03/19/2016 Are you one of the many people dreaming of owning a beach house? Not everyone actually takes the final leap of actually buying their dream beach house. When doing so, it's important to consider the realities of beach house buying and ownership.
My father's dream of owning an oceanfront Oregon beach house started when his own stepfather worked for the railroad that was the main source of transportation along the Oregon coastline. After graduating college, my father began his search for the perfect location for his dream beach property. He settled on a perfect lot on the north coastline, in Manzanita, Oregon.
Reality #1 - Coastal properties, particularly oceanfront properties, are not as plentiful as they were back in my father's day. This necessitates keeping a close eye on the market, and be ready to move quickly when the perfect house or property becomes available.
36 years later my husband and I took ownership of our family vacation house, which began our own dream of purchasing original Oregon coast beach houses and restoring and updating them to retain the beach house charm, yet for modern day sensibilities.
Reality #2 - Keeping an open mind and adding some creativity can still pay off.
Our next purchase was a run down former log house perfectly located with an unobstructed ocean view and great location, and only three blocks to the community businesses.
It was definitely market worn. The kitchen and one bathroom were both minuscule, the house was dark, and the basement was so unfinished the floor was sand, with no windows and rain pouring in under a broken door.
Before purchasing the house, we took a very important step, and in hindsight a very wise one, too. We scheduled a meeting with the one local city building inspector and took a walk through the house to discuss the necessary steps to bring the building to code, and our vision of the house.
This accomplished two important steps: 1 - we were fully aware, as much as possible, of the general scope of the remodel; and 2 - this created a good working relationship with the building inspector and the city in a vacation community where outsiders are often viewed with suspicion.
We definitely had the usual remodeling stories, but on the whole, the process went smoothy, due in part with our good working relationship with our building inspector. Ultimately, we were more than pleased with the final result.
Reality #3 - When working in a community where you are not a resident, it's immensely beneficial to create good will with the locals.
While we were finishing our updated Manzanita modern cabin, we started investigating another local house that was also languishing on the real estate market. It was in the questionable situation of being sold by an estate comprise by a diverse group of heirs. Decision making for the seller was complicated, at best.
Reality #4 - For a house, life on the coast is brutal, thereby necessitating lots of upkeep and maintenance.
Whether your house is new or an historic 100 year old beach house, if you're planning on owning a coast house, especially oceanfront, you are signing on for a lifetime of frequent maintenance. Metals corrode right out of the box in the ocean air. Cedar shingles are pounded during the off season. And the incredible greens the coast that people find spectacular means frequent yard maintenance to control the growth.
That being said, it is possible to restore a 100 year old beach house to original beauty yet updated for today's market.
And enjoy the rewards for years to come.
Oceanfront Manzanita vacation rentals on a seven mile sandy north Oregon beach. Private Oregon vacation houses featuring beachside fire pits and large decks, 180º views, and decorator furnishings, our houses are equipped for one to twenty guests. We specialize on great customer service, offering ou…