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Table Of Contents
- Benefits of Waterfront Living in CT
- Types of Waterfront Homes
- Direct Waterfront
- Beachfront
- Water View
- Water Access
- Factors to Consider When Buying Waterfront
- Budget
- Home Features
- Flood Zones and Insurance
- Commute Considerations
- Water Rights and Easements
- Popular Waterfront Areas in CT
- Tips for Maintaining a Waterfront Home
- Regular Exterior Maintenance
- Shoreline Protection
- Check Pumps and Docks
- Follow Regulations
- Water Rights and Easements
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With over 600 miles of tidal shoreline, Connecticut offers spectacular opportunities for waterfront living. Coastal towns in Fairfield and New Haven counties boast homes directly on Long Island Sound, providing beautiful views, recreational amenities, and investment appreciation. When searching for a waterfront home, it’s important to understand the different types of properties, factors to consider, and maintenance requirements. This guide will help you find and evaluate premium waterfront real estate in Connecticut.
Benefits of Waterfront Living in CT
Relaxing Views and Access
Waking up to panoramic water vistas provides serenity and the ability to kayak, sail or swim right from your backyard. Easy access to beaches, boating and water sports improves quality of life.
Recreational Activities
Waterfront homes allow you to fully enjoy Connecticut’s picturesque beaches, fishing, sailing, and other activities from the comfort of home. Keep a boat docked safely on your private pier.
Investment Appreciation
Waterfront homes are scarce and desirable, making them appreciate faster than inland homes. Properties on Long Island Sound have significantly increased in value over the past decade.
Types of Waterfront Homes
Factors to Consider When Buying Waterfront
Popular Waterfront Areas in CT
Greenwich, CT
Greenwich’s waterfront is characterized by private beaches, luxury amenities, and multimillion dollar estates. While you can expect to pay a premium to live here, Greenwich is one of the most ubiquitously coastal towns in Connecticut.
Westport, CT
Westport boasts beautiful beaches, parks, marinas and high-end dining. Waterfront homes range widely in price from between $1-10 million.
Norwalk, CT
While Public docks and water access make Norwalk affordable compared to other Fairfield County towns, higher end waterfront properties can be found in the historic Rowayton and Wilson Point neighborhoods. Norwalk is well known for a lifestyle and culture centered around it’s waterfront district, with amazing local entertainment, dining, and nightlife.
Tips for Maintaining a Waterfront Home
With breathtaking views, recreational perks and investment upside, Connecticut’s waterfront homes are worth the premium price. Focus your search on the right towns and property types for your needs. Hire a knowledgeable agent and inspect any waterfront home carefully prior to buying. Follow proper maintenance practices to fully enjoy and protect your beautiful seaside oasis.
Lakeside communities often have environmental regulations in place to protect the natural beauty of the area. These regulations may pertain to water quality, shoreline preservation, and wildlife conservation.
You can search for lakeside properties in Connecticut through local real estate agencies, online listings, and by connecting with experienced real estate agents.
Lakeside living in Connecticut offers breathtaking natural beauty, water-based recreation, a close-knit community, and a serene lifestyle.
Lakefront and oceanfront parcels are rare and pricey but possible. Listings on coastal outskirts of Bridgeport, New Haven, Groton, and Stonington may offer water access. Inland listings near Candlewood Lake, Highland Lake, and Lake Waramaug also provide water recreation.
No. You cannot own a beach in the sense of having exclusive rights, but portions of beachfront can be privately owned property in Connecticut. Above the mean high tide line, private property rights apply to dry sand beach areas. However, below the mean high tide line, Connecticut beaches are subject to public ownership and access as part of the public trust doctrine. Private owners must accommodate public use rights to some extent, such as allowing access to the water. But the public does not have unlimited access across private dry sand beaches in Connecticut.
No, in Connecticut intertidal areas between the mean high and low tide lines are still considered public trust lands, even when exposed.
The public does not have an unlimited right to cross private uplands. However, the state may allow reasonable access across private dry sand areas.
Flood insurance is highly recommended, and may even be required by your mortgage lender for a home in a high-risk flood zone. Be sure to discuss insurance needs with your real estate agent.
Waterfront homes generally command premiums of 50-100% more compared to similar non-waterfront homes in the same market. Prime locations can demand over 200% higher prices.
Yes, waterfront homes are assessed at higher values, which leads to higher property tax bills. Factor this into your homebuying budget if buying a waterfront home.
Some of the most reasonably priced waterfront communities in CT include Norwalk, Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, and Old Saybrook. Luxury homes in Greenwich and Westport are significantly higher.
Yes, waterfront homes appreciate faster than inland homes in CT due to high demand. Greenwich waterfront in particular has seen dramatic home value increases, appreciating faster than the S&P 500.
Flood insurance costs vary based on the FEMA flood zone rating and home elevation and range from $500 per year up to $5000+ for high risk zones. Higher value homes also have higher premiums.
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Meet Sarah Perrotti
REB.0793764
Based in Litchfield County, Connecticut, Sarah is a distinguished full-time realtor specializing in luxury properties and concierge services tailored to discerning buyers and sellers.
With a Masters degree in Social Work, Sarah brings a unique perspective to real estate, ensuring confidentiality and seamless transactions.
