Thinking about buying a mountain property?

Considering a big move to the mountains?

While living in the mountains sounds like the idyllic thing for many people, it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly. When buying a home in the mountains, it’s easy to overlook the potential negatives or difficulties your new dream home may come with.

There are multiple things to consider to make sure you’re making the right choice for you and your family.

Below we’ll look at the top things it’s essential to consider if you want to buy a home and start living in the mountains.

1. Consider the Distance to Civilization

One of the biggest things that you need to prepare yourself for when moving to the mountains is how far away from civilization you’ll be. While this is the reason that some people want a mountain home in the first place, for others it can be hard to get used to.

Of course, there are many choices of what mountains and regions you can live in. You may be able to get a home that is close to a city or town. However, even if there is a small mountain town nearby, you may not be prepared for the changes, especially if you’re used to living in a large city.

Remember that when you move to the mountains you’ll be at least somewhat cut off from civilization.

When you live in the mountains you’ll find that getting to the grocery store for even the most basic items can take a surprising amount of effort. You’ll also be further away from medical care in the case there is an emergency.

Additionally, you may need to consider your work commute as well. If you have a job you’ll need to go to daily you need to know how long your commute will be and you’ll need to be prepared for it.

2. Know What Your Goals Are

You should also have a good idea of what your goals are when you’re considering moving to a mountain home. Your needs, desires, and requirements will vary depending on how you plan on using it.

If you are planning on being in the home year-round you’ll have different needs than if you’ll only be living in your mountain home during the summer or seasonally.

If you do plan on staying in the home only part of the year you may want to make sure you know the market well. Do plenty of research to know how your home will fare as a vacation rental and if you’ll have an easy time of selling it later on if necessary.

Your goals will also have an impact on what location you prefer for your home. You may prefer living in the Lake Placid area in New York, for example, or the Great Smoky Mountains in the southeastern USA might be more your style. The weather and the activities you’ll be able to do nearby can vary greatly, so be sure to think about it carefully beforehand.

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3. Anticipate Connection Problems

Aside from getting into town or to other amenities, the distance to civilization when you live in the mountains can also come with other challenges as well.

One thing that you may have issues with more than usual when living in the mountains are connection issues. For example, power outages can be common and storms can lead to trees getting caught on power lines. You’ll also have to deal with other communications breakdowns such as loss of internet or phone lines as well.

Because these utility lines may be traveling quite a ways to get to your home it may also take a lot of time to get them fixed as well. Outages will probably take more time to be repaired than when you were living in the city or the suburbs.

4. Find Out About the Additional Costs

As a result of some of the things mentioned above, there are also additional costs you’ll be facing when you move to the mountains.

The biggest difference there will be is that you will have higher insurance rates than you would when owning a home in another area. Homeowner’s insurance costs will usually be higher when living in the mountains and you’ll likely need to pay additional insurance for fire and flood protection.

Keep in mind that if you’re living in a resort area in the mountains you’ll also have to pay a bit extra as well. There are also additional costs that may come up as well when living in the mountains, so be prepared for the extra costs.

5. Know If You Can Make Improvements to Your Mountain Property

In addition to the above-mentioned costs, you may need to make additional improvements to a mountain home. You’ll likely have to pay for some add-ons when you’re getting ready to live in the mountains. This is especially true if you’re on your own and not part of a mountain living resort of some kind.

However, before you make a lot of changes to your home you’ll probably have to get approval. Many land ordinances exist and you’ll need to follow them. You’ll have to aware of zoning and mineral rights issues when it’s time to make any changes.

Find out what the local ordinances are and whether they restrict how you can use your property or build on it.

6. Be Ready For Handling the Environment

If you never lived on a mountain or in a truly natural environment before you may not realize the potential issues and hardships you may face from living in the forest or mountain land. Many people love being close to the wilderness but often aren’t prepared for what it entails to live in it.

Being in the mountains, you’ll have to deal with land issues and being in the woods. In highly forested areas, there can be a lack of direct sunlight and a lowered amount of air circulation. As a result, your home will be more prone to mold problems and other issues.

Mudslides can also be a problem when living on a mountain, so it’s crucial to install a proper drainage system to your home. Snow and rain can present big problems as well if you don’t prepare wisely.

Finally, don’t forget that you’ll be living amongst many other living creatures as well such as potential predators that may include black bears, foxes, coyotes, wild boars or bobcats.

Less dangerous animals may also be around as well. Insects or small animals such as bats and skunks can serve as pests and be difficult to deal with.

7. Think About How You’ll Prepare For Natural Disasters

In addition to the natural environment, you may also be more prone to natural disasters when you’re living in the mountains. Two big ones that people who live in the mountains may end up experiencing are floods and forest fires.

If your home is located near a river, floods can be a real concern that you may need to prepare. You’ll want to ensure you have a proper drainage system in place.

Forest fires are possible in the mountains as well, especially for homes that are located in drier climates. You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for wildfires and that you’re ready should one occur. You may face mandatory evacuations and have to deal with other problems as a result.

Final Thoughts

Living in a home on mountain property can be a great thing if you’re ready for it but you need to be realistic about what to expect. Think about the above points carefully first to decide if living in the mountains is right for you.

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