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Is a second home ever worth it?

Assume you spend 2 weekends each month and most of the summe...
brindle elite philosopher-king garrison
  12/07/25
Yes
Adventurous space
  12/07/25
LJL
Thriller Zippy Pisswyrm Step-uncle's House
  12/07/25
but where would i get a million dollars
bull headed hairy legs theatre
  12/07/25
Its consumption. But better than most consumption
floppy legal warrant
  12/07/25
only if you're really locked into where you live + where you...
Impressive lavender box office
  12/07/25
If you have kids seems a bit weird to have them spend summer...
Autistic Hunting Ground Sound Barrier
  12/07/25
Or you have a community with second home. Obviously not enti...
milky exciting sanctuary son of senegal
  12/07/25
You left out the part where said-Grandfather did a lot of mo...
Curious Judgmental Location Bbw
  12/07/25
that's why i kept asking for an invite up until i found out ...
milky exciting sanctuary son of senegal
  12/07/25
If you’re a nokidsmo or emptynestermo AND an outdoorsm...
concupiscible pearly dilemma
  12/07/25
nokidsmo. i like being outdoors but not an outdoorsmo
brindle elite philosopher-king garrison
  12/07/25
For this purpose you don't need to be some Arcteryx adventur...
concupiscible pearly dilemma
  12/07/25
basically this It's a dogshit thing to do to kids IMO
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/07/25
Depends on the type of home but most homes need a shitton of...
talking den
  12/07/25
being middle class sucks, huh?
jet massive candlestick maker
  12/07/25
If you’re in need of tax deductions and have the infra...
galvanic abode
  12/07/25
of course? its basically free? by the time you sell and d...
Provocative disgusting travel guidebook
  12/07/25
lol, you don't know wtf you're talking about.
Curious Judgmental Location Bbw
  12/07/25
As someone who grew up in a family with a vacation home - I ...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/07/25
(SP's kid)
Provocative disgusting travel guidebook
  12/07/25
I suppose you think you're making a fun joke here but you're...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/07/25
now I just feel bad. fuck. anyways, wanna shower?
Provocative disgusting travel guidebook
  12/07/25
wait, what? did you have your own “Uncle Dave?”
jet massive candlestick maker
  12/07/25
By "longer" I meant there were ages where it happe...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/07/25
...
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/07/25
What the actual fuck.
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/07/25
🙄
jet massive candlestick maker
  12/07/25
?
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/08/25
I can’t stroke it to that
jet massive candlestick maker
  12/08/25
please let us know why. tyia.
Lilac effete digit ratio ticket booth
  12/07/25
yeah why's that? i have somewhat fond memories of a (small,...
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/07/25
For me it was far more than occasional use. We went to the c...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/07/25
ty, and you didn't like it because you preferred being at ho...
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/07/25
I would have preferred something approaching a reasonable hi...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/08/25
oh that sucks - and yeah you must've been going to the secon...
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/08/25
I forgot to mention the #1 thing that was missing in my life...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/08/25
huh. i had sort of an opposite reaction: lots of religious i...
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/08/25
so like a cottage or something? Yes, its worth it. I know lo...
very tactful brunch
  12/07/25
Retiring in the second home is something of a pipe dream. ...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/07/25
i would definitely not want to retire in the second home. wo...
brindle elite philosopher-king garrison
  12/07/25
Shit ton of upkeep on the high end homes sitting vacant. Ev...
boyish yellow national
  12/07/25
We have a 3 season cabin on a pretty but pretty remote lake ...
spectacular coffee pot theater stage
  12/07/25
