 The house above shows the benefits of locating further away from the shores: protection and privacy. The bottom photo illustrates the dangers of living too close to the shore. |
Many people are moving here to enjoy Montana’s natural beauty and open space. Purchasing or selling property with water nearby has many benefits and responsibilities. Land near water will most likely have wetlands or riparian areas. Healthy wetlands and riparian areas provide Montana’s citizens, new and native alike, with the opportunity to enjoy the unique beauty of these places. These special places provide many benefits when they are healthy and protected. Please see our buffer page for more information on how you can help landowners understand and protect these valuable resources and download our REALTOR Guide.
It’s a well know fact that property near open water is worth more and sells more quickly than other property. What about property near wetlands and riparian areas? People are willing to pay more for homes near protected riparian areas. Housing price increase for homes near a protected riparian corridor:
- 32% (Rubey Frost, J. and Sternberg K. 1992)
- 10-15%(Quayle and Hamilton, 1999).
- 6%(Colby and Wishart, 2002).
Healthy wetlands and riparian areas not only increase housing prices but also provide many other economic benefits:
- Increased tax revenue.
- Increased revenue for businesses providing recreation services and products.
- Avoiding the need for costly water treatment facilities which many communities in Montana cannot afford.