It seems I’ve developed a bit of reputation among my friends and colleagues…
As one real estate contact put it when he saw my place in Los Cabos, Mexico (after having previously seen my newest home on Portugal’s Silver Coast):
“You sure have a type when it comes to beachfront communities you choose to live in.”
I’ll admit it…
My #1 priority is to see and hear the waves crashing on the beach from my terrace and to feel those cool ocean breezes while I’m enjoying morning coffee or evening reading.
In the winter, you’ll find me doing so at the five-star Quivira Resort in Cabo. Not only do I live on the water (with one of the area’s top golf courses on site), but I have enjoyed six figure paper gains since I bought the property in 2015. And I enjoy a tidy rental income while I’m away; visitors love the views and access to the water too.
When I de-camp to Portugal for the summer, I’ll spend time in my new home just north of Lisbon. Then, when I’m visiting family and friends in Ireland or scouting elsewhere in Europe, I can take in a few weeks’ rental income there too.
Of course, I’m not the only one who yearns for a pleasant life by the sea. And as you’ll see in the listings my research team has gathered below, these types of properties can be quite affordable.
Risan, Montenegro
Listing Price: €95,400 ($113,263)
The narrow, winding Bay of Kotor branches off the Adriatic Sea and is located in southwestern Montenegro.
Risan, which traces its history back to the 4th century B.C., is one of the many towns and villages along its shores that have become tourist destinations, with visitors drawn by calm beaches and beautiful natural scenery.
This one-bedroom apartment, in a just-completed building, is right on the waterfront, facing Kotor Bay, with views of the mountains rising dramatically from the opposite shore.
This complex is first in line from the water, which puts the beach, as well as several restaurants and shops, within quick walking distance. This apartment comes fully furnished.
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Listing Price: $104,000
San Juan del Sur is a funky Pacific coast beach town set on an expansive bay. Restaurants offering up delicious—and low-cost—seafood meals and cold drinks line the sand. Little boutiques, cafes, arts and crafts shops, and more can be found in the colorfully painted buildings.
Nearby beaches draw surfers…but fishing and simply cruising up and down the coast is also popular with visitors and the sizeable expat contingent here.
Pelican Eyes is a hotel and residential development set on a hill above town. This studio apartment, which comes completely furnished so it’s ready to move in or rent out, offers panoramic views of the water from its expansive terrace. The perfect place for a sunset cocktail…and peace and quiet in a town that has an active nightlife scene.
Saltcoats, Scotland
Listing Price: £48,000 ($66,349)
Saltcoats is a small town on the western coast of Scotland, set on the Firth of Clyde.
Once a center for salt production (hence its name), it has become a popular holiday resort thanks to the picturesque harbor, pleasant public gardens, historic buildings, and golden-sand beaches around Irvine Bay.
This modern two-bedroom apartment is on the top floor of a building right on the water. You can easily access several sandy beaches, as well as local restaurants and shops. You can be on the train and in Glasgow in under an hour.