Why not just get an Air BnB? You don't have to pay any of...
Curious Judgmental Location Bbw
  12/07/25
Because an AirBNB would be too fucking expensive if you are ...
Mauve arrogant crotch
  12/08/25
You can rent Airbnbs by the month for pretty reasonable pric...
Buck-toothed university
  12/09/25
if youre actually rich sure. if youre a wagie then no.
thirsty trailer park
  12/07/25
Buying a beach house and renting it for 80-90% of the summer...
irate field
  12/07/25
Summer = 9 weeks when kids aren't in school?
Adulterous supple senate
  12/07/25
I have looked at the mortgage payments on beach homes versus...
Mauve arrogant crotch
  12/08/25
if it is close enough that you'll actually use it that much ...
French clear shrine
  12/07/25
...
Curious Judgmental Location Bbw
  12/07/25
The sweet spot IMO is a 4/5/6 hour drive (or 1 hour flight)&...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/07/25
It depends on the scenery; you just want a different environ...
sooty histrionic persian
  12/08/25
I think you also have to factor in getting away from the peo...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/08/25
I think anything you have to fly to kills it, flying is not ...
French clear shrine
  12/08/25
Ideally if you’re flying you’re using your own p...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/08/25
lol tyvmft
thirsty trailer park
  12/09/25
helicopter better for mountain cabin access and uses less pe...
very tactful brunch
  12/09/25
six hours is really pushing it for regular weekend use
beady-eyed doobsian athletic conference
  12/08/25
Yeah. Even 4 is a stretch for regular weekend use. Assuming ...
sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit
  12/08/25
six is insane.
thirsty trailer park
  12/09/25
its simply not feasible. its 2-2.5 hours or nothing
very tactful brunch
  12/09/25
This is stupid. 4-5 hours is easily doable. You cut out of t...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/12/25
6 works for long weekends but not regular weekends. 4-5 is f...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/12/25
holy shit at all the pearl clutching analysis in this thread...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/07/25
Growing up my family had a beach home and a ski home, neithe...
sooty histrionic persian
  12/08/25
...
jet massive candlestick maker
  12/08/25
your boomer parents bought houses for 1.5 and sold for over ...
thirsty trailer park
  12/09/25
We have had a second house for 22 years. It's a winter escap...
Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse
  12/08/25
Sounds like a 180 set up. You've really got a wonderful life...
galvanic abode
  12/08/25
I have been blessed.
Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse
  12/08/25
sounds cr. you seem pretty handy though, you haven't had to...
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/08/25
The older I get the more I hire out. Second house is pretty ...
Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse
  12/09/25
ty
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/09/25
Its worth it to have a second home in Italy.
At-the-ready odious background story
  12/08/25
Maybe counterintuitively I’d argue having a second hom...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/08/25
European countries are rapidly making it prohibitive to have...
Buck-toothed university
  12/09/25
...
Mentally impaired chestnut becky
  12/12/25
I'm thinking of doing this because I live in a place where s...
Mauve arrogant crotch
  12/08/25
But where will I get a first home
hairraiser azn
  12/09/25
...
jet massive candlestick maker
  12/09/25
...
very tactful brunch
  12/09/25
i had a second forever and it honestly was just of a pain in...
trip chapel
  12/09/25
this would be a lake cabin
brindle elite philosopher-king garrison
  12/12/25
huh, wouldn't have thought of a few of those ty
Stimulating bearded spot
  12/12/25
I have a lock picking kit and have access to dozens of unman...
Appetizing Ultramarine Site
  12/09/25
I like the idea of a vacation home in the mountains but it s...
unhinged factory reset button milk
  12/12/25
It's not in the mountains and not isolated, but we are gone ...
Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse
  12/12/25
...
,.,...,..,.,.,:,,:,.,.,:::,.,..,:,.,.:.:.,:.::,.
  12/23/25


