Am I greedy to buy this property?

[MuckFusk]

I notice a lot of people on MN are down on owning vacation homes, and I get why that is, considering how short housing is and the population density in the UK. I'm in Canada (where it's very common to have a vacation home) and I just made an offer on a property which will be used probably four months out of the year. I felt it was a better option environmentally to travelling, as it is not far to drive to, so no plane travel needed. I plan to kit it out for sustainability just as I have my current home; high efficiency heat pump, insulation, etcetera. The major reason I bought it as a future income property for my disabled daughter, especially for when I am no longer living, but it will be a vacation home for awhile. I don't think I'm depriving anyone else of high demand home, because it's been sitting on the market for a month and is in an area with a glacially slow housing market right now.

However, I do wonder if I'm greedy to have more than one property when some people can't even afford one. So you can vote YABU if you think I shouldn't have it and YANBU if you think it's okay.
It might seem like a weird question, but I second guess myself a lot.

OP, it's difficult to answer without knowing the specific area. I'd imagine that with Canada being so huge, space and land isn't an issue ( which is often what makes property expensive). Is there a lack of housing for first home owners in the area?

I don’t have a problem with holiday homes. I like to stay in them!

In some areas the numbers need to be controlled but otherwise I am all for it.

Asking to buy a second home in the middle of Canada with a very small population which doesn’t affect anyone but OP is thoughtful and considerate? Too many self righteous fuckers on this planet are going to be pretty miserable if they are asking permission for every single boring fucking thing they do.

I’ve just googled and the population of the UK is nearly double that of Canada whilst the land mass is about one fortieth.

It is almost impossible for us to understand just how much space there is in Canada whilst it is equally hard for you to understand what it is like to live on an island with a huge housing shortage.

THIS with bells on. Good grief, if I lived my life according to the stupid rules people on MN spout I'd be bloody miserable.

I can tell you now that every single person on this site is "selfish" in their own way, noone is perfect, and none of them go running off changing how they live their life because some online stranger told them to.

Live your life they way you want to and enjoy it. It's short enough.

OP, why on earth are you asking this question on UK based site which is populated with people who (mostly) don't live in Canada or know anything about housing and second home ownership there? It's just a bit daft really. Why does it matter what a bunch of non-Canadians think? Crack on with your plans, sounds great. If you're worried about being selfish maybe ask a neighbourhood forum for the area you're planning to buy in.

I can't read the word 'greedy' and take the speaker seriously - it's a concept for children reading Roald Dahl books and who haven't yet reached capacity for nuanced thinking.

But I think what you're asking is: is it morally justifiable?

And you've already answered that question. You're not depriving anyone else of a home by buying it, nor are you using it as a home. It's a source of income, like any other business, and one that you've spent money on in one chunk instead of spending money on multiple individual holidays. I don't think there's any moral issue here.

I’m sure OP is asking on mumsnet AIBU because this kind of forum doesn’t exist in Canada, it’s just a chat to pass time and not serious research about housing shortage.

I voted YANBU FWIW OP, but if you’d have asked the same question about a holiday cottage in England my answer would have been different

@notsomarvelousmrsmaisel is making a great point about using the word ‘greedy’ in this context. I think this language might be winding folks up. It’s not like OP is Mr Krabs

Are you genuinely worried about the morality of it op, or are you just wanting to show off your impending purchase? No judgement, I would be very excited too! And in this case it sounds like there is barely a moral case to answer so just enjoy it.

I am from country where I think it's about quarter of families have one. But these are often either not actually even habitable all year round (chalet types) or are in villages where the family had it for generations and it's not particular desireable type of cottage or location to actually live in because of lack of amenities. It's usually inherited property but lots of people are apparently looking to buy some. My sibling andI are like first in 3 gens in our family who don't directly own one because it was passed to other brach (still get use of it though).

I think yanbu conidering where you are and where you are buying. It's not like you are dipping into crazy market in wanted location making the situation worse.

If I could afford a second home I wouldn’t give other people’s opinions a second thought. It wouldn’t be sitting empty when I wasn’t using it because I would invite my friends to holiday there. But you can do what you like with it. It is no one else’s business.

you are in a lucky position. We only have one life. Enjoy it.

Absolutely fine in Canada, not fine in the UK. So since you’re in Canada, do it! I’d love a cabin.

I think addressing the long term needs and security of a disabled Dd tops any other argument or consideration.

Apart from quality of life for her and better leave of mind for you It will make her less reliant on state support.

I have a second home - a bungalow I inherited from my nan when she died. I rent it out to a lovely young couple.

I couldnt give a flying toss if anyone judges me for that. That bungalow rent paid a proportion for a great nursing home for my nan when she needed it. It's helped our family immensely and been a huge blessing. I dont care what anyone thinks about it, its my life, not theirs.

If you can afford it OP go for it.

Some people on here will only be happy if you're walking around in your hair shirt slapping yourself across the head with a tin tray, when in reality if they could afford it they'd be doing it in a heartbeat.

I hope you have wonderful holidays with your DD ❤️

The major reason I bought it as a future income property for my disabled daughter, especially for when I am no longer living

I absolutely wouldn't give the tiniest shit about anyone's opinion on the matter unless they are also in the position of knowing they will die while their child still needs care.

Until we all love in societies where we can be assured that our disabled children will receive all the care and support they need for the rest of their lives, parents will do whatever they can to ensure their children are taken care of after they are gone.

People who don't like it can direct their anger towards the governments and citizens who don't want to provide adequate care and support for the disabled, and towards successive governments who have upheld this system of housing and greedy landlords who own 10s, 100s or even 1000s of properties.

Not in a high demand housing/vacation market, but going to provide your DD with additional income at some point. Don't you see the contradiction there?

Do what you want. I'm not sure why you need to wrap this up as some ethical choice. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Go for it. If there’s little or no demand for housing in the area then why not. It will be used more than many vacation homes. Are you planning on renting it out short term when not in use?

Everyone is free to do what they like with their own money, it's nobody else's business and if others are jealous, tough, they'd do the same.

Buying a cabin in rural Canada is very different to buying up housing in a tourist hotspot, or downtown Vancouver.

Just as buying a bothy somewhere in rural Scotland is very different from buying a family home in St Ives and only using it for two weeks a year.

"Not high demand" does not equal "zero demand". Not sure why you need to wrap this up as some underhanded, shameful thing that OP is doing.

OP, I hope it makes you a fortune and your DD has everything she needs for the rest of her life.

Fuck everyone else. They sure as shit aren't worrying about your child, so don't worry about them.

Quite right too and you do not sound like a complete bitch at all.

People are resentful and should no better, it doesn't change anything.

Fuck everyone else. They sure as shit aren't worrying about your child, so don't worry about them

Exactly. This sums it up perfectly.

No you are not selfish . It is an investment for your daughter . Not buying it won’t solve the housing crisis.

All it will likely stop is someone buying to live in ( likely not a homeless person! ) or a landlord buying it to rent out and an extortionate price - there is not a housing crisis because there aren’t enough private rent properties , their are plenty , but they are too difficult and expensive to get for most people. I also doubt the council would buy it if it’s sat there for so long.