Beach Hunters

With their sons heading off to college, a pair of empty nesters search the sugar sand beaches of Fairhope, Ala., for a Gulf Coast getaway; she wants a living room and kitchen with an open floor plan, but he looks for a home with a dock.

A globetrotting British couple search the sunny shores of Gulf Breeze, Fla., for their dream beach home; she wants a house with lots of trees and a large gathering space for guests, while he wants a fixer-upper to make their own.

After living inland in a small house, a family of seven searches the beaches of Navarre, Fla., for the perfect seaside home; she wants a nice private lot with a playroom for the kids, but he wants a dock and a location near work.

A couple searches for the perfect beach home on Camano Island, Wash., for an active family of four; he wants a low-maintenance home with a short commute from Seattle, while she wants a private getaway with views of Puget Sound.

A couple leaves landlocked Montana hoping to find a home along the beaches of Ferndale, Wash.; she wants panoramic views of the ocean, but he looks for a move-in-ready home with plenty of entertaining space outdoors.

A Boston-based realtor leaves the hustle and bustle of Beantown to find the perfect beach home with plenty of space for entertaining on Massachusetts' South Shore.