would you rather live on acres of land or on a lake?

[DawnM]

Assuming the size of the house and the price were the same, would you pick buying a large plot of land (10 acres or so) or would you buy lake front property on a large lake?

DH and I are having this arguement (er, I mean discussion).

I personally think they will both appreciate in our area, so that isn't really a consideration either.

Dawn

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

woohoo i was the first to vote. I chose no lake, while they are pretty, I would rather have the land to garden and for the kids to run. JMHO.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I'd rather be oceanfront (or bayfront, close to ocean access) even if the house square footage was way smaller. I'm a beach girl. My husband feels the same way. It's one of the reasons I didn't take a job transfer to Greenville SC - way too far from the ocean for us.

If I had to pick one of your 2 options though, it would probably be lakefront. Pretty to look at, fun recreational opportunities and less work for me. There's no way I'd want to maintain 10 acres of land. I just didn't get the gardening gene when I was born.

 

[DawnM]

Ah, well, that makes sense. Although, we aren't close enough to the ocean for that and the only jobs DH could get in larger cities would be way too expensive to ever buy oceanfront.

Unless I am missing something.....I don't know of anywhere (large city with a Big 4 accounting firm for DH to work in) to get ocean front for less than 1M.

Dawn

I'd rather be oceanfront (or bayfront, close to ocean access) even if the house square footage was way smaller. I'm a beach girl. My husband feels the same way. It's one of the reasons I didn't take a job transfer to Greenville SC - way too far from the ocean for us.

If I had to pick one of your 2 options though, it would probably be lakefront. Pretty to look at, fun recreational opportunities and less work for me. There's no way I'd want to maintain 10 acres of land. I just didn't get the gardening gene when I was born.

 

[dmccarty]

Easy enough.

Land.

Land can give you some privacy and buffer from noise.

A lake is lost privacy and if it is a public lake that allows boats, lots of noise.

Land.

When we where looking to buy land we found a property that was next to Jordan Lake. The property was next to Corp of Engineers land which was a good thing. But there was a boat ramp within 1/4 mile and you could hear the boats. Nice and quiet except for the boats. People fish at very odd hours. Way before dawn and all night long....

We bought land 10 miles from the lake.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Unless I am missing something.....I don't know of anywhere (large city with a Big 4 accounting firm for DH to work in) to get ocean front for less than 1M.

Dawn

I don't either, but a girl can dream, right?

 

[DawnM]

Yes, of course.

I really have to be realistic though for this decision as it is not a fantasy at this point. We are trying to figure out what to do.

Dawn

I don't either, but a girl can dream, right?

 

[DawnM]

Hmmm....that is a good point. I really should ask folks who live on the lake right now what the noise level is like.

Dawn

Easy enough.

Land.

Land can give you some privacy and buffer from noise.

A lake is lost privacy and if it is a public lake that allows boats, lots of noise.

Land.

When we where looking to buy land we found a property that was next to Jordan Lake. The property was next to Corp of Engineers land which was a good thing. But there was a boat ramp within 1/4 mile and you could hear the boats. Nice and quiet except for the boats. People fish at very odd hours. Way before dawn and all night long....

We bought land 10 miles from the lake.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well I picked neither. I like a nice big backyard but 10 acres is way too much for me. I would feel isolated. I also would never ever live on a lake. I am too paranoid with the children. I also do not want to contend with the huge amounts of mosquitoes that are around lakes. I would however enjoy a week at the lake or the country. That would be fun. Maybe even a month, but I would not want to live by either. YMMV.

 

[MNdisneymom]

Being from MN, heading "up north" to the lake for the weekend is a big summer ritual for lots of people. My son and I spend a good portion of the summer at my parent's lake home. We live in the Minneapolis suburbs, and the more crowded and congested it gets, the more I yearn to live up at the lake year round. It's so beautiful up there all year round, but I love the peace and quiet of winter in the north woods. (Not that it will ever happen, but a girl can dream!)

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

I picked the lake, and I'll explain why.

As a person who owns a home on the water (Chesapeake Bay), I know that waterfront homes never depreciate in value.

God isn't making any more waterfront.

 

[dmccarty]

God isn't making any more waterfront.

Nor land.

Believe me, our land has not gone down in price since we bought the place. Its at least tripled in value in eight years.

Waterfront can also have higher insurance costs especially on the coast. If you can get insurance. Ask people in FLA.

Lots of land is not hard to manage. If one has 10 acres you don't have to have 10 acres of lawn. Our house sits on 4.5 acres and we have the same amount of lawn as our old house in the city that sat on .2 acres.

Since none of my neighbors can see my house/lawn, if I decide I'm too busy to mow or have something more important to do, like go to WDW, then the lawn don't get mowed. No biggy.

That is harder to do when your houses are all but touching each other and you should care how the neighborhood looks.

LAND!

 

[CastleCreations]

I'm kind of against lakes...I live in Florida and one day you live on a lake, then next day, the lake is dried up. I have seen some HUGE lakes literally disappear for the whole summer. It's bizarre. Also in florida there is the mosquito issue. I chose a nice beach cottage walking distance to the shore, or about 10 acres in a place like montana, where your nearest neighbor can't be seen or heard.

 

[tadamom]

I chose the 10 acres of land.

One reason is b/c with kids, I would be scared. My parents live on 17 acres of land and I looooooove spending time there. My kids are able to run, play & do lots of stuff. And, if I could afford it -- I would have the land and dock my boat at a nearby marina!

 

[Darcy03231]

Also keep in mind that in some states lakefront is charged an extra tax assessment. Where I live its $1,000 for every foot of lake front that you own. If you own 100 feet an extra $100,000.00 get tacked onto your property value. Our summer house is on 7.5 acres and we're within walking distance (about a quarter of a mile) to the lake.

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

Nor land.

Believe me, our land has not gone down in price since we bought the place. Its at least tripled in value in eight years. We bought our house 9 years ago for $55k. It was assessed two years ago at half a million dollars.

Waterfront can also have higher insurance costs especially on the coast. If you can get insurance. Ask people in FLA. The cost of flood insurance is directly proportional to how high your house is above the floodplain. My flood insurance is less than $200 annually because my home has a crawl space under it that you can stand up in. As far as homeowners insurance, there is always someone willing to sell you insurance. Believe me, from personal experience.

Lots of land is not hard to manage. If one has 10 acres you don't have to have 10 acres of lawn. Our house sits on 4.5 acres and we have the same amount of lawn as our old house in the city that sat on .2 acres.

Since none of my neighbors can see my house/lawn, if I decide I'm too busy to mow or have something more important to do, like go to WDW, then the lawn don't get mowed. No biggy.

That is harder to do when your houses are all but touching each other and you should care how the neighborhood looks. I live on an island, and it's not overly populated, and the neighbors aren't exactly close.

LAND! LAKE!

.

 

[danx2plus3more]

i chose lake..i live on a lake..have a dock and a boat..my kids are a part of the ski club we have. our club house and social commitee host all kind s of stuff..we love our lake community. its the best

 

[fireworks fan]

LAKE! We live on a private lake, so plenty of privacy and quiet. Its just so beautiful and the kids can play on our private beach; we have bonfires at night, boat picnics, ice skating in the winter.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I chose lake. Lots of fun things to do, and less land to take care of.

God isn't making any more waterfront.

But people are. New lakes pop up all the time here in Texas.

 

[momof3littlelilos]

God isn't making any more waterfront.

That depends, does God believe in global warming?
I'd pick land. I don't think I could live right on water. Pretty as it is, I'd worry about flooding.