When buying a beach house, the proximity to sand and surf and the home’s exclusivity are among the top factors to consider. But, smart buyers don’t ignore market data before nabbing that new dream home either.
With that in mind, Mansion Global looked at some of the most popular beach towns in the U.S. using the most recent data from Realtor.com, which like Mansion Global, is part of News Corp.
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For five ultra popular U.S. second-home spots—Nantucket, Massachusetts; Malibu, California; Southampton, New York; Miami Beach, Florida and Maui, Hawaii—we looked at the number of active listings on the market, the median listing price per square foot, and the luxury submarkets in each of those areas.
Of the five, which all attract high-end buyers for their impressive amenities and amazing homes, Malibu is the most expensive market when it comes to beachfront estates, which include condos, townhomes and single-family houses. The median listing price of 255 homes on the market was $3,939,700, data from May showed. Miami Beach was the least expensive on our list, with a median listing price of $484,700. The second to fourth places, in order, belong to Nantucket, Southampton and Maui.
| Comparing Overall Markets of Top U.S. Beach Towns | |||||
| Area Name | # of listings | Median price | Days on Market | Price/sq ft | Luxury price |
| Malibu, CA | 255 | $3.94M | 102 | 3,250 | $14.75M |
| Nantucket, MA | 25 | $2.66M | 118 | 2,234 | $10.97M |
| Southampton, NY | 391 | $2.26M | 191 | 3,408 | $11.16M |
| Maui, HI | 1,877 | $779,500 | 103 | 1,171 | $3.44M |
| Miami Beach, FL | 1,923 | $484,700 | 123 | 854 | $3.92M |
| *Luxury homes are defined as the top 10% of active listings as of May Source: Realtor.com | |||||
Malibu also had the fastest-moving market out of the five beach areas. It took an average of 102 days for a beachfront home there to find a buyer, the data found. Meanwhile, Southampton was the most stagnant market, with homes taking an average of 191 days to sell.
In terms of unit price, or price per square foot, Southampton led the group. Beachfront homes for sale there asked an average of $3,408 per square foot, slightly higher than in Malibu ($3,250).
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The types of properties available in each area weighed heavily on their price rankings, according to Javier Vivas, manager of economic research at Realtor.com. Condos and townhomes combined account for 95% of the listings in Miami Beach, 60% in Maui. Meanwhile Southampton, Malibu and Nantucket all have 80% to 100% single-family homes.
When focusing only on single-family homes, Miami Beach jumped to the top spot in terms of listing price, with 118 homes asking a median $5.32 million. Malibu fell to second place, with a median listing price of $4.63 million.
| Comparing Single-Family Homes in Top Beach Areas | |||||
| Area Name | # of listings | Median price | Price/sq ft | Luxury price | Luxury Days on Market |
| Miami Beach, FL | 118 | $5.32M | 3,789 | $19.04M | 208 |
| Malibu, CA | 220 | $4.63M | 3,604 | $15.12M | 120 |
| Nantucket, MA | 24 | $2.66M | 2,233 | $10.97M | 117 |
| Southampton, NY | 374 | $2.34M | 3,419 | $11.44M | 404 |
| Maui, HI | 712 | $1.22M | 2,452 | $4.89M | 157 |
| Source: Realtor.com | |||||
As far as luxury, Malibu is tops
In the overall luxury market, defined as the top 10% of the listings, Malibu still boasted the highest median listing price, at $14.75 million, followed by Southampton ($11.16 million) and Nantucket ($10.97 million).
But for top-tier single-family homes, Miami Beach again overtook Malibu as the priciest market, with a median listing price of $19.04 million. Malibu and Southampton came in second and third, with median listing prices of $15.12 million $11.44 million, respectively.
While Nantucket’s luxury single-family houses sold fastest among the five beach towns, Southampton again was the slowest-moving market in this category, with a listing typically lingering on the market for 404 days.
Ready to look around? Below is a selection of homes available for sale in these top U.S. beach towns:
Location: 26880 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, California Price: $54.5 million
A multi-property compound that features several houses, making it one of the trophy properties of this series. La Villa Contenda sits on 6.5 acres and offers not only a prime Malibu location, but also complete privacy, security and exquisitely crafted architectural design fit for royalty. There are beautiful designer details, including marble bathrooms and delicately landscaped gardens featuring a wide range of flora, multiple fountains and carved hedges. The house also includes a spa, three pools, a movie theater, wine cellar, maid quarters and a tennis court.
