Beach Living Archives - Page 2 of 2

Pros and Cons of Living on a Houseboat A houseboat is a floating home on the water, with the basic necessities that people require. Typically, they have one to two bedrooms included, making them perfect for a group of friends or a family to use for a trip or long term. A houseboat may be perfect for you if you have noisy neighbors, you’re sick of living on land, or are just ready for a change. Before you begin looking at houseboat options, let’s break down a list of pros and cons for you to consider. It’s important to know what you are in for before embarking on your next adventure. Pros: Amazing views wherever you are (on the water or docked), ability to go tubing or fishing as you please, and little to no maintenance. Cons: Less living space, rental fees for slips or other items rented from a marina, and paying a homeowners association fee if you are living long term in a marina. What is a Houseboat? Before you even consider a houseboat it’s important that you know what they are and how they work. There are different versions of houseboats based upon size and needs but we will be speaking about them in the simplest form. Which is a home on the water, that someone can buy or rent. Some people have physical houses that can float on the water while others have boats with bedrooms. Both are considered to be houseboats it just depends upon your preference and needs. Pros of Living on a Houseboat Whether you are ready to begin your next adventure or you are just looking for a change, a houseboat may be for you. Numerous positives come along with living on a houseboat, so let’s begin discussing some of them. 1. Beautiful Views One of the first pros that we need to discuss is the amazing views that you will be privy to while living on the water. When you are docked in a marina you will go to bed with a sunset view while listening to the waves. Or wake up to the sun rising over the water. Either way, you will get to experience the wonderous sounds and images that nature has to offer throughout the day. The same can be said for when you are floating around the water and decide to dock wherever you are. The vastness and openness of the water tend to be gorgeous to look at and music to the ears for most. 2. Water Activities The second pro to keep in mind is the availability of activities. As long as you have the equipment needed and the space to store it in your options are endless. If you enjoy fishing you can keep a fishing pole, bait, and the other equipment needed with you. Thus, enabling you to fish whenever you want to, morning, afternoon, or night. It provides you with an open door of opportunities that you may not have had otherwise. The same can be said for tubing and wakeboarding as well. Many houseboats can tow jet skis, day boats, tubes, and more behind them as they make their way through the water. Some can tow up to four jet skis at once if you need multiple. It is just recommended that they do not remain in the water for extended periods unless it is unavoidable (i.e., a longer trip). Allowing anyone to go sightseeing, exploring, or simply enjoy their afternoon out on the water. If you are already on the water, you may as well take advantage of the options available to you. It will also prevent you from feeling stuck or claustrophobic from being inside or on the boat for long periods. 3. Little to no Maintenance Imagine not having to take care of your lawn, needing to have your roof redone, or any of the other things that homeowners and some renters may need to take care of. Not only are these expenses costly but they also tend to be tedious and time-consuming to do. With a houseboat you would have no lawn to mow, you can travel as you wish in the body of water you are in (whether that’s a lake, sea, ocean, etc.), and there are fewer maintenance fees to worry about. Ideal for those who enjoy smaller spaces and enjoy traveling at a moment’s notice. Houseboats do still need maintenance but it drastically pales in comparison to what is needed for a house. Whereas houses have things that need to be done weekly, biweekly, monthly, yearly, etc houseboats primarily have yearly tune-ups or repairs as needed. The list of maintenance-related tasks is much much shorter. Imagine never having to clean gutters again. Just saying, it’s a task that many find to be daunting although necessary. 