Great news for beach home enthusiasts in the South! According to Vacasa’s latest report, Gulf Shores, Alabama, takes the crown as the number one destination to buy a beach home in the entire United States.

But that’s not all—the South has much more to offer!

Corolla, North Carolina, and Navarre Beach, Florida, snagged the second and third spots, respectively. Even Daytona Beach in Florida made it to the top five, followed by Galveston, Texas, and Hatteras Island, North Carolina, securing spots six and seven.

Port St. Joe, Florida, wraps up the top 10 list as the ninth-best place to invest in a beach home. So, if you’ve been dreaming of owning your very own Southern beach retreat, now’s the perfect time to dive in! With an average Gulf Shores vacation property costing around $400,000 and boasting an impressive 10.2% capitalization rate, you could rake in approximately $56,000 in annual gross rental revenue.

Vacasa considered various factors like property taxes, utilities, homeowner association fees, insurance, and property management fees to determine the average cap rate for each destination. Their study also took into account market performance data from both Vacasa properties and the entire market to calculate the average gross rental income.

The South is undoubtedly the go-to region for beach lovers, renters, and vacationers alike. Buyers are increasingly drawn to beach destinations, with 42% of vacation home buyers showing keen interest in investing in beach markets, according to Vacasa’s 2021 Vacation Rental Buyer Report. Throughout the past couple of years, beach destinations have surged in popularity, and Alabama’s Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have played a significant role in the state’s robust travel industry, outperforming 45 other states during the pandemic. In fact, Orange Beach also claimed the third spot on the South’s Best Beach Towns 2022 list.

With Alabama experiencing its highest growth in travel search activity since 2019 and ranking sixth for vacation search activity nationwide, it’s evident that Southern beach destinations are hotter than ever! Now’s your chance to make those beach house dreams a reality. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to embrace the Southern beach life you’ve always wanted! Contact us today to find your dream home.