• Price: $2.2 million
• Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Year built: 2005

This beachfront home in the Capistrano Shores community is 1,450 square feet on a 3,033-square-foot lot. Its listing on Realtor.com paints an attractive picture: Step off your deck directly onto the sand and enjoy the surfing, swimming and dolphin watching. This home is not on leased land, as the homeowners in Capistrano Shores formed a homeowners association in 2008 and bought the land and the lease to own outright. The majority of homes in the community are second homes. This home comes completely furnished, including TVs and phones, making it an ideal beach cottage.

• Price: $1.69 million
• Size: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
• Year built: 1973

This 1,695-square-foot home is in the popular high-end manufactured-housing community ofParadise Cove. The interior of the home is completely customized, including radiant floor heating, zoned surround sound and Viking and Miele appliances. This home's listing touts breathtaking ocean views from every room.

• Price: $1.59 million
• Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Year built: 1987

This 2,100-square-foot home on the Pacific coast has unobstructed panoramic views of the ocean. From inside, no other residence in the community can be seen because of the unique positioning of the home. It has ergonomically designed spaces and a master bath suite that includes a dry sauna, double shower and bidet. The community features a pool, tennis court, beach access and guard gate.

4. Malibu, Calif.

• Price: $1.2 million
• Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
• Year built: 2008

This 3,380-square-foot floating home on the pier has three levels, with mountain and water views. The main level has an entertaining area with a slate-tiled kitchen, a kitchen office and a large dining area. It also features a centrally located wood-burning fireplace. The upper level, accessed through the atrium on a spiral staircase, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The lowest level has a home-theater projection system and laundry facilities.Outdoors is a private hot-springs spa that can seat up to seven people and sits on top of the floating deck surrounded by greenery and flowers.

• Price: $1.19 million
• Size: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
• Year built: 2008

This new custom home in Paradise Cove is just steps from the ocean bluffs. It features a garage and sleeping loft, cherry-wood floors throughout, high ceilings and a big, open kitchen. The large lot is landscaped with lawns, flagstone paths and outdoor showers.

• Price: $1.09 million
• Size: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
• Year built: 1990

This home in the Point Dume Club mobile-home community has whitewater, coastline and mountain views. The home has been completely remodeled with an open floor plan, hardwood and tile floors, a fireplace, a gourmet kitchen, granite counters and huge, wraparound decks.

9. Big Arm, Mont.

10. Malibu, Calif.