[Biggd]

Originally Posted by chocophile

We bought our seasonal home in February 2001, and it has worked out very well. But it was definitely a risk, and various expensive things could have gone wrong.

I agree with the comments about septic and water: do your best to understand what problems you are buying. Assume there are some problems. In the worst case, can you solve the problems with just money?

The other aspect is the neighbors... we have terrific neighbors, but it's hard to determine that when no one is around.

We looked at one home that was next to a cottage colony; in the winter it's quiet but during the summer it is very active and noisy. We passed on that home, and we are very glad now. Others like that vibe, but not us.

Our friend at the time gave us good advice: don't worry as much about problems that money can solve. In other words, things like location, physical surroundings, and neighbors are much more important.

Mitigate and understand your risks as much as possible. Good luck!

I remember a guy telling me years ago that he bought a condo in Laconia during the winter only to find the neighborhood was overrun by Hells Angels during the summer months. He eventually sold at a loss, swearing off the Lakes region!