Living near water is a dream for many Americans. From that silent pull to the ocean shores to the midnight skinny dip in the local lake, humans have always been drawn to water. Not surprising since 70% of the human body is made up of the life giving liquid. But where living near water might be a dream for many, for some it can be a nightmare. If you’re considering living beside a little H2O, then you need to check out the Top 5 Pros and Cons to Living Near Water:
PROS:
#1: Peace out, baby!
No more noisy lawn mowers screaming from your neighbor’s house or bustling highways at all hours of the night. When you live near water, you fall asleep and wake up to peace and quiet 24 hours a day. Thanks to the fresh air and gentle buzz of nature, your senses will awaken to a whole new way of living. If escaping the hustle and bustle is what you crave, then planting yourself near a natural water source is the way to go.
#2: OMG, What a View!
Whether you’re living on a cliffside overlooking the ocean or staring at a racing river, odds are your property comes with a view. And that’s kind of the point when you live near the water. Who wants to stare at a boring old building across from your land locked house when you can witness an awe inspiring sunset over the sea? Even property that backs up to a creek has a serene view of nature at its finest. That’s right, living near water will unlock your inner Bob Ross in no time.
#3: Privacy for the socially challenged.
Do you secretly dream of a Zombie Apocalypse? Are you quietly wishing the rest of the world would just disappear? Well, instead of hoping for the end of times, living near water should give you the privacy you seek. No matter what body of water you covet, odds are it protects at least one side of your house from noisy onlookers. With water as your neighbor, there’s less land for people to navigate when trying to pry into your life. Consider your watery neighbor nature’s deterrent from those pesky busy bodies.
#4: Water sports galore!
Living near water means you are seconds away from any water activity your heart desires. Surfing, boating, fishing, kayaking, you name it and it’s yours. You’ll even save money by not having to travel to your favorite watering hole and paying ramp fees, parking fees, marina fees, etc. But we should warn you, your friends and family will also notice this benefit. So get ready for a few more house guests to your perfect water paradise.
#5: One word: Ka-ching.
That’s right. If you’re lucky enough to score a house near any sort of body of water, you just made a sound investment that will continue to pay out. Since property near water are in limited supply, your home will retain its value for many generations to come. Like we said – Ka-ching.
Okay, okay. So now you know the obvious reasons why most of us should hope to stake a claim near some sort of watering hole. But living near water is not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, sometimes it can be downright nasty. So let’s check out the Cons to living near water.
CONS:
#1: Maintaining your home.
Waterfront living involves more maintenance than other homes. Between humidity, erosion, mist, etc., you’ll find yourself doing constant maintenance to keep the quality of your property up to code. This can lead to an increase in your home maintenance fees, so if you’re planning on building near the water, make sure you budget accordingly.
#2: Get out the bug spray.
That’s right. Humans aren’t the only ones who love living near water. Mosquitos and other insects consider water their personal breeding ground, so if you’re living near a standing body of water, odds are you’ll have some pretty annoying flying neighbors. But it’s not just the bugs you have to look out for. Depending on the location of your property, you may have alligators, snakes and other water inhabitants.
#3: Mother Nature doesn’t mess around.
With rising sea levels and frequent storms, making sure your home is secure near the water’s edge is sometimes out of your hands. Waterfront homes are more susceptible to wind damage, flooding and mudslides. It should go without saying that home insurance can be quite spending when living near water. So while some homes survive quite happily for years and even decades near the water, it’s worth noting you are always at the mercy of Mother Nature’s wrath.
#4: Lack of Privacy.
While you may not be surrounded by neighbors when living near water, what you may get is an onset of water users prying into your home’s windows. If you live near a popular lake, you may hear a loud chorus of boaters and swimmers during the summer. Or if you live on the coast, beachgoers might admire your home from the sand while you’re trying to have your morning coffee out of the deck. Since humans are drawn to water, and your property is near that water, your home may become a tourist destination by default.
#5: Safety, Smafety.
Aside from the obvious threats coming from Mother Nature, living near water also comes with a few human threats. Homes that face or back up to water are more susceptible to home invasions because there are less prying eyes to catch burglars in the act. This is a risk most waterfront home owners take when they choose tranquility and seclusion over the more popular safety-in-numbers approach to living.
So there you have it, the Top 5 Pros and Cons to Living Near Water. If you’re still leaning more towards the pros side, then let LandCentral help you find the perfect property on the water’s edge.