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Location: 11846 Ellice St., Malibu, California Price: $22.9 million
If stunning ocean views are what you’re after, then look no further than this mega mansion. This ultra-modern house has a bold and sleek design and is perched right on the beach. The mansion comes with its own strip of private beach and beautifully positioned outdoor cabanas. Other amenities include an infinity pool, a movie theater, a rooftop putting garden and a gym.
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Location: 30r Quidnet Road, Nantucket, Massachusetts Price: $15.995 million
A hidden gem on Nantucket Island, this property is set on 14.8 acres of land, meaning there are endless opportunities to expand the main house. The house includes a wine cellar, tennis court, movie theater, pool house, pool, giant outdoor patio spaces, among other amenities. Built in 2007, this estate has breathtaking views of the Sesachacha Pond, the Atlantic Ocean and Sankaty Light House.
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Location:72, 76, 78 Pocomo Road, Nantucket, Massachusetts Price: $32.8 million
This waterfront compound is based in a very private area with ultimate beach views of the ocean. The surrounding five acres of land allows space for tennis courts, private beach entrance and direct access to the sandy shores of Nantucket Island. The main house is located at 72 Pocomo Road. Meanwhile, the other two addresses are for the "Pavilion," located at 78 Pocomo Road, which has a wine cellar, and six-car garage, and the "Guest House," located at 76 Pocomo Road.
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Location: 382 Barons Lane, Southampton, New York Price: $55 million
This estate is quintessentially "beachy." The home includes a grotto/wine cellar, a chef’s kitchen, a roof deck, and a fireplace for the breezy summer evenings. It comes with a piece of the beach–a whole 4.5 acres of private beach to be exact. The property was recently renovated with modern finishes throughout and offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area. The house is set on a secluded patch of land in a world of its own.
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Location: 301-317 Murray Place, Southampton, New York Price: $100 million
This nine-bedroom 10-bathroom summer getaway sits on six acres, has more than 200 feet of ocean frontage. The main house comes with a fireplace, beautifully laid-out decks, unique details and high ceilings. There is also a garden shed, beautifully crafted lawns and hedges, a pool, a guesthouse and a formal dining room that is separate from the main house.
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Location: 46 Star Island Drive, Miami Beach, Florida Price: $65 million
This unique property located on the tip of exclusive Star Island is one of the most sought-after addresses in Miami, which has recently become available again after 30 years. Some call it a historic masterpiece since it was originally designed by Miami Beach pioneer Carl Fisher. This waterfront estate will fulfill all luxury needs as it includes a pool, private dock, a 3,000-bottle wine cellar, maid’s quarters, a gym, and marble floors.
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Location: 73 Palm Ave., Miami Beach Price: $29.5 million
This is as a Crestron-automated smart home, so everything can be controlled from a touch of a button on your device. It sits behind the fence of the gated private community of Palm Island. The property has unobstructed views of the water, a private dock, an infinity-edge pool, an elevator, a Jacuzzi and a professional catering kitchen. One of the main attractions is the natural light, which the property is able to get due to double-height ceilings and lots of open spaces. It comes full of fine Italian furniture handpicked from companies like Minotti and Poliform among others.
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Location: 7505 Makena Road, Maui, Hawaii Price: $29 million
This tropical private paradise in Makena, Maui, overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Lots of outdoor seating makes this house the perfect party home away from home. The property has stunning ocean views, a pool, earthy designs, private beach access and an outdoor movie theater. The main house has eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms; there’s also a pool house with extra rooms for guests. In addition, there are caretaker’s quarters and a six-car garage for all those wanting to drive around the island.
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Location: 30 Hui Road East, Kahana, Maui, Hawaii Price: $16 million
Wake up to the sounds of the ocean at this daring beachfront compound located in the secluded, exclusive region of west Maui. The six- bedroom, six-bathroom, vacation home has dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and the nearby beaches. Its close proximity to Kapalua and Kaanapali luxury resorts means that you are never too far from civilization despite the tropical environment. The house was designed to maximize its accessibility to the ocean’s edge by a Santa Barbara architect team. Some of the main features include a heated infinity saline pool, carefully crafted details in the woodwork of the house, and an oceanfront spa.
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