Types of waterfront property:

Waterfront homes dont just have a view of the water; they are right next to it. There are several types of waterfront homes, located along the coastline with a view of the ocean. And, there are waterfront homes dotting lakes, reservoirs, rivers, gulfs, ponds, and streams in thousands of places between the coasts.

Whichever body of water suits you best probably depends on what you would like to be doing while youre at your home on the water. No matter which type you choose, there are things that the different waterfronts have in common if you are planning on buying.

Extra costs for a second home:

A second home can be costly, and comes with some expenses that you may not consider.

Travel costs:

How far away is the second home? Is it close enough to drive to, or are you going to want to purchase airplane tickets every time that you want to go to your waterfront property? Travel costs can add up.

Maintenance costs:

Since you arent going to be at the home all year round, you will have to pay someone to keep up the yard while you arent there. You will also have one more house to fix things in when they fall apart.

Insurance:

You will probably want your second home to be insured. If you are planning on having people rent out your ocean front property, your insurance will be more than normal. Some ways to cut costs of insurance are to insure your home and your waterfront home with the same company. An alarm system, gated community, or other safety features will help lower the cost of insurance.

Taxes, taxes, taxes:

Taxes for a second home can be confusing. Least confusing, perhaps, is the property tax you will be paying on the second home. Then there is income tax if you rent out the home. This tax depends on how many days you are living in the home each year, and how many days you are renting out the home each year. Finding a good accountant may be the best idea.

Buying a waterfront home:

Many waterfront homes are sold by the owner. You may be able to get a better buy, but be sure to include a professional opinion in the process.

Unless you have had experience living on, or buying waterfront property, you may want to consider using a local real estate agent or realtor. They have been in the market, and should know how to get you the best deal.

Whether you are looking for a view of the ocean, or a lake with a good fishing hole, it is easy to find out prices of comparable real estate. You can do this by going to a local realtor, or looking in real estate magazines, or real estate Internet sites.

Before you start looking, it is a good idea to find out how much you will be able to spend. (including travel, maintenance, insurance, and taxes.) Get pre-approved, and have fun deciding which view is the best.