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Investing in holiday homes: Tips, points of attention, mistakes to be avoided + Offers

Investing in Holiday Homes for Mixed Use Own Private Use Entertainment Plus Rentals

Looking for a guide to investing in holiday homes? On this page you can read a lot of tips, points of attention and mistakes to avoid.

This way, you are better armed to make smart and well-considered investments in recreational homes.

This page also gives you an overview of interesting offers of holiday homes as investment properties.

Table of Contents

Introduction | Investing in holiday homes

There are many reasons why investing in recreational real estate or holiday homes is on the rise:

There are many types of holiday homes for sale, from cosy cottages hidden in the woods to chalets on top of a mountain with the most beautiful views.

From luxury flats by the golf course [AVAILABLE SOON] to wooden cottages by the lake in a cosy holiday park or in the vast countryside.

In any case, buying recreational real estate or holiday homes is not the same as buying a normal house in a village or town. There are a lot of decisive factors to consider.

Think of simple things like maintenance tasks (gutters, garden, swimming pool, sewers, the driveway, etc.). But you should also consider your vision, mentality and lifestyle.

Once you are on site for a thorough inspection? Then it is crucial to keep your eyes and ears open. Dare to ask a lot of questions before you really concretise the investment in a holiday home.

Investing in holiday homes in the countryside

Invest in Holiday Homes With or Without Pool Important Choices

Buying a holiday home [AVAILABLE SOON] in a rural environment is on the rise. Some of the reasons for this are as follows:

More accessible property prices

With the cost of buying property skyrocketing in many cities, many people can no longer afford to live in the city. They are therefore moving en masse to villages and the countryside for more affordable housing.

Holiday homes in the countryside also do well for the same reasons. You get more value for your money.

Job flexibility (teleworking) and job security

Other real estate investors in holiday homes in the countryside are “urban migrants”.

These are both young families and retirees who want to leave the rat race and urban life behind when they need to.

In a holiday home in the peaceful countryside, you can then unwind and relax in a rural environment.

Job security and the increase in people working from home mean that employees can get more than just a weekend away from their boss.

New technology allows workers to telecommute via the Internet and mobile telephony. As a result, employees do not have to be in the office from 9 to 5, five days a week.

If you then schedule a teleworking day on a Friday, you can actually work from the holiday home and switch to holiday and relaxation mode in the evening.

Due to health reasons

A holiday home as an investment for your well-being and health. Why not? Unfortunately, work-related stress is becoming more and more common. Today’s society is demanding and expectations are often very high.

The social pressure on social media does not help either (the perception is created that it is all better elsewhere)…

Investing in a holiday home can help you relax completely. For example, you can stop all mobile phone and internet traffic for a while.

Buying a second home abroad can therefore be the perfect way to unwind and leave hectic life behind.

Buying a holiday home as a weekend home

Break the rut at the weekend. By visiting the holiday home…

Improved transport facilities and access to highways in rural areas has also made investing in recreational real estate a lot more attractive than before.

The proximity of railway stations, high-speed trains like the TGV and airports is also an important factor.

The democratisation of travel and the falling cost of transport are a boon for holiday home investors at home and abroad.

Investing in holiday homes as a retirement savings package

Are you quite concerned about your old age and your financial independence during your retirement years? If so, you may be dissatisfied with the return you are currently getting on your pension savings plan…

Did you know that you can use the capital you have saved up in a pension savings plan to finance investment property such as holiday homes?

In this way, you can achieve a much higher return on your own resources.

That is, if you invest in the right holiday home with a rental guarantee [AVAILABLE SOON].

Investing in real estate with a rental guarantee [AVAILABLE SOON] offers some very interesting advantages in terms of risk and return.

Often, you can use it yourself for a number of weeks each year, at reduced rates or for free. Which in practice is an additional return in the form of a benefit in kind.

Read more about it on the following pages about real estate as a retirement savings plan:

This depends on the promoter in question, but is of course a nice bonus return and icing on the cake on top of the nice returns!

Holiday property offers to earn extra retirement income without worries

The following offers are holiday homes with which you can generate additional retirement income:

Investing in holiday homes as an alternative to a savings account

Investing In Holiday Homes Can Be Done At Various Locations Such As Ski Resorts

Nowadays, a traditional savings account unfortunately does not yield much. Buying a holiday home in France with rental guarantee can be an investment alternative!

And when inflation is taken into account, it actually turns out that it is simply loss-making to leave money in the bank. This is because inflation is higher than the interest rate you get, so you lose purchasing power every year.

In such an unpleasant situation, you are most likely looking for investment alternatives. Preferably investment alternatives with low and limited risk.

