realestate

Waterfront Cities Where Affordability is a Fading Dream

Waterfront property becomes increasingly inaccessible as real estate prices rise.

A
s waterfront property prices continue to rise, it's becoming increasingly inaccessible. However, there are still some cities where living on the water is within reach – for now. Here are the top cities where waterfront properties are a steal, according to real estate experts.

    San Jose, California, tops the list of unaffordable waterfront cities, with a median sale price of $1.5 million and a median monthly rental price of over $3,300. "For starters, the median house price in San Jose last year was almost 12 times residents' gross median household income," said Eric Preston, CEO of NewConstructionHomes.com.

    San Francisco is another Bay Area city where living on the water comes with a hefty price tag – over $1 million and rising. With a median price-to-income ratio of 9.7, many consider it extremely unaffordable. "There's little chance that San Francisco will become more affordable in the next five to ten years," Preston said.

    San Diego's waterfront properties are also pricey, with an average home price of $1.005 billion – up 4% from last year. "Homebuyers will have a tough time living comfortably in San Diego unless they are extremely high earners," Preston noted.

    Los Angeles is another city where the cost of living is sky-high, with prices 50% higher than the national average. While it's a great city to live in, the unaffordability issue is significant.

Coastal cities struggle with affordability as housing costs rise dramatically worldwide.