Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Aug 07, 2014 11:02 pm Looking at some land in an estate within metres of the beach. Do you think seaviews are the be all and end all of a holiday home? Beachfront is definitely not in our budget, so I was hoping to get others opinions who might have a holiday home themselves, or have stayed in holiday rentals that, although being in a coastal community, are not beachfront. Did the views really matter or can just as much fun be had a row or two back? We're still only young ourselves (well, relatively lol) and have young children so looking for something to make memories in now and perhaps to retire and then leave to our children with the hope it might be worth something for them. Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 2Aug 10, 2014 11:32 am Not really - in essence you are giving up the view for the ability to actually have the holiday home! Today is under construction. Thank you for understanding. Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 3Aug 10, 2014 12:22 pm Hi MummyFrog80 You wrote "Do you think seaviews are the be all and end all of a holiday home?" Yes,Yes, Yes,Yes I don't see the point in sitting in a beachside house without views, might as well be sitting in the city. However good things don't come easy and you have to work hard. In my case I have been internet hunting (countless hrs) for five years looking at every beachfront property for sale in Vic. Qld and Tas before finding Frogmouth Cottage then having the courage to spend well over my budget(double). Was it worth it? http://www.bestbeachholidaytasmania.com.au (website still under construction) Oh yes when it's priceless! There is one somewhere for you, good luck, remember you only live once, have the courage to live it! Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 4Aug 11, 2014 8:51 am Wow, I rarely disagree with building-expert but this time I will. Our home is beachfront with great views. My opinion.
Finances - personally, I wouldn't over extend the budget. Worrying about money would take away any fun for me. Costs to build - I don't know how protected the beach is but if it is a surf beach, the closer you are the more it costs to build. Example, we recently did a knock down rebuild. If we had a Colorbond roof (didn't) we would have had to use Stainless Steel. If we were building on the opposite side of the street, Ultra, price difference approx. $30K. Maintenance - ditto above, the closer to salt the higher the ongoing costs. Kids - I think views are more important to adults. When I was a kid we used to stay in a caravan park within walking distance to the beach. Some of the best fun memories of my life. Investment- we first bought here 30 years ago when this wasn't considered a "desirable" suburb. Yes our land value has increased a lot but so have the values a few streets back. There doesn't seem to be a massive difference in the percentage increase though. Holiday rental - Ditto above. Our beachfront neighbours get more $ than those a few streets back, but it is relative. Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 5Aug 11, 2014 1:28 pm Well I live in a town full of holiday rentals. The ones on the ocean command higher prices but there are still no vacancies during holiday season. I've lived on the coast for 10 years and frontline coastal properties are very high maintenance as far as anything metal. Even your car will take a hammering. I also think if you are exposed to wind, same thing. I often stay with my friends who live ocean side in Lorne and I don't notice the view after a few days. I personally like a few streets back, wind protected and with a pool. But I couldn't afford the ocean side, lovely as it would be. Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 6Aug 11, 2014 11:16 pm It depends on what you want and what you can afford and your priorities. We are all different and at different cycles. Some are raising families whilst others are empty nesters. So there is no right or wrong opinion only what is right for you. This is why this forum is great. Yes there is high maintenance cost with exposed properties but that's the cost of the beach. You have high termite risk and fire risk in bush properties. I would not encourage anyone to be reckless but it's OK to be ambitious and if you can be creative with your finances and do your hunting you can be lucky and find the right beach property. There is nothing wrong with beach side as opposed to beachfront and there is nothing wrong with beachside as eventual stepping stone to beachfront if that is the ultimate goal. Investment? Good waterfront is scarce and will always be in demand simply because for each beachfront there is a hundred properties in secondary position. Prime properties not only rent for more but also for longer, more frequently and you don't get rif raf. Getting used to views? Yes I know it can happen but there are views and there are views. One of my clients has beachfront in Portarlington and he was telling me that he immensely enjoys views every time he is there. Mine blows my head gasket every time. For those hunting, you can still get good waterfront in Tassie for around 300K (maybe with your own mooring or jetty) with sensational views and it won't last forever at this price. God isn't making any more beaches. $200 return trip from Melbourne for 2. Keep hunting. