SHOULD YOU BUY NEW SMYRNA BEACH PROPERTY ON THE RIVER OR BEACH?

​The number one question I get as a real estate agent in this area is, “Which is better, river or beach?” Note that I say “as a realtor,” because as Michele, the number one question I get is, “Would you like another drink?”…but I digress.  Now, to be fair, I have a somewhat biased opinion being as I live on the river, but here are some things to think about:

Traffic: Traffic sucks no matter where you are, but beachside definitely gets their fair share of it during holiday weeks, or summer, or winter…really always. That’s not to say riverside never has any traffic problems. Canal Street regularly has events where they close off the entire street; like the 1st Saturday Art Stroll, or the 2nd Saturday East Coast Cruisers Classic Car Show. And let’s not forget Bike Week / Biketoberfest where the traffic is crazy all over town!

photo credit: NSBHappenings.com

Boating: I love boating. It’s so relaxing and fun. And if you live on the river, you are never far from a boat launch. You might even have your own dock so your boat is always within reach which is especially handy during a holiday when boat launches everywhere are crazy busy and finding a place to park your trailer is next to impossible. Of course living beachside doesn’t mean you can’t have a boat. It just means that the boat will live in your yard (if allowable) and taking it out is not nearly as easy.

photo credit: Hinson Photography

Beach Trips: Going to the beach is great. Kevin usually brings a surf rod, and I bring a few drinks.  If you live beachside you probably live close enough to the water that you can just walk on to the sandy beach and relax for a while. Not so much the case for us river folk. We have to pack up the car, drive to the beach, pay to drive on the beach, and then hope we can find a place to park. Then, and only then, can we chill out for a while. River people still go to the beach quite a bit, it’s just not as easy. Much like boating on beachside.

Home Maintenance: Oh, the wear and tear that houses go through in a beach town! I don’t care if you are beachside or riverside, the salt air does a number on everything. The closer you are to the water, the worse it is.  Beachside actually gets it the worst of all. We, on the river, are certainly close to the water, but it’s the river; so while we have just as much of the salt air as they do, we don’t have the sea spray. Beachside houses take a beating that you had better be prepared for if you choose to live there.

​Now on an emotional level throw all of the above points out the window. Riverside is amazing if for nothing else, you never know what you are going to see. Kevin and I love to sit on our front porch and watch all the boats go by and on the road we get to see some of the coolest classic cars cruising down Riverside Dr.

On the other hand…when the sun goes down on the beach, it goes dark, and the only thing you can hear are the waves crashing on the surf. There is nothing more peaceful on this earth than that sound.

So…Beach or River?  You tell me and I’ll help you find your dream home. Click here to visit my real estate listings and learn more about the different types of homes for sale in New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater.

---