Buying a home on a waterfront property is one of the most sought after accomplishments for American dreamers. There’s something about the water that draws us to it.
Is it the beauty, the serenity, or the ingrained primitive connection humans have to water from the beginning of our existence?
Regardless of why we love the water and planting homes near it, waterfront living is considered a luxury. As such, buying a waterfront property is quite an investment. If you’re looking for one, check out these amazing waterfront homes on sale under $400k.
But is it worth it?
Keep reading to get an in-depth look at all of the pros and cons of buying or building a home on the water!
The Pros of Waterfront Living
There are a lot of reasons to consider life on or near the water. However, if you’re struggling to decide whether or not the price of waterfront property is worth it, take a look at all the reasons it is.
The View
First and foremost, waterfront living provides a view that’s hard to beat. The mountains are lovely and the forests are beautiful. However, a house sitting on a lake or a beach is magical.
Being able to see the sunrise and set over the water as its glassy surface reflects all of the incredible colors is breathtaking. Owning a waterfront property allows you to experience this event every day, twice a day.
To get a good idea about the types of home and views you could be privy to, check these out.
Lifestyle
Additionally, waterfront living comes with a unique lifestyle most can only appreciate a couple of weeks a year while on vacation. As a beach or lake homeowner, your hole life is a vacation.
If you’re on the beach, for example, you can make sea fishing a daily or weekly adventure. You could also pick up surfing, water skiing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, or skimboarding. The ocean and beach provide infinite lifestyle options. Read more about it at global marine renew able.
Alternatively, if you’re on a lake, you can also pick up fishing, boating, wakeboarding, waterskiing, jet skiing, and floating. Once again, when you live on a body of water, you can embrace waterfront living every day.
The Serenity
As we mentioned before, there are many fantastic places to live, but there is something magically serene about living on the water.
Looking out of your windows at a placid lake, surrounded by trees or perhaps with a mountain in the background is a great way to let the stress of life melt off of you. Imagine going down to the water after a long day and wading in up to your knees as you take in the fresh air and beautiful scenery.
In a beach house, you can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean every single night. Each morning, you can wake up, jog or walk down the beach, and pick up whatever the tide left during the night.
A Wise Investment
On the practical side of things, investing in a waterfront property is a solid financial move. Some waterfront homes require you to sacrifice a certain level of privacy. Because waterfront living has such a desired status, you are nearly guaranteed to build equity in your house over time.
Additionally, waterfront properties make for amazing (and profitable) rentals for people who want to vacation on the beach or lake.
Good Neighbors
Another positive aspect of waterfront living is that you typically have really kind and respectful neighbors. They too have chosen a life on the water and probably for the same reasons you did.
Even if your neighbors are close by, it’s highly unlikely that they would ever be a bother.
The Cons of Waterfront Living
Now that we’ve bragged up waterfront living, let’s take a look at the negative aspects waterfront properties can hold. These can sometimes make a break a buyer’s commitment to buying a home on the lake or beach. You can be the judge.
Inflated Costs
First, and most obviously, waterfront properties cost more than the average houses on the market. It all comes down to the rule of supply and demand. Waterfront properties are desirable and are therefore in high demand.
Buying a home on a beach or lake can cost tens if not hundreds of thousands more than there less desirable counterparts.
Bugs and Other Pests
Additionally, waterfront living means accepting that you’ll be constantly barraged by mosquitos (depending on where you live). However, bugs aren’t the only creatures that are drawn to the water.
Depending on the climate, you may have to deal with snakes, alligators, or other pests.
Hurricanes and Typhoons
Lakehouse owners should be safe here, but if you want a beach house, be aware that you’d likely be in a hurricane zone.
While hurricanes aren’t super common, especially in some areas, they do happen. In the event of a hurricane or typhoon, your entire house could be destroyed, you could lose everything.
Granted, you’ll have insurance to cover such an event, but it will still be a traumatic experience.
Moisture Levels
Most waterfront properties have one negative thing in common – high moisture levels. These moisture levels can make home maintenance a real pain in the butt.
You’ll have to keep an extra eye out for mold growth, corrosion, wood rot, and rust. Expect to replace home materials more frequently than you would elsewhere.
Oh, and if you live on the beach, you will literally always have sand in your house, no matter what you do.
Lack of Privacy
Some waterfront homes require you to sacrifice a certain level of privacy. Because waterfront living is such a commodity, tourists are drawn to oceans and lakes.
Depending on where your home is located, don’t be surprised to be surrounded by beachgoers looking for a good time, especially during the summers.
HOAs
Finally, because the margins are so much higher in the waterfront property market, expect HOA fees to be higher and their policies to be more strict (assuming you’re part of an HOA).
A home owner’s association is in place to maintain the quality of the community. On waterfront properties, they are often a lot less lenient with the freedoms you have to customize your home, let vegetation get too long, leave trash or junk lying around, build fences, etc.
Well, Is It Worth It?
Now that you have a better understanding of all the pros and cons of waterfront living, what do you think?
Is it worth the investment to buy a home on the lake or beach? Ultimately, it comes down to you and your reasons for buying a waterfront property.
It can be a super-smart financial investment opportunity or a wonderful choice for a lovely home.
However, it will mean accepting some of the cons that come along with waterfront properties.
Good luck with your decision and remember to check out some of our other articles on all types of home living!
