If the beach is calling you as your perfect new home neighbour, it can be challenging to find a property by the sea that falls within your price bracket as well as within a small radius of the coast.
The closer you get to the sea often the higher the price goes, and this has become even more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic as people decide to act on their dream of a life by the waves.
Since the pandemic started, there has been strong demand for homes in coastal areas. This demand has often outstripped supply, which has contributed to the rising asking prices experienced throughout 2021 and currently in 2022.
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Rightmove states that many seaside locations in Great Britain are outpacing the national average of 9.9% during and following the pandemic. The company also says that the average time to find a buyer in a seaside location is 33 days and, on average, homes are finding buyers nearly three weeks (20 days) quicker than in 2021.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove's director of property science, says: "We know that demand, which we measure by enquiries to estate agents from prospective buyers on Rightmove, is often a lead indicator of price.
"Right at the start of the pandemic, when the market re-opened, we saw a huge surge in demand for these coastal areas as people wanted a sea view or more space near the coast. There have been large periods where demand has greatly outstripped supply over the last couple of years which has contributed to the significant rise in asking prices we're seeing in 2022."
So now if you want to call the coast your home but your budget isn't as sweeping as some of the stunning beaches near your favourite spot, then a renovation project could be the way to join the local community and live out your dream to be near the sea in your forever home.
Barmouth, Gwynedd: £200,000
There is huge potential to add value by restoring this spacious property to create a wonderful coastal home in Barmouth, just minutes from the town centre and the beach.
Called Barwynds, the striking stone built Victorian townhouse sprawls over four floors with 10 bedrooms, a spacious lounge with feature bay window and large kitchen diner, as well as a two room basement which has its own ground floor entrance and, subject to planning consent, could make a wonderful self-contained annexe for grown-up children or grandparents.
The rooms have the typical attractive Victorian features of high ceilings, deep skirting boards, original wooden flooring and internal doors, and all are well proportioned. The front rooms on the upper floors have views across the town to the sea and beach, and to the rear of the property there is a small courtyard facing onto the granite rock face that is a distinctive feature of the town.
With a sympathetic renovation and restoration project, this Victorian gem is waiting to be brought back to glorious life with its surviving original features the core of its character that makes it so special. The house is on the market for £200,000 with Monopoly Buy Sell Rent, call their Llanbedr branch on 01978 800186 to find out more.
Goodwick, Pembrokeshire: £150,000+
Called Rawcliffe, this substantial detached seaside house in Goodwick has harbour views to mesmerise and room in the large garden to create a luxury new build on the adjacent land, subject to planning consent, and there are drawings already in existence to view.
If one property becomes two, there's a chance to bring another layer of the family to the site once completed, or sell one of the two properties to pay for the renovation of the older cottage. The three-bed house on the site does need work to renovate it into a dream home by the sea, but the reward is are the stunning views of Fishguard Bay that will never need updating.
Sean Roper, of Paul Fosh Auctions, says: "The fabulous views of Fishguard Bay straight out of the front from Rawcliffe are worth the guide price alone.
"The prospect of being able to build on the large adjoining plot, subject to obtaining planning permission, makes this a compelling property for those looking for a large slice of Pembrokeshire life."
Sat in its own grounds with garden to the front, side and rear and with a garage, Rawcliffe, on Glanymor Road, Goodwick, is being sold by Paul Fosh Auctions at its online November between noon on November 8 and 6.35pm on November 10, with a guide price of £150,000 plus, call them on 01633 254044 to find out more.
Reynoldston, Gower: £350,000
Nestled within the rural Gower hamlet of Burry and offered for sale with no onward chain, is this three-bed, semi-detached barn conversion that oozes potential to make it your very own place near the sea.
With the villages of Reynoldston, Rhossili and and Llangennith just down the country lanes, communities and facilities are never too far away, and neither are the stunning sandy beaches, hidden coves and dramatic cliff-tops of Gower's award-winning beaches, within the UK's first ever Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The house could be a beauty too once you get your toolbox out and your interior design ideas transformed into reality. The property has two sections - a two-storey cottage that offers a dining room and kitchen on the ground floor and then two bedrooms and an ensuite on the first floor.
The attached single-storey barn then offers a lounge, an extra bedroom and a garage. As there is a huge amount of parking at the front of the property, while you're giving the rest of the property a facelift, you might as well convert the garage into a bedroom, home office or media room so good it makes the neighbours jealous, even though there aren't many of them.
The barn and cottage ripe for renovation are on the market for offers over £350,000 call estate agent Astleys at their Mumbles branch on 01792 369139 to find out more.
Llanon, Ceredigion: £300,000
Once upon a time this house near the coast called Glannant was the local tavern, a well-located place to sip a pint after a busy day exploring the local beaches. It is now a private dwelling but its fantastic location obviously remains the same - a country road that leads to the coast.
