Anyone got a static?

[KnobChops]

Want to take early retirement from my job in the next few years and then get a part time job to keep me active. DD will be off to university then and DH and I will have some more time.

Was thinking about staying on at work to finance a holiday cottage and live part time between that and the house but I honestly can’t bear the thought of having to work full time for another 15 years or however long it’d take to pay mortgage then end up dying of stress related condition. We can still finance a holiday overseas every year.

So, I’m going in eyes wide open. Budget £25k or so. I know after 15 years some sites ask you to remove. We want a quiet site no facilities. Happy to pay a site fee. Have you enjoyed owning one?

Ps DH hated slow towing (speed freak) when we had a trailer tent and I hate using campsite bathrooms (even nice caravan club ones) so I wouldn’t want a tourer. Plus storage. Motorhome a no go as we can’t park them on our street.

I used to have one and initially it was lovely. However as the site fees were expensive it was ultimately our only holiday. We tended to go most weekends, if we were lucky an hour door to door, but could be double depending how it was timed.
You need two of everything or you will end up packing everything apart from the kitchen sink every weekend.

@crimsonlake

I used to have one and initially it was lovely. However as the site fees were expensive it was ultimately our only holiday. We tended to go most weekends, if we were lucky an hour door to door, but could be double depending how it was timed. You need two of everything or you will end up packing everything apart from the kitchen sink every weekend.

Thank you. We want nice dog walks and quiet. What made you give it up-the expense?

We have one in France, love it and have been on the site for 15 years. However, the site fees are really expensive (ours are capped as we pre-date the current owners- a large holiday firm).
We have everything down there so we just take clothes (my parents share it with us and use it for 6 weeks at a time- they have clothes left there). We’ve all loved it: easy holidays for us (especially when DS was young), parents loved the chance to be part time in France.

Be realistic with how much time you will be spending there, as unless you are there for most weekends and holidays, the sums just do not work.

Things to look out for are depreciation of the home, wear and tear, whether the site will take first refusal (and whether that is at market value or reduced value) if you sell, how long can you keep the home on site for, site fees, gas/electric fees (a lot of sites will inflate the price for these), etc.

Ah thanks all. Making notes of your tips. Will hold off until retirement to get moneys worth time wise.

Knobchops,the fees were expensive as the site had many amenities, which actually were not an actual requirement when we were looking.
We sold becaus as lovely as it was we could not afford the fees and a holiday elsewhere. It sounds spoilt to admit that as gorgeous as the area was I found it a bit monotanous going to the same place almost week in week out.
It sold quickly and I must say I had a stab of regret when it went.