4. Financial Benefits Depending upon the state you are residing in at any given time and the length of time you will be there, you may not need to pay property taxes on your houseboat. This can save you a chunk of change every year and allow you to have more wiggle room in your budget. That combined with the costs you can save from not needing to own the traditional items every homeowner has that add up over time. Such as a lawnmower, hedge trimmers, ladder, etc. that are used for daily and more occasional tasks completed around the home. Thinking of moving closer to the ocean? Here are 5 reasons to live at the beach. Cons of Living on a Houseboat If you are already on the fence about a houseboat this may be the section for you. We are going to cover the cons of living on a houseboat and the reasons why people may not be too fond of them. 1. Less Living Space Houseboats come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 8 feet to 20 feet in width and 30 feet to 100 feet in length. So similar to shoes, there are a lot of different sizes available, and it may be a bit of a process finding the right size for you. Most people tend to lean more on the smaller size of the spectrum because the prices will be less expensive than a larger houseboat. However, it is important to remember that you will be traveling, living, sleeping, and doing several things in your houseboat. So, finding the right size for you is essential if you plan to live there long-term. 2. Homeowners Association Believe it or not, most marinas do have a homeowner’s association for permanent residents. This is to ensure that people are still being respectful of other residents at the marina and rules are being followed. There is a fee associated with the homeowner’s association that anyone living in the marina for a specific period will need to adhere to. The time frame can change depending upon the state, size of the marina, owners, etc. This means that it’s important to do your research beforehand to ensure that you know everything you may need to know about a new marina’s time frame, fee cost, and rules. 3. Other Fees One of the major cons to consider about living on a houseboat is the different fees associated with it. While it is still a cheaper alternative in general when compared to a house or apartment, there are still plenty of fees to keep in mind. Such as the homeowner’s association fee mentioned, dock fees, slip rentals, boat insurance, fuel, propane to cook with, any maintenance or repairs needed, garbage disposal, and more. There are several smaller fees that can add up over time. While they do tend to be smaller fees they do add up when calculated. Generally speaking, living expenses can cost around $1,000 or so a month to live on a houseboat. Which can still rival the cost of a mortgage or monthly rent before including utilities, so the number is not the worst. It’s more so the fact that you have to take all of the fees into consideration, and they may and can change from marina to marina depending on the area you are in. So, research is vital to ensuring that you understand the living conditions and cost for the area you will be docking in. 4. Mother Nature While you will be able to enjoy the gorgeous views of nature and experience sunrises and sunsets from the water, you will also need to deal with the bugs. By this, we mean mosquitoes, moths, and other insects that come out at night and seem to be drawn towards the water. There are also common bugs found inside of houseboats such as cockroaches, silverfish, and weevils to name a few. They can board when you get groceries yourself or have them delivered to you. This is because roaches can easily make their way into any cardboard packaging, and they multiply like crazy once onboard. Whereas flour moths and weevils can attach themselves to lose plastics, such as produce bags and they enjoy sailing. They can eat beans, rice, biscuits, and more. Avoiding these pests can be done if the proper precautions are taken but once they can get into your houseboat there are limited ways to deal with them. Whether that be getting rid of all affected produce, products, and containers. Or introducing spiders to take care of smaller pests or using pesticides and gasses to kill them. If you are considering a houseboat, there are several pros and cons to think about before making your decision. Such as limited space and storage, fees included great views and more. Thorough research is recommended if you are hoping to live long term on a houseboat to know about marinas, rules, and different areas you may be going to. Related Questions 1. How can I figure out which houseboat is the right size for me? Similar to if you were buying an RV, you can go to a boat dealer or even a boat rental service to see the available options. You can walk through and imagine yourself in the space. Think of where your items would go and how everything would fit to get a better idea of the size you would need. 2. How can I be sure that I want to live on a houseboat? Before you make a large purchase such as a houseboat, it is recommended that you rent one for a week or two first. This allows you to test the waters and see how you like the rentals size and the living style. It’s not for everyone and that’s okay. 3. Is a houseboat a cheaper alternative? Yes, after the initial purchase which can range from $15,000-$100,000 in most cases (you can buy used houseboats to save money or customize them to fit your needs) they tend to be more cost-friendly. With around $1,000 in monthly fees, they are cheaper than a typical mortgage or rent plus utilities and maintenance. Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.