Is a Vacation Home Right for You?
Many of us dream about owning the vacation home in the Mountains, or on the
Lake or Ocean. A place where one can retreat periodically from the hustle-bustle
of everyday life. However, for those who do achieve the financial resources
to make such a purchase, there are several factors that should be considered
first prior to taking the plunge.
Owning a Vacation Home can be a wonderful experience, but it is a huge commitment
and responsibility. When one first thinks of owning a Vacation Home, we think
of only the positives, such as a quiet remote location where we can get away
from it all. A place where we can swim, fish, hike, and ski. Unfortunately
for many, they forget about the other realities: location and travel time,
upkeep and the associated costs, high property taxes, their children's school
and other home activities, guests. All of these put stress on the new Vacation
Home owner, and how they prepare ahead of time to address these issues determines
how enjoyable their new purchase will be.
The first item to consider when purchasing a Vacation Home is location. Is
it near enough from your main home such that you can enjoy it regularly enough?
If not, consider another investment. The last thing you want to do is make
a huge investment in property that you can not regularly enjoy. Though real
estate has always been considered a good investment it is not considered liquid,
and expensive vacation homes can take a long time to sell.
Cost of upkeep and property taxes should also be heavily considered. Maintaining
a vacation home is not cheap and the local town officials love to hit the vacation
homes hard with property tax bills.
One also needs to consider his or her own weekend responsibilities and those
of their children. Sports team events, clubs and organizations as well as maintaining
the main house will eat into the time available to head to the weekend get-away.
And if you have teenagers, they have their own dates and plans. Be prepared,
more times than not, for having to forgo the weekend retreat for your children
and other responsibilities.
One of the other aspects of owning a Vacation Home is having guests. This
is a double edge sword. You want to have guests to share in your retreat. However,
the upkeep, food and cooking can become overwhelming. Also, when guests visit,
they are on vacation, but you may not necessarily be. It is important to let
friends and families understand this, otherwise prepare for unexpected meals
outs and other activities.
Owning a Vacation Home can be, and is for most, a wonderful experience. Those
who truly enjoy them, usually have to go thru an adjustment cycle. First the
euphoria phase, followed by a frustration and exhaustion phase, and finally
the true enjoyment stage. The enjoyment phase occurs when one has developed
a balance between the pros of owning a vacation home and the other responsibilities
of their lives.
Mark J. Donovan
me_donovan@comcast.net
http://www.homeadditionplus.com
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com
Over the past 20+ years I have been involved with Building homes and additions
to homes. I have completed many projects that have included: building a Vacation
Home, Family Room Additions, and a Garage. I have also finished the upstairs
on unfinished homes. My formal education and Profession has been as an Electrical
Engineer and Marketing Manager.
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