Living in a property with sea views tops many homebuyers’ wishlists - but achieving that dream means paying a hefty price premium.
New research by property website Rightmove shows that prices for coastal properties are £86,060 higher on average than those without - equating to a premium of 31% across Britain. And soaring demand has increased the typical premium to buy a home with a sea view by more than £19,000 over the past year.
The national average asking price of homes with a sea view is now £368,278, compared with £282,218 for those without. In 2019, the national average asking price of homes with a sea view was £319,645, compared to £252,686 without, which equates to a premium of £66,959.
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Tim Bannister, director of property data at Rightmove, said: “People who live in coastal areas are most content with where they live. Whether it be weekend walks along the beach or catching a glimpse through the window of the shimmering water in the distance, people value that connection with the sea and enjoy life in the areas around it.
“We’ve seen demand for coastal homes increase this year and so it stands to reason that homes with a sea view command a substantial price premium.”
Popular regions
The Southwest of England has the highest sea view price premium, at 42%, followed by the Northeast with 33%, and Wales with 27%. The Southwest is also where homes with a sea view are most expensive, with average asking prices of £415,296.
Cornwall is the county that has the most homes advertised with a sea view, while Brighton and Hove leads the list of cities with the highest number of listings for the sought-after properties.
Regional breakdown via asking price premium
| Region | Row 0 - Cell 1 | Average asking price (sea view) | Row 0 - Cell 3 | Average asking price (non-sea view) | Row 0 - Cell 5 | Asking price premium (%) | Row 0 - Cell 7 | Price difference | Row 0 - Cell 9 |
| South West | Row 1 - Cell 1 | £415,296 | Row 1 - Cell 3 | £291,915 | Row 1 - Cell 5 | 42% | Row 1 - Cell 7 | £123,381 | Row 1 - Cell 9 |
| North East | Row 2 - Cell 1 | £209,370 | Row 2 - Cell 3 | £157,441 | Row 2 - Cell 5 | 33% | Row 2 - Cell 7 | £51,929 | Row 2 - Cell 9 |
| Wales | Row 3 - Cell 1 | £323,800 | Row 3 - Cell 3 | £255,543 | Row 3 - Cell 5 | 27% | Row 3 - Cell 7 | £68,257 | Row 3 - Cell 9 |
| East of England | Row 4 - Cell 1 | £331,153 | Row 4 - Cell 3 | £264,293 | Row 4 - Cell 5 | 25% | Row 4 - Cell 7 | £66,860 | Row 4 - Cell 9 |
| North West | Row 5 - Cell 1 | £204,834 | Row 5 - Cell 3 | £165,645 | Row 5 - Cell 5 | 24% | Row 5 - Cell 7 | £39,189 | Row 5 - Cell 9 |
| South East | Row 6 - Cell 1 | £371,385 | Row 6 - Cell 3 | £309,829 | Row 6 - Cell 5 | 20% | Row 6 - Cell 7 | £61,556 | Row 6 - Cell 9 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | Row 7 - Cell 1 | £185,542 | Row 7 - Cell 3 | £158,502 | Row 7 - Cell 5 | 17% | Row 7 - Cell 7 | £27,040 | Row 7 - Cell 9 |
| Scotland | Row 8 - Cell 1 | £134,145 | Row 8 - Cell 3 | £112,253 | Row 8 - Cell 5 | 21% | Row 8 - Cell 7 | £21,892 | Row 8 - Cell 9 |
| Britain | Row 9 - Cell 1 | £368,278 | Row 9 - Cell 3 | £282,218 | Row 9 - Cell 5 | 31% | Row 9 - Cell 7 | £86,060 |
What the agents say
Fran Moynihan, head of Savills Waterfront
“Being an island nation, the sea is really part of our culture and as a result, many aspire to buy by the sea for its beautiful scenery, unique lifestyle and plentiful leisure offerings. Ordinarily, homes by the sea are popular, but this year we have seen the demand for a coastal lifestyle grow even more. With the type of property available along the coast varied, ranging from fisherman’s cottages to beachfront mansions and modern new-build developments, there really is something for everyone. Whether it’s for sailing, surfing, sea-fishing, wind-surfing, or even just a walk to take in the view, buyers are now more than ever eager to be close to the sea.”
Ian Lillicrap, director of Lillicrap Chilcott estate agent in Truro
“There’s something about the sea which has always captivated the imagination and, when it comes to house buying, the wallet too. Naturally, of course, there are premiums even within the exclusive bracket of homes with a sea view. For example, it depends on whether you’re buying a home with a glimpse of the sea, a direct panoramic sea view, or somewhere with direct sea frontage. Each has its price, and the prices can be high. You’ll pay a premium of at least 100% for the very best sea views and vastly greater than that for direct water frontage.”
Two coastal homes with superb sea views
The Studio, Central St Ives, West Cornwall
Price: offers of more than £550,000
This two-bedroom property offers superb views over St Ives Harbour to Smeatons Pier, and across St Ives Bay to the Atlantic ocean beyond. The property is listed for sale with Lillicrap Chilcott.
The Brink, Abersoch, Gwynedd
Price: offers of more than £3m
A stunning contemporary beach house in the Welsh village of Abersoch that looks out over Cardigan Bay to St Tudwals Islands and the Welsh Mountains. The property is listed for sale with Savills.
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