Boston Magazine, November 21, 2005

By Michele M. Meagher

Staff Writer

Tips on buying a year-round coastal home

"I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied..."

Perhaps like the poet John Masefield you feel the seductive lure of the ocean.  You want to wake up to the surf's hypnotic susurration, inhale its salty tang.  Watch the waves roll in to shore and out to sea again, not just in June, July and August, but all year long.  Before you begin your search, turn to the experts for tips on finding the right water front home for you.

You're Not Alone

"With the advent of technology, people can be in touch or manage their business from anywhere," says Paul Grover, co-founder of Kinlin Grover GMAC Real Estate, with 10 offices throughout Cape Cod.  He points to a growing Cape population who spend the bulk of their work time at year-round beach front homes, only commuting to Boston, Providence or New York City for a day or two out of the week.

"Technology has freed us up to live where we really want to live," agrees Robert Cole, managing director of The Collaborative Companies.  However, speedy access to major highways, airports and other modes of transportation is still an important factor to consider.  Residents who live at The Villages on Mount Hope Bay, an active adult community situated on 97 acres in Tiverton, R.I., which his company markets, have both easy access and a real connection to the water.

Solitude vs. Hustle and Bustle

Grover advises his clients to think about the level activity a particular location has all year.  "The neighborhood you know in July might not be the same neighborhood in February," he explains.  "The town may bustle in summer, yet be deserted in the winter."

In addition to considering the degree of isolation or togetherness you wish to suuround yourself with, consider the region's level of infrastructure.  "That's one big checkbox," says Arthur Casey, director of development for New England Property Holdings, which is developing The Villages at Mount Hope Bay.  According to Casey, questions to ask include whether you will have municipal sewer and water; where your utilities will come from and whether you will have access to cable television, DSL and/or high tech telecommunications options.  Both Cole and Casey suggest making sure it is convenient to shopping, the arts, restaurants and whatever particular interests are important to you.

Whether the home you are considering is lacking a particular feature may ultimately not matter and you may feel the same as Casey: if the view is incredible you can live without it.

Dotting the I's and Crossing the T's

You are not the sole arbiter of how close to the water you can expand that house you are thinking of buying.  It's important to realize that when you make decisions about what you can do on a property, you're joined at the table by federal, state and municipal governments.  "Every town has different set backs from the water and the dunes," explains Penny Mathis, a sales associate for Lila Delman Real Estate in Narragansett, R.I.(401.789.6666, www.liladelman.com.)  That's why it is important to work with realtors who know the in's and out's of selling waterfront property.

The federal government has created a flood overlay plan for any property on or near water and assigns each area with a flood zone rating based on what kind of flooding could potentially happen within a 100-year span.  Mathis says that a buyer should make it a point to know a home's rating.  Today, new homes on the water must meet certain criteria in being able to withstand the force of a hurricane.

Weathering the Elements

Those crashing waves might be thrilling in the summer but not in the depths of winter.  You may prefer the shelter of a bay over the drama of the ocean for year-round living and protection from the elements.  Until the 1990's, many water-front homes were built for summer use and then boarded up after Labor Day.  A house like this may entail substantial renovation to ensure that it has weather tight siding, doors and windows, along with an adequate heating system.

Beach or dune erosion can be a factor, too.  You may decide to build a seawall to make sure that your beach front doesn't disappear.  However, some states believe in letting nature take its course instead and will not allow homeowners to install preventive measures.  The experts agree that, in addition to hiring a home inspector once you have made an offer, you also hire a site or environmental engineer to look at the property, too.

A Home With a View

When you buy waterfront property you want a view of the water: the more vantage points, the better.  For example, at The Villages on Mount Hope Bay, every single townhouse or single-level condominium has unobstructed views of sunsets over the Mount Hope Bridge.  "One of the greatest joys of living on the water is being able to enjoy the changing seasons and the scenery on the water," comments Mathis.  "I have been selling waterfront homes for more than 20 years and I have never sold a water or ocean front home that people haven't loved."

Don't deny yourself the chance for a "windy day with the white clouds flying and the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying."  Heed that clear call.  Go down to the seas and live in a water-front home you can call yours all year long.