If you want to enjoy outdoor activities, beautiful views, peace and serenity, you might be thinking about buying a house near a river. Living on the water can provide all those benefits, but it also has downsides.
Reasons to Buy a House on a River
Owning a waterfront home can let you enjoy your favorite activities without packing up the car and driving to another location. You’ll be able to simply step outside and swim, boat, waterski, or fish with your family.
Spending time in nature can have profound benefits. Exercise and fresh air can improve your cardiovascular health, help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and make you more focused and relaxed.
Life on the water can be much more peaceful than life in a city or in the suburbs. If the stress and noise in your current location have you longing to escape, moving to a house near a river might be exactly what you need.
Drawbacks of Owning a Home Near a River
Living on the water might not provide the tranquility you’re hoping for. Other people who come to enjoy outdoor activities can make noise, leave trash and trespass on your property.
A waterfront property can flood, which can result in major structural damage and mold. It can be expensive to fix a property that has suffered water damage, and the house might be uninhabitable while repairs are being made. Erosion is another risk associated with living near the water. If one of your goals is to reduce the amount of stress in your life, the constant threats of flooding and erosion can have the opposite effect.
Any house requires maintenance, but you’ll have additional work if you live near a river. A waterfront property will need frequent repainting due to moisture damage, and you’ll have to cover patio furniture to protect it from mold.
If you have young kids, or if you plan to have children in the future, you’ll have to consider safety risks. No matter how many times you tell them not to, kids can sneak off to swim without permission, and they can drown before you even realize that they’re missing. You might have to put up a fence to keep your kids from going near the water without supervision.
Wild animals are another issue to think about. Depending on the location, you might have to deal with snakes, insects and even alligators.
Getting homeowners insurance for a house on a river can be challenging and expensive. Due to the inherent risks, an insurer might charge high premiums or refuse to provide coverage.
Waterfront homes are really in high demand, and they can be significantly more expensive than houses in other areas. When you consider a property’s upfront price, plus maintenance and insurance costs, you might realize that you can’t afford to live near a river, or you might decide to buy a property elsewhere so you can have room in your budget for retirement and other long-term goals.
