Top 10 Best Places To Buy a Beach House in 2022: Real Estate Guide

Who doesn't like the idea of having a beachfront getaway property where they may go for extended weekends or the height of the summer? Even better is to invest in a house in a location where guests will want to rent it out when you're not there.

But where exactly should you go to discover the ideal location for your trips away from home and to make tons of money to assist with the mortgage?

To find the Top 10 locations to purchase a beach property in 2022, GO Banking Rates looked to rankings offered by Vacasa. Vacasa, a website that assists tourists in finding holiday rentals, bases its rankings on three factors: the median house sales price, the average annual gross rental income, and the cap rate, or annual rate of return on investment. Here are the top 10 locations in 2022 to purchase a beach property.

10. Lahaina, Hawaii

Cap Rate: 5.8%
Median Home Sales Price: $725,000
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $58,496

The typical property sales price in Lahaina, on the west coast of Maui, is the highest on the list at over $700,000. However, take into account how many tourists will find your area desirable. 55 acres of the hamlet of Lahaina, which was originally a whaling village, have been recognized as historic districts. Lahaina is still a modern destination where tourists may enjoy the water as well as shops, restaurants, and galleries.

9. Hatteras Island, North Carolina

Cap Rate: 6.4%
Median Home Sales Price: $482,447
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $45,968

The Outer Banks of North Carolina's Hatteras Island has the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, two lighthouses, and seven settlements. The latter, founded in 1937 to protect the barrier island, is what has kept the island undeveloped and tiny. Hatteras Island is pristine for activities near the coast, such as fishing and surfing, but it has also had its share of shipwrecks, making it a part of the area called the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

8. Port St. Joe, Florida

Cap Rate: 6.1%
Median Home Sales Price: $360,721
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $39,688

Port St. Joe describes itself as a "little town with a big heart" and is the first city on the list with a typical house sales price of less than $400,000. Even though Port St. Joe has just 3,357 people as of the 2020 Census, the Gulf Coast community has much to do, including beaches, a marina, parks, and a walkable downtown with shops and eateries.

7. New Buffalo, Michigan

Cap Rate: 6.6%
Median Home Sales Price: $569,873
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $58,544

New Buffalo, the first location in the northern tier on the list, is located just north of the Michigan-Indiana border and is just about a 90-minute drive from Chicago, making it a popular destination for tourists from the third-largest city in the country. Along its 16 miles of Lake Michigan beachfront, New Buffalo boasts 10 public beaches, several of which provide access for wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Before spending the evening at the Four Winds Casino, go sailing or fishing.

6. Rockaway Beach, Oregon

Cap Rate: 6.1%
Median Home Sales Price: $384,152
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $48,030

Rockaway Beach, located on the Pacific Coast about 90 miles west of Portland, is one of five locations on the list with median property values under $400,000. Seven miles of coastline, the Twin Rocks, a lava rock that formed millions of years ago, and coastal beauty are the region's distinguishing features. It is where the mountains and the sea converge. The 88-foot-tall Twin Rocks are said to contain pictures of the Loch Ness Monster, a sea monster, or a Native American princess, according to visitors who have spent enough time gazing at them.

5. Navarre Beach, Florida

Cap Rate: 6.6%
Median Home Sales Price: $382,392
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $43,202

Want to take the most tranquil getaway? To find 12 miles of white sand beach between the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach Marine Park, travel to Navarre Beach on Florida's panhandle. Spend your time there engaging in warm-weather pursuits like bicycling, surfing, and swimming throughout the day, and then relax with a microbrew or the catch of the day at one of the local eateries or pubs.

4. Daytona Beach, Florida

Cap Rate: 6.5%
Median Home Sales Price: $247,960
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $31,913

The least costly vacation houses on the list are in Daytona Beach, so rev your engines and head there. The city, which is well-known for being the site of the Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500, features 23 miles of Atlantic coastline, some of which are white sand beaches that you can drive on. Take a stroll down the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier to enjoy restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and a vintage arcade.

3. Galveston, Texas

Cap Rate: 6.4%
Median Home Sales Price: $340,559
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $43,981

Galveston Island, a barrier reef island, has 32 miles of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, but it also has a lot of other attractions. Visitors may tour museums, historic buildings, and the Moody Gardens all year round because to typical summer and winter temperatures of 81 degrees and 57 degrees, respectively. Fun fact: Victorian buildings in good condition may be found in abundance in Galveston.

2. Corolla, North Carolina

Cap Rate: 9.5%
Median Home Sales Price: $608,953
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $77,971

At the northernmost point of the Outer Banks in North Carolina lies Corolla, which is renowned for its fine restaurants and distinctive shopping. Corolla provides contemporary conveniences among regional gems like the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Corolla wild horses, which are Wild Spanish Mustangs that have roamed the area since the 1500s. A large portion of the neighborhood was constructed in the 1990s and later.

1. Gulf Shores, Alabama

Cap Rate: 10.2%
Median Home Sales Price: $402,905
Average Annual Gross Rental Revenue: $56,198

On Alabama's Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores is a town known for its 32 miles of white quartz sand and crystal-clear, emerald-colored seas. There is a lot to do in the Gulf Shores region once your beach day is over, including festivals, fishing, ferry trips, nightlife, and family activities around the wharf.