When making a choice about buying a primary home, many factors come into play. Functionality takes priority over comforts like views and fun activities. It is for this reason that a holiday home becomes important; you can choose one that indulges all your desires.
Relaxation and recreation work differently for people. You could be biased to surfing and getting a tan on the beach while your partner prefers to golf. Such preferences should be your guiding light as you scout for vacation properties.
So, let’s dig in and explore what your options are for a holiday home.
Lakefront
Picture yourself waking up to the sound of birds and a view of the lake right outside your home. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t fiction, that is exactly what you would be signing up for by buying lakefront property.
In addition to the ambiance, your holidays would never be boring. Fishing, kayaking and even foraging in the woods always make for great adventures. Moreover, in terms of investment such properties appreciate quite well in value.
The main challenge you may need to prepare for is rough weather. Storms can be particularly brutal in lake towns. It would be wise to weatherproof your property just to be on the safe side. Consider installing weather-resistant features such as floating walkways that can handle changes in water levels of the lake.
Wine Country Homes
If you live your pinot noir or a good glass of Chardonnay, Napa Valley is probably one of your dream destinations. The endless rows of vineyards make for beautiful views and wine regions generally have a vibrant social scene. Owning a holiday home in such a place would be a delight for any wine lover.
You would have a variety of events to choose from such as wine tasting and learning about the season’s harvest. In the event that your property is large enough, you could also try your hand at viticulture. Having your own table wine always makes for a good ice breaker and dinners with family and friends.
On the flip side, if you prefer a quiet kind of town for your vacations, wine regions may not be your speed. They attract a substantial number of animated tourists who come for the wine more than the views. Good properties may also be pricey although you can mitigate that by renting out to tourists when you are away.
Farms and Ranches
Here is a conundrum, all ranches are considered farms but farms are not ranches. A bit of a mind-bender, isn’t it? The difference between them is that a ranch focuses solely on livestock but a farm has both livestock and crops. Nonetheless, if nature calms you down, these two are highly recommendable.
Farm
Living and working in the city is characterized by the pressures of deadlines and routine. You can begin to feel like a cog in a wheel. On the other hand, there is something rewarding about seeing your crop grow and livestock multiply. Fresh air, cowbells, and wildflowers are under-rated too given how much pressure they can relieve from your overworked mind.
Growing crops and rearing livestock comes at a cost and requires supervision. That could be a downside if you want complete relaxation.
Ranches
One of Queen Elizabeth’s greatest hobbies is horse-riding, so if ranches are your happy place, you are in good company. Choosing horse breeds for your ranch and training them are some of the activities that go into setting up a ranch. It is a labor of love that you will likely enjoy the fruits of and you can always hire help.
The truth is, it takes some effort to keep a ranch going, you will need to ensure it is well-run while you are away. Part of your visits will also involve checking to see that everything is going right which may go against the whole idea of being on holiday. That said, if this is something you are passionate about, it should not be a problem.
Golfing Communities
The putting green could be more your style compared to bales of hay and wild horse. Fair enough. Upcoming golf communities are just the right fit for you.
Following the lead of the infamous Mar-a-Lago, golfing communities merge accommodation, amenities, and exclusive clubs. Initially, Florida was the leading location for such developments but they are catching on in more exotic locations. You can find great deals in Bermuda, Spain, and the French Riviera.
It is difficult to fault the modern design of golf communities. Developers are pulling out the stops from scenic locations to excellent architecture. The prices can be rather restrictive though.
Mountain Cabins
At the risk of sounding like a movie cliche, a weekend out in the woods roasting marshmallows can be a treat. Besides that, you can always go birdwatching and hunting. You would have your own small version of Camp David.
Mountain cabins are fabulous if you enjoy being out in the wild. However, you would need adequate protection and skills to cope with the dangers you might face. Further, they tend to be far off from amenities which can be peaceful but also inconveniencing on occasion.
Conclusion
Owning a holiday home may seem like an unattainable goal but it does not have to be. For example, you could choose to buy land in an undeveloped area and build within your budget. Alternatively, options such as Airbnb can earn you extra money to recoup your investment.
Now that you have a clear picture of some of the options out there, go on and find a holiday home you enjoy.