This Florida Beach Town is a Steal for Homebuyers
Home prices have been on the rise for years now, but there are still some areas of the U.S. where you can find affordable places to live. As it turns out, Florida has one of the most affordable beach towns in the U.S. In fact, it’s the No. 3 most affordable beach town in America, according to the experts at Realtor.com.
Florida and the Most Affordable Beach Town
Realtor.com obviously knows their stuff when it comes to housing prices. So, when they released this study on the most affordable beach towns in America, it caught my eye. I would love to live off a lake or other body of water, but waterfront property can be very expensive. It’s nice to see that certain areas of the country still have affordable beach towns. As for the methodology of their study, the experts at Realtor.com began with a federal database of beaches and their locations, and then they made a list of coastal cities and towns. Finally, they ranked them by median list prices in March of 2024 for single-family homes. Among the numbers, they included condos but excluded mobile homes. Also, they only included cities with at least 25 active listings. To create the final tally, “these beach towns had to include a sandy, public-access ocean beach within the city limits,” according to the publication. “Cities on the coastline of estuaries, such as inland bays and sounds, were excluded from this year’s rankings.” Lastly, to make sure there was geographic diversity, they only included one beach town per state in the top 10 rankings and excluded second or third entries from states that were already listed.
So, which Florida beach town is one of the most affordable beach towns in America? Coming in at No. 3, it’s Deerfield Beach, with the March 2024 median list price of $239,950. “Out of Florida’s many beach towns, Deerfield Beach claims the top spot for affordability this year, primarily due to the city’s abundance of moderately priced condos,” Realtor.com explains. “Located about halfway between Miami and Palm Beach in southeast Florida, Deerfield Beach boasts plenty of activities and amenities, including a fishing pier, boardwalk, and arboretum.” No. 2 on the list is Atlantic City, New Jersey, and No. 1 is Pascagoula, Mississippi. For Pascagoula, they mention that this is where Jimmy Buffett was born. Also, the main beach in the city was named Buffett Beach in honor of the famed musician, who passed away last year at the age of 76.
Secret Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation
1. Try to Negotiate Your Lodging
Did you know that hotel fees can be negotiable? Fidelity.com points out that, “You may be able to negotiate the online price by calling a hotel directly, or asking if they have any discounts for students, government employees, or members of certain groups, such as AAA.” So, don’t settle for that price you see on your laptop. Try to do better. It’s a secret tip that can pay off bigtime.
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2. Get Smart with Your Lodging
Did you know some hotels that are virtually the same, including the same brand, can be cheaper just a few miles apart? As a general rule, hotels that are near the airport are more expensive. So, you can look at the hotels you want to stay at and their multiple locations in the area for the best rate. “Some hotels that are under construction may rent rooms at a discount, which is a great option if you can deal with the noise,” Fidelity.com points out.
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3. Snack Your Way to a Cheaper Trip
Going out to eat on vacation can be one of the most exciting things about the trip. But, if you want to save on cash, skip a few meals out and opt for healthy, hearty snacks. Pack (or buy at a local store) some protein-rich snacks, like protein bars and meal bars, and limit your dining out. You can still enjoy some of the best food the area has to offer, just not as much of it. This is a way to stay fit on your trip, too. A lot of people don’t think of this tip, so it’s a bit of a secret.
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4. Timing is Everything
You’ve heard it so many times in life: Timing is everything. That’s true for travel, too. Research to find the least-busy times to visit your destination. If you travel during those downtimes, you’ll save big. While this is a common tip, something people forget is that every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, be specific for your travel spot.
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5. Travel with a Friend
If you’re thinking of traveling solo to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, go cheaper by traveling with a friend. You two can share lodging fees. Also, sometimes there are more deals and discounts for those traveling with multiple people. I always do this when going to a big music festival, if it’s far away. I’ll usually meet my friend there, and we share lodging costs. It also makes the trip more fun.
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6. Find Free Spots to Travel
Look for some free attractions in your travel area. Chances are, they won’t be as packed as the big-named places, too. You can still visit some of the popular landmarks. But, if you add a trip to a national park or free museum to your itinerary, it will save you some cash.
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7. Max Out Your Memberships
Are you a member of any random groups? You might have travel deals just waiting for you. Check everything, from your college alumni membership to your credit cards, for travel discounts. You may be surprised what you find.
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8. Don't Get Picky
Say you just want to get out on a fantastic trip, but you don’t really have a place in mind. That’s actually a good thing. Take an hour to look at flight specials happening right now. If you aren’t picky on where to travel, chances are you’ll find a great rate on airfare and lodging somewhere. Once you find the most reasonable place to travel, then you can start looking at what to do when you’re there.
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9. Go Popular
This is a bit ironic, but often times, the most popular tourist destinations are also the cheapest. That’s because there is a lot of competition for all those travelers. So, big-named destinations like Orlando, Florida, or Las Vegas, Nevada, tend to have really good travel deals. Go popular, or go home.
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