The beautiful beach towns where it’s becoming easier (and cheaper) to buy a house

The best of both worlds – sand and waves combined with big city living – is becoming an increasingly convenient investment for potential home buyers in the US.

With more homes for sale and less competition from other buyers, home prices in several metropolitan areas are more negotiable than before.

Several beachside cities, where the “return to office trend is certainly playing a role,” are experiencing an increase in the number of homes for sale while prices remain affordable, said Ron Myers, President of Ron Buys Florida Homes, Makelaar.com.

The list, compiled by Realtor.com, includes coastal cities, from the strolling streets of Miami to the beautiful beaches of San Diego.

These are the five most beautiful American coastal cities where shopping is becoming easier and cheaper.

1. Tampa, Florida

Topping the list are the breathtaking beaches of Tampa, Florida – one of the three “sunshine states.”

The metropolis is located in the Gulf of Mexico, the hub of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and is among the top 10 cities where both Gen Z and Millennials are moving to the most.

With an average home price of $415,000, listings are up 90.1 percent, and Tampa is also becoming a boom town. Earlier this year, LinkedIn found that Tampa was gaining more new employees, tracking location changes on the profiles of its 206 million U.S. users by 2023.

This southern city offers an abundance of dining and drinking options, including Ben T. Davis Beach and the smaller, man-made Davis Islands Beach.

2. San Diego, California

This city in the west of the country is located on the Pacific coast and features the infamous beaches of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.

The homes feature lively boulevards and the average home price is $999,000. The number of listings has increased by 80.4 percent.

The city is known for its idyllic climate and offers residents a number of family attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California.

The city has also seen the largest jump in home value appreciation in the past 100 years.

According to a research tool from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, homes in the metropolitan area increased in value by a whopping 1,572 percent between 1890 and 2006, adjusted for inflation.

3. Miami, Florida

Known for its vibrant nightlife and cultural attractions, this city in the American Alligator State has a median home price of $550,000 and listings have increased by 72.2 percent.

The city also boasts a beautiful coastline, including South Beach, which is known for its varied nightlife, and sister beach North Beach, which has a much more relaxed atmosphere.

And when it comes to the housing market, it’s become a buyer’s market as apartment owners are forced to lower prices – with a catch.

Apartment owners across the state have been forced to cut prices by 40 percent as they sell their properties rather than pay for massive repairs to comply with new state laws that were put in place after the Champlain Tower South collapse in Miami-Dade County, killing 98 people.

The price reductions are also accompanied by higher homeowners’ association contributions, intended to subsidize the costs.

4. Seattle, Washington

The Pacific Northwest location of the Space Needle is known for its heavy rainfall and eclectic culture.

The median home price in Washington City, which previously saw a 6 percent year-over-year decline, now sits at $775,000 and the number of homes for sale has increased by 69.3 percent.

The most popular beach is Alki Beach, located on Puget Sound, a scenic inlet of the Pacific Ocean.

The tourist attraction Mount Rainier can also be seen from the beach at Seward Park, on the shore of Lake Washington.

5. Jacksonville, Florida

The top five is completed by another city in the Sunshine State, which is best known for its crystal clear water and powder blue sand.

The average home price in Jacksonville is $409,850, with a 68.3 percent increase in the number of listings.

This Atlantic coast city is home to many museums and art galleries, including the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

However, in the Jacksonville metropolitan area, there was a 12.6 percent decline in non-luxury homes, while luxury homes increased 20.9 percent, the Wall Street Journal.