The estate agent selling the detached, three-bed house that comes with about a 0.44 acre garden, states that the property has been vacant for some time and now offers new owners an exciting renovation and restoration project to reinstate it as a comfortable home.
And if creating a dream home just a few miles drive from the Ceredigion coast between Llannon and Aberarth sounds like your fairytale renovation project then this house offers you two reception rooms, a kitchen, two extra rooms and a cloakroom, as well as the three bedrooms and bathroom upstairs, a to ensure your happy ever after happens, once all the work is done.
This renovation project that is waiting for you to declare last orders on the work and move in and enjoy living here, is on the market with a guide price of £300,000, call Savills, Cardiff on 029 2036 8915 to find out more.
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire: £300,000
Lovely Laugharne is a special place in Wales indeed, full of history, culture and pretty period properties, on the banks of the river which ensures an ever-changing landscape to effortlessly and permanently enthral you.
It can be an effort to find a renovation project to get your teeth stuck into at this stunning location, especially if you want to run a business in the busy town too, but this wonderful townhouse in central Laugharne called Exeter House is a gem for work, rest and play.
The property is currently offered with mixed residential and commercial use, the ground floor being utilised by a wonderful coffee shop and café business that is well known and well-loved in Laugharne, covering two rooms, with a kitchen and garden at the rear of the unit.
There are two floors of a renovation project above the ground floor that offers the scope to become a home full of character and charm once completed. Exeter House is on the market for offers in the region of £300,000 with Fine and Country, Pembrokeshire, call them on 01834 818076 to find out more.
Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire: £260,000
If you want the beach on your doorstep, how does about 0.2 miles to walk sound to you? But this isn't a stroll to any beach, this is a stroll to Broad Haven beach, considered to be one of the jewels of Pembrokeshire.
As well as clear sea and soft sand, the beach is sheltered, has lots of space at low tide and considered safe for bathing during the summer months, and is backed by amenities including pubs, a restaurant, shops and a general store.
This detached bungalow is a tempting property that could allow you to join the local community and call Broad Haven your forever home. It has an open-plan living dining room with an open fireplace, kitchen, two bedrooms with storage and a bathroom, plus a bonus sunroom.
The site might also be a place to remove the old and build the new, subject to planning permission and a much bigger budget of course. The house is for sale for offers in excess of £260,000 with West Wales Properties, call their Haverfordwest branch on 01437 762626 to find out more.
Tenby, Pembrokeshire: £350,000
Finding a renovation project within the colourful coastal town of Tenby is becoming more of a rarity as the location gets hotter and hotter, but if you are patient they do come onto the market. If you have a budget that isn't huge, then forget one of the instantly recognisable townhouses on the cliff-top or the town, unless an apartment is fine as your next home.
But if you're desperate for a house, come away from the town centre a little and ditch the Georgian and Victorian for a later era and you could find your forever Tenby abode.
The White House could be the right house for you. The 1930s home is a detached three-bedroom, two reception room property in need of modernisation which could be extended subject to obtaining the necessary consents and having the funds to do so.
But even if no extension occurs the house is a handsome period property with a double bay window, stained glass windows, original fireplaces from the era, and hopefully some gorgeous original wood block floors underneath the 1970s carpets.
The White House also has off road parking, a single garage and a large rear garden, is situated in the highly sought-after location of Serpentine Road, close to the schools and within walking distance of Tenby town, and beautiful beaches and so would make an ideal family home.
The property is on the market with a guide price of £350,000 with estate agent Birt & Co, call the Tenby office on 01834 842204 for further details.
Porthcawl, Bridgend: £300,000
This coastal town in the county of Bridgend has long been a favourite with people to visit for the day, stay for a while usually in a caravan at Trecco Bay, and live, with the town seeing a resurgence in popularity after the improvements to the seafront.
The three beaches to choose from plus a thriving theatre adds to the town's selling points, as does the temptation to bag yourself an abode by the beach for more of a bargain than some of the other seaside towns further along the coast.
This two-bed bungalow next to the playing fields and rugby pitches that the agent selling states is a popular area, is being offered with no chain and plenty of potential to renovate into the single-storey pad of your dreams.
Inside, the bungalow has a large lounge diner and a decent sized lounge but both would benefit a larger connection to each other, so maybe the dividing wall could go or at least the double doorway become bigger. Subject to planning consent the garage could be converted into a third bedroom if required, as there is plenty of off-road parking.
Whatever a new owner decides to do with this fantastic bungalow, the sea is close and a local game of rugby even closer. For sale for offers over £300,000 contact agents Payton Jewell Caines at their Bridgend branch on 01656 869000 to find out more.
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