Looking for a beach home but hate upkeep? Stop and click: You've met your match.
This $325,000 oceanfront studio in Rockaway Beach, OR, measures in at 464 square feet. But who needs space when the entire Pacific is at your toes? And there's no need to hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach. You can simply walk 100 feet from the back door, and you're in the water.
"The location is the huge part," says listing agent Samantha Mattison of Re/Max HomeSource. While the pretty blue house may not be well-suited to year-round occupancy, it's the perfect location for avoiding a hot Portland summer.
"It's definitely second-home material," Mattison says. Or a great investment. She says the homeowners occasionally rent it out as a vacation property.
There's no warm sand at this Rockaway Beach -- if you shy away from intense sunlight and don't want to pack the aloe vera, this little house is for you.
"The weather is pretty mild," Mattison says. "It doesn't get really hot, and it doesn't get too cold." With temperatures in the 60s and 70s year-round, it's as good an escape in December as it is in high summer. You'll never be uncomfortable stretching out on the hammock on the back porch. (Granted, you might get a little damp from the rain.)
Built in 1955, the home once featured a separated bedroom, but the current owners removed the wall to create an open studio that's surprisingly spacious. A gorgeous stone fireplace hand-built by the homeowners anchors the living room.
While the property is certainly charming on its own, the biggest draw is the maintenance-free life its small footprint provides.
"It's neat and tidy, and it allows you to do what most people come here to do: walk on the beach, surf, and do whatever else you want," Mattison says. "The whole purpose in getting a second home is so you can be at the beach and enjoy the outdoors. With the small size, you don't have to spend a lot of time maintaining."
You can even bring friends over without feeling squished. The property has RV hookups, perfect for an Airstream or camper. After a long night of entertaining on the wood porch (and, of course, a few dips in the ocean), everyone can retire to their own bed.
That's true luxury -- in an adorable, tiny package.