Second/Vacation Homes

[vendul]

donno about the others, but for me, i would like to be able to use my home for more than 90 days at a time. otherwise, i'm all in... you guys got some type of euro-zillow so i can check out these bargains?

Here is for Switzerland

https://www.homegate.ch/acquistare/a...ad=3&aj=800000

Here is Italy
https://www.immobiliare.it/vendita-c...SAAEgIViPD_BwE

https://www.idealista.it/vendita-cas...SAAEgLtkPD_BwE

You can choose the town. The good thing about Europe is that if you buy in a ski resort you are usually within one mile from the lifts

And most of them are maximum 3 hours away from major airports.

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Austria and France often have timeshares and stuff like that it gets more complicated.

One important thing is: yearly home expenses compared with us expenses are ridiculous

[fomofo]

Before they built levees and raised the streets houses in Sacramento, houses were built with an empty space on the first floor, living space started on the second. The style is called Delta Queen Anne.

Heh, heh. Now I see where Herb Caen got his sense of humor from.

Although not the norm was never unusual to see beach houses in the southeast on stilts to allow for tidal surge. Sometimes even on concrete piers, for more storm resiliency. And it's cool they made this new beefed-up design open source. But after yet another season of devastating storms can only imagine the impact this will have on availability and cost of home insurance in that area.

Even if it survives intact who want a beach house in an area whose roads, bridges, businesses, etc get destroyed by seasonal storms on a regular basis?

[highangle]

Heh, heh. Now I see where Herb Caen got his sense of humor from.

Although not the norm was never unusual to see beach houses in the southeast on stilts to allow for tidal surge. Sometimes even on concrete piers, for more storm resiliency. And it's cool they made this new beefed-up design open source. But after yet another season of devastating storms can only imagine the impact this will have on availability and cost of home insurance in that area.

Even if it survives intact who want a beach house in an area whose roads, bridges, businesses, etc get destroyed by seasonal storms on a regular basis?

Anyone who wants a beach house, bro.


As to the rest of your post, you're apparently unaware that your tax dollars have long gone toward developing and publishing comprehensive and authoritative construction specifications for storm and flood zones. We, America, do this for many reasons, not the least of which is to lower homeowners insurance costs by reducing the damage claims involved with big coastal storms.

Since federal storm construction specifications are mostly adopted as local building codes, some here may be more familiar with them as "Burdensome regulations" and "Wokeness".

But the cost of assuming risk in building in coastal zones increasingly impacted by climate change will weed out the weak reinsurers of the world first, and may even prompt innovation and the evolution of new structural and civil design criteria as the old buildings and bridges are taken out. Either that, or the whole situation becomes untenable for even government-backed insurance, in which case we're all in trouble.

[riser4]

Heh, heh. Now I see where Herb Caen got his sense of humor from.

Although not the norm was never unusual to see beach houses in the southeast on stilts to allow for tidal surge. Sometimes even on concrete piers, for more storm resiliency. And it's cool they made this new beefed-up design open source. But after yet another season of devastating storms can only imagine the impact this will have on availability and cost of home insurance in that area.

Even if it survives intact who want a beach house in an area whose roads, bridges, businesses, etc get destroyed by seasonal storms on a regular basis?

You can do some awesome looting if everyone else leaves.

[Mazderati]

I am shopping home insurance in ME and two agencies would not even provide quotes for reason of coastal proximity even though the house is not in a flood plain. The premiums on those low-lying flood-prone areas have to be bonkers.

[Dromond]

The reason for which homes are cheaper in Europe is clear, I was simply wondering why so little is sold overseas.
The fact that I had the feeling that most people flew to their homes is Because I new a bunch of people on the east coast that had homes in the Rockies


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Use vacation real estate to make money or as a way to essentially store money makes more sense for a lot of people in the US.

That said, I’ve had exactly this thought, and think that living in the mountains in Europe seems cheaper/better than N America in a lot of ways. If I had the time/visa I would surely consider it. Skiing and mountain access seems more rare and widely distributed in NA even though there is so much more space

[Dromond]

One important thing is: yearly home expenses compared with us expenses are ridiculous

Ridiculous in which direction?