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:08 AM
Author: brindle elite philosopher-king garrison

Assume you spend 2 weekends each month and most of the summer

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491142)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:13 AM
Author: Adventurous space

Yes

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491150)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:25 AM
Author: Thriller Zippy Pisswyrm Step-uncle's House

LJL

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491177)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:28 AM
Author: bull headed hairy legs theatre

but where would i get a million dollars

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491181)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:15 AM
Author: floppy legal warrant

Its consumption. But better than most consumption

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491152)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:16 AM
Author: Impressive lavender box office

only if you're really locked into where you live + where you weekend. otherwise, just do airbnb's

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491154)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:16 AM
Author: Autistic Hunting Ground Sound Barrier

If you have kids seems a bit weird to have them spend summers away from friends unless you're an ultra-richmo where your circle just moves around accordingly.

If you don't who cares the money isn't going to do anything for you when you're dead so might as well

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491155)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 1:31 PM
Author: milky exciting sanctuary son of senegal

Or you have a community with second home. Obviously not entirely applicable to OP, but knew a buddy whose grandfather had bought a lake place that his dad then inherited. Everyone else around the lake had bought at the same time, so his dad grew up with the other kids who now bring their kids there and it's like a second community where everyone knows each other.

If you're an extrovertmo you could probably recreate that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491492)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:46 PM
Author: Curious Judgmental Location Bbw

You left out the part where said-Grandfather did a lot of molesting while alone at the lake house.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491675)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 3:10 PM
Author: milky exciting sanctuary son of senegal

that's why i kept asking for an invite up until i found out the grandfather died

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491726)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:44 AM
Author: concupiscible pearly dilemma

If you’re a nokidsmo or emptynestermo AND an outdoorsmo, then it absolutely makes sense to have two homes and migrate seasonally. Very few other circumstances where it makes sense.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491234)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:16 PM
Author: brindle elite philosopher-king garrison

nokidsmo. i like being outdoors but not an outdoorsmo

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491316)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:39 PM
Author: concupiscible pearly dilemma

For this purpose you don't need to be some Arcteryx adventuremo or Basspro sportsmanmo. If you like gardening or jogging or cycling on a path or sitting on your deck and watching boats pass by or whatever, it's worth being somewhere nice.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491658)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:53 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

basically this

It's a dogshit thing to do to kids IMO

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491394)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:34 PM
Author: talking den

Depends on the type of home but most homes need a shitton of maintenance and it seems not worth the bother. We can barely manage to take care of one house and there's a long list of projects we need to get to and we don't have the time to deal with it.

If you're retired or generally have a lot of extra time on your hands then maybe it's worth it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491346)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:42 PM
Author: jet massive candlestick maker

being middle class sucks, huh?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491664)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:46 PM
Author: galvanic abode

If you’re in need of tax deductions and have the infrastructure for proper management and upkeep, I have known of people who profitably ran portfolios of secondary homes. Location and amenities are everything. You have to keep them rented out. And most importantly, don’t use debt and use other sources of income to live on.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491368)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:48 PM
Author: Provocative disgusting travel guidebook

of course? its basically free?

by the time you sell and deduct all you spent on having the home, you broke even or came out ahead, so you had a free 2nd home during that time.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491371)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:49 PM
Author: Curious Judgmental Location Bbw

lol, you don't know wtf you're talking about.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491681)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:51 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

As someone who grew up in a family with a vacation home - I would be extremely wary.

I would rather have grown up in a family without one.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491388)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:52 PM
Author: Provocative disgusting travel guidebook

(SP's kid)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491392)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 1:14 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

I suppose you think you're making a fun joke here but you're closer than you think.

The tick checks went on longer than they should have.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491453)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 1:34 PM
Author: Provocative disgusting travel guidebook

now I just feel bad. fuck.

anyways, wanna shower?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491499)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:43 PM
Author: jet massive candlestick maker

wait, what? did you have your own “Uncle Dave?”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491666)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 8:18 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

By "longer" I meant there were ages where it happened where it shouldn't have. The sessions weren't longer than necessary for the stated purpose.

I now think there wasn't any intent of sexual exploitation. But does this person's intent matter? IMO, what matters is how the other person feels. And at the time I felt highly exploited.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492474)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 10:59 PM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492837)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:18 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

What the actual fuck.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492871)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:50 PM
Author: jet massive candlestick maker

🙄

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492931)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 12:20 AM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492980)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 12:38 AM
Author: jet massive candlestick maker

I can’t stroke it to that

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492994)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 1:55 PM
Author: Lilac effete digit ratio ticket booth

please let us know why. tyia.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491538)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:41 PM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

yeah why's that? i have somewhat fond memories of a (small, cheap, shared, occasional summer use) vacation home

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491663)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 8:01 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

For me it was far more than occasional use. We went to the cottage to the complete exclusion of doing anything else.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492413)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 11:00 PM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

ty, and you didn't like it because you preferred being at home?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492840)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 12:22 AM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

I would have preferred something approaching a reasonable high school existence. Sports, friends, dances, that sort of thing.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492984)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 8:44 AM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

oh that sucks - and yeah you must've been going to the second home a ton if it interfered with all that

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49493163)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 6:18 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

I forgot to mention the #1 thing that was missing in my life: church.

