Second Home Overseas

[Unorganisedchaos2]

Humor me but its nice to dream sometimes isnt it.... chatting to the DH at lunch time about some renovation work we want to do how we hoped it would improve value of our house, how many years it would take to be mortgage free etc.

In 5-10 years time we might be able to afford a small villa in a Greek island we've visited lots over the years, as apposed to buying a bigger house in the UK. Obviously I understand there's lots to take into consideration but Id love hear from anyone who has done this.

Does anyone have a second home abroad, what is your situation regarding work? How much time do you spend there? do you rent it out? Do you regret buying it.

Its been a rubbish day day work, and Im looking a rightmove and imagining myself in my own Villa sipping wine without a care in the world to cheer myself up 😁

Not a house abroad but we do have a second home by the coast in the uk. We don’t rent it out but do let family use it when we aren’t there. We have small children and no where near retirement so for us we travel up and use it during the school holidays and approx every 2 out of 4 weekends. We would love to live full time where it is but careers mean we won’t be able to fully relocate until retirement

Do factor in that unless you are a EU citizen your stay within the Schengen area is limited.

'Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps 'rolling'.

I think it’s risky buying a house when you rely on flights to get there. In this unsettled world air travel is only going to get more and more expensive year on year. Definitely not cheaper!!

Even if I could afford a second home I wouldn't want one and especially not abroad. You're depriving someone who needs to live and work in the area of a first home. Couldn't be me.

How about finding a long term and regular rental situation for a villa that you love.

Get to know the owner so you’re always top of their customer list. Book the same weeks every year. Get to know the locals as a regular visitor.

That way you’re also not taking a home from a Greek family and pushing up property prices. And have the flexibility to make your own schedule and arrangements.

I know people who have rented the same villas in Europe for decades, often going with extended and new family members. It can be a lovely arrangement.

Would you intend to rent it out? if so you will find whenever you visit, it isn’t really a holiday as you will be doing routine maintenance. Do you want to visit the same place for most of your holidays? Assuming you don’t speak Greek, have would you plan deal with day to day enquiries, legislation etc?

We sold ours in Spain last year.
We had some lovely times there with the DC when they were younger but it was getting used less and less and needed more money spending on it
Plus the lovely Spanish only area it was in was getting more "Brits abroad" every year.
I suppose I miss it a bit but its nice not to have the costs and responsibility of it, plus we will now go to lots of different places instead.