The dream of choosing a dream home from the many waterfront houses for sale on the market is something that's hard to shake. If your heart is truly set on a house facing the water, however, you're going to need to avoid beginner's mistakes which could sour the experience. Here are two mistakes you should be wary of making.
Ignoring Bulkheads and Sea Walls
While wanting a waterfront home may not be new to you, you might not be aware of some of the particulars that go along with owning that kind of property. An important thing you should think about is how well the property prevents erosion. Many properties along the water line notice that erosion of the land leading up to their house is a major issue. Waterfront properties typically will have some kind of sea wall or bulkhead to act as a barrier against the water.
It is smart to inspect these barriers as you might inspect a fence, looking for signs of significant damage that could require repairs soon. Inspection could prove tricky, though, because you may not be able to get a good look at the portion of the bulkhead or sea wall that is in the water. In that case, there are professional bulkhead inspectors that you may want to ask to assess the barrier in place so that you're sure it is acceptable.
Not Expecting a Delay with the Loan
You might be somewhat surprised to find that because you want to secure for yourself a loan for a waterfront property, many lenders actually consider that to require a specialty loan. As a result, it could take somewhat longer to process. For that reason, it's vital that you provide all documents and get an application in as soon as you're able. In fact, if you start your home search knowing that you only want to purchase something on the waterfront, you might be able to talk with banks about beginning the process before you ever go out to a house.
Not Fully Understanding How Many Others You'll See
When people picture living on the waterfront, it's easy to envision sand, sun and waves. What you might not see in your imagination is people. It's vital that you get some idea of whether you personally would own the sand in front of a particular home, and to realize that you may end up seeing a great deal of foot traffic and loud boat traffic, especially in the summer. Talk with owners about the tourists, boating aficionados and others that could interfere with your serene hopes for buying a house on the waterfront. In fact, it could help you decide whether it's something you truly want.
Avoiding beginner's challenges associated with waterfront properties ensures your happiness with whatever kind of house you ultimately choose. Your realtor will have more pointers to pay attention to.
