my state says about water access:
We cheated by buying a home 8-ish miles from the ocean (less than that as the crow flies). But it’s in the hills, so we get the cooling air, and a view of lagoon and ocean when we drive out of the community. Very damp in the a.m., sunny during the day. Less corrosion of household items.
We have, however, gone through two cars since 2005, with a third soon to be replaced. Driving up and down a substantial hill is a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle.
Be aware that a home on the ocean or a coastal bay may be subject to sea level rise, especially on barrier islands. While roads now may flood only during super high tides. over time there may be more sunny day flooding on the roads. Be sure any home you buy meet the flood insurance standards (finished floor above the flood elevation) to reduce your insurance costs and to mitigate against a hurricane or other major storm.
I love the beach but no beach house in my future. Luckily, it is an easy day trip for us.
Depending on location, one or more of these can cause headaches for homeowners in coastal areas:
Sand
Floods
Wind
Corrosion
Fog
Tourists/beachgoers
Local zoning and permitting regulations
And don’t forget our feathered friends! They can come as they please and can leave lots of “presents.”
It also varies based on how the properties are deeded. In our case we own our beach all the way to the “extreme low tide” line, as do all our neighbors. Still, there’s a general understanding that we can all walk the beach.
The scourge of our beach community were the seagulls, or flying rats as some termed them. Between those nasty birds and the tendency of things to mildew, I used a lot of diluted bleach while cleaning outside.
We live three miles from the Maine coast. Not a beach house, but perfect for us. We can be at several beautiful beaches in a very short time. And being close to the water means our temperatures in the winter are milder than farther inland.
Our house backs up to the Royal River. There’s a pretty good drop to the water, so we’re not in a flood zone.
I live about a mile walk from the beach. Probably less as the crow flies. I get a view which is important to me. I don’t need to be able to walk out onto the sand.
In 36 years we haven’t noticed any corrosion issues with our cars but we do park in the garage.We are on a bluff so no sand issues.
The fog is a whole different story. We are just inside the fog line. I have a problem growing a vegetable garden due to not enough hours of sunshine in the summer. Some years it seems June gloom goes from May-September. Many summer days the sun doesn’t make an appearance till 4 pm. If I drive out 5 minutes I can be in total sunshine. My kid live 10 minutes away and their houses are 15 degrees warmer most days.
We have family who have an ocean bluff house right on the cliff. they do have alot of corrosion. they also have to get their ocean front windows cleaned often. patio furniture and grills don’t last. its worth it as nothing beats sitting in their living room with wall of windows watching the otters and other sealife.
So @iglooo, where are you looking?
Ditto. My house is on a hill about a mile from the ocean as the crow flies. I love the view but without all the headaches of houses on ocean front. Our friend sold an ocean front house in town a decade ago precisely because of the negative aspects, particularly with trespassers who peered in at all hours and using their outside water supply as a bathroom.
Are you my neighbor? 
So much I love about living here in coastal southern CA – but it was a miserable tomato year with the gloomy summer.
We budgeted putting in central air when we upgraded our electrical panel. Not needed this year, so kicked that down the road for now.
Take it from your East Coast friend- the best time to put in AC is in the fall or winter after a cool summer. Labor, parts, etc. are all MUCH cheaper than in June after two scorching weeks when everyone in your neck of the woods is calling for an appointment! The day ours was installed was too cold for a test run- but the techs promised to show up on the first warm day ahead of everyone else needing a service call and they did!
Good point! We’ve lived here close to 30 years w/o AC. Maybe I should take this to a different thread – but with a very high ceiling in the large living room, mini splits may be more cost effective.
New Jersey coast
