Are you considering buying a survival property? While having your own safe haven in emergencies may seem appealing, it’s important to consider all aspects before making such a decision.
Survival properties have gained popularity among survivalists seeking self-sufficiency and preparedness. However, it is essential to understand that these types of investments come with their fair share of disadvantages as well.
In this article, we will explore 12 reasons why purchasing a survival property may not be the best choice for everyone.
Let’s dive in.
1. High Maintenance Cost
High maintenance costs are one of the main drawbacks of owning a survival property. Unlike urban or suburban properties, rural and remote land often requires more upkeep due to its isolated location.
For example, maintaining roads and driveways on your property can be costly as they may need regular grading or repairs from wear and tear caused by extreme weather conditions.
Additionally, since survival properties typically lack access to utility systems such as electricity grids or water supply networks, homeowners must rely on alternative sources like solar panels for power generation or wells for freshwater needs.
However, these alternative systems require regular monitoring and servicing to ensure their efficiency – another expense that adds up over time.
Furthermore, if you plan on building structures such as cabins or bunkers on your survival property, construction expenses might be higher than expected. Remote areas usually have limited access to contractors and suppliers, which means materials will need to be transported over long distances at an extra cost.
2. Limited Opportunities for Social Interaction
Another key reason not to buy a survival property is because it can be isolating and limit opportunities for social interaction. While self-sufficiency may sound appealing, isolation from other people can lead to loneliness and even mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
Living in a remote location without regular contact with friends, family, or neighbors may make it difficult to establish meaningful connections and engage in community activities that are crucial for overall well-being.
Living off-grid often means limited access to modern amenities like high-speed internet or nearby entertainment options that city dwellers take for granted.
This lack of connectivity could further exacerbate feelings of isolation while making daily life more challenging due to increased reliance on manual labor processes essential for basic needs like water sourcing and food cultivation.
3. Limited Medical Access
Large distances between your retreat home and rural hospitals will reduce emergency response times significantly.
The scarcity of skilled traumatologists and physicians might place you at higher risk if an accident were yourself, your loved ones, or others visiting your refuge. However, simple injuries requiring minor attention probably won’t require assistance.
Additionally, living in rural areas may also mean limited access to reliable pharmacies and medical supplies, making it challenging to address common health issues or refill necessary prescriptions.
If you depend on regular treatments like dialysis or chemotherapy, your options become even more constrained as specialized equipment for such procedures might not be available near your property.
4. Increased Responsibility and Workload
Owning a survival property requires significant amounts of time, effort, and energy devoted to maintaining self-sufficiency. With limited infrastructure in place to support daily living, you will need to handle all aspects of survival independently.
The workload involved can quickly become overwhelming for individuals without prior experience in farming, gardening, and DIY projects.
Regular scouting for disease, droughts, pest infestations, and vegetation management, the constantly evolving list ensures enough nutrients are supplied to both plants and animals and is likely to consume most of your time.
Additionally, the absence of readily available services such as plumbers or electricians frequently means all repairs and maintenance tasks have fallen on your limp-yourself.
Essentially, having a survival property is not only an investment but also a full-time commitment that requires physical stamina, resilience, and special know-how, emphasizing urban dwellers unprepared for their new lifestyle.
5. Uncertain Cost-Effectiveness
While it may seem like owning land away from city centers offers financial security by providing opportunities for self-sufficiency, it’s important to consider other factors when determining cost-effectiveness.
Unlike cities where goods and supplies are relatively inexpensive due to ease of acquisition through markets at scale, a remote location introduces additional logistical challenges and reduced access, amplifying supply costs.
From buying seeds and fertilizers for farming to paying utility bills like propane gas, solar panels, and water sources (e.g., wells)salaries—for occasional help, if needed—these costs add up quickly and can easily exceed what you’d spend living in a more populated area.
6. Lack of Security
Owning a survival property can create its fair share of security concerns. A remote location does not benefit from frequent police patrols, making it potentially vulnerable to crime. Chances are your retreat home will be way from other inhabited areas.
Wildlife encounters may also pose potential safety risks depending on your geolocation. For instance, bears or snakes in certain areas must be handled with extreme caution.
When living in a survival property, you are essentially responsible for creating all aspects of personal safety systems, such as securing borders with fencing locks and implementing alarm systems, to name a few.
Failure to implement such safety-precaution measures results in consequences, not only to properties but also to personal safety and well-being. It is essential to weigh the possible security risks before investing in a remote survival property.
7. Limited Economic Opportunities
Although owning land away from urban centers may provide the opportunity for self-sufficiency, it can also limit economic opportunities and financial growth. Unlike in cities, where job markets are usually more robust with a diverse range of industries to choose from, rural areas often have limited employment options.
Moreover, building a sustainable income through traditional means such as farming or cottage industry requires time and extensive knowledge. However, the potential profit margin is generally not high unless significant investment has been put in front.
