Vacation homes - are you glad you bought one?

[Anonymous]

I would much rather find a rental property I like and form a relationship with the owners and rent whenever i want to go there. Buying makes it feel not as much like a vacation.

[Anonymous]

Please buy my Bryce house! We've loved it, but our kids sports make it impossible to get to it on the regular, so we rent it.

225k, turn key, except the dining room table and the photography on the wall. The beds in the bunk room have been split up and that room is now a bit nicer. House easily holds 3 families.

The home is meticulously maintained.

https://north.smugmug.com/Travel/Snow-Regrets/

[Anonymous]

^^ 3br/3ba 2400sq feet. Full basement with full windows. Hickory floors, pine cieling. Deck newly stained. Exterior will be painted in the spring. House is not yet on the market, but is by far the nicest at this price. Turn key, show up with your bags. Thats all.

Wooded unobstructed views. 1mile to the resort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather find a rental property I like and form a relationship with the owners and rent whenever i want to go there. Buying makes it feel not as much like a vacation.

We feel the opposite about owning a second home (in our case a beach home). When we rented it was a much bigger hassle. Now we just drive there with the clothing on our backs. We can bring other kids or families. We can decide to
go today and leave the same hour. When we're there and feel like coming home (let's say it storms) we can just leave (and don't feel badly about missing a day we paid for during a rental). There's no planning or stress involved. We can keep things in the refrigerator from visit to visit. All little things but they add up and make it our stress-free, happy place and getaway from our lives here in DC.
We haven't had any maintenance issues but it's a small place and was recently renovated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather find a rental property I like and form a relationship with the owners and rent whenever i want to go there. Buying makes it feel not as much like a vacation.

We feel the opposite about owning a second home (in our case a beach home). When we rented it was a much bigger hassle. Now we just drive there with the clothing on our backs. We can bring other kids or families. We can decide to
go today and leave the same hour. When we're there and feel like coming home (let's say it storms) we can just leave (and don't feel badly about missing a day we paid for during a rental). There's no planning or stress involved. We can keep things in the refrigerator from visit to visit. All little things but they add up and make it our stress-free, happy place and getaway from our lives here in DC.
We haven't had any maintenance issues but it's a small place and was recently renovated.

Agree with this. Not only is the flexibility great, but we also spend way more time there than we would in a rental. We come and go when we want. And we have friends in the neighborhood.

I don't find our second house to be a hassle. There is certainly some management but we are able to enjoy the house 99% of the time. We do have people take care of cleaning, landscaping, etc (just like we do here) so it's not like we go there and are stuck with housework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

First there is no town. Second the locals cannot afford to join the resort, and 3rd the locals cannot afford to even own a home in Bryce proper outside of section 10. Section 10 is cheaper, but ppl there are year round and that's not appealing for most weekenders.

When we go, we know only one other family with kids our age who spend weekends there. Half the time we bring other families with us, but we love it most when we are alone as a family, taking it easy, hiking, playing games, watching movies, or just out on the deck enjoying the solitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather find a rental property I like and form a relationship with the owners and rent whenever i want to go there. Buying makes it feel not as much like a vacation.

We feel the opposite about owning a second home (in our case a beach home). When we rented it was a much bigger hassle. Now we just drive there with the clothing on our backs. We can bring other kids or families. We can decide to
go today and leave the same hour. When we're there and feel like coming home (let's say it storms) we can just leave (and don't feel badly about missing a day we paid for during a rental). There's no planning or stress involved. We can keep things in the refrigerator from visit to visit. All little things but they add up and make it our stress-free, happy place and getaway from our lives here in DC.
We haven't had any maintenance issues but it's a small place and was recently renovated.

Same here...we have a place on the potomac only 1.5 hours away. No planning needed when we want to get away for night or two throughout the year..

[Anonymous]

I joined PATC and rent their cabins. It's incredibly cheap. I get to stay in rustic cabins I am familiar with, with no upkeep and no maintenance.
I feel like my current house is enough of a headache, I don't want to own another one. And I like having options about where to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

First there is no town. Second the locals cannot afford to join the resort, and 3rd the locals cannot afford to even own a home in Bryce proper outside of section 10. Section 10 is cheaper, but ppl there are year round and that's not appealing for most weekenders.

When we go, we know only one other family with kids our age who spend weekends there. Half the time we bring other families with us, but we love it most when we are alone as a family, taking it easy, hiking, playing games, watching movies, or just out on the deck enjoying the solitude.

We know a ton of other families- only one family is local. Lots and lots of kids! There's decent diversity, some mixed couples, some same sex couples, some adopted children from other races. No one seems to be bothered. The resort itself is for the most part relatively isolated from the greater community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

First there is no town. Second the locals cannot afford to join the resort, and 3rd the locals cannot afford to even own a home in Bryce proper outside of section 10. Section 10 is cheaper, but ppl there are year round and that's not appealing for most weekenders.

When we go, we know only one other family with kids our age who spend weekends there. Half the time we bring other families with us, but we love it most when we are alone as a family, taking it easy, hiking, playing games, watching movies, or just out on the deck enjoying the solitude.