[ötzi]

I am shopping home insurance in ME and two agencies would not even provide quotes for reason of coastal proximity even though the house is not in a flood plain. The premiums on those low-lying flood-prone areas have to be bonkers.

Try Travelers, they took us without a problem and I'm not 50 feet (but uphill) from the FEMA hurricane inundation zone for a Cat. 4 storm.

[Buster Highmen]

Try Travelers, they took us without a problem and I'm not 50 feet (but uphill) from the FEMA hurricane inundation zone for a Cat. 4 storm.

I thought you had a smaller bed.

[vendul]

Here is an example: I have a small apartment in St. Moritz apr. 700 sq feet, I pay 5000$ HOA per year. A large house in Lombardy (italy) and pay 1200$ per year in property Taxes

[LeeLau]

Here is an example: I have a small apartment in St. Moritz apr. 700 sq feet, I pay 5000$ HOA per year. A large house in Lombardy (italy) and pay 1200$ per year in property Taxes

That is up there no? Perhaps no industrial tax base in St moritz so taxes are high but Lombardy has more tax base?

Whistler medium house is 9,000 per year prop tax. Approx 7000 Eur per year. Also no tax base.

I remember looking at small apartment in Revelstoke that size is about 500/ month. So comparable to St Moritz. Costs lots for snow clearing, heating, maintenance etc

[vendul]

Well, St. Moritz is as expensive as it gets over here... and heating, maintenance and so on... its also included. The only thing left out is electricity. I remember crazy prices back in NY

[LeeLau]

Well, St. Moritz is as expensive as it gets over here... and heating, maintenance and so on... its also included. The only thing left out is electricity. I remember crazy prices back in NY

Oh yes. I didn't even calculate heating + electricity. Whistler and St Moritz are both bling bling for expenses

[Mazderati]

Try Travelers, they took us without a problem and I'm not 50 feet (but uphill) from the FEMA hurricane inundation zone for a Cat. 4 storm.

I wonder how much newer construction helps you. This place is 1960s. Our current rental policy is with Travelers but they wouldn't touch it. The reasons given were within 1,000 feet and not on the (approved?) IBHS homes list. First time hearing of that org.

[Shredhead]

Can't really correlate HOA fees vs taxes. Too many variables such as amenities, utilities, capital reserves, etc.

I prefer single family homes, because I have more control over expenses. But sometimes multi family offers amenities, that just aren't available/ affordable for SFH.

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

Just here to say that HOA fees at Killington are pretty high. A 2BR condo I looked at (maybe 1,000 sq ft) was $900/month 12 years ago (so $10,800/year). And you still gotta pay property tax which was well north of $5,000. St. Moritz sounds downright affordable.,

[Buster Highmen]

Well, St. Moritz is as expensive as it gets over here... and heating, maintenance and so on... its also included. The only thing left out is electricity. I remember crazy prices back in NY

What about taxes?

After seeing my parents get ripped off by their ridiculous HOA condo fees, I confirmed my suspicions about condos. SFH for us so far. Maybe Yurps different?

[vendul]

Costs are very reasonable, everything is well planned ahead and condos are well kept (In Switzerland). Than if one can afford a SFH in st moritz I think that for him maintenance is not a problem


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando TGR Forums

[Name Redacted]

Just here to say that HOA fees at Killington are pretty high. A 2BR condo I looked at (maybe 1,000 sq ft) was $900/month 12 years ago (so $10,800/year). And you still gotta pay property tax which was well north of $5,000. St. Moritz sounds downright affordable.,

Our family's condo HOA fees are over $1000 because there is a pool and the insurance on these older buildings is getting outrageous. Many HOAs are well run, but costs are costs. Big buildings require a lot of ongoing maintenance that isn't cheap. Remember, the mechanical guys have to be able to afford to live here too.

[singlecross]

I’d love to start spending Winter’s in Europe. I’d want small, simple, off grid type cabin/tiny house (composting toilet, woodstove heat, simple water system)like this…



Vendul, Does this exist around Sedrun? Other places? Visa limits me to 3 months, yes? So Jan/Feb/March.