As society continues advancing towards technology-driven, crowded corporate jobs, offering employment incentives that prevent them from migrating to sub-urban human resource limitations may pose an obstacle to becoming a significant factor should you hop on this stand-alone, self-reliant lifestyle.
8. Less Accessible Education Options
A major drawback of transitioning to survival property ownership is access to educational resources.
In most cases, long distances between your nearby school (or lack any primary-secondary altogether) could drastically influence your decisions to live in a survival home property.
Doing so would require constant commuting and additional expenses for daycare child-rearing. The lack of diverse experiences sourced from rural scholastic systems may also restrict children’s support for socialization and exposure to diverse perspectives.
Furthermore, the availability of extracurricular activities such as sports teams or clubs may be limited in rural areas. This can impact a child’s development and overall growth as they may miss out on opportunities for skill-building, teamwork, and personal exploration.
8. Dependence on Weather Conditions
Survival properties often rely heavily on weather conditions for sustenance through farming or solar power generation.
Depending on weather patterns, it can be unpredictable, and in some cases, harsh climates or extreme weather events such as hurricanes rushes call for all your supplies. which the sudden realizations, heavy snowstorms say even significantly hamper property food security.
In addition to the immediate impact on survival needs, unpredictable and shifting climactic conditions could also affect the long-term viability of your property.
Insurance premiums may be significantly higher than in more populated areas, and potential damages caused by weather-related events could result in financial burdens.
It is important to understand the risks associated with climate change and how they may increase the likelihood of more frequent severe weather events or energy shortages that you will face in the aftermath.
9. Increased Reliance on Self-Sufficiency Knowledge
Living on a survival property requires in-depth knowledge and skills related to self-sufficiency, such as farming techniques, animal husbandry, and off-grid living systems.
Relying solely on yourself for food production, maintaining power sources, and meeting other basic needs can be challenging if you do not have the necessary expertise.
While there are resources available, like books or online tutorials, that can help with learning these skills, it still takes time because of experience and practice to become proficient in these areas.
If you lack the knowledge or are unwilling to invest significant time and effort into learning self-sufficiency techniques, owning a survival property may not be suitable for you.
10. Environmental Hazards
Owning a survival property in remote areas often means being closer to natural environments, which can expose you to potential environmental hazards. It is important to consider the risks associated with such hazards before deciding on purchasing a survival property.
One significant risk that may arise is the occurrence of wildfires or floods. Living close to forests or other wildland areas increases your vulnerability to wildfires during dry seasons.
Alternatively, living near river watersheds in low-lying areas might mean facing increased exposure to flooding risk, especially during heavy rainfall or storm events.
Dealing with these environmental hazards can be challenging without access to immediate support and resources. For instance, fighting off fires effectively would require fire-resistant structures in place along with proper evacuation plans.
Mitigation measures such as implementing fire-resistant structures or flood-proofing techniques can reduce the risks associated with these hazards to some extent.
However, it is important to weigh these potential dangers carefully and consider whether you are prepared to handle them before investing in a survival property.
11. Limited access to Basic Services and Supplies
Living on a survival property often means being far away from stores, healthcare facilities, and other essential services. Obtaining basic supplies like groceries or household items may require traveling long distances for shopping trips.
A lack of nearby convenience stores means that you would need to manage the resupply of food, water, fuel, and other necessities since regular restocking may not be possible. Likewise, having limited access will necessarily restrict your options on what items you would have at your disposal.
Additionally, key services such as garbage collection, waste management, and infrastructure maintenance are often not readily available in remote areas.
You are responsible for handling these tasks on your own, which can add to the already significant workload and responsibilities associated with owning a survival property.
12. Challenges in Reselling or Relocating
Owning a survival property can make it challenging to resell or relocate in the future. The niche market for survival properties may limit potential buyers and reduce your chances of selling at a desirable price.
the investment made into developing an off-grid infrastructure might not be easily transferable to another location.
Selling a survival property can also be challenging. The niche market for survival properties may limit your pool of potential buyers, making it more difficult to sell at an optimal price or within a desired timeframe.
The specialized infrastructure and unique characteristics of a survival property may not be easily transferable to another location, making it difficult to find interested buyers who are willing to pay a fair price.
Considering these potential limitations in resale value. Relocation challenges are important when deciding to invest in a survival property, as it can affect your flexibility and financial prospects if you ever need to make changes or move elsewhere.
Final Words
While owning a survival property may seem appealing for those seeking self-sufficiency and isolation from urban life, there are several important factors to consider before making such an investment.
The limited opportunities for social interaction, lack of accessible education options, and the increased reliance on self-sufficient knowledge can result in isolation and challenges when it comes to personal development.
Additionally, the potential risks associated with limited medical access, difficulties in reselling or relocating, and potentially uncertain cost-effectiveness may outweigh the benefits. Being more prone to environmental hazards and the increased responsibility and workload involved in maintaining a survival property are also significant drawbacks.
Ultimately, the decision to purchase a survival property should be carefully evaluated based on an individual’s specific circumstances, preparedness, and willingness to assume the responsibilities that come with this type of lifestyle.
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