We know a ton of other families- only one family is local. Lots and lots of kids! There's decent diversity, some mixed couples, some same sex couples, some adopted children from other races. No one seems to be bothered. The resort itself is for the most part relatively isolated from the greater community.

I've owned at bryce for 13 years and have never seen a mixed race couple, let alone a same sex couple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

First there is no town. Second the locals cannot afford to join the resort, and 3rd the locals cannot afford to even own a home in Bryce proper outside of section 10. Section 10 is cheaper, but ppl there are year round and that's not appealing for most weekenders.

When we go, we know only one other family with kids our age who spend weekends there. Half the time we bring other families with us, but we love it most when we are alone as a family, taking it easy, hiking, playing games, watching movies, or just out on the deck enjoying the solitude.

We know a ton of other families- only one family is local. Lots and lots of kids! There's decent diversity, some mixed couples, some same sex couples, some adopted children from other races. No one seems to be bothered. The resort itself is for the most part relatively isolated from the greater community.

I've owned at bryce for 13 years and have never seen a mixed race couple, let alone a same sex couple.

You must not be a member of the resort then. One of the most active ski team/member families is headed by a same sex couple. And there are a few mixed race families (with the most beautiful children, I might add). If you spend any time in the member lounge or at the pool you'd see them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

First there is no town. Second the locals cannot afford to join the resort, and 3rd the locals cannot afford to even own a home in Bryce proper outside of section 10. Section 10 is cheaper, but ppl there are year round and that's not appealing for most weekenders.

When we go, we know only one other family with kids our age who spend weekends there. Half the time we bring other families with us, but we love it most when we are alone as a family, taking it easy, hiking, playing games, watching movies, or just out on the deck enjoying the solitude.

We know a ton of other families- only one family is local. Lots and lots of kids! There's decent diversity, some mixed couples, some same sex couples, some adopted children from other races. No one seems to be bothered. The resort itself is for the most part relatively isolated from the greater community.

I've owned at bryce for 13 years and have never seen a mixed race couple, let alone a same sex couple.

You must not be a member of the resort then. One of the most active ski team/member families is headed by a same sex couple. And there are a few mixed race families (with the most beautiful children, I might add). If you spend any time in the member lounge or at the pool you'd see them.

Bryce resor has a pool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here- the Bryce area itself has a lake, walking trails, a golf course. Summer activities are zip lining, mountain biking, mini golf, summer tubing. Winter has tubing and skiing. There are ski and snowboard teams for the kids.

The area itself is like stepping into the 1950's. Slow paced, not pretentious. The local general store carries EVERYTHING, including the best bacon known to man.

The membership gets you discounts on food and merchandise, free mini golf, free tubing, free lake use, member pool and member lounge and closer parking (unless all the member spots are taken). As a member you get five coupons for free skiing or golf and the ability to buy activity passes for unlimited lift tickets, golf or mountain biking. We're members only for the social aspect, as there are a ton of families with kids and it's the best way to interact. We weren't members the first several years we owned the house and we just did our own thing but the kids would get a little bored so we joined.

Actually, that 1950s aspect was one concern we had. We saw several confederate flags on the way to Bryce once off the highway; we are a mixed race family, would we have any issues becoming town regulars?

First there is no town. Second the locals cannot afford to join the resort, and 3rd the locals cannot afford to even own a home in Bryce proper outside of section 10. Section 10 is cheaper, but ppl there are year round and that's not appealing for most weekenders.

When we go, we know only one other family with kids our age who spend weekends there. Half the time we bring other families with us, but we love it most when we are alone as a family, taking it easy, hiking, playing games, watching movies, or just out on the deck enjoying the solitude.

We know a ton of other families- only one family is local. Lots and lots of kids! There's decent diversity, some mixed couples, some same sex couples, some adopted children from other races. No one seems to be bothered. The resort itself is for the most part relatively isolated from the greater community.

I've owned at bryce for 13 years and have never seen a mixed race couple, let alone a same sex couple.

You must not be a member of the resort then. One of the most active ski team/member families is headed by a same sex couple. And there are a few mixed race families (with the most beautiful children, I might add). If you spend any time in the member lounge or at the pool you'd see them.

Dont go much in the winter, our house is rented. At the pool all summer. Never have seen all these mixed race children or parents. Never. Bryce is about ad homogeneous as it gets and full and i mean full of old people. However, i can't imagine people wouldn't be welcoming. I also wouldn't recommend membership to anyone. The resort is always on the edge kd financial disaster and this year will be a complete debacle with the horribly busted ski season. We just dropped our social membership.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for the replies. We are looking in Davis, WV. Definitely not a market you invest in to make money. We are looking to enjoy the area with our kids. I am not interested in renting it out except to friends and family. I love the idea of just leaving our stuff there and never having to pack gear. The market is pretty dead there so I'm thinking we could spend around 125K and get something decent. I'm not too sure on maintenance costs - maybe 3-5K a year. If anyone has an idea on what they plan for costs, feel free to share.