America's Coolest Beach Homes 2010

With summer heat just around the corner, you can bet plenty of people are planning trips to the shore. But what could be "cooler" experience than actually owning a mansion on the sand?

TopTenRealEstateDeals.com has compiled a list of America's Ten Coolest Beach Homes, and although the word "beach home" elicits thoughts of a secondary residence, all of the properties featured here include amenities rarely seen in homes around the country. All are listed for sale in 2010, and boast multi-million dollar price tags, stemming both from their prime location and unique features.

So, where are the coolest beach homes in America? Click ahead to find out.

By Paul ToscanoPosted 28 May 2010

List price: $7.25 million
Living area: 4,341 sqft
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4, 2 half

This beachfront home is located on one of the most exclusive areas along the New Jersey shore, located in Long Beach Township. Each room offers ocean views, while the interior features a cantilevered design that accentuates the sunny and sandy feel of the area. The home features a screened grill deck, in-deck pool and spa, cedar outdoor showers, a 3-floor elevator, remote controlled custom window treatments and a specially designed sound system wired throughout the house.

List price: $6.5 million
Living area: 2,250 sqft
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4.5

This home in San Diego has several distinguishing features. First, in the home's entrance, a thirty-foot glass atrium is capped by a fully retractable roof that seemingly spirals into the clouds. The home also features an indoor/outdoor living room with floor-to-ceiling retractable glass walls and an enclosed jacuzzi. It is also a "Smart Home," which is fully wired with electronics, automatic lighting, a one-touch fireplace and three home theaters. The master suite is described as "expansive" and offers a private balcony overlooking the ocean.

List price: $6.95 million
Living area: 11,477 sqft
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 7.5

Situated on the banks of the St. Lucie river in Stuart, Florida, this custom-built home features a porte-cochere with lit glass columns leading into a sky-domed rotunda. The home's "great room" features waterfront views that overlook tropical scenery. The home includes a full gym and sauna, while each bedroom has its own private balcony. The property features a guest house, and 8 car garage, a private tennis court and a state-of-the-art dock that can accomodate up to a 150' motor yacht.

List price: $31.5 million
Living area: N/A
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 8

Just from looking at this home located in the Irvine Cove section of Laguna Beach, California, one can see why it is one of the most impressive. It features 158 feet of ocean frontage and rests on Irvine Cove's "Abalone Point." The home also has vaulted redwood ceilings, a formal dining room with seating for 16, exercise room, wine room and a professional art gallery.

List price: $13.95 million
Living area: 8,700 sqft
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 5

Located on a secluded stretch of beach just south of Carmel, California, this home is rare for the area in that it offers direct beach access. The home features titanium exterior finishes, a driveway laid with antique Roman granite bricks, a 2-story staircase and several towering glass walls that overlook the bay and the Point Lobos coastline. The home also has a top-of-the-line gourmet kitchen, professional home theater, full gym and elevator to each level.

List price: $23.8 million
Living area: 11,076 sqft
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 9.5

Located on western shore of Maui, this home is situated next to the Alii Kahekili Nui Ahumonu Beach Park in a very secluded part of the island. The home offers pristine sunset views that are characteristic of Hawaii's coastlines. The home also features an oceanfront pool, jacuzzi, yoga pavilion and full exercise room.

List price: $8.9 million
Living area: 8,894 sqft
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 4, 2 half

Constructed on one of only 29 beachfront lots on Marco Island, the home is within a gated community that encompasses 2 miles of beach, an executive golf course, tennis courts, fitness center and a beachfront clubhouse. The home itself is expansive, with almost 9,000 sqft of living space and key areas of the home situated to take full advantage of views overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

List price: $13.9 million
Living area: 4,585 sqft
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4.5

Located in the elite corner of New York's Long Island, this home offers views of the iconic Montauk Point. It is constructed to "dissolve" the boundaries between interior and exterior, employing large windows and glass walls to incorporate the outdoors. The property also offers access to a private beach, in-ground pool and professionally landscaped courtyard.

List price: $13.5 million
Living area: 5,226 sqft
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 full, 2 three-quarter, 2 half

The home is located close to the beach and is within a 1 minute walk to the Manhattan Beach downtown area. Built prior to current building codes, it features a rare rooftop pool and Malibu can be seen from the home's panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. Designed in contemporary style architecture, the front door is sculpted in stainless steel, while two bedroom suites are glass-enclosed and the entire home is formed to mold to the coastline.

List price: $29 million
Living area: 18,388 sqft
Bedrooms: 9
Bathrooms: 9.5

The most impressive beach home currently on the market is a massive beachfront mansion on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Located on Honolulu's most prestigious street, Kahala Avenue, the property spans 1.4 acres and has 125 feet of beach frontage. The main home has 9 bedrooms, but the property also has two 4-bedroom guest houses that are placed along professionally manicured grounds. The main home includes a 300-bottle wine room, a covered oceanfront patio, outdoor bar, a seaside dining pavilion, several swimming and wading pools and parking for as many as 25 cars.

The home is also located near the Waialae Country Club, which is host to the PGA Sony Open Tournament, as well as the world-famous Waikiki beach and tourist area.