Glad you bought your weekend country home?

ckissick · 05:23 PM

We're thinking of buying a weekend cabin in the Sierra, about 4 hours away, near a ski resort and fun summer activities. But my friends warn me against it. "You'll never go there", they say. "Big waste of money." I'm not sure how much we would use it.

What about those have you who have done something similar?

SeanPizzle · 01-14-2013, 06:04 PM

If it flies, floats or....

wait, what were we talking about?

We have vacillated about buying or not buying a house like you describe. I have enough headaches with the upkeep on our primary house, let alone things that need to be fixed in a vacation house. Especially up in Tahoe area, where snowfall is measured in meters and the weather can wreak havoc on windows, siding, roofs, plumbing, etc. The only way I would have a place up there is with an HOA that took care of everything. And even then, my cheap side says that it would need to be a vacation rental to pay for itself.

I will wave at you on the overpass on I-80 as you are sitting in Sunday afternoon traffic jam returning to the bay area.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

We're there seven days/week. It's that big city house you need to dump.
Jim

Buckterrier · 01-14-2013, 06:23 PM

If you listen to all the righties who can afford a weekend home in this economy.

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

If you want a second home, how about buying a time share? Look on the secondary market.

IMO, A country house should be where you live. A city house is the little pad you use when to go to parties, theatre, and shopping. If you have to work for a living, this is probably too much to add.

I have to work, but I live in the country.

Bill Douglas · 01-14-2013, 07:01 PM

Stay in an expensive hotel, it's cheaper.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

So my "cabin" is 2.5 to 3 hours drive one way, that's Denver to Woody Creek. I try and get off work at around 2'ish on Friday and head up there. Leave on Sunday mid-afternoon to go home. Sometimes the wife and kid stay the rest of the week, just depends. The rest of the time I rent it out to a small group of people.

Glad I bought it? Yes. It was bonus money that I needed to move into an investment. And we use it constantly, however much less during ski season. I also have a second condo that I inherited in Avon, but we're looking for a buyer for that. Or a long term renter.

Dantilla · 01-14-2013, 07:19 PM

Parents had a resort condo growing up. When we were not using it, it was available for rent through the resort reservation system. Made good money, and after us kids were moving away, and it wasn't used much, it was sold for nearly twice the purchase price.

That's my idea of a good vacation property.

That being said, the one thing that could be a negative, is that while we used it heavily, we never went anywhere else during vacation times.

Great move if it is your favorite place. Not so good if you like changing experiences continually.

aigel · aigel's Garage

I personally would tire having to go to the same place over and over and over. I have friends with cabins and only the ones that are retired or semi-retired get reasonable use out of it. People with jobs and busy lives - not so much. I'd buy one if it had excellent hunting and fishing close by and if I was close to retirement.

G

LeeH · 01-14-2013, 08:48 PM

My dad bought a 20 acre "farm" an hour north of where I grew up in Atlanta when I was in high school. He wanted to go every weekend. My mom and I started to dread going as we spent all of our time there cutting grass, mending fences (that held nothing), painting, etc. He sold it only after a couple of years of ownership.

Cdnone1 · 01-14-2013, 09:17 PM

Love our place. Went from being a party place with tons of friends when we where young, to great place to spend time with the kids out of the city and is now starting to figure into our retirement plans.
Oh it's also been a great investment

Steve

LakeCleElum · 01-14-2013, 09:33 PM

Built my cabin overlooking Lake Cle Elum in 1987 doing most of the work myself. Have $45,000 in it including the land, cabin and appliances. Great view of the Lake. Includes access to beach, lodge, pool and tennis courts.

When I lived in the Seattle area, was and hour and twenty door to door. Used it a lot for 20+ years until I retired and built a house on acreage 15 miles from the cabin.......Could have sold for $300,000 in 2007. Worth $220-$240 now?

No regrets, but don't use it much anymore......Highly recommend as a way of making good money in the Urban area, and enjoying a rural life at the same time...

sca037 · 01-15-2013, 06:12 AM

At least here in MI, the property taxes on a 2nd home were much higher due to the Homestead Exemption.
That seems like it's going away now, though........
The 'carrying costs' of a nice hotel room are nil, though

Brian

VincentVega · 01-15-2013, 07:01 AM

Distance is a key factor to me and 4 hrs is pushing it. It needs to be close enough to get there for a day or so, but far enough away to be away. I was going down the same road then changed course and bought a different house. My thinking was for similar or less $$ I get to enjoy what I want every day. Not 'away' but more space and some quiet.

We all have our wants, figure out what's important to you.

MotoSook · 01-15-2013, 07:02 AM

I wrestled with the option and could never justify it given the time required. I think it works for some folks, but with the kids' activities, my work schedule, my track addiction and other issues that require my time I wouldn't have used a vacation home enough to make it a good purchase.

So we decided to just move out to the country and got the best of both. We don't live too far out, and I can still commute to work. It added maybe 10 minutes to our commute (wife and mine) each way, but the benefits are well worth it. I would have been happy to add another 30 minutes to my commute.

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

No OH hotel? Absolutely. Our city house is a hotel. When we need to go see a show, shop and treat ourselves it's a no overhead Hotel.

Our back yard view.

Rot 911 · 01-15-2013, 07:28 AM

Depends on where it is at and what you want to do with it. We bought a cabin on Lake of the Ozarks. Takes about 90 minutes from our house to the cabin. We tend to go every other weekend. I would not like an isolated cabin. We enjoy being on the lake and hanging with the other families that come down on weekends. There is a lot to do on the lake. We have a boat and also love to fish. If all there was to do was sit around the cabin, I would quickly get bored. We also didn't spend so much money that we feel guilty when we skip a weekend.

t-tom · 01-15-2013, 07:34 AM

Where are you at on the lake? We are at the 38mm We love having a second place to go to. Wouldn't trade it for the world. All the memories I have of going to the lake when I was growing up, and now my kids are getting to have the same experience. Its almost priceless.

Rot 911 · 01-15-2013, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t-tom

Where are you at on the lake? We are at the 38mm

We are at the 60mm. All of our neighbors are from the KC area!

GO DAWG GO · GO DAWG GO's Garage

I have a cabin/home in Crestline, Ca. 30 minutes from my Rancho Cucamonga home. I am there every weekend. Love it! I have been buying other properties up there also...Priced right!

I have zero regrets...