# Vacation homes: the retreat that never lets you retreat

**Published in Mint (LiveMint) & Mint Money**  
*By Shipra Singh · 1st October 2026*  
[Read on LiveMint](https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/the-vacation-home-dream-and-the-cost-of-keeping-it-alive-11790752315425.html) | [Download PDF](/assets/pdfs/articles/vacation-homes-the-retreat-that-never-lets-you-retreat-mint.pdf)

What starts as a weekend destination can become a year-round burden as life changes. Maintaining a property remotely or renting it to paying guests can quickly turn ownership into a small hospitality operation.

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### Key Quotes & Case Study: Mangesh Zope (Founder, Peaceful Loans)

> "The land itself requires continuous attention. There is grass to cut, boundaries to maintain, trees to water and fertilize and labour to supervise. The area does not have a reliable government water supply, which adds to the challenges."

> "When we bought the land, we didn't envision how much it would cost just to maintain it... Maintenance is relentless, there are costs you don't anticipate when you buy and a property meant for relaxation can become work."

> "During the early years of my venture when I wasn't earning, my mother was funding much of the upkeep of the farm."

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### Dreams vs Reality Breakdown
- **Farmland in Nashik (Grape County, 2014):** ₹80L purchase. Building the house would require ₹1–2 crore extra.
- **Running Costs:** ₹12,000/month recurring maintenance + ₹15,000–₹20,000 per quarterly visit.
- **Financial Prudence Lesson:** Capital tied up in illiquid leisure properties carries significant opportunity cost versus retirement cushions, education funds, and diversified liquid investments.