I’m a Real Estate Expert: 6 Waterfront Cities That Are Becoming Unaffordable
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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As real estate prices continue to go up, waterfront property is only getting more inaccessible. Though some buyers would have thought homes that look out onto the water were never affordable, the truth is that there are still a fair amount of cities where waterfront living is within reach.
However, these cities are becoming more expensive every year. Here’s where real estate experts say homes on the water are getting quite expensive.
In contrast, here are top cities where waterfront properties are a steal.
San Jose, CA
- Average home price: $1,426,853
Shopping for a home in Silicon Valley is incredibly pricey. Million dollar homes are everywhere buyers look and there’s no sign of prices going down in San Jose.
“San Jose is typically at the top of most lists of unaffordable waterfront cities and its lack of affordability has worsened over the last few years,” said Eric Preston, CEO of NewConstructionHomes.com. “For starters, the median house price in San Jose last year was almost 12 times residents’ gross median household income. With a median sale price of $1.5 million and a median monthly rental price of over $3,300, homebuyers and renters are financially stretched thin.”
San Francisco
- Average home price: $1,242,637
Preston highlighted another Bay Area city where living on the water is over a million dollars and not getting any cheaper.
“As far as waterfront cities go, San Francisco will become even more unaffordable over the next few years. The median price-to-income ratio in San Francisco is 9.7,” he said. “Many consider a ratio of 9 or higher to signal extreme unaffordability. With the city’s job market and overall appeal to homebuyers, there’s little chance that San Francisco will become more affordable in the next five to ten years.”
San Diego
- Average home price: $1,005,710
Up 4% from last year, San Diego’s waterfront properties are well over seven figures. “Homebuyers will have a tough time planting roots and living comfortably in San Diego unless they are extremely high earners,” Preston said. Many homes in San Diego that are on the water go for tens of millions of dollars.
Los Angeles
- Average home price: $948,383
Living in Los Angeles among the stars and the beaches seems ideal, but it comes at a cost. “Los Angeles is a great city with many issues to contend with, including massive unaffordability across the board,” Preston explained. “The cost of living is 8% higher than the state average and 50% higher than the national average.”
Honolulu
- Average home price: $773,409
Living in one of the country’s premiere island vacation spots is going to cost some serious cash.
“When it comes to waterfront cities, Honolulu can’t be beat. When people think of Hawaii’s capital, they think of sunny weather, lush environments and beautiful beaches,” Preston said.
“I’m sure many Americans want to retire in Honolulu,” he added. “A 2021 report showed that 44% of households in Hawaii could comfortably afford a mortgage for a median-priced single-family dwelling. That number is now around 20% with Honolulu being one of the toughest housing markets.”
Boston
- Average home price: $745,827
Preston said that cost of living, housing and utilities have skyrocketed in Boston in the past years. Boston’s average home price has gone up 4% in the last year.
“There is little hope that these numbers will decrease or even stabilize over the next few years,” he added. “If anything, they are likely to increase.”
Editor’s note: Average home prices are sourced from Zillow and are accurate as of Jan. 15, 2025.
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