It’s a daydream many of us have – wake up in the morning, throw open the curtains to spectacular sea views, windswept beaches and your own boat moored to your private pontoon at the bottom of the garden. Adrian Porter investigates making the dream a reality.

BUYING a property is often representative of a major lifestyle change whether you are a first time buyer excitedly putting down roots, buying a larger house to accommodate a growing family, or moving to a new area thanks to a new job, new circumstances or just wanting to get away from it all. However, those flocking to the water to buy a property with sea views, to be on or near a marina or to be lakeside on a sailing/watersports haven, tend to represent the folk who are looking for a property to be close to their leisure activities. Because of this, a fairly affluent and mature ambiance has built up around waterside properties and you do not see many first time buyers.