Ranch And Homestead News

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The Family Scrapbook

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The

Family Scrapbook

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The Family Scrapbook

There is no mistaking the economy is improving.  People are going back to work in decent paying jobs.  Those who have weathered the storm are looking to the future again.  The young wunderkind of the Internet explosion are eager to settle down and start families.  These people all have one thing in common.  A desire to have a place to get away from it all and relax.  A vacation property can develop over time and improvement to become a reward for a life of hard work.

The best place to start you vacation property search is the Family Scrapbook.  Make a list of all the special places to your family.  From the old family farm to Grandpas hunting camp.  Then get on the web to see if anything is offered for sale.  Talk to your family about their interests.  It doesn’t matter how many bells it rings for you.  Your family has to have something to do.  Those insights will help you make a sound investment.

If you have a large close knit family, you may want to think about buying as a family.  Just like group buying has power in business, so does pooled money.  Setting up a solid family trust to safeguard your investment rather than a mountain of future squabbling. Legal issues and the knots of red tape have become rare in an age of online Legal Services.  This is also a winning strategy for friends to have a group vacation property.

It’s important for group owned properties to have a clear property manager.  It can be you, or “Uncle Joe”.  It just has to be a responsible person who can handle a budget, and a calendar.  You need a budget to cover upkeep and taxes.  This person would also be responsible for maintaining the use schedule.  You don’t want Aunt Mabel’s bridge club to drive out and find that Uncle Jack and Aunt Mark are hosting their friends for a BBQ weekend.

A trust based account allows everyone to chip in.  Remember, you’re just covering the operating costs.  This makes it a more comfortable situation.  Everyone knows what it costs to play so you rarely have to spell it out.  This situation allows for family members who may not be at the same stage of success to participate through upkeep.  That labor is just as valuable as the upkeep funds on a large property.

Below is a list of ideas and inspiration for your vacation property search:

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The Family Scrapbook
A horse farm and its fencing amidst beautiful fall foliage in Warren, Vermont

Farms  Many small farms along the back interstates can be an ideal investment.  Maintaining a small hay crop or grazing lease will cover the taxes and a small portion of operating costs.  These types of properties vary in price but usually appeal to Horse riders and Upland Bird Hunters.  Barns and bunk houses may be slowly upgraded as budget and family labor allows.

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The Family Scrapbook

Campgrounds  Campgrounds are a great idea for large families and friends.  State and federal agencies retire campgrounds all over the country.  These parks are often offered for sale to defer undepreciated costs.  There are varying degrees of infrastructure offered on these properties.  Some sites could be upgraded to accommodate RV’s or cabins.  These properties are usually bordering land that will never be developed.  Campgrounds don’t require intensive labor to maintain.  Depending on the site, family members could take turns acting as “host”.  This type of property could be a profit generating enterprise.

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The Family Scrapbook

Timber Land  Timber is a lifelong investment.  The wood has obvious value, but the wildlife on the land is what appeals to hunters and trappers.  Some tracts of land in the US produce a bumper crop of mushrooms, ginseng or salal.  A managed operation either personally or through lease would help to defer taxes.  A large timber tract provides a central location for a family or group of friends to hunt. This type of property may be appealing to hunters and hikers.

Start Your Vacation Property Search In The Family Scrapbook

Older Resort Towns   Don’t overlook the old resort town you remember from your childhood.  Often the lake is still full of fish, and the place is still pretty.  These are the places people went every summer.  Owners get older and don’t have the energy to keep up.  Early retirement businesses such as bars, shops, and marinas typically require cosmetic updates, but are perfectly serviceable as is.  This allows for slow organic changes directed toward attracting new visitors.  Housing tends to be reasonably priced for vacation property.  Towns like these exist all over the country.  They’re sitting and waiting for the right group of hospitality minded folks to get the party started again.  The availability of supplies makes a resort town an ideal place to spend your retirement.

Now that you have a few ideas, it’s time to sit down with the family and talk about the future.  Once you have a rough working idea, go talk to your Realtor.  They will make your vacation property search a pain free process.  You could be closing by Labor Day.

 

Some Links to help your search

Land Watch

https://www.landwatch.com/

Campgrounds For Sale

http://campgroundsforsale.com/

Legal Zoom

https://www.legalzoom.com/