What to Consider When Buying a Second Home

Buying a second home is a worthwhile purchase because there is no limit to the amount of vacations you can take. A second home is a place to spend time with family and friends, discover new passions, and escape the routine you live by. In times when working from home has become the new norm, a personal vacation home allows you to properly separate work from play.

As many of our members here at The Cliffs are multiple-home owners, we’re sharing what factors help determine the decision to buy a second home, and a few key factors to keep in mind when searching for a property. 

The Benefits of Buying a Second Home

Having more space is always a bonus, but when you’re able to split your time between multiple residences it becomes easier to make the most out of your life. Below are the most common reasons homeowners pull the trigger on a second home. 

Relax and Reset

A primary reason luxury homeowners look into buying a second home is because they are needing a different experience than what their day to day life has to offer. If you’re wanting a change of pace or some time away, owning a vacation home guarantees a quiet place to retreat to whenever you need. Unlike a traditional vacation, you still experience the comfort of home, but in a new place. Think of it as a vacation without the hotel bookings, car rentals, and unfamiliar faces of where you’re staying.

Create Family Memories

Family get-togethers are a great opportunity to make memories with family, and a vacation home is the perfect setting for said get-togethers. Memories of holidays, family reunions, and special events will be rooted in your beloved second home. As time goes on, it can eventually be passed down to future generations as the gatherings become tradition. 

Work From Home, Away From Home

Now that more homeowners are working from home than ever before, many are looking for a way to get out of the house. Now, you are able to travel between both when you’re getting a bit of cabin fever from working, playing, and sleeping in the same home. Split your time between your properties to maintain a fresh perspective and boost your creativity and productivity with work. 

A Place to Retire

When deciding on the home of your dreams, you want to ensure that it will remain your dream home for years down the road. Take time to consider what your life will look like five, or even ten years from now. Buying a second home gives you a head start on retirement and creates an easier transition to this phase of life. 

What to Consider When Buying a Second Home

In a way, vacation home purchases are a bit different from the purchase of a primary residence. Consider the following factors when searching for your perfect vacation home. 

1. Research Where You Would Like to Vacation

When determining where to look for buying a second home, focus on where you enjoy spending time. If you don’t have a place in mind already, narrow down your geographical preferences — mountains, lake, beach, and so on. With a primary residence you might focus on factors such as the quality of schools if you have children, but when buying a second home the location will determine how you spend your time enjoying your time away. 

Homes in places like the mountains or on a lake offer seasonal residences you can escape to all year long. Spring and summer are often pleasant, mild, and ideal for outdoor exploration. Come fall and winter, you have a beautiful backdrop for holidays or family getaways during school breaks. 

Explore our Lake and Mountain Regions at The Cliffs. 

2. Decide to Build or to Buy

Next, consider home size, lot size, and most importantly, the views. Taking into account these factors will make it clear whether buying or building a home is your best bet. If you plan to use your second vacation home for short getaways or to retire later on, a property such as a cottage may be ideal. For large families, or those who plan to entertain for holidays and invite extended family, consider a larger home with features designed to accommodate your guests. Guest suites and a kitchenette are ideal. 

For homeowners wanting a specific view, buying your homesite on a parcel of land you love is more ideal than settling for a home that isn’t what you envisioned. This way, it’s guaranteed you will get what you want out of your vacation home. 

Get a taste for what the homes and homesites at The Cliffs have to offer. 

3. Consider a Gated Community

Gated communities offer privacy and safety, which is important if your home will be unoccupied from time to time during travel. These communities not only offer peace of mind when you’re away, they provide ample amenities and activities everyone in your family will enjoy. 

At The Cliffs, each of our seven communities provide its own set of exclusive amenities, events, and planned activities for members. From hot air balloon rides to guided group hikes, private golf tournaments and gourmet food and wine tastings, these perks are what set your vacation apart from the typical tourist experience. 

What’s more, members are able to access the offerings of all the other communities in addition to their own. Each one being within driving distance of each other, you will never regret the decision of buying a second home at The Cliffs. 

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