These can be found in the niche investment in recreational real estate if you opt for holiday homes with rental guarantee.

The long-term financial reward is certainly a factor, regardless of the reason for purchase, for example as a leisure activity or investment.

Of course, holiday homes as pure buy-to-let properties (for rental) or as holiday homes for mixed use (own use + rental) are the most interesting in terms of return on investment. Here are some illustrations:

Offer of holiday homes with guaranteed return

  • In France, for example, you can invest in mixed-use holiday homes. As an owner, you can get an annual return of 5-8% on the purchase value of the holiday home. So if you finance (partly) with the help of a (mortgage) loan [AVAILABLE SOON], then thanks to the leverage effect you can achieve a much higher return on your invested equity!
  • In Montenegro, in a fantastic hillside location in Tivat, you can invest in studios and flats in full ownership. Through the mixed-use system, you can enjoy 6 weeks of free use per year + a variable return of +/- 9% gross per year (calculated at an occupancy rate of +/- 45%).
  • In Greece on the island of Samos, the Luxury Hera Bay Resort offers the unique opportunity to acquire full ownership of hotel suites, studio flats, kampanas and three types of villas (one of which has a private infinity pool). As the owner, you can use it privately for free for a number of weeks each year + you can earn a nice contractually guaranteed annual return.

Value and price of holiday home as an investment

Buying property outside the city can be riskier than buying property in the city, given that the valuation of rural property also depends on specific developments in that rural area.

Find a thriving region with upward potential for investing in holiday homes

Those who only want a place to spend a weekend may not pay attention to the value of the land…

But if you want to buy recreational real estate as an investment, you should look for a region that is growing rapidly, is still developing and is also building new transport links.

Also look out for areas with rising populations and employment rates. Also, do not forget to look for areas that offer special advantages in terms of relaxation, leisure and lifestyle.

In general, recreational real estate and holiday homes located in areas close to the city are the best investments. Nearby means at most 3 to 4 hours from the nearest transport hub (often a city with railway station and airport).

A holiday home as an investment at the water’s edge is probably the most desirable, but it is also often the most expensive. So don’t forget to consider recreational property that is not near the water.

Because this type of holiday home can also offer great views and at the same time come with a lower price tag and more privacy.

Facilities and amenities also influence the price

Investing In Holiday Homes New Construction Like This Sleek White Building Or Renovation Impact On Returns

Do not forget that the proximity of all kinds of facilities and amenities also affects the value of a holiday home.

  • Are there smaller shops or even shopping centres nearby?
  • As for illness and accidents: Are there medical facilities nearby to deal with a medical emergency?
  • Can visitors to the area get their money’s worth in terms of relaxation and recreational facilities?
  • Is there culture and history in the region to visit?
  • Are there many attractions in the area?
  • Is it possible to go shopping (especially important for the ladies) in a nearby town or city?
  • And so on

The more recreational activities and facilities are possible and available nearby, the more the holiday homes in this region are worth.

Investing in holiday homes to let

Almost every holiday home can generate rental income. The question is: What price will you pay for it? And consider this ‘price’ ambiguous.

First, the purchase price will somehow be correlated with the current rental prices in the neighbourhood. Call it discounting and calculating the value of the property by taking into account the present value of the future incoming cash flows.

Secondly, with renting out, you always pay a price at a private level. Do you want to play landlord [AVAILABLE SOON]? Do you have the time and energy for this? How will you ensure sufficient promotion? And will you be able to achieve a decent net return without a decent network of customers?

Alternative: Investing in holiday homes for mixed-use

A carefree alternative to investing in holiday homes to rent out are mixed-use holiday homes.

Investing in recreational homes of this type ensures that you can use the property yourself but that the focus is still mainly on the return!

In other words, you can enjoy a completely carefree buy-to-let property in a holiday park or luxury resort in such a case. You get your annual rental income, guaranteed, and can also use your property privately.

This private use can be arranged in various ways: at a reduced rate, directly deductible from your rental income or FREE.

Everything depends on the provider in question, so comparing well is the key to finding the best deal!

A holiday home as an investment does exist, and if you look carefully, you can enjoy it privately and financially for many years!

