The Effect of Dune Height on Beachfront Property Values
Undergraduate: Francesca Peay
Faculty Advisor: Laura Moore
Department: Environmental Studies
Coastal dune height can have important effects on beachfront properties by defending homes from storms, and limiting or allowing for valuable ocean views. Low dunes do not obstruct views but offer poor storm protection, while high dunes can block views but provide greater storm protection. My project explores if and how the value of beachfront property is influenced by dune height, and what trade-offs, if any, exist between view and storm protection. I analyzed dune height and sale prices of beachfront homes sold through 2013-2014 in the following Coastal North Carolina Counties: Carteret, Dare, Brunswick, and New Hanover. I used a comprehensive list of property sales records acquired from Dr. Sathya Gopalakrishnan from Ohio State University to select first-row, beachfront homes not within 1 km of an Inlet (n=271). I used cross sections of elevations from a LiDAR model to assess the dune height in front of each beachfront house. Using this data, I analyzed the relationship between home price and dune height. This study will produce important information about the relationship of dunes and the prices of beachfront homes. These findings are important to coastal community governments, economists, real-estate agencies, and buyers and sellers of oceanfront homes.