Vacation Home: Timeshare or Cottage?

Are you looking for a second home to serve as a weekend getaway? A number of people like to leave the city on the weekends and relax in the country, the mountains, at a lake, or on the beach. They look for a bit of peace and quiet from the stress of their job and the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you only plan to use your vacation home two or three times a year, you may consider purchasing a timeshare. A timeshare provides accommodations when you or you and your family take your vacation but does not require year-round maintenance. You pay only for the vacation time you use.

If you like to vacation in winter and participate in winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, you may want to consider a timeshare at a ski resort. Since you may be visiting the timeshare once or twice during the winter, this may be an economic option for you.

You can find timeshares at beach locations and most major cities. However, if you like weekend getaways at a lake or in the country, you may consider buying a cottage or small house in the area. Before you decide to buy, you should determine how much you will spend there. It would be a waste to buy a beautiful cottage and only visit it once a year. The property needs to be maintained and you will need to include that in the cost of purchasing the property.

Deciding to purchase a cottage or small house as opposed to purchasing a timeshare is an individual preference. You should determine your vacation needs based on the amount of time you will spend in your getaway.