Often times the personal ads claiming the love for long walks on the beach, are the people that are subconsciously looking for the right oceanfront properties. Luckily, they are in good company. High on the popularity list for second home locations are the oceanfront properties found from coast to coast and island to island.

While popularity can drive the price up dramatically, the pricing of oceanfront properties varies widely, with $3 million homes located just blocks away from $400,000 houses. There are some considerations to think about when looking for the perfect oceanfront properties.

In the favorite areas, such as Cape Cod, California, Florida, Maryland, and South Carolina, oceanfront properties, or anywhere on a golf course, or bay can cost $500,000 and up. However, there are many alternatives. One could research towns accessible to, but not located directly on, the waterfront properties. For example, crossing just one bridge to reach the bay can subtract almost $100,000 from the prices of many properties. In California, for example, hills are high enough so that anyone can find a home 3 miles inland and still see that gorgeous coastline, at half the cost.

When considering investing in oceanfront properties, it is important to investigate the area in more detail. If interested in the beach for boating, find out what marinas are nearby. If swimming or surfing is the passion, look into the swimming conditions-ocean temperatures, undertows, etc. Even if the only lure are the long silent walks on the sand, check out what the public access is to the beach and just how solitary the beachfront properties are. There's nothing worse than thinking a remote paradise has been found, then suddenly walking right onto oceanfront properties owned by a hotel, filled with unexpected people and activity.

Some shorelines have weather that differs dramatically from residential properties just a few miles away. The Northern California coast for example, is always cooler and moister in the summer, and warm and dry in the winter, just the opposite of what might be expected. So it is important to know the temperature fluctuations of the particular location of oceanfront properties. Is it too hot? Is it too foggy?

In general, coastal climates near saltwater run milder in the winter and cooler in the summer. As specific oceanfront properties are looked at, consider how to take advantage of the natural climate. For example, if many can take advantage of prevailing breezes, and have free air-conditioning. Likewise, be sure that there is protection from a hot, summer sun and make use of passive solar design to capture heat in the winter. Since salt-water can be erosive, check carefully into the building materials used.

What are some of the choices in oceanfront properties today? Florida still leads the pack as a preferred sun and shore destination, though the temperature varies the more north you go. Jacksonville is the port of entry to a long line of beachfront properties down the eastern coast of Florida. Other destinations include Daytona Beach, Orlando, and towns in Indian River country. Eventually you reach Southern Florida, with Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Miami, and the Florida Keys. A more mellow side of land for sale in Florida can be found at the Lee Island Coast, Naples, Fort Meyers, and nearby Sanibel Island. Moving off the Florida peninsula, you can find glorious oceanfront properties on the Gulf Coast, which extends from the Florida Panhandle to Texas, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana beachfront properties and fishing communities. Some of the best scuba diving can be found off the Florida Keys and off the banks of Texas.