That's when they buy. They had been going to Bethany for almost 20 years. The demographics of the baby-boom generation, whose older members are nearing retirement, are also fueling the explosion in beach property, experts say. That means elevators for their old age, beach access and lots of bedrooms for unborn grandchildren. They're looking for that small-town feel where their kids can wander into town to amuse themselves.
Agents say almost all buyers want to be able to walk to the beach.
That's a lot of who's buying. Agents report that recent buyers at the beach include entrepreneurs, America Online and MCI WorldCom executives, other high-tech employees, and banking and finance people, as well as expatriate families who want a house in the United States so their children will grow up more familiar with their home country. They're also finding that the people buying these second homes are getting younger, a trend they attribute to the nation's roaring economy. And they're not scared to spend it. Recent buyers have been paying cash or making large cash down payments for higher-end properties.