For all you guys out there that love to travel, you might have considered getting a vacation home. This can be a great way to have mini-vacations throughout the year without having to do much planning. What makes vacation homes so great is that you already have accommodation covered, so it’s just a matter of figuring out what to do.
With that said, it’s not as easy as just picking a house in a nice spot. It’s literally buying a second home, so there are some things that you need to consider before getting one. Make sure that you’ve done these things before you bought your vacation home.
Find a good location
Naturally, the first thing that you have to consider is where. Most people choose locations with nice views and scenery. You can look at houses in the countryside or mountains if you want someplace secluded. A home near a city can sometimes feel too crowded for some people.
If you want to save on costs, some people buy lots for sale instead of both a house-and-lot package. That way, they can build and customise their vacation home however they want. Rural areas have a lot of cheap and wide land that is mostly untouched. It will allow you to build any structure and even populate it with flora. This option is relatively cheaper as you can construct a house based on your finances.
More than just the scenery, though, it is best to consider the nearby facilities as well. You want to check whether there are amenities like grocery stores and such in the area. There needs to be a way for you to get services and goods needed when you actually stay there.
How accessible is it
Related to the location, identify how easy or hard it is to reach the location. Do you want to spend hours on a train to get there? Do you need private vehicles to go from the main road to the house? Evaluate whether these are things that you wouldn’t mind dealing with. It’s also worth considering whether a place is so remote that it can pose a hazard during bad weather or natural calamities.
Financial advisers recommend getting a vacation home that can be accessed within two hours, especially those with young family members. Their attention spans and patience may not be able to handle long journeys and lots of transfers. They say that with this kind of home, you are more likely to use it.
Consider the seasons
One thing that you need to consider is the weather in that area. If it is a location that frequents storms and such, it might not be a good location. Since you won’t be living there all the time, that means it can take more damage from natural calamities as well. This could end up becoming more costly than needed.
You also want to think about what season you are likely to use it. Are you planning on using it during winter for skiing and such? For vacation houses that will be used any time in the year, you want to check if the location has good weather for most of the year. Some places can get terrible summers or harsh winters.
Depending on the seasons, you may want to make necessary preparation for your vacation home to ensure its safety for the entire year. If it snows in that area, proper maintenance and snow removal would be necessary. For rainy areas, gutters and drains would need to be cleaned out. This would require additional work on your end, whether doing it yourself or finding someone to do it.
How will the taxes be
For those that want a vacation home abroad, taxes will be something that you need to consider. Aside from property taxes, you may have to pay taxes for other fees as well. Transaction tax may also apply when moving titles, and this can go as high as ten percent in some countries. These will be managed locally, so you have to do a lot of research about the specific city or municipality you are buying from.
Fortunately, there is a bright side to foreign properties. If you have paid off all the mortgage and the condition is still good, the property’s value can increase. You can then sell it later on if you get tired of using it. However, these may have their share of documents as well.
With this information, you can make a well-informed decision when you’ve finally chosen the property you want to purchase.
