It Takes TWO!

There is a famous 1966 song by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston and the opening lyrics are:

"One can have a dream, baby

Two can make that dream so real"

While the world pontificates over whether there will be a 'mass exodus' from New York City - and other large cities around the world - many have failed to recognize that wealthier people often own two homes.....or more. And while it is certain some are leaving large cities right now, permanently spooked by COVID-19, many are buying that second home they had put off buying for years.

Most people assume a second home is an unattainable luxury, but not everyone has a $25 million second home in Aspen or the Hampton's. Many areas within a 1-3 hour drive of large cities offer options that are much more affordable. Some may choose to buy a second home and rent a primary residence and visa versa. Some may own a small city residence and a larger secondary residence....or visa versa. Some may own a second residence/weekend home and offset its cost by renting parts or all of it. A one-month Summer rental in the Hampton's sometimes has the capacity to pay for ALL your annual ownership expenses.....and then some! Some properties have a secondary structure that produces income to offset expenses. Some homes make a profit when rented for extended periods. AirBNB has introduced other rental income options. No, second homes/weekend homes are not the exclusive domain of billionaires.

For anyone who has been fortunate enough to enjoy both a city and country/seaside/lake/mountain home, they are bound to tell you that experiencing the best of both worlds is truly an incredible quality of life. The stimulation and energy of a city juxtaposed against the calm and restorative qualities of the country/lake/beach/mountain..... can be pure bliss.

Mae West famously said: Too much of a good thing is......wonderful!