Investing in rental properties with rental guarantee [AVAILABLE SOON] abroad is possible, including free weeks of personal use. Below are some interesting investment options:

Investing in holiday homes for mixed use in France

Offer in full ownership
  • An increasing guaranteed return: 3, 6 and 8% interest in the form of contractual guaranteed return
  • 2 weeks per year free private use for these recreational homes as an investment in full ownership!
  • Two optional resale guarantees apply:
    • Sell back after 5 years at a minimum of 100% of the original purchase price paid
    • Sell back after 10 years at a minimum of 150% of the original purchase price paid
  • Acquiring full ownership of studios and flats is possible from EUR 42,500 (the rest can easily be financed by means of a (mortgage) loan [AVAILABLE SOON] in order to score optimal returns thanks to the leverage effect).
  • All info on Buying a second home in France in the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf & Spa Resort in the Limousin Region [AVAILABLE SOON].
Offer in joint ownership
  • Financially accessible: You can invest as little as 17,230 euros
  • Annual guaranteed return of up to 8%
  • Personal use is possible but not free
  • Two optional resale guarantees apply:
    • Sell back after 5 years at a minimum of 100% of the original purchase price paid
    • Sell back after 10 years at a minimum of 150% of the original purchase price paid
  • You can read all the information on the offer of recreational real estate as investment in France

Greek luxury holiday homes for sale on the island of Samos – Niche offer for mixed use

  • Luxury Greek-style property in prime location, choice of various units, from hotel rooms to villas
  • Free private use possible in both high and low season
  • Contractually guaranteed rental return per year
  • Find out all about it on the offer buy holiday home on Samos in the 5-star Hera Bay Luxury Resort

Studios and flats for sale in Montenegro for mixed use

  • Interesting luxury residence on a hillside location in Tivat, with considerable potential for capital gains
  • Free 6 weeks of private use per year
  • Variable rental yield depending on occupancy rate (simulations indicate gross yield of 9% based on half of the occupancy rate throughout the year)
  • Read all about it on Luxury flats and studios for sale in Montenegro

How far do you want to be from the city?

When you are about to choose the location of your holiday home, be sure to consider your personal lifestyle and needs. Do you want a place to fish or play golf?

Or are you rather looking for a secluded little cabin in the forest? Or do you prefer a lively city?

Do you prefer your own farmhouse or a three-storey luxury chalet? Proximity to the town or village will be an important factor in your choice.

Take into account how far away hospitals, fire brigades, police, shopping malls, clubs, playgrounds, cinemas and theatres are.

Are you travelling by car, boat, (high-speed) train or plane? How good are the roads on the way? Is there a large airport nearby and can you fly there cheaply?

How often do you plan to go to the nearest city? If it were consistently every weekend, you might not want to live more than a few hours away from the city.

On the other hand, if it is only twice a year, it is not so bad to be seven to eight hours away from the city. You should also budget and estimate the cost of travel each month to see if it is financially viable.

Also request information on how close recreational facilities are.

Will you be bored or will there be golf courses, cycling and walking routes, a marina, a spa for the ladies, a (water) amusement park, (covered) playgrounds, lakes, horses and/or covered ski runs nearby?

Investigate the climate and environment

Invest In Vacation Homes At The Beach Idyllic Location

Weather and the 4 seasons

The most desirable areas are usually those with the mildest climates and usually these are also the more expensive areas. Ideally, you should visit the area in all four seasons.

It is the only way to find out how the region feels during the four different seasons.

Beware of undesirable odours

A longer visit to the region will also give you the opportunity to discover potential problems, such as bad sewers or odours in the area.

Think of unpleasant odours coming from slaughterhouses, incinerators, waste dumps, chicken and pig farms or heavy industry in the vicinity.

Investigate potential sources of noise pollution

And what is the noise level at different times of the day? How far away is the airport? Will planes fly over your head every half hour?

Or will lorries or tractors pass by regularly? If you are considering living by the water, find out whether the hum of motorboats and jet skis will seriously disturb you.

Check maintenance frequencies

Also try to find out if the municipality maintains the roads or if the roads are private property. Neighbours are important in rural areas, so try to find out who they are and what their attitude and hospitality is towards newcomers.

It is also useful to inquire about electricity, gas, telecom, water, sewage and septic tanks. Try to find out how often the septic tank is emptied (and when the last time was).

It is also useful to find out if any pesticides have been used nearby, as this may affect your health. This can be done by farmers but also by a local gardener.

You may also need to bring someone knowledgeable to check the roof, windows, drains, pipes and electrical connections for defects.

Beware of renovations (and the figurative skeletons in the closet associated with these)

Buying a holiday home as an investment? Then watch out for renovations and dilapidated buildings. If you are planning to renovate a property, try to find out if your municipality will impose any restrictions.

Talk to neighbours, or try to get information from the town hall, library or planning department to find out more about the area.

Conclusion: Research is the message

Determine your needs and desires and decide how much you want to pay or invest when you choose a particular type of recreational property in a particular location.

Investing in holiday homes, whether in town or in the country, requires a significant investment in any case, and you must be sure that you will be happy with your final decision.

