9 Reasons NOT to Buy A Waterfront Home in Leelanau County

talk about these 9 issues. Let's get into it. Number 1, the septic field. So you need to think about what, what is happening with your wastewater and where are you getting your water? Is it a well? So if you're not on a municipal water or municipal septic or municipal sewer system, you need to think about what does that septic look like. Now, most townships or counties have a point of sale or a point of transfer Well Septic Inspection. They have that here in Leon County where I live. So, but they're not just inspecting for the operation of the septic system, they're inspecting whether it meets current regulations. So they come in, they look at the number of bedrooms, whether you have a garbage disposal. By the way, garbage disposals are bad, that adds another bedroom. And anyway, they, they size the septic system based on those bedrooms and garbage disposals and some other factors. And then they go look and measure your tank in your field, and if it's an undersized system, you have to update it. And on these tight waterfront lots, that can be more challenging than you think to have it within the setbacks that are determined through the local zoning ordinance. So, when it comes to septic systems, I'll quote a local excavator who said, "You know, when your septic fails, you." have a problem. But if something happens with the city sewer or municipal sewer, then we have a problem. So just something to think about. Okay, number 2, conflicts. You know, since the lake, river, or stream is owned and shared in common with other property owners, there's just more opportunity for conflicts to arise. Again, those lots tend to be a little bit smaller. You're closer interaction, which can lead to some great lakeside community, a community feel, but it also can lend itself to potential for more conflicts. When you're talking about access to the water might be an issue, there's a greater chance for property line disputes, there's a greater chance for claims of adverse possession. You know, I've always taken this little trail down to the water even though it's not my property. Sharing of a private road, noise from powerboats, etc. Those are things to consider. Okay, number 3 has to do with estate planning. So prized real estate, you know, as it's passed on from generation to generation and that family tree kind of branches out and there isn't that close-knit connection that there was maybe with a couple of siblings at first, it can lead to problems down the road. I highly recommend getting connected with a good attorney that can help with estate planning. All right, number 4, riparian rights issues. You know, the laws and rights associated with owning waterfront property, those are referred to as riparian rights. Those are not really that well understood by most people, including law enforcement and even attorneys and judges. So I'm going to leave a link to a great resource for riparian rights encourage you to check it out. You need to know those rights if you're going to be a waterfront property owner. Okay, number 5: public access or backlot access such as easement, road ends, parallel roads, parks, etc., located on or nearby can cause severe headaches for the riparian landowner. Road ends can be— are an issue, especially here in the village of Northport where I grew up. The street ends, a lot of the street ends provide public access and conflicts can arise at the end of those public access with the private property owner that adjoins those street ends. So again, back to the riparian rights, know your rights. So, all right, number 6, cramped space. I've mentioned it several times, waterfront lots tend to be smaller in size that can create different parking and, um, just storage issues for your water toys, etc. All right, number 7, maintenance. 7, that's 7, Sander. All right, maintenance issues. Um, it can be tricky sometimes, uh, not only the up— the amount of upkeep, but what are you allowed to do as a— to your own beach. So those can be issues. Also, uh, you can run into different maintenance agreements on the private road that might be shared, or even the governing body of an old public road, it may not be a priority for them to maintain it. So that can create different safety issues. But you're going to have to think about installing and removing docks and shore stations. That's a twice-a-year event. And if you want to use your, you know, have a dock, you got to take it in and out. Taking care of those dead aquatic leaves, winterizing the various water toys and storing them over the winter, and repair costs when it comes to repairing boats. You know, there are lots of different small engine places around, and they're in business for a reason. Those, those things break down. So, all right, number 8, the cost. Obviously, waterfront properties tend to cost more. And so expect to pay a premium. Now, the advantage to that is also waterfront properties. The reason they cost so much is they tend to appreciate at a higher rate than most other off-water properties. So, but you have to consider the other costs involved over and above the cost to acquire the property. You have to think about property taxes. You have to think about Whether or not you might have to put a seawall in in the future. As water levels rise, seawalls can come into effect. If the property already has one, that's great. But that can be a major expense and a major hassle. Additional insurance, whether it's liability insurance or flood insurance, you're going to want to know if you're in a FEMA flood zone. Weed, possible weed treatments on the waterfront, the landscaping costs. Upkeep of your water toys, as I mentioned before, possible legal expenses if those disputes end up becoming formal disputes. And I mentioned property taxes. Proposal A helped with that. They put a cap in on the accelerating rate, but it can also be deceptive because if you're buying a home that's been— that, that current owner has owned for a while, they have capped their taxes have been capped, and when you buy it, they will become uncapped. So you can't really use what they've been paying as your predictor about what you'll pay. Okay. All right. Number 9 is the— 9 is the inherent dangers in owning a waterfront property. You know, drowning, falling through the ice, high-speed boating, water skiing accidents, those kinds of things that are going to affect your homeowner's insurance in a way that an off-the-water property won't. So, so here, those are some concerns. Obviously, I believe, having grown up on the water and just missing it with all my heart, I believe the positives of owning waterfront far outweigh those negatives and those possible concerns. But you should know about them, have your eyes wide open as you're considering buying a waterfront property. And so, hey, if you found anything in this, in this video useful, leave me a comment. Really appreciate any feedback. Or if you think maybe I missed something, missed covering an aspect, if you happen to be a waterfront property owner yourself watching this video, leave me a comment about some things that maybe I have missed that, that need to be considered before owning property, owning waterfront property. So, and hey, last thing is a pitch. 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