Pros and Cons of a Waterfront Home
While you may think that living in a waterfront home only has pros, you just might be surprised that it comes with some cons too. Living on the water allows for incredible views and many other attractive features. However, a waterfront home also has a few drawbacks. If you are looking to buy a waterfront home, do your due diligence first. It’s important to know the pros and cons of such a home. Though there may be more pros than cons, before making this type of purchase, it is best to be aware of the pros and cons associated with living on the water.
Pros to a Waterfront Home
Living on the water provides amazing views, tranquility, and peacefulness. There really is nothing better than waking up and starting your day with a good cup of coffee and a serene water view to get your day going. With a sense of calm and magnificent views, there is indeed a reason why waterfront homes are more expensive and worth it for the views alone.
Waterfront Homes Appreciate More Value
Waterfront homes are a huge selling point for buyers. It’s one that many homeowners hope to purchase at some point. Homes located on the water tend to appreciate more value than those without a water view. While you will be spending more money on a home on the water. The views indeed are priceless.
If you plan to rent out your home on the water. The good news is, there is always a high demand for these types of properties, and you can usually get top dollar in rental income for them.
Water Views & Activites
Waterfront properties are truly more unique, offering a high-quality daily life. There are many sports and activities to enjoy while living on the water, such as boating, jet skis, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and more. With gorgeous views and soothing vibes, it absolutely makes sense that these types of properties will run you a bit more being so close to the action.
Another fabulous aspect of living on the water is the ability to dock your boat and enjoy the watersport scene. If you love to fish, imagine being able to sit out on your dock and fish until your heart is content without ever leaving your home.
Cons to a Waterfront Home
While we could go on and on about the many pros of living on the water, it is not always a good time. Suppose you are thinking of purchasing a waterfront property. There are also negative aspects every home buyer should be aware of when living on the water. Before making such a big purchase, take a minute to outweigh the pros and cons for yourself.
Responsibility
First, you will want to determine who owns the space and who is responsible for maintaining such spaces as the conservation land, dock, and waterways. These pressing questions can get a bit pricey, especially as you need to defer to aquatic companies for some work to be done.
If you have a boat, it will also need to be maintained as well as its dock and boathouse. Because of the proximity to the water, there is an increase in growth and the need for cleaning. You’ll have to determine if you are going to pressure wash it once a month or so or have a company clean it for you. Note the added monthly time or money spent.
These additional costs and time spent can really add up. Birds love to leave little droppings and “presents” behind, especially on boat docks, so cleaning this area may often depend on how many birds you get visiting your property and the time of year.
Inconsistance Tempuratures
Also, be aware there is a temperature differential. Interesting fact: the front of your house and the back of your home are at entirely different temperatures pretty often, with being a waterfront home. If the back of your property faces the water, the temperature you will feel will be substantially different than that on the front side of your home. The backside of your home will require more maintenance, or whichever side faces the water.
Living on the water also increases humidity, including mist, erosion, and other elements that will erode your home and dock quicker. Furnishings both inside and out, including appliances, such as your grill, could face erosion from weather damage quicker due to the higher moisture content in the air.
Waterway Maintenance
If you are going to be doing any maintenance in your waterways, which at some point you will need to do. Make sure you are contacting your local officials. St John’s Water Management runs most waterways in the area, so you will want to make sure you get any necessary permits and see what you can put in those waterways.
Fines can be significant, and knowing what you can and can not do is imperative here. St John’s Water Management will be where you want to check for any land or shore modifications, depending on who runs the body of water you live upon.
Mosquitos!
Have you ever realized that the closer to a lake or body of water you are, the more mosquitos are out there? They love water and the area around it. While mosquitos will not make you think twice about purchasing on the water, it is important to think about how you will combat them.
For enjoying your property in the evening during peak months, invest in some good old mosquito spray, lavender oil, mosquito repellents plants such as citronella and lavender, and enjoy the fresh air. There are certain times of the year that mosquitos are a problem, so know that for a few months of the year, that is definitely something you will need to combat.
Do the Negatives Outweigh the Benefit? Take it from Erica!
Erica (the lead real estate agent at the Erica Diaz Team) personally lives in a waterfront home. She feels the pros to living on the water outweigh the cons tremendously. Living on the water is absolutely worth it in her book! However, it is important to keep in mind that it does come with extra work.
As long as you are aware of the extra time, fees, and possible permitting needed to maintain your dock, boathouse, and waterfront home, you will not be in for too many surprises as far as the additional upkeep is concerned. Maintenance is necessary to keep your home looking in great shape. You certainly want to maintain it the best as you can as this can help keep you from major renovations needed in the long term.
Waterfront Living is Worth The Extra Care
Living on a waterfront property is a very personal choice and one that you must think about carefully. Weighing the pros and cons to see if it is the right fit for you. If you are looking for a property to sit back and kick your feet in and do little to no maintenance on, this type of property is probably not suited for you. If you don’t mind giving a little extra care to keep up with living on the water, then a waterfront property may be just the fit.
As a realtor and someone who lives on the water herself, Erica absolutely thinks a waterfront property is worth it. As a buyer, you’ll have to decide for yourself what is the most suitable type of property for you and your family.
Erica Diaz Team – Pros and Cons of a Waterfront Home
Waterfront homes do come at a premium because of the tranquility they offer and their insanely gorgeous views. If you are thinking of buying your own home on the water to enjoy, let the Erica Diaz Team help you today! We have many knowledgeable agents who are ready to help you find the perfect waterfront property today!
