10 Beach Towns Where You Can Still Get a House for Under $250K

A beach house is a wish-list item, right up there with winning the lottery.

The idea of having a place where you can gather friends and family for vacations year after year is one of those homeowner moves that makes the American dream come to life.

But this doesn’t have to remain a far-off pipe dream. In some beach towns, buying a house for $250,000 or less is still a possibility. Here are 10 affordable beach towns where you can make memories for years to come.

1. Copper Harbor, Michigan

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Lakes in Michigan have beaches that feel like they might as well be on the ocean. Located on Lake Superior, Copper Harbor is home to Isle Royale National Park, which has incredible water and forest areas to explore.

Copper Harbor is the perfect place to buy a beach house that won’t wreck your financial fitness and lets you truly disconnect — most of the area does not have cellphone service.

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2. Gulfport, Mississippi

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Gulfport has 26 miles of white-sand beaches. Although it’s the second-largest city in the state, it's still relatively affordable compared to other beach destinations.

Here, you'll find a lot of entertainment and fresh seafood spots.

3. Ocean Springs, Mississippi

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Ocean Springs is so much more than a beach on Biloxi Bay. There is a vibrant arts scene, a popular microbrewery, and a bustling downtown area.

You can buy an affordable beach house here and enjoy both the beauty of the outdoors and a walkable town.

4. Atlantic City, New Jersey

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If you love the nightlife, Atlantic City is a great place to focus your search for an affordable beach house.

You will find casinos, gambling, restaurants, and entertainment venues that bring in major national acts.

5. Grand Isle, Louisiana

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Louisiana is known as Sportsman’s Paradise, and that's certainly true of Grand Isle.

This remote beach town is a gem for anglers and birders alike, and the homes are affordable.

6. Freeport, Texas

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Just 50 miles from Houston, Freeport is another great place for those who love to fish.

Buy an affordable beach house here, and make sure you have money left over for a boat. With multiple marinas and boat ramps, this town is a favorite of those looking to go fishing on the Brazos River.

7. New London, Connecticut

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New London is the place to be if you want a small-town New England lifestyle at an affordable price.

This old whaling community has everything from museums to beach parks. It’s also home to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

8. Corpus Christi, Texas

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You'll never run out of things to do in affordable Corpus Christi, which has everything from an aquarium to an art museum and the South Texas Music Walk of Fame.

Corpus Christi is also known for its deep-sea fishing, with amateur anglers coming in from all over the South to charter boats.

9. Daytona Beach, Florida

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Thanks to the Daytona 500 motor race, you probably know the name Daytona. But Daytona is also home to gorgeous Florida beaches.

This is a perennially popular place in the Sunshine State thanks to its white sand, clear water, golf, and abundance of kid-friendly activities and commercial areas.

10. Crescent City, California

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California may have a reputation as one of the most expensive states in the country, but there are still some affordable areas that let you keep more cash in your wallet .

Crescent City is an affordable beach town surrounded by lighthouses, redwoods, and even sea lions. This is a stunning location to find a place by the sea.

Bottom line

If you feel good about your financial situation, investing in a beach town could be a dream come true.

You can rent out the house when you're not using it and hopefully make a profit when you sell someday. This could be a savvy way to save money on travel if the house is located in an area where you vacation often.

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