I can't recall ever going to church on a Sunday. We went on Christmas, maybe Easter, and *very* rarely attended weeknight services. I was sent to public schools. Wasn't given any religious instruction at home. It was a massive shock for me to find out as a teenager that we were actually a deeply religious family.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49494943)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 10:06 PM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

huh. i had sort of an opposite reaction: lots of religious instruction, but the teachers were generally very dumb. so it turned me off as a young autist. and it was only later when i found things like cs lewis that i came back to it to some degree.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495509)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 12:54 PM
Author: very tactful brunch

so like a cottage or something? Yes, its worth it. I know lots of people who have 2nd, and they retire in the 2nd home/cottage usually, eventually, inevitably.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491400)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 1:23 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

Retiring in the second home is something of a pipe dream.

When you get older you need more medical care & 2nd homes are often in areas with fairly poor healthcare options

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491476)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:02 PM
Author: brindle elite philosopher-king garrison

i would definitely not want to retire in the second home. would go somewhere else. but would spend holidays and summer months and 50% of weekends at second home.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491553)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 1:43 PM
Author: boyish yellow national

Shit ton of upkeep on the high end homes sitting vacant. Even more when you go the vacation rental route. Overall, if you can afford the monthly expenses and really like the location it's not a bad deal. I'm around mostly high-end second/third homes and the ones purchased for 3-4 million are all going for more than double in just the 10 plus years. Hard to lose if you use it often too.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491520)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:38 PM
Author: spectacular coffee pot theater stage

We have a 3 season cabin on a pretty but pretty remote lake about 4 hours from the house. It's great and we use it a lot. Kids can bring a friend, sometimes friends or family use it. But it was cheap, 200k about 6 years ago. Every year or two my wife brings up buying a place at the beach or some expensive area and I just say no without discussion. Upkeep and rental bullshit all seem miserable.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491653)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:51 PM
Author: Curious Judgmental Location Bbw

Why not just get an Air BnB?

You don't have to pay any of the upkeep or other maintenance like you would for a home that you own.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491686)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 1:33 PM
Author: Mauve arrogant crotch

Because an AirBNB would be too fucking expensive if you are going to stay there the entire summer. But AirBNB is probably TCR if you plan to use it for only 1-2 weekends per month. You avoid the headache of being a landlord, and it's probably cheaper, too.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49494004)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 9th, 2025 6:06 AM
Author: Buck-toothed university

You can rent Airbnbs by the month for pretty reasonable prices if you are savvy about your search and a bit flexible on location. Like a whole house for $2-4k per month

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495902)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:53 PM
Author: thirsty trailer park

if youre actually rich sure. if youre a wagie then no.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491690)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 2:55 PM
Author: irate field

Buying a beach house and renting it for 80-90% of the summer is one of the best investments a UMC shlub can make.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491697)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 8:21 PM
Author: Adulterous supple senate

Summer = 9 weeks when kids aren't in school?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492480)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 8th, 2025 1:31 PM
Author: Mauve arrogant crotch

I have looked at the mortgage payments on beach homes versus the revenue from AirBNBing them, and my first thought was, "Holy shit! Why isn't everyone doing this?" Then I researched it more carefully and discovered that there are some significant risks. If you get pwned by a hurricane and can't rent for a full season, the mortgage company still expects to be paid. Ditto if global warming causes your home to fall into the ocean. Also, you can't use your home at all during the summer (or you can use it for a few occasional weekdays at most). But if you are willing to take these risks, the potential profits are enormous.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49493993)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 7th, 2025 3:13 PM
Author: French clear shrine

if it is close enough that you'll actually use it that much sure, but then that brings up the question of whether you want to spend all of your time off in a place that is pretty much already where you live just with a prettier view

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491736)



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Date: December 7th, 2025 3:17 PM
Author: Curious Judgmental Location Bbw



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49491747)



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Date: December 7th, 2025 11:55 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

