Best places to buy a beach house 2021

Home to the tallest brick lighthouse in the country (and the tallest overall in North Carolina), Cape Hatteras and its surrounding beach towns including Avon, Salvo, Waves, and Rodanthe top the list of our Best Places to Buy a Beach House 2021. With a whopping 8.6% cap rate, visitors flock to Cape Hatteras for family reunions and larger gatherings—and for good reason. Inventories of larger homes that sleep six to 16 people are plentiful in the area, making it a perfect place to reconnect with loved ones. Guests can spend the day kayaking around the sound, enjoying the wind and waves that shape the topography of the area, or catching a glimpse of visiting sea turtles in the summer.

Featured vacation home: God's Promise #1-2H

If you didn’t peg the Pacific Northwest as the top place to buy a beach house, we respectfully understand! The Washington State coastline is vastly different from the sunnier skies down south and out east, but there are many reasons why Ocean Shores ranked near the top of our list. For one, the barrier to entry is low for many buyers, with homes averaging around $250,000. Pair that with a cap rate of 7.8%, and Ocean Shores might start looking like a more obvious choice. Families love the area for its proximity to major metro hubs like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, as well as the miles of coastline, fun local festivals, and fresh fare.

Featured vacation home: The Seaview

A delightful community of breathtaking beachfront homes on stilts lands Dauphin Island at that number three spot on our Best Places to Buy a Beach House list. This small yet always popular island is beloved by locals and tourists alike, which will bring a steady stream of guests to your vacation home each year. The Gulf Coast waters and pristine beaches are standbys for visitors, but there’s plenty more to explore in the area, including the Sea Lab’s Estuarium or Historic Fort Gaines. Homes on Dauphin Island are in the neighborhood of $290,000 and produce an average rental income of $43,000.

Featured vacation home: Bella Vista

Sitting 70 miles from downtown Chicago, the town of New Buffalo is just moments off the highway, but feels completely separated from the hustle and bustle of a city center. Never heard of it? Well tune in, as New Buffalo snagged the number four spot on our list and has a lot to offer vacation home guests beyond the majestic beauty of Lake Michigan. Spend a sunny afternoon playing in the sand, use the launch area for a boating adventure, or swim in the lake’s waters. Lake Michigan is an enormous body of water, and it’s easy to forget you aren’t actually on the ocean as the wind gently whips up small whitecaps. Speaking of caps? A 7.1% cap rate ain’t too shabby for south Michigan.

Featured vacation home: Lake Shore Cottage

Nestled between two bodies of water—namely the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound—Corolla is an increasingly popular vacation destination that truly has it all. Check out the luxury and local shopping, a plethora of spots to eat and drink, and, of course, the stretch of sandy beach where you can simply lounge in the sun. Or, take part in an activity unique to the area and catch a glimpse of Corolla’s wild horses. The remote area of the beach where these Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs roam requires a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach (with the option of guided tours), but making the trek is one of Corolla’s most popular activities. After a day outdoors, guests can return to their often spacious vacation rental to enjoy the home’s amenities, which can include private pools, hot tubs, game rooms, and even volleyball courts. Interested buyers will pay a little more for these homes, with the average home price hovering around $560,000.

Featured vacation home: Skipper’s Sail Away BU30

The sun soaked skies of south Kauai draw in hordes of visitors every year, and while 2020 was an exception, tourism in Hawaii is bouncing back nicely. And why would we expect anything less? Kauai, and more specifically southern Kauai near Poipu, is the perfect place to switch from real life to island time due to its proximity to the area’s stunning beaches. Whether you plan to plot your spot on the sand or hit the links at the area’s nearby (and also stunningly beautiful) golf courses, homes here can cost a pretty penny at around $600,000, but the opportunity to earn approximately $65,000 average annual rental income may just keep you afloat.

Featured vacation home: Hale Kai O Kihei 212

A small beach town in the other Carolina comes in at number seven on our Best Places to Buy a Beach House list. Isle of Palms, which lies just 18 miles from Charleston, offers more than meets the eye with championship golf and tennis, a bustling marina, and countless water sports and activities. A friendly blend of locals and tourists mingle on the sand, often taking in beach volleyball games and live music, and noshing on local yet understated fare like pizza and ice cream. To make a piece of Isle of Palms your own will cost you around $700,000, but a steady stream of East Coast travelers will help offset costs.

Featured vacation home: Carolina Boulevard

Located in South Maui and just a 30-minute jaunt from the major airport, Wailea is perfect for guests looking to combine a relaxing environment with true Hawaiian luxury. Crescent-shaped beaches beckon children and adults alike, with warm waters to splash in just steps away. Golf courses that brought acclaim to the area are nearby for those seeking a more active reprieve, and the Shops at Wailea are an ever-popular attraction. However, the simple pleasures such as jogging the Wailea Beach Path or discovering volcanic rock formations at Little Beach bring equal joy to guests. Homes and condos in the area are highly sought after and typically sit around $880,000. A cap rate of 5.6% will ease the burden as you slowly sip a Mai Tai.

Featured vacation home: Sugar Beach Resort 213

The South Kohala district includes the towns of Puako, Waikoloa Village, Waimea, and unincorporated Kawaihae and Kawaihae Harbor. It’s one of the most sought-after destinations on the Big Island of Hawaii, but somehow it remains relatively untouched by people. It can be a welcome change of scenery compared to most people’s idea of Hawaii, with lush, green stretches of rolling hills that are the center of Kohala’s ranching culture. In addition to weekly farmers’ markets, South Kohala is known for its incredible dining scene. From the pricey Redwater Cafe to the family-friendly Pau Pizza, there’s something for everyone in South Kohala, including homes and condos that run around $639,000 and boast a cap rate of 5.6%.

Featured vacation home: Star of Waikoloa

As they say, everything’s bigger in Texas. A 27-mile stretch of pure paradise awaits in the Bolivar Peninsula. Crystal Beach, Gilchrist, High Island, and Port Bolivar are all popular destinations within this laid-back, tech-free (don’t worry, there’s WiFi) destination on the Gulf Coast. Locals say it’s one of those places that takes you back in time—where mom and pop shops line the streets and the Big Kite and Surf Shop retailers are the main game in town. Oh, and don’t worry about transportation. Daily—or weekly—golf cart rentals are always available, where you can cruise the sand to your heart's content. Rounding out our top 10 Best Places to Buy a Beach House, Bolivar Peninsula homes come in at roughly $299,354 and boast a healthy cap rate of 5.6%.

Featured vacation home: Shore Thing