How hated will we be?

[SecondH]

DH and I are looking at buying a second home by the coast. I would love to hear from other second home owners and people who live in areas where there are lots of second home owners. How hated by the locals would we be? Do neighbours ignore you etc?

Exactly what we did with my Nan's house. We turned down a better offer from a couple from Wales who claimed they would eventually move down. Instead we sold to someone whose daughter & family already lived in our village. Her son is a builder, so the renovation work stayed local. Her daughter can work near where she grew up and her children go to the local school.

I think if your neighbours knew just that there shouldn't be a problem. I personally wouldn't rent it out. I think that would get frowned upon more if I'm honest. I would much rather have the P&Q of it being empty until you visited rather than endless tourists.

Because often they have had to buy at inflated prices because of second home a buyers over the years and now have mortgage debt to clear from the proceeds perhaps?

Brilliant answer! I definitely read it that she would do it no matter what as long as the neighbours are nice to her face.
I dont think property should be left empty 90% of the time nor used majority of the time as holiday let - for all the reasons mentioned above. We have all heard of the demise of villages because of this very reason so think it's an awful idea - but I think OP is trying to justify it with 'eventually' it will be our home. I really hope there's a rethink!

I have a second home in a small village by the sea. It was my parent’ s house. I use it for my wind down respite time and when I don’t it is on Cottages.com who I would recommend as a letting platform. I use the local tradesmen for all my services, gardening, boiler, electrical etc. The locals are friendly and there is no resentment or animosity but I suppose I was a local once upon a time as used to live there. I suppose it would depend on the place where you were as there may be a housing shortage for young families. However, one thing to consider is that you will pay double the Council Tax which is a very hefty sum. I’m holding on to the house as may retire down here in later years. It’s a small and friendly community. I would also recommend that you use all the local amenities and services.

There is 'eligibility for an affordable home' which would be current/former residents, employment in the area, or connected by family.

Potentially, but incomers to Cornwall tend to be older people who are more likely to be retired so not work in the town, have a car so not use the local buses, not have kids in the school. Not always, but often.

I'm an incomer in coastal, rural Somerset. I work here but that is rare. Most incomers are retirees. A lot of them really contribute to society and volunteer which is fantastic and people are welcomed, but it is tinged with a downside.

The 'grey migrators' who head West mean an influx of wealthier people who buy the housing young families need. Those people in a few short years get older and contribute less/need more. Houses get 'no cold caller' signs, hand rails go up, the district nurse starts to call.

We have one of the oldest populations in Britain here and not enough carers or staff to keep the local GP surgery and NHS services running full time. The buses don't run in winter. The local school is atpermanent threat of closure.

But this thread is mostly about second homers rather than purely incomers. If you come to work, join in, volunteer, use services then that is contribution. Second homers, in the main, do little of this.