'Life's too short': US man purchases $395,000 cliffside home despite warnings that it might erode into the ocean

A US interior painter and designer bought a

cliffside home

on

Cape Cod

for $395,000 despite warnings that it could soon fall into the

ocean

due to the rapidly eroding coastline.

David Moot

purchased a three-bedroom house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, located just 7.6 metres from a crumbling cliff.
The waterfront property comes at a discounted price because of the risk of being submerged due to

rising sea levels

and

coastal erosion

caused by the

climate crisis

.

"Life's too short, and I just said to myself, 'Let's just see what happens,'" Moot told

Bloomberg

. "It's going to eventually fall into the ocean, and it may or may not be in my lifetime," he added.
Cape Cod is one of many areas along the east coast of the

United States

experiencing major beach erosion. Stephen Leatherman, a professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, said the area has an average erosion rate of more than 3 feet per year. "Along the east coast of the United States, 80% to 90% of the beaches are eroding," Leatherman explained. "This house may look good right now because the beach is wide, but wait till that beach narrows up and the waves are hitting the edge of that bluff just below the house."
The 59-year-old's choice to invest in the home is part of a growing trend where buyers opt for scenic properties at high discounts, despite warnings about the possible threats posed by climate change. According to Bloomberg, Moot bought the house at a 67% discount from the seller's original asking price of $1,195 million in 2022.

Before buying the property, Moot consulted experts and carefully studied erosion projections for the surrounding area. He also planned and implemented strategies, including planting beach grass to stabilise the sand and considering moving the house further inland. His research led him to believe he could buy some time before the property submerged into the ocean.
Experts like Massachusetts state geologist Brian Yellen note that coastlines made of glacial soils, such as those in the eastern US and northern Europe, are particularly vulnerable to shoreline retreat.
Moot remains optimistic and hopes to share his dream home with others. He has expressed interest in allowing terminally ill individuals to visit and enjoy the ocean views. "This is such a wonderful dream for me that has come true that I would love to be able to share it," he told the Boston Globe.