Beach House Plans - Relaxation at its finest!

Once you've gathered the capital and found the location for your beachfront dream, it's time to take the plunge -- but don't forget to pick your beach house plans first! There are plenty of builders and architectural firms out there, especially online, who'll fight for the change to show you their vacation home plans. That's great news for you, since healthy competition means a wider range of design choices as well as lower prices.

Plan your beach dream home down to the last nail

The great thing about dream beach house designs is that you're in control. Once you pick your favorite floor plan, you can either leave the blueprints alone, or make all the changes you want. Sure, you'll have to consult an architect to make sure you have everything you need but in the end it's your dream home in your style. Any residential model is available to choose from, whether you dream of a manor house or a cozy New England cottage, on the seawall or above the tideline.

From castles in the air to blueprints in your hands

The floor plan is your first step in feeling the sand between your toes in your new backyard. The cost for the typical coastal home plan or lakefront home plan tends to run a little higher than the plans for houses meant for elsewhere. Beach houses require certain construction standards to withstand the weather, and they're often on stilts, which adds a whole new dimension to building and maintenance. You're likely to spend $500+ for the plans, but face it -- when you're standing on the veranda of your new home, gazing out to the water, won't it be worth it?