FAQ: How do you go about buying an oceanfront home?

First, check your credit or your bank balance. Where you can buy depends on

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

Buyers in California have this dreamy idea of buying an oceanfront property with views of the ocean from every room, and a big deck on which to sit with a glass of wine and watch the sunset in the evening. At night, the surf will lull you to sleep, and in the morning you step outside and take a walk down the beach.

Now we are not talking about a mere condo on the beach, we are talking about your own stretch of sand!!!

And don't call me and say "I just want a little shack, I don't care what condition it's in.

Oh, yeah, and I still need it to appraise because I need to get a loan."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

When you buy an oceanfront detached home, lots of time the value is not in the house. In fact, buyers will tear it down and build a new one. But, again, that depends on the "location".

SO WHAT ARE SOME PRICES IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN MY AREA?

1. Carmel-by-the-Sea: $7,200,000 - a classic oceanfront beach cottage. Yes, on the ocean, no street between.

2. Pebble Beach: $41,888,000 - one of only 31 oceanfront properties, rarely come on the market.

3. Pajaro Dunes on Monterey Bay: $1,750,000 - this happens to be my listing, see www.oceanfrontrealestatecalifornia.com

If these prices do not daunt you, or if you are considering scaling back to, let's say a condo on the beach anywhere on Monterey Bay, please give me a call.