The sweet spot IMO is a 4/5/6 hour drive (or 1 hour flight)—long enough so there’s real separation between your primary home life and the vacation spot but close enough that weekends (or at least long weekends) are doable.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492940)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:18 AM
Author: sooty histrionic persian

It depends on the scenery; you just want a different environment. Living/working in Sacramento and owning a home on lake tahoe would be fine, despite that it's less than 2 hours.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492976)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:20 AM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

I think you also have to factor in getting away from the people you see M-F. When it’s too close (e.g., your under 2h spot) you end up surrounded by all your workplace / hometown fags. That may be appealing for some people but not me, it makes it harder to feel psychologically separated from your primary home environment.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492981)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 6:27 PM
Author: French clear shrine

I think anything you have to fly to kills it, flying is not a good experience and doing it twice in a weekend with kids is a hell of a lot of pain in the ass and money when you could just be flying to wherever and getting a hotel for the same effort

to me the deciding factor is if you live close enough to something that is interesting enough to justify going all of the time but is too remote to actually live by, lake houses, ski cabins etc make sense if you live nearby but can't possibly go fulltime on some random mountain

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49494968)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 7:13 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

Ideally if you’re flying you’re using your own plane to cut down on the travel time and making it less burdensome. An hour flight hoping into the plane from the tarmac is much different from having to fly regional Delta twice in a weekend.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495101)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 9:41 AM
Author: thirsty trailer park

lol tyvmft

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496136)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 1:06 PM
Author: very tactful brunch

helicopter better for mountain cabin access and uses less petrol

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496703)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 10:13 PM
Author: beady-eyed doobsian athletic conference

six hours is really pushing it for regular weekend use

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495523)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 11:26 PM
Author: sepia hairless school cafeteria hissy fit

Yeah. Even 4 is a stretch for regular weekend use. Assuming no PTO use, that's 8 hours in a car just for a little over a day at the 2nd place.

IMO you want 3 hours or less. I feel kind bad for Chicagoans, there's not a ton of credited options all that close. I've never been to Lake Geneva but it looks really mid, just like a suburb on a lake.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495652)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 9:39 AM
Author: thirsty trailer park

six is insane.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496133)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 1:06 PM
Author: very tactful brunch

its simply not feasible. its 2-2.5 hours or nothing

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496704)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 5:19 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

This is stupid. 4-5 hours is easily doable. You cut out of the office a little early on Friday, you’re there for dinner, spend all day Saturday and Sunday, hit the road home around 5 pm and you’re back at a reasonable 9-10.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49505245)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 5:20 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

6 works for long weekends but not regular weekends. 4-5 is fine for regular weekends.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49505257)



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Date: December 7th, 2025 11:52 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

holy shit at all the pearl clutching analysis in this thread

Of course having a second house is great wtf is wrong with you people

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492938)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:01 AM
Author: sooty histrionic persian

Growing up my family had a beach home and a ski home, neither of which were within driving distance of our actual home. I did not like it because it locked us into a disproportionate number of vacations at those two places. We never lived at either or stayed for more than 2 weeks at a time.

I will say that my parents are naturally gifted home repairers, additioners, and decorators who sold those properties at wild profits and have since done the same with several others. For some of these I'm talking from under $1.5 to well over $2 in the course of less than 5 years (this wasn't some one-off miracle; they consistently got great gains). They would also rent them (short-term vacation) out through local property management companies when we weren't there; my parents would handle some repairs and replacement of stolen/lost/broken kitsch, but none of the day-to-day.

If you don't *like* that shit then obviously don't do it, but this is not, say, buying a boat. It is not a bad financial proposition at all.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492949)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:09 AM
Author: jet massive candlestick maker



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492961)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 9:43 AM
Author: thirsty trailer park

your boomer parents bought houses for 1.5 and sold for over 2mil? holy shit!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496138)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:11 AM
Author: Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse

