Should I buy a Cabin by the Water or in the Forest?

When deciding on the location of your cabin, you’re left with a sometimes-daunting decision to make. “Should I buy a cabin by the water or in the forest?”. This is quite an important decision that you should put some thought into, taking multiple factors into account. This is not a decision you’ll want to rush as you may regret it in the future.

In this article, I’ll be providing you with some valuable insight into living both by the water and in the forest. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to make this decision a lot easier for you.

How Much Will It Cost to Buy and to Own?

Cost is a big factor when it comes to any decision. Money doesn’t grow on trees, so we should always do our research before spending our hard-earned cash.

Does a cabin by the water cost more than a cabin in the forest? Yes, cabins by the water typically cost more than a cabin by the forest. Being by the water is a more desirable location. A lot more people want a waterfront property than one in the middle of the forest.

Though cabins by the water are slightly more expensive, there’s a good reason for it. They’re more desirable as they offer a better view and wider variety of wild-life. Living by the water provides the ultimate holiday feel. This may be something that you value in a cabin property, you may want to feel as though you’re on vacation. The extra price you pay may be worth it in your eyes for the better view and water access.

Another reason cabins by the water are more expensive is because they tend to be on the grid. This means that you’ll have access to the many privileges that living on-grid offers. Despite this, these privileges will come at an extra cost. You should keep these extra costs that come with the privilege of living on-grid in consideration.

Overall, waterfront properties cost more due to the demand for them and the extra costs which come with the privileges of living on-grid. However, for the extra cost you have a beautiful view of the water front the comfort of your own home, as well as the ability to receive electricity from the grid.

How hard would it be to rent out?

Renting out your cabin whilst your away is something that a lot of cabin-owners do, and may be something you want to keep in mind when deciding whether to purchase a waterfront property or a property in the forest.

If you want to find out how much other cabins in the area are renting for, you should have a look at some local rentals. You can find these online, or through your local property management company. You should be able to identify how much properties are rented for per square foot or room.

As I had previously stated, cabins by the water have a higher demand than cabins in the forest. This means that a cabin by the water is more likely to get rented out compared to a cabin in the forest. Not only this, but they usually go for a higher rate. This means that you’ll make significantly more money renting out a cabin by the water.

Because of this, you shouldn’t decide solely on the price of a cabin, as you can make some money back through renting the cabin when you’re not using it. If you need further guidance on renting out your cabin then you should contact your local property management, which will value your property.

How Remote of a Location do you Want?

Being in a remote location is very important for some people. For some, it may be a vital part to their trip – being able to isolate themselves from the rest of humanity and be all to themselves.

Water tends to attract people as others may require water for drinking, washing, fishing and a variety of different activities. Because of this, you’re more likely to run into other people if you’re living by the water.

Personally, I prefer to get away from everyone else and get some alone-time so living in the middle of the forest is appealing. You’re less likely to meet someone else whilst you’re in the forest.

This is a factor you’ll want to keep in mind when purchasing a cabin.

How Important is the water to you?

Next you should consider how important it is for you to be near the water. Some people won’t be able to stay in a cabin without it, whereas some people don’t have any interest in the water. If you intend on using the water for fishing, water sports or some other reason, then it would be a good idea for you to get a waterfront property.

How difficult will it be to get to?

Some properties have better access than others do to the surrounding roads, terrains, and paths. You don’t want travelling to and away from your cabin to be a chore for you, therefore it’s important to consider the difficulty of access to your property.

Cabins near water tend to have better travel routes available than cabins in the forest. However, just because a cabin is near the water, doesn’t mean it will always have better travel routes. It’s a good idea to visit your cabin a couple of times before you make your purchase – to get a feel for the accessibility of the cabin.

If you notice that the roads are bumpy, jammed, unsafe or generally poor quality then perhaps it’s not a good cabin for you. You’ll always want the best travel routes possible.

How much Freedom do you Want on your Property?

Just because you own a property, doesn’t mean you’ll have full freedom – you’ll nearly always have some restrictions. Depending on the location of your property you may or may not have more freedom on your property.

Cabins by the water tend to have less freedom as more rules are put in place which property owners must abide by. This means there’s significantly less you can get away with. Anything which may affect your neighbors, will require approval from authorities.

Rules still apply to cabin owners in the forest. These rules may restrict you from harvesting any minerals from the area even though you own the land. Despite this, many cabin properties in the forest provide owners with rights to the land, allowing you to harvest all the materials you like.