Do you own property in another country?

[dakcp2001]

I have been hooked lately on Househunters International. This show is fun to watch, but well, lets be honest- buying a "vacation" home in another country seems like a lot of money for something I would not get to use often. It is fun to dream about it though!

Do you own property somewhere else(outside the US or country you reside in)?
Where?
How often do you go?
Do you regret the purchase?
Was it a good investment?

 

[Micca]

I'm sitting right in the middle of the only property I own. I've watched that show too and thought those people be must be LOADED to be able to afford those as a second home. I imagine some of those people are doing some work in other countries so it makes sense to have a residence there. Seems like there would be a lot of red tape to go through to buy a house in another country.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Sorry, no foreign home here. I'm just another one hooked on House Hunters International and wondering the same thing. A few weeks ago I saw one where the people wanted a guest cottage because even though they'd only be there part time, as a vacation home, they wanted a full time maid there. Yes, they must be loaded.

 

[NotUrsula]

Sort of. I own a share in a trust that controls my father's family farm; it cannot be sold without my vote. I don't get any of the profits, though; those go to the cousin who operates it now.

 

[bookgirl]

That would be a benefit of living in Europe, where another country is basically a car/train ride away. Some of those countries are smaller than a midwestern state. Even flying down to the Med area is only a few hours.

My brothers girlfriend owns a time share in Cabo. I don't know whether her "ownership" is through an American company or through the Mexican resort that she stays at. I do know that it's pretty painless for her and the management pretty much handles everything.

 

[Piecey]

We don't own it yet..

We're going to inherit a piece of land in Mexico when DH's great aunt dies.

We don't know anything about it... she just let us know awhile back that we were getting it.

 

[DMickey28]

I LOVE House Hunters in General but I have to pull the plug sometimes because I get sooo frustrated at some of the shows.

There is one that just GETS me. A couple from Chicago looking for a new home in Carmel, Indiana. No kids, engaged with a budget of close to $2 Million dollars. They end up in a 5,000 sq. ft. house with 5 or 6 bedrooms ... Seriously, who needs that much room. You can buy an AWESOME normal sized house in Carmel Indiana for $500K.

Then the vacation properties that have a budget of $1.2Mil. Seriously??? Sometimes I just get frustrated at the shows ... I like watching regular people buy houses. Not the 20 year old moving out of his parents house with the downpayment given to him and a budget of $350K in Houston TX.

 

[PatriciaH]

My aunt and uncle own a house in Ireland. They used to spend some summers there with the kids. The boys loved it but my older cousin was really bored since it was in the countryside and there was nothing for her to do but read I applied for Irish citizenship (my grandmother was born there so I can have duel citizenship) and after I get that I can work and own land in any EU country. Would be nice!

 

[CharityLynn]

I LOVE House Hunters in General but I have to pull the plug sometimes because I get sooo frustrated at some of the shows.

There is one that just GETS me. A couple from Chicago looking for a new home in Carmel, Indiana. No kids, engaged with a budget of close to $2 Million dollars. They end up in a 5,000 sq. ft. house with 5 or 6 bedrooms ... Seriously, who needs that much room. You can buy an AWESOME normal sized house in Carmel Indiana for $500K.

Then the vacation properties that have a budget of $1.2Mil. Seriously??? Sometimes I just get frustrated at the shows ... I like watching regular people buy houses. Not the 20 year old moving out of his parents house with the downpayment given to him and a budget of $350K in Houston TX.

LOL That epsiode was just on! I really only paid attention because Carmel, Indiana is the headquarters for the company ChaCha and I am working for them online..

 

[DVCLiz]

I LOVE House Hunters in General but I have to pull the plug sometimes because I get sooo frustrated at some of the shows.

There is one that just GETS me. A couple from Chicago looking for a new home in Carmel, Indiana. No kids, engaged with a budget of close to $2 Million dollars. They end up in a 5,000 sq. ft. house with 5 or 6 bedrooms ... Seriously, who needs that much room. You can buy an AWESOME normal sized house in Carmel Indiana for $500K.

Then the vacation properties that have a budget of $1.2Mil. Seriously??? Sometimes I just get frustrated at the shows ... I like watching regular people buy houses. Not the 20 year old moving out of his parents house with the downpayment given to him and a budget of $350K in Houston TX.

lol - I am just the opposite. I have gotten really bored with watching the young couple get the 3 br/2ba starter home and I turn most of those off now.

I loved that guy getting help from his parents to buy that nice house - and I LOVE House Hunters International. Those are some amazing houses and I think good for them for being abe to afford them. Wish I could, too!!

 

[KandD]

OP I have thought a lot of the same things while watching the show. I remember the guy who was buying a second home in one of the Caribbean islands...I can't recall where right now. And he was going to bring his daughter with him whenever he went. I just kept thinking about the airfare! Holy moly!

A family member just got a time share in Portugal for a week every year. While I admit that I don't really know the ins and outs of time share properties, I think theirs is for a week every year. Plane fare for four people to Portugal every year has got to be reallly expensive.

 

[Disney Ella]

OP I have thought a lot of the same things while watching the show. I remember the guy who was buying a second home in one of the Caribbean islands...I can't recall where right now. And he was going to bring his daughter with him whenever he went. I just kept thinking about the airfare! Holy moly!

I've thought the same thing while watching those shows. Even if you only come down 4 times a year, that's a lot of money on airfare. I do like seeing the scenery and housing options in other countries, although I find some of the people to be annoying, but maybe I'm just jealous that they can afford to buy an expensive vacation property. I like the way that the real estate agents on the home buying shows always talk about how easy it is to change everything.

Buyer: "I hate the floors, cabinets and counter tops in this kitchen. Plus the room is too small. I need a kitchen that is 20' by 20' at least or I simply won't be able to entertain 20 of my closest friends every weekend."

Realtor: "Oh, that's easy to fix. Just tear down the wall and replace everything!"

They make it sound like it's no harder or more expensive than putting up new curtains.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I love watching the international version. The differences in appliances and how rooms are done in Europe is interesting to me. I also love the old homes that are hundreds of years old. We just don't have 400 year old homes here in the States like they do.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I always wonder if the people realise that their property rights are pretty shaky in some of those areas! Central america is a popular choice.....but really one coup and you could lose everything.