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 7Aug 12, 2014 7:51 am If you don't believe me here it is http://www.realestate.com.au/property-h ... -116741719 http://www.realestate.com.au/property-h ... -117149023 This one is now gone for 310K http://www.realestate.com.au/property-h ... -112775551 In Tassie you can have a front row seat to paradise Or like a hunter you can lay in wait Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 8Aug 12, 2014 9:18 am Yes and no. Location is king - but price dictates what we do. If you're talking about a weekender - around the corner from the beach - it might be great. I feel you have to judge things on a case by case basis. Clearly on the beach is the best. But - better views might be had on the higher spots ? Is there a cliff face - building here might work out better - if you intend retiring there - ie the view and position - and maybe lack of salt air. Kids won't mind a 200 metre walk if the beach is there. A corner shop - chips and an ice cream - ahhhh ? But - it all depends on the money. Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 9Aug 13, 2014 11:20 pm snufl Wow, I rarely disagree with building-expert but this time I will. Our home is beachfront with great views. My opinion. Finances - personally, I wouldn't over extend the budget. Worrying about money would take away any fun for me. Costs to build - I don't know how protected the beach is but if it is a surf beach, the closer you are the more it costs to build. Example, we recently did a knock down rebuild. If we had a Colorbond roof (didn't) we would have had to use Stainless Steel. If we were building on the opposite side of the street, Ultra, price difference approx. $30K. Maintenance - ditto above, the closer to salt the higher the ongoing costs. Kids - I think views are more important to adults. When I was a kid we used to stay in a caravan park within walking distance to the beach. Some of the best fun memories of my life. Investment- we first bought here 30 years ago when this wasn't considered a "desirable" suburb. Yes our land value has increased a lot but so have the values a few streets back. There doesn't seem to be a massive difference in the percentage increase though. Holiday rental - Ditto above. Our beachfront neighbours get more $ than those a few streets back, but it is relative. I don't mind you disagreeing with me but I don't know what you are disagreeing with. You have waterfront with great views that you bought years ago cheaply and has since increased in value handsomely. Isn't increase in value +your enjoyment= good investment. Would you have done anything different? If not why would you discourage others? Maintenance,salt, and increased cost of building it's just the way the cookie crumbles Views? To me they are everything I am a view person. Terrific view beats the hell out of looking at something boring. And whilst you can't eat the view increased value of your investment can buy you a lot of bread. And location makes all the difference, best beach front will not only have greatest increase in value but also will sell ahead of any other property at highest price in any market. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 10Aug 15, 2014 11:34 am Hi building-expert. From MummyFrog80's post I got the impression a beachfront property wasn't even an option at this point. What I was trying to say was that if a property a couple of streets back met all other criteria and was within budget now, I wouldn't put a red line through it based solely on it not having views. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said in your second reply to this post. BTW, I said we have great views, after looking at Frogmouth Cottage, I'd say yours are stunning. Re: Holiday House, not Beachfront. Does it matter? 11Aug 15, 2014 11:55 am Yes thanks snufl, they blow my head gasket. The three opinions I wanted to get across are that: 1 get the views if you can, waterfront or not, 2 get in now and upgrade later and 3 We have most beautiful island state where you still can afford to get sensational front row at the price of a back seat. just look at the examples I posted Get in, it won't last for ever Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog I've just built 3 stairs off a landing out the back and been told by the private certifier I need hand rails sorry tried to attach a pic but couldn't mine don't have sides… 5 5720 i had the my concreters concrete right up to the fence. I have pits all along my path, so the water tends to drain away from the house and into the pits. There's only one… 7 12785 Depends how much direct sun it gets. Is there any shading (eaves or trees)? If the sun hits a window directly it doesn't matter too much if it's double or single… 1 12671 |