Wow! House: Beachside Palaces

This time of year, it's not unusual to day-dream about having a little place of your own at the beach. Of course, if you live in the Charleston area, you know about the eye-popping price tags attached to many of those beachfront properties.

Here's a profile of five oceanfront homes on Charleston's four area beaches and what makes them awesome. What do you think? Are these your dream homes? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

FOLLY BEACH
Beachfront homes on Folly Beach are aplenty on Zillow.com, but despite their $1,000,000-plus asking prices, many are in need of updates. Such is the case with this $1.25 million home on E. Ashley Ave. Still, despite its drawbacks, the owners will likely get their asking price simply because of the spectacular view and Folly's desirable rental market conditions. Read more.

KIAWAH ISLAND
Think Folly, Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms have some luxurious homes? They all look like trailer parks compared to the absolutely palatial homes on Kiawah Island. Situated on a 1.8-acre lot right on the Atlantic Ocean, this nearly 8,000-square foot home is fit for a king, queen and Mitt Romney. Heck, invite Obama, too. They'd never see each other. But at $12.5 million, you'd need Romney's deep pockets to afford the place. Read more, see photos on Zillow.com.

KIAWAH ISLAND, part II
So what if you want private beach access, a seaside forest and formal gardens all within close proximity of one of the nation's most acclaimed golf courses? I mean, that's all on my must-haves list when I dream big. If so, look to this nearly 9,000-square-foot oceanside palace. It's selling for $6.9 million, which is right affordable compared to some of its neighbors. Read more, see the impressive photos.

ISLE OF PALMS
This 5-bedroom, 5-bath home is pure oceanside luxury, but compared to its Kiawah Island counterparts, it seems downright homey. Despite that, it maximizes oceanfront views and provides ample room for more than a dozen guests. It's on the market for $4.5 million. Read more, see photos. 

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND
Here's the best of both worlds. It's a recently updated home with a view of the beach, but not exactly beachfront. It offers amazing space — 5,000 square feet — all for the low, low price of $2.45 million. It says "yeah, I'm stinking rich, but I don't need a monument to prove it." See more photos at Zillow.com.