Getting access to Sydney's famous waters - whether it be the harbour or the beach - might seem impossible on a budget.
But there are some cheaper properties on the market, some a short walk to the water and other with genuine water views.
North
Accessible: 3/15 The Avenue, Collaroy is on the market with a price guide of $560,000.
Mosman
This lower north shore suburb is more commonly associated with the top end of town, but there are a surprising number of entry-level apartments changing hands.
A short walk to Balmoral Beach, a ground floor apartment at 4/12 Clifford Street was sold on the 11th December for $590,000.
On the main road, a one-bedroom apartment with balcony at 2/102 Spit Road, Mosman was advertised at $550,000 to $600,000, and is now under offer.
Collaroy
Meanwhile, on the mid-northern beaches, Collaroy offers a handful on apartments at fairly accessible price point. A one-bedroom apartment with verandah and car space and a short walk from the beach, 3/15 The Avenue, Collaroy is currently on the market with a price guide of $560,000.
For those looking for a two-bedroom apartment, there's one on Ramsay Street priced between $700,000 and $745,000.
A nearby one-bedder at 4/24 Jenkins Street, Collaroy, also with a car space and balcony, sold by private treaty earlier in December for $580,000.
And in Newport, with a price guide of $550,000 - $600,000, this one-bedroom apartment with balcony and car space is handily close to Barrenjoey Road.
South
The Woolooware Bay development has water views.
Maroubra
Straddling the line between studio and one-bedder with a balcony and outdoor entertaining area, 4/60 Minneapolis Crescent was advertised between $600,000 and $650,000. It sold on December 20.
A two-bedroom apartment on McKeon Street, 500 metres from Maroubra Beach, is currently on the sale for $860,000. And for those looking for something under $500,000, there's a studio for sale in the Tradewinds Complex on Maroubra Road for $430,000.
Brighton-Le-Sands
This two-bedroom apartment on The Boulevarde, priced at $720,000, comes with that holy grail of Sydney property - actual water views, even if it's more a 'glimpses from the balcony' situation. It's metres from Brighton-Le-Sands beach.
Another two-bedroom apartment on the top floor at 12/20 Crawford Road, with two balconies and car space, has a price guide of $650,000 - $680,000.
And with a price guide of $490,000 - $520,000, this 51-square-metre, one-bedroom apartment with balcony at 17/23-25 Queens Road is just a few blocks from the beach, too.
Sans Souci
Further south at Sans Souci, there's a two-bedroom apartment with water views with a price guide of $650,000 to $700,000. Positioned on the top floor, 15/674 Rocky Point Road has water and district views, and comes with a car space and balcony.
And close to Ramsgate Beach, there's a one-bedroom unit on the first-floor of the San Remo building currently on the market for $509,000.
Cronulla
It may be further away but with the distinct advantage of a train line, Cronulla has an older-style one-bedroom apartment, with floorboards, a block from the water priced at $520,000.
And for those looking for more space, and those elusive ocean views, there's a two-bedder on the top floor on Ewos Parade on the market for $710,000.
Just north of Cronulla, in Woolooware, there's a modern two-bedroom apartment in the Woolooware Bay development with water views with a price guide of $800,000 to $820,000.
West of the Harbour Bridge and the Paramatta River
The view from Glebe.
Close to the CBD, unit 11, at number 10 on Avona Avenue in Glebe, has views of the water and the city. The one-bedder with a balcony is priced at $650,000.
Across the harbour in Gladesville, there's a two-bedroom apartment with a balcony on offer in Ashburn Place, with a price guide of $650,000 to $685,000. It's a short walk to water, but if you want "water glimpses" from your actual balcony, there's a one-bedroom unit for sale on the same street with a price guide of $500,000 to $535,000.
Over in Wentworth Point, you can get access to a private, man-made beach with a one-bedroom apartment on Bennelong Parkway, listed at $510,000. A two-bedroom apartment with water and garden views on Stromboli Strait would set you back $715,000.
And in Ermington, a near-new studio with separate bed nook in the waterfront Royal Shores block has a price guide of $470,000, while 305/10 Hilly Street, Mortlake, offers a bedroom, separate study nook and partial water views for $719,000.
