Those who wish to purchase a vacation home prefer to do so in Spain. The Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol are by far the most popular coastal regions. After Spain, the Netherlands and France follow as preferred countries for a second home. This emerges from research commissioned by Second Home, the expo for advice on and supply of a second home at home and abroad.

Peace and space combined with a good investment is what many Dutch people find in a second home. The majority buy a vacation home for both own use and rental. Renting out the home is outsourced by more than half of the owners by enlisting the help of a rental organization.

These include different types of vacation homes, from luxury villas on the coast of Spain or France to cozy chalets in the Alps. But the Netherlands is also very popular. Zeeland and Gelderland are popular provinces for purchasing a vacation home.

Trade show visits as orientation

For the purchase of a vacation home an average of € 234,000 is spent. The largest group of buyers has a budget of between €100,000 and €200,000. Almost 50% of those interested in a vacation home are actually considering buying a second home within 12 months. To orient themselves, as many as 60% of respondents prefer visiting an expo to, for example, open days of estate agents.

For example, the Second Home Expo has been well-attended for years. Tom van den Brink, Exhibition manager: “Every fair edition we receive more visitors. We notice that the demand is still increasing. And there is also more supply. Whether you are looking for a second home to enjoy a wonderful vacation or see a second home more as an investment, in both cases it is extremely important to inform yourself well before buying.

The expo is the perfect opportunity to discover the offer of vacation homes in more than 25 countries. This offer ranges from luxury villas on the coast to small chalets in winter sports areas, in the Netherlands, Europe and beyond.”

Facts & figures

Top 4 popular countries for a vacation home

1. Spain (27%)
2. Netherlands (17%)
3. France (12%)
4. Italy (8%)

Top 3 most popular provinces in the Netherlands for a vacation home

1. Zeeland (25%)
2. Gelderland (24%)
3. North Holland (16%)

Top 3 popular areas in Spain for a second home

1. Costa Blanca (31%)
2. Costa del Sol (27%)
3. Costa Brava (8%)

Reason for buying a vacation home

1. Return – no own use (4%)
2. Combination own use & Return / Investment (46%)
3. Own use (50%)

• More than 80% buy vacation home for own use or combination of return and own use.
• Only 4% buy because of return. 46% are considering switching to buying a second home within 12 months.
• The average purchase price is 234,000 euros.
• Respondents who say they own a vacation home estimate their possession at an average of 344,000 euros
• Average age of the buyer is 56.
• Orientation: 90% search online portals or brokers, 60% visit an expo.
• 75% of second homeowners are satisfied with their returns.