I think one thing that holds US citizens back (me at least) is a perceived amount of complexity and red tape to own property in Europe. Maybe owning a small, simple place isn’t so bad? Maybe better to find a winter seasonal rental for the 3 winter months? Maybe better to buy a rig and vanlife Europe for a few years?



A nice daydream at least.

[vendul]

Trust me that if all you are interested are outdoors and skiing, in Italy there are tons fixer upper in gems ski town that can be bought for 40/60000$ or ready to move in apartments for 60/80000... italians are too much into the dolce vita and tend to snob resorts that don't offer life after skiing.
Owning a property in Italy is one of the easiest and safest things (one of the few actually) to do in Italy... at least in northern Italy

[Dromond]

Trust me that if all you are interested are outdoors and skiing, in Italy there are tons fixer upper in gems ski town that can be bought for 40/60000$ or ready to move in apartments for 60/80000... italians are too much into the dolce vita and tend to snob resorts that don't offer life after skiing.
Owning a property in Italy is one of the easiest and safest things (one of the few actually) to do in Italy... at least in northern Italy

I’ve heard some tales of the red tape around fixing up old properties in small Italian towns. A move in ready apartment for 80k euros sounds cheap to me coming from the northwestern US.

[Dromond]

I’d love to start spending Winter’s in Europe. I’d want small, simple, off grid type cabin/tiny house (composting toilet, woodstove heat, simple water system)like this…



Vendul, Does this exist around Sedrun? Other places? Visa limits me to 3 months, yes? So Jan/Feb/March.

I think one thing that holds US citizens back (me at least) is a perceived amount of complexity and red tape to own property in Europe. Maybe owning a small, simple place isn’t so bad? Maybe better to find a winter seasonal rental for the 3 winter months? Maybe better to buy a rig and vanlife Europe for a few years?



A nice daydream at least.

It’s 90 out of 180 days so you could theoretically come for three months in the winter and three in the summer. There are long term visas available if you can prove passive income - basically retirement visas. It seems like the really gnarly part can be if you become a tax resident there. Just visiting seasonally and keeping everything based in the US would likely avoid that.

[vendul]

I’ve heard some tales of the red tape around fixing up old properties in small Italian towns. A move in ready apartment for 80k euros sounds cheap to me coming from the northwestern US.

Any kind of work done to a house has to go through the right process accompanied by a professional... that's true, that's also why Home Depot kind of stores are very different here. But it's also very inexpensive

[fomofo]

Although not the norm was never unusual to see beach houses in the southeast on stilts to allow for tidal surge. Sometimes even on concrete piers, for more storm resiliency. And it's cool they made this new beefed-up design open source. But after yet another season of devastating storms can only imagine the impact this will have on availability and cost of home insurance in that area.

Even if it survives intact who want a beach house in an area whose roads, bridges, businesses, etc get destroyed by seasonal storms on a regular basis?

Anyone who wants a beach house, bro.

As to the rest of your post, you're apparently unaware that your tax dollars have long gone toward developing and publishing comprehensive and authoritative construction specifications for storm and flood zones. We, America, do this for many reasons, not the least of which is to lower homeowners insurance costs by reducing the damage claims involved with big coastal storms.

Since federal storm construction specifications are mostly adopted as local building codes, some here may be more familiar with them as "Burdensome regulations" and "Wokeness".

But the cost of assuming risk in building in coastal zones increasingly impacted by climate change will weed out the weak reinsurers of the world first, and may even prompt innovation and the evolution of new structural and civil design criteria as the old buildings and bridges are taken out. Either that, or the whole situation becomes untenable for even government-backed insurance, in which case we're all in trouble.

I understand in a changing world maybe everyone can't just pick up and relocate, and certain accommodations have to be made (special insurance, building regulations, etc) in order to help folks survive in challenging environments. And I love a beach house as much as the next guy, but even if I could afford one in a uniquely beautiful area I might choose not to if certain realities consistently presented themselves.



Tax dollars go for lots of things.