We have had a second house for 22 years. It's a winter escape. Swapping snow for palm trees is nice, and since we have friends and family in both places it's pretty homey feeling. Could I live without it? Sure, but I don't plan to sell it or rent it out unless one of us becomes debilitated so we can't use it. It's not that hard to maintain. We have a house watcher and a gardener. Things rarely break, and when they do we just get them fixed. The unrealized appreciation has far exceeded costs, but a stock market investment would have performed somewhat better. I wish it wasn't so far away, though. 2000+ miles is a PITA sometimes. It's an all day trip by air and several days of driving otherwise. We both prefer driving, esp. since we can visit friends along the way.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492964)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 9:44 AM
Author: galvanic abode

Sounds like a 180 set up. You've really got a wonderful life!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49493249)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 9:50 AM
Author: Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse

I have been blessed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49493258)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 10:15 PM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

sounds cr. you seem pretty handy though, you haven't had to do much maintenance yourself?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495527)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 12:40 AM
Author: Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse

The older I get the more I hire out. Second house is pretty low maintenance. Had it painted and reroofed last year, so there's not much else to do. Could use some interior updating, but it's not urgent. I fix minor stuff that breaks, but don't intend to crawl around laying flooring.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495762)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 9:24 AM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

ty

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496100)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:17 AM
Author: At-the-ready odious background story

Its worth it to have a second home in Italy.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492974)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:23 AM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky

Maybe counterintuitively I’d argue having a second home in some far flung other country is LESS credited. Better to just rent in those situations. The second house needs to be someplace you can fairly easily access for when shit goes wrong. I suppose a condo in a major foreign city would be fine.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492986)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 10:21 AM
Author: Buck-toothed university

European countries are rapidly making it prohibitive to have a second home. Like crushing vacancy taxes, severe limits on renting it out short-term, etc.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496216)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 5:21 PM
Author: Mentally impaired chestnut becky



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49505265)



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Date: December 8th, 2025 12:17 AM
Author: Mauve arrogant crotch

I'm thinking of doing this because I live in a place where summers are miserable but there are some nearby mountains with a mild summer climate and tons of outdoor opportunities. I think I would get enough utility from being able to hike and mountain bike all summer to justify any maintenance expenses (especially if I try to keep it rented when I am not using it). I'll have to see if the numbers add up, though.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49492975)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 12:51 AM
Author: hairraiser azn

But where will I get a first home

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495776)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 5:17 AM
Author: jet massive candlestick maker



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49495877)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 1:09 PM
Author: very tactful brunch



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496711)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 9:50 AM
Author: trip chapel

i had a second forever and it honestly was just of a pain in the ass. youre always traveling to it in peak traffic (Friday night to Sunday night).

youre constnatly buying groceries and stuff like milk that you have to throw out. you have to maintain it because it still gets dust and yard needs to be mowed. so if you dont want to sopend your whole weekend vacuuming you have to pay someone to do it. and yhour paying tax for services you dont even use.

if i were much richer sure or if it was a lake cabin with a boat sure, but it mostly sucks just get a hotel or stay home

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496160)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 10:18 AM
Author: brindle elite philosopher-king garrison

this would be a lake cabin

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49504114)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 10:48 AM
Author: Stimulating bearded spot

huh, wouldn't have thought of a few of those ty

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49504153)



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Date: December 9th, 2025 1:10 PM
Author: Appetizing Ultramarine Site

I have a lock picking kit and have access to dozens of unmanned forest fire lookout towers all winter long for free

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49496713)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 10:28 AM
Author: unhinged factory reset button milk

I like the idea of a vacation home in the mountains but it seems like you'd need to pay someone to routinely check on it, do maintenance while you're away, clean it, etc.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49504125)



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Date: December 12th, 2025 12:16 PM
Author: Wonderful Overrated Famous Landscape Painting Crackhouse

It's not in the mountains and not isolated, but we are gone from our winter house for 8 or 9 months/year. I have a neighbor who checks on it periodically and a gardener who comes a couple of times/month, plus a bug service to keep the scorpions out. Otherwise there's not really anything to do. I have security cameras and it's in a safe neighborhood with numerous permanent residents. If you're in a area with a mix of permanent and part time residents it's easy to find someone to keep an eye on it for a small fee.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49504394)



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Date: December 23rd, 2025 8:41 AM
Author: ,.,...,..,.,.,:,,:,.,.,:::,.,..,:,.,.:.:.,:.::,.




(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5807480&forum_id=2#49533272)