How to Buy a Holiday Home

If you have been thinking about purchasing a holiday home, you will already know that there is a lot to take into consideration. You probably also have a lot of questions – like how long can you live in a holiday home, are they worth it, or maybe even how to buy a holiday home.  

We understand that it can be daunting when you don’t know what to expect, but you don’t need to be afraid of the process. While there are challenges along the way, holiday homes can be a profitable investment and are often considered the best alternative to Airbnb, so there is a lot of potential if you choose to go ahead with it. 

Why Should You Buy a Holiday Home?

There are two reasons for wanting to buy a holiday home: a) you want a slice of heaven for yourself, or b) you want to use it to bring in money on the side. 

Whichever reason resonates with you, we fully support that and believe that both are completely valid and worth the purchase. However, there are numerous challenges that you might face if you want to use the home to bring in money, so you need to be prepared for that before you make your purchase. 

We believe that holiday homes can be beneficial in more ways than one. Although there is extra work involved, the fruits of your labour can be worth it if you do it right. 

How to Buy a Holiday Home

So, how to buy a holiday home. Daunting as it is, you don’t need to be too worried. Depending on the type of holiday home you want to buy, the process will be slightly different. For example, purchasing a static holiday home in an allocated camping area will be different to purchasing what could be called a second home. 

Buying a static holiday home in an allocated holiday spot will be more straightforward, as holiday park homes are usually bought out-right or with some kind of financial help, but there are no mortgages involved. A second home, on the other hand, will require a mortgage if you wish to buy it.

With that being said, though, there may be a handful of lenders who can provide you with a mortgage for your holiday let. This is not the norm, but might be a possibility if you look in the right places.  

Get in Touch With Us at Northam Farm Caravan Sales

If you want to buy a holiday home from us, we advise you to get in touch so that we can discuss your needs, preferences, and other key details. Our properties can be a home away from home, with beautiful views, quality builds, and everything you need to turn it into your new favourite spot. 

Every property boasts something a bit different, allowing you to pick the perfect one for you easily. We encourage you to call us on 01278 751244 (OPTION 2) or simply come by the office to discuss your future holiday home, and we can go through all the details there. 

Finance Help

If you need financial help when purchasing your holiday home, there are options available for you. You may want to see how your bank can help, or save to be able to afford your spice of heaven. Alternatively, at Northam Farm Caravan Sales, Black Horse Hire purchase can help you achieve your goals.  

What to Look for in a Holiday Home

If you are still in the early stages of buying a holiday home, or you just only just decided that you would like to pursue purchasing one, you may have questions regarding what to look out for. You should know what you want, but also take into account a few things before you finalise your decision. 

Some key things you need to keep in mind if you’re buying a holiday home for yourself include:

  1. The cost of the home
  2. What local amenities there are
  3. The area the holiday home is in
  4. What features the property has
  5. How many rooms you want or need 

If you want to purchase a holiday home as part of a business, remember to consider the following in addition to the list above:

  1. Internet access
  2. Remoteness
  3. Nightlife
  4. Notable landmarks or areas 
  5. Furnishing

Tips When Buying 

We encourage you to get in touch with local planning authorities if you wish to purchase a holiday home that is not located in a camping site or holiday park. There are restrictions in place regarding where a holiday home can be, and many councils have different rules that you may need to be aware of. 

When talking to the councils and planning authorities, it’s also a good idea to find out what developments are planned for the area. It can be bad for both you and potential guests you rent the property out to if there are new roads, housing estates, or shopping centres going up, but additions like golf courses could be a huge bonus. 

Consider the Running Costs

Depending on the type of holiday home you want to buy, the associated running costs will be different. Below are just a few potential costs that you will need to consider:

  • Insurance 
  • Repairs
  • Utilities
  • Site fees

These can all add up and put strain on your bank account, so never take this decision lightly! 

Make Sure the Location is Perfect

We briefly mentioned location before, but it’s impossible to overestimate how important it really is. Whether you are purchasing your holiday for yourself or for business, the location needs to pull you in and be worth the cost. 

Whether the pulling factor is the sea, forest, or even the local town, there must be something that pulls you there, and something that will pull others there, too. Without this factor, you are simply purchasing four walls in a location that you can simply drive past. 

Get something that stands out, and consider your surroundings beyond the immediate. Look at what amenities and attractions are in the area, and what people would love about it. 

Are You Ready for the Responsibility?

Holiday homes are a big responsibility, and not something that you should spend money on just because you can. Depending on the home, there might be local taxes to take into consideration, and there is also the responsibility of managing and running the home if you want to use it to bring in money. 

Although you can sell the property if things don’t work out, it’s better to do everything you can to give it the best chance of success. It might be a holiday home, but online marketing and management, as well as dealing with guests and making sure everything is in working order is not as easy as it may seem, and if you need help, you need to be able to afford that help. 

Ready to Buy a Holiday Home?

At Northam Farm Caravan Sales, we can help you find your perfect holiday home. If you want something different, we also have new and pre-owned caravans, and are more than happy to help you with your finances – should you need it.  

We can help you with choosing the right static home on a campsite and even where to buy a holiday home so that you pick the right one for you. Our static holiday home locations are:

Now that you know how to buy a holiday home, do you feel ready to take the dive?