Most people’s idea of packing for a summer vacation in Europe involves packing a swimsuit, shorts, and plenty of sunscreen in a bag.
When she visits her holiday home in France, Lebby Eyres does all this – but she also adds waterproof gear and hiking boots.
Lebby, 53, and her husband Fred Guetin, 48, bought their 1780s stone house in the village of Orgelet, near the border with France and Switzerland, in 2011 as a family base close to Fred’s parents, who live in Burgundy.
In Orgelet, 135 miles north of Lyon, temperatures reach a comfortable average 24C in summer, while hotspots like St Tropez sizzle at an average of 29C. “I really like the fact that it has four proper seasons,” Lebby said.
Traditionally when Brits buy an overseas property, guaranteed sunshine is at the top of their wish list.
But global warming is threatening to disrupt life in many of Southern Europe’s hotspots, with water shortages shutting down overnight in golfers’ paradise Sotogrande, Spain, spring and summer wildfires in France and Spain, and flooding in Venice, Italy. starting. .
The realities of climate change mean that future-minded smart second home buyers need to start considering options further north as places to relax without such inconveniences.
Freelance journalist Lebby, TV producer Fred and two teenagers visit their €175,000 (£150,000) home up to four times a year. During the summer months, they can hang out at one of the beaches around nearby Lac de Vouglans. Later in the year it’s all about forest walks and skiing in the Jura mountains in January and February.
Lebby noticed that despite its latitude, temperatures had changed in Jura over the past 13 years; Heat waves are becoming more common, the ski season is getting shorter. “But it never gets really bad,” he said. “These stone houses were built to protect from the cold in winter and the heat in summer.”
Even the fact that the region rains an average of 125 days a year doesn’t bother Lebby, who appreciates the coolness and lush surroundings. “Just remember your rain gear,” she said.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional seaside retreat, a sophisticated city break, or an island retreat where you can get away from it all, Northern Europe has a great selection of second home options for buyers who don’t like tiring themselves out all summer long. .
Island life: Gotland, Sweden
This beautiful Baltic island is where film director Ingmar Bergman lived and worked. For Swedes, it represents a timeless and wholesome escape from the real world, with beaches adorned with dramatic rock formations, beautiful countryside, delightful pastel-painted houses and a surprisingly sophisticated assortment of bars, beach clubs and restaurants.
Think Ibiza, but with fewer parties and less sunshine for package tour holidaymakers.
In 12 years of selling property on Gotland, Sofia Erlandsdotter Dinneny of Home by Dean has sold only a handful of holiday homes to foreigners. “But I think this is starting to change,” he said. “I recently sold a house to a European couple who gave up on their holiday home in Spain because it was too hot for them, and they decided to buy in Gotland instead.
“Gotland has the most sunshine in all of Sweden, it’s a bit milder than the rest of the country, but the average temperature in summer is around 25 degrees.”
Reaching Gotland is not for the faint of heart; It involves a flight to Stockholm and then a three-and-a-half-hour ferry ride to the main city of Visby.
Dinneny said most second home buyers were opting for houses and a three-bedroom property with sea views would cost around £220,000. Baltic view would increase the cost to around £300,000.
Most property owners cover the costs by renting their properties during the summer months. A three-bedroom house would fetch around £1,000 a week in the summer months. Sales are more difficult during the winter months as it gets dark around 15:00 every day.
Although Gotland’s temperatures remain comfortable throughout the year, even this region is not immune to climate change. The lack of rainfall led to water shortages and it was forbidden to water gardens or fill pools. In the long term, desalination of seawater is being investigated as a solution.
Culture vultures: Bruges, Belgium
Known as the Venice of the North, Bruges is a magnificent medieval city full of culture and history. The Unesco world heritage city is the perfect place to stroll to admire landmarks such as the Gothic Bruges Bell Tower, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, as well as the casual splendor of Bruges’ brick-roofed houses.
It’s great for people-watching, café hopping, is extremely walkable with excellent museums and art galleries, and has a thriving gastronomic scene.
“It’s really authentic and we also have a lot of delicious restaurants and a good nightlife,” said real estate agent Wout Nechelput of Immax Immobilien. “It is also very safe. We do not experience the problems of big cities.”
It’s also easy to get to by trains (Eurostar to Brussels and then local train), which takes about three and a half hours.
Weather-wise, Belgium is very similar to the UK. The mercury rises to an average of 21°C every August.
The most expensive place to live in Bruges is the Golden Triangle, the heart of the city full of palaces, churches and designer shops. The region is flooded with tourists during the summer months and in December, when the city’s Christmas markets are in full swing.
Nechelput suggests that buying a home on one of the city’s many canals is a more enjoyable and affordable option. You can buy a two-bedroom apartment for around €450,000 or a three-bedroom house for between €700,000 and €900,000.
Looking at past performance, Bruges looks like a solid real estate investment. Prices have been rising every year since 2011, and although this growth may stop in 2023, prices have increased by 2.75 percent in the last three months, according to real estate portal Immoweb.
Less encouraging news for second home owners is that Bruges authorities are cracking down on holiday rentals to protect the tourism industry. Nechelput said licenses are no longer issued for renting houses within the city’s ring road. “They’re really strict,” he said.
The best of both worlds: Rotterdam, Netherlands
A three-hour train journey from central London will take you directly to the heart of the Netherlands’ second city.
Cool in every sense of the word, Rotterdam’s average temperatures peak at 22°C in July and August, making it a great option for second home owners who enjoy the city atmosphere.
Heavily bombed during World War II, the city has been rebuilt with awe-inspiring modern architecture, world-class museums and galleries, and a highly efficient public transportation system (metro, trams, and water taxis) that will ferry you around.
Remko Schrijver, owner of Re/Max Total Makelaars, says the best neighborhood to invest in right now is Katendrecht, a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides, close to the city centre. Once the city’s red light district, Katendrecht has been thoroughly cleaned up King’s Cross style and is now full of restaurants and bars.
“This is a very evolving field,” Schrijver said. “The city has spent a lot of money on improvements and they are working on preparing a huge city beach that will make it even better.”
If you prefer your beaches to be more natural, Rotterdam can also provide this. You can reach Hoek van Holland – Rotterdam Beach with a 40-minute metro ride. Backed by dunes, this expanse of sand is perfect for walking or cycling, beach volleyball, surfing and just relaxing.
Schrijver estimates that a two-bedroom flat in Katendrecht will cost you around €400,000. House prices in the Netherlands have doubled since 2008, but a series of interest rate increases in 2022 have reversed the price increase. But since late last year prices have started to rise again and a shortage of stock for sale means buyers must compete for the best homes.
If you want your holiday home to pay for itself when you’re away, you’ll need to be careful about what you buy. “There are homeowners associations of apartment buildings in the Netherlands, and they don’t like people renting to Airbnb,” Schrijver said.