Living on or near the water is a pipe dream for many. The hefty price of beachfront living seems burdensome on top of life’s already overwhelming laundry list of costs. From quick trips to the grocery store to budgeting the annual family vacation, an extra million dollars is rarely available to spend on prime waterfront property. HGTV’s hottest new show, “Beachfront Bargain Hunt,” seeks to help hopeful waterside property owners forget the stress of every day expenses and make their dream of beach style living into a reality.
The hit series was captivated by the beauty of Virginia’s Eastern Shore and is soon to air an episode featuring local Virginia Beach real estate agent Annie Speckhart and her Virginia Beach-based client on their mission to find, purchase and renovate her client’s perfect beachfront getaway in Cape Charles, Va.
Annie Speckhart is an agent with The Real Estate Group in Virginia Beach and has over 10 years of experience with buying and selling property in the Coastal Virginia area. Her expertise on waterfront properties proved especially beneficial when a client expressed an interest in escaping the hustle and bustle of Virginia Beach for the tranquility of small town Cape Charles. High on her client’s must-have list, however, was proximity to the beach.
Speckhart and her client toured three homes before finally settling on an affordable, 2,200-square-foot farmhouse-style home situated only a few blocks from the beach. With peeling paint and a desperate need for modern amenities, Speckhart’s client knew she had found her beachfront bargain.
The lower cost of the home not only made substantial repairs possible but also afforded Speckhart’s client the ability to pay the toll of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel during her daily commute to work in Virginia Beach.
“A lot of people shy away from purchasing in Cape Charles because of the hefty toll,” says Speckhart. “If you travel 30-plus times a month on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, it’s only five dollars one-way. Not bad for a more affordable home.”
Despite the time and cost of commuting into the Hampton Roads area from the Eastern Shore, Speckhart believes that show beautifully showcases the upsides to sacrificing an extra hour in the car for the splendor of oceanfront living. She mentions that the upcoming episode illustrates the variety of water sports and activities that Cape Charles has to offer, as well as the beauty of traveling from Cape Charles to the Virginia Beach area.
The Real Estate Group Agent Annie Speckhart
When asked how this show could impact the Eastern Shore’s real estate market, Speckhart remarked, “I think it will be a positive effect for buyers who want a second home in a more affordable place other than Virginia Beach.”
After a series of questionnaires and interviews, the house hunting duo pitched their journey to the producers of HGTV’s “Beachfront Bargain Hunt” and were granted a primetime slot. Four days of filming and two and a half months of renovations later, the house hunting and home restoration venture for the Cape Charles home will air on HGTV Saturday, August 12 at 9 p.m.
Grace Silipigni
Grace Silipigni is an elementary school Spanish immersion teacher based in Virginia Beach and a regular contributor to Coastal Virginia Magazine, covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellness, education and learning, food and drink, happenings and events, travel and getaways and more.
