Best places to buy a beach house 2022

Boasting over 32 miles of sandy white beaches, Gulf Shores is a mecca of pure paradise on the Alabama coastline. However, this family-friendly destination is more than just life at the beach with award-winning restaurants, championship golf, amusement parks, and water sports to entertain guests year round. Taking the #1 spot on our Best Places to Buy a Beach House 2022 list, a Gulf Shores vacation home or condo will cost around $400,000, but can yield a cap rate over 10%. How’s that for Southern hospitality?

The popularity of the Outer Banks may have grown given its national exposure on a hit reality show, but those who have been traveling there for years have always admired the area’s subtle charm and wide open spaces. With minimal development, but access to high-end dining, shopping, and entertainment, it’s an ever-popular choice for those seeking a rejuvenating getaway. Splash in the salty ocean waves, grab a kayak and hit the sound waters, or explore the maritime forests. And with activity options like that, the fact that a vacation rental property in Corolla could net you approximately $77,000 in median annual gross rental revenue only shores up the investment.

Located just east of Pensacola lies a quaint beach community with big guest appeal. Here, relaxation is the name of the game, and visitors can mostly be found sunning and swimming in the area’s emerald waters. In fact, according to Visit Florida, guests crossing the Navarre Beach Bridge often describe it as “a transcendence into paradise” due to the town’s zen-like state. If you’re able to scoop up a spot on the sand in Navarre Beach, the median home sale price sits under $400,000, and boasts a 6.6% cap rate to boot.

The Gateway of Michigan may not immediately strike your fancy as a Best Place to Buy a Beach House, but take a closer look, and you’ll find the beach-like lakeshore rivals any destination on our list. A small lighthouse anchors the city, which lies just one hour from Chicago and is ideal for a quick trip to kick back. New Buffalo is home to a charming downtown district flanked with restaurants and breweries, as well as a casino and active marina. Holding steady at a 6.6% cap rate, the median annual gross rental revenue in this midwest escape is just over $58,000.

Naturally, when Daytona Beach comes to mind, so do crowds of NASCAR fans that flock to the international speedway each year. But for the subset of guests who prefer a bit more peace and quiet, a stretch of white sand and warm ocean waters awaits—among a plethora of vacation activities Daytona Beach has to offer. From scuba diving to golfing, to shopping and spas, to birdwatching and hiking, Daytona Beach has it all. For many, the median home sale price of just under $250,000 offers a more affordable way to own a piece of the Sunshine State.

While really any of our Best Places to Buy a Beach House are considered year-round destinations, Galveston’s weather, in particular, is so mild that every day can be a beach day. From your towel, you can take in the Victorian architecture that makes the area unique, or pop over to one of the city's top attractions, including the Moody Garden or Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Everything is bigger in Texas, except perhaps the median home sale price, which lands at around $340,000.

Another North Carolina market that was (beach) bound to make our Best Places to Buy a Beach House 2022 list is the sunny coastal town of Hatteras Island, which consists of seven villages, two lighthouses, and one National Seashore. The area draws guests to a simpler time, before the world became familiar with the Outer Banks, and offers a more rugged place to relax, ride horses on the sand, or even climb a lighthouse for the perfect sunset shot. If searching on Hatteras Island, one of the area’s homes (stilts optional) will run around $480,000.

The Oregon Coast isn’t exactly known for some of the sunny activities that other Best Places to Buy a Beach House are, but that’s what makes the Pacific Northwest an ideal destination for those who prefer seashore with a cooler climate. Instead of sunning on the warm sand, guests along Oregon’s coastline can find themselves storm-watching from the comfort of their vacation home, perusing the local shops, or grabbing a beer at one of the area’s popular breweries, dog in tow. Median annual gross rental revenue, though, is on par with other best coastal towns to invest in, at $48,030.

When considering buying a beach house, buyers looking for a healthy cap rate and postcard-inspiring views can look no further than Port St. Joe. Dubbed the “small town with a big heart,” Port St. Joe is the perfect place for guests to take a relaxing respite. Cruise America’s Scenic Highways and Byways, climb the Cape San Blas Lighthouse, or visit one of the town’s many rustic seafood shacks for over-the-top delicious fare. A place to call your own in Port St. Joe will run approximately $360,000, with a 6.1% cap rate.

The “land of relentless sun” rounds out our Best Places to Buy a Beach House 2022 report, taking the #10 spot. Located on the island of Maui, Lahaina is one of the area’s most popular escapes for swimming and snorkeling in the warm Pacific waters, indulging in a traditional luau, or simply taking in the sunset from your vacation rental lanai. There will be no shortage of guests flocking to Lahaina, which is good news, as homes and condos can skew a bit higher at a median home sale price of $725,000.