Vacation homes are a way to escape from the daily routine and stressors of life. They give you a place to relax, sip some wine, and talk to absolutely no one at all (if solitude is your thing!). But while you’re dreaming away about the perfect crib to escape to, you might want to take a practical approach to getting the job done within your means.
Here are just a few questions you’ll need to ask yourself to turn that dream into a reality!

What Can You Afford?

You can’t relax and enjoy the place if you’re worrying about how you’re going to pay for it. Therefore, among the most important considerations in building or buying a vacation home is your budget. Think hard about how long you’re willing to save up for your dream home and whether you’re willing to take on a mortgage for it. Determine a minimum amount per paycheck that you’ll set aside toward the project. Once you have the budget down, you can then determine the size of land or house you’ll be able to purchase and its location. Sometimes your budget will allow you to purchase a mansion on a lake with neighbors or to build (maybe even yourself!) a secluded little cottage miles from anyone.

What Would Make You Happy (Within Your Budget)?

It seems that the most popular features for a vacation home today are the windows, the landscaping and the sheer size of the home itself. But you have to wonder: have we forgotten the purpose of a vacation home? It’s not supposed to be a competition of who can have the biggest or best! The point of a vacation home is to get away and relax. You’re supposed to be escaping the Joneses while on vacation, not competing with them!

My vacation home, for example, would be an older-but-smaller house with an abundance of character…something with old fixtures and a rustic feel. There would be large windows and a huge porch on the side that would face the lake, river or pond. And it would be simple: there might be a small TV and DVD player but nothing fancy, and there would not be any Internet or cable. The atmosphere would be warm and cozy, with a fireplace in the living room that could warm the entire house because of the open floor plan. What about you?

Is It a Need or Luxury?

You know your budget. You know what you really want in your home and you’re pretty sure it’s at least in the same neighborhood as your budget. Now…where can you cut to make sure your project absolutely comes in at or under budget?

It might be that all you need to really relax is a roof over your head, a comfortable place to lay your head at night, a stove and fridge, running water and a bathroom with a shower. Start here, and one by one (and with price tags attached), add the things you just can’t do without, be it a hot tub or fancy kitchen. Think about what would make you happiest—the Joneses are not invited, remember!

All in all, vacation homes can really be worth owning. They can be excellent investments if done correctly, but they also provide you with a place to make memories and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A vacation home that is yours and yours only, give your mind and body a break, something everyone deserves from time to time.

This article was provided by Samantha Greenbaum, active mother of two and outdoors fanatic. If you have an interest rustic get-aways or vacationing spots, Samantha recommends checking out Nueltin Fly-in Lodges.

What does your dream vacation home look like? ~Gary B.