5 common mistakes when investing in holiday homes

Investing in Holiday Homes Tips Overview of Mistakes to Avoid

Investing in high-quality recreational real estate requires a step-by-step process. It is important to know what to do and it is equally important to know what NOT to do.

You should keep the buying process as transparent and simple as possible. At each step in this process, you should make sure that you invest in the best recreational property for your needs.

Whether you want to hunt, hike, camp, golf, sail, bike, build a house, invest or just relax (or a combination of these) in frivolous towns while shopping…

With this in mind, here are five common mistakes made by prospective holiday home buyers that you should avoid:

Assuming your budget is insufficient

Always keep in mind your end goal: buying a holiday home (as an investment) that suits you and your family perfectly.

When you set your budget, remember that you get what you pay for.

Understand that different properties have different values. And what is the use of paying just a little less if the property in question is not 100% your cup of tea, or if you cannot use it very often anyway.

Then you are better off paying a little more but being comfortable and content at the times when quality time matters.

And make no mistake: You do not have to pay the total purchase price out of your own pocket! In most cases, this is not even smart from a profitability perspective!

This means that with your seemingly small budget, you can probably jump much further than you originally thought…

(Mortgage) loan for financing the holiday home

When you start looking at your options on the French property market, you will find price ranges from low to high. Look at several options anyway and don’t forget that you don’t have to finance the entire purchase amount yourself!

In other words, in the majority of cases, buyers take out a (mortgage) loan [AVAILABLE SOON] to finalise the purchase of the holiday home.

In fact, when it comes to return, this is the only smart financing method! The explanation for this is obvious: You can still acquire full ownership of a holiday home with a limited own contribution.

The rest of the purchase price is paid by the bank. Subsequently, you can earn a certain annual return through a rental guarantee [AVAILABLE SOON], which is calculated on the purchase price of the holiday home (and not on your more limited own contribution).

Leverage effect when investing in holiday homes

Moral of the story: By partly financing investment properties [AVAILABLE SOON], you make optimum use of the leverage effect when investing in real estate.

Your loan doesn’t cost much at the moment, but you get to keep the full amount in return.

In this way, you score a return on your invested capital that is much higher than what the promoter advertises.

Returns mentioned are usually expressed in relation to the purchase price, not to your contributed equity.

Investing in holiday homes with the help of a (mortgage) loan can therefore be financially lucrative in certain cases!

From 42,500 Euros own contribution in France

Buying a second home in France at the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf & Spa Resort means you can acquire full ownership of a luxury studio from as little as €42,500.

Buying a second home in France is like buying a new car. The difference is that you can also use ‘blocked capital’ for the purchase of such a holiday home.

In other words, do you have a private pension savings plan, a life insurance policy or a group insurance policy in which you already have accumulated capital? Then you can consider this capital as part of the 42 500 euro minimum own contribution.

And with the help of a suitable (mortgage) loan, you can then enjoy a 3 – 8% return, annually, calculated on the total purchase price. This ensures wonderful returns on the equity you have invested, even after the loan has been repaid.

Inadequate consideration of the function of the holiday home

Invest In Coastal Holiday Homes At Home Or Abroad

This will vary from buyer to buyer, so make a list of how you will use the holiday home.

It is best to think about these things now and not when you have already bought a holiday home.

In this context, please also read Buying overseas property? Then first determine your goal!

Example 1: Investing in holiday homes for relaxation and enjoyment

Hunting as a hobby

If hunting is your ultimate goal, there are certain specific things you may want to ask yourself:

How many people will be able to hunt on your land? Or, how many animals do you intend to hunt? This may affect how much land you have to buy. What do you want to hunt?

The answer can help you choose the right place, and so you can look out for certain features of your property that will suit your fauna preferences.

Do you want big game on your grounds? If that is the case, you should be very focused on the availability and supply of good food and water sources, or how easy it is to grow your own food.

Golf as a hobby

Investing in holiday homes as a keen golfer? And is a superb 18-hole golf course near your holiday home an absolute must?

Then you will make a better selection on the basis of this golf course criterion and better put golf at the centre of your search.

Look for holiday homes that are situated on or near a golf resort. There are often premium facilities that you as the owner can also use.

The Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf & Spa Resort, for example, is such a resort, with a top-notch 18-hole golf course, spa, and so on.

Children as a hobby – All about the family

Children are something special. Nowadays, you can keep them quiet for quite a long time with a tablet or smartphone. But of course that’s not what a holiday home is for…

The idea is that children can play outside, get some fresh air, play in the garden, and so on.

What facilities for children are available on the estate? Or nearby? It is important to take this into account!

