How Far Could a Summer House Be Located?

Buying summer homes is a rising trend, and with it comes the question of how far a summer home should be located? To enjoy as much peace and quiet as possible at a cottage on weekends, the trip to the summer home should not take longer than an hour.

The summer home market activates with the arrival of the first warm weather. Summer home purchases are encouraged by rising wages and living standards as well as accumulated savings. One factor is also that the home loan taken on the security of existing real estate has been paid off in large part or in full, and the real estate can be used as additional collateral. Rather, people are looking not only for a vacation spot, but for a place where they could go year-round to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Similarly, people are looking at cottages that could be gradually converted into permanent residences. Over the past year, transactions with summer homes were made 845 times, of which 430 in Harjumaa, 46 in Pärnumaa, 20 in Lääne-Virumaa, 10 in Läänemaa. The average size of a purchased summer home ranges between 50–60 m².

The purchase of a summer home can also be an investment, as certain areas have great development potential. Preferred locations are still well-known areas such as Pärnu, Haapsalu and Võsu. Certainly, our islands are and will remain in people's preferences. In Harjumaa, the Kloogaranna and Kaberneeme directions are still in demand. Summer homes located near bodies of water are preferred, whether it be the sea, a river or a lake. In Võsu, a detailed plan is being processed for the construction of a water and leisure center. If it is established and the center is built, it will revitalize tourism in the area, create jobs and also bring with it an increase in real estate prices.

When acquiring a summer home, you should make sure that getting there does not take too much time – so that when escaping the city hustle on weekends, you can enjoy as much peace and quiet as possible. For a Tallinnan to purchase a summer home in Võrumaa is certainly not the best choice. A summer cottage or country house should be within an hour's drive from your permanent residence.

An increasingly growing trend is to buy a private property where you can place a modular house or summer cottage. There are already enough entrepreneurs on the market offering mini houses or modular summer cottages. The prices of smaller houses start from around 15,000 euros and no building permit is required to set them up. So escaping the city hustle may not be a very expensive undertaking.

There is always demand for old farmsteads, where the "gypsum ring" is not done. A private old farmhouse is probably in many people's dreams.

Also, summer home owners have started using the opportunity to rent out their summer home for short periods to reduce costs. For this, Airbnb or booking.com are used.

Preferred areas have been marked, but what are the less popular vacation spots? For some reason, the Paldiski direction is not considered very attractive, but this is unfounded. The entire area – Pakri islands, Kurksaare and so on – has very beautiful nature and is not very far from Tallinn at the same time. It is possible to purchase a sea-adjacent property in this area at a very affordable price.

Article source: Arco Vara Real Estate Bureau