Do you and the family trek to the beach every summer for your annual vacation? Or do you head to the mountains for the holidays and enjoy time skiing? After a while, purchasing a vacation home seems to make sense. Just think of all the relaxing and fun times you will have in your place. However, is a second house within the budget? Here are three crucial steps to determine your vacation house budget.
1- Get Your Finances In Order
The first step may seem obvious, but it is easy to overlook some necessary details. Not only will you have to continue to pay all the bills on your primary house, including the mortgage, utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and more. For a more accurate view of your finances, do not forget to add the little things such as groceries, coffee runs, and car expenses.
Now, do the same thing for your vacation home. The vacation home will need several things, including maintenance, furnishings, decor, linens, pots and pans, and more to make it liveable. Do not forget about a security system to monitor the home when you are not there.
There are a few other things to consider while creating your financial spreadsheet. Do you have enough money set aside for an emergency? What about the educational future of the children? How are you adjusting your income for retirement? The more realistic your view of your finances, the more objective you can be when determining your budget.
2- Decide on Your Plans
Now that your finance spreadsheet is in place, what are your plans for the vacation home? Are you planning on living it for half the year, just during the summer or winter? After you decide how often you plan to use your vacation home, you need a plan for when it is not in use.
Are you planning on leaving the house empty when not in use? If so, that is fine. However, renting is a good option. The rent can help with the expenses of having a vacation house.
Have other family members who may want to share the costs? Dividing the expenses will make a vacation getaway affordable for everyone. Deciding how you want to use the house is key for determining your overall budget.
3- Start Talking to Lenders and Real Estate Agents
After you have a budget and plans for the house, the third step is to start talking to people. The real estate agent and lender are two people who can play vital roles in helping you determine your budget. An agent can give you insights into things you may have overlooked when creating your initial budget.
A lender may have other ideas to help you obtain your vacation home. They can help you decide if a second mortgage is ideal or maybe it is a better option for you to use a home equity loan. All options will help to determine your budget.
Many people dream of owning a vacation home but feel it is not affordable. By taking the necessary steps to create a budget, you will soon be spending your vacation time in your own home.