Did you know that there are premium resorts that cater specifically for the very youngest?

For example, there is a French luxury resort where there is a gigantic indoor playground with several floors and where there is even a water park.

In short, every child’s dream! As an investor, you can acquire full ownership of a buy-to-let property!

Water sports at sea and culture

Do you like the sea and a bit of culture now and then? Then it may also be interesting to choose a unique seaside resort.

For diving, for sailing, for other water sports…

You can acquire full ownership of new flats and studios close to the Adriatic Sea in the following locations:

  • Montenegro with exceptional cultural heritage protected by UNESCO

You can also invest in a prime location in the Aegean Sea, namely in the Hera Bay Luxury Resort:

  • Samos, part of the Greek islands, with wonderful nature, views, culture and culinary delights

Example 2: Investing in holiday homes as a pure return investment

A holiday home as an investment can certainly trump the traditional savings account as an alternative!

Do you consider investing in holiday homes for the sake of investment and the associated return?

Then your approach is completely different. In such a case, you want to focus on an investment property that makes sense.

There are promoters where you can get a fixed annual return:

But there are also promoters who offer a variable return. This is the case for the following offer:

  • Luxury property in Montenegro with a variable annual rental yield, depending on the occupancy rate of the residence (simulations suggest up to 9% gross rental yield based on +/- 50% average occupancy)

As an investor, you should decide for yourself what you are happy with.

Example 3: Investing in holiday homes for private use and returns

Do you want an investment alternative to your savings account? Are you looking for a relatively risk-free investment?

Are you considering investing in holiday homes as a way of making a low-risk investment?

Then understand that, depending on the promoter and location, this can come with some nice extra bonus returns!

For example, in certain resorts, as a property owner, you can enjoy certain bonus returns in kind:

  • Use the holiday home yourself for FREE x number of weeks per year, or
  • Heavily reduced rate for using the holiday home yourself

An example of a resort with 2 weeks free personal use per year as an extra bonus return in kind is the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf and Spa Resort in the Limousin region of France.

In the Hera Bay Luxury Resort in Samos, you are also entitled to free weeks of personal use + contractually guaranteed rental yield.

Also in Montenegro, you can enjoy 6 weeks of free personal use, in Royal Blue Montenegro. In addition, you can earn a variable rental yield.

Not engaging a reputable player

There is simply no better alternative. Getting advice from a promoter and real estate expert who has specialised in recreational real estate for years is the very best move.

What you should look for above all are professionals who have a lot of experience in selling recreational real estate. Preferably, they are experts who maintain their expertise by following further training courses and also try to obtain additional (internationally recognised) certificates.

Such promoters and profiles can help you with everything from making return simulations tailored to your situation (own contribution, investment horizon) to finding suitable financing for the holiday home through a specialised lender for property purchases at home and abroad.

Such experts will also ensure that your actual purchase will be smooth and hassle-free.

Not valuing the purchase price

This deals with the aspects of property value, such as materials used, valuation of the land, the impact of location on the price and the implantation of the property on the land.

Warren Buffett summed it up very well:

The price is how much you pay. The value is what you get.

Again, it is important to work with an expert who can explain to you from A to Z how the value of a particular property is arrived at.

A good expert will be able to tell you clearly what the various factors are that play a role.

Is the environment attractive? Does the location have the potential to be a place of relaxation? What do similar places in the area look like?

Is the holiday home you would be buying stable in value? Is there a past track record of value development?

Underestimating the return on investing in holiday homes

Many people with savings want to replace them with something that still yields a return.

An investment in real estate can also serve as a hedge against the riskier stock markets.

Real estate investments do well when it comes to fighting inflation and offer a way for investors to diversify their investment portfolio.

And even though past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future returns, there is a growing demand for recreational buy-to-let properties.

This is because more and more people are looking for a place of refuge for their family and friends.

And, an additional advantage that should not be underestimated is that such a property can also be used as a profitable investment!

The return on a holiday home can be quite interesting.

A perfect illustration of this is the 3 to 8% annual interest calculated on the purchase value that you can get as the owner of a luxury studio or flat in the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf & Spa Resort.

Investing in holiday homes – Side note

Finally, an important note on investing in holiday homes: As a buyer of recreational real estate, it is almost impossible to know all the ins and outs of a smart purchase.

To invest in holiday homes, it is therefore only logical to call in an expert.

After all, it is important that you do not make any mistakes that could stop you from buying the right holiday home – a place you will enjoy the most, privately, financially or both!

Investing in holiday parks can be attractive and make financial sense. It is just a matter of doing your homework properly!

In the context of doing your homework thoroughly, be sure to check out the following two pages: