Buying a place by the water? Here is what you need to know…

The appeal of waking up beside the water is a very strong one and a sea view is an important factor that many homebuyers put right at the top of their list when it comes to choosing a property.

But before putting your signature on the dotted line there are some important matters to take into consideration, not least the key question of why you are buying a home by the water and what you are wanting from it. Will it be your main home? Somewhere for all the family to reap the benefits of life by the water on a full-time basis? Or maybe you are looking for a holiday home or weekend bolthole, somewhere to escape to and recharge your batteries?

If it is the latter, you need to consider how long it is going to take you to get there from your ‘Monday-to-Friday’ home. Also, are you planning to let your home by the water out when you are not using it yourself? Are there any planning or local restrictions on you doing this? Are you happy to deal with such short-term holiday rental bookings yourself or would it be easier to pay a locally based managing agent to handle this for you?

Another important matter to give some serious thought to is how long you are likely to want to own your seaside home for; it might seem strange to be thinking about moving on before you have even moved in, but your longer term plans such as where you wish to spend your retirement, the kids ‘flying the nest’ and potential tax considerations when you sell should not be ignored.

Many seaside villages and small towns take on quite a different character in the out-of-season winter months and it is a good idea to ask yourself how you and your family will feel about living there when those long, hot days spent on the beach are but a distant memory on a wet, dreary afternoon in late January. It really does pay to carefully check out the local scene once the last of the holidaymakers have headed home.

For some, life by the water is only part of the story – life ON the water is what really floats their boat. If the lure of a home by the water is all about spending more time on your boat, then you will need to investigate a myriad of other elements such as the availability and cost of moorings in your chosen area and local winter storage facilities ashore; the local yacht club and boatyards in the area are good starting places to find out these important pearls of information.

Stunning views across the Dart Estuary! Dartmouth, Devon. Guide Price: £2.5 million

When searching for your ideal home by the water, it is not simply a question of how many bedrooms you need or how big the sitting room is – the lifestyle that comes with living close to the sea is just as important. Some locations just ooze charm and character; Dartmouth and Kingswear on the Dart Estuary in south Devon being one such place where long-standing Waterside Properties Network member The Coastal House in Dartmouth is offering ‘The Mission House’ for sale at a guide price of £2,500,000.

This exquisite example of Georgian architecture is located in the thriving heart of Dartmouth with its Tudor buildings, arty side streets, brilliant restaurants and pubs, fresh seafood and, of course, the Dart itself. Yachtsmen will need no introduction to the superb sailing along this stretch of the south Devon coastline, and of course Dartmouth plays host to the world-renowned Royal Regatta each year. To find out more, you can reach The Coastal House on 01803 835788 or by emailing team@thecoastalhouse.co.uk.

You can literally live over the shop! Cowes, Isle of Wight. Guide Price £1,235,000

Maybe you are thinking about leaving the daily commute to the office far behind? If so, this substantial duplex apartment situated in central Cowes on the Isle of Wight boasts not only direct access to the water and stunning Solent views from the roof garden, balcony and waterfront terrace, but the guide price of £1,235,000 also includes the 109 sq. metre shop below on the bustling Cowes High Street. Contact Waterside Properties Network member agent McCarthy & Booker on 01983 300111 or email hello@mccarthyandbooker.co.uk.

Plenty of room for family and friends! Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex. £975,000

The West Sussex coastline is another part of the country renowned for superlative sailing waters, with The Solent and Isle of Wight almost literally on the yachtsman’s doorstep. Its beaches will bring back childhood memories of long, hot summer’s days and ‘traditional’ seaside holidays. With excellent road, rail and air links (both Gatwick and Southampton Airports are within an hour’s drive) and offering 5 bedrooms, Elmstead Cottage in Bracklesham Bay might be the perfect place for those not able to relocate further afield. Henry Adams LLP, the Waterside Properties Network estate agent covering this part of the world, is seeking offers in the region of £975,000 and can be reached on 01243 672721 or by emailing eastwittering@henryadams.co.uk.

You can find the properties featured here, and hundreds more homes by the water, at www.watersideproperties.com.

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