Every city dweller dreams of a weekend home, be it a two-bedroom bungalow or a simple, rustic dwelling surrounded by a garden. This trend is picking up and most people who are stressed out — and can stretch their budgets — are investing in second homes on the outskirts of many cities.

And as the demand grows, weekend homes too are growing in scale. From a few lakh rupees, these homes are now priced between Rs 5 crore and Rs 30 crore for premium designs and locations, bringing with them a whole new approach to luxury living over the weekend. Those who buy vacation homes tend to make their purchases in close-by hill stations or near the beach.

Picture Perfect

For second home buyers in the financial capital of Mumbai, the preferred locations are Lonavala, Alibaug, Karjat and Goa. Lonavala is by far the favourite with Mumbai residents, and there is a good supply pipeline of row-houses and bungalows from leading players such as Tata, Lodha, Piramal and Kalpataru. According to Om Ahuja, CEO, Residential Services, at Jones Lang LaSalle India, the prices for row-houses range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore, and for bungalows from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs. 4.5 crore.

The sea is a big draw for city dwellers, and developers are focussing on areas like Alibaug and Goa. A relatively new spot is Guhaghar, about five hours from Mumbai and offering affordable weekend homes. Prices rule upward of Rs 25 lakh at the Mango Holiday Village, which is being developed there by Samir Kale as a complete weekend or holiday destination.

Says Kale, “I wanted this project to blend with the surroundings and have used the local laterite stone. Even though this increased the cost of construction considerably, I wanted to give the buyers a local feel. The bungalows are environment-friendly and offer a unique touch unlike typical modern bungalows.”

Kale has inquiries from artists and upper middle class families who want to invest in his homes. An artist from Pune found the location of the bungalows idyllic and wanted to set up his studio at Guhaghar. “I feel flattered when people find the setting picturesque and want to spend time in this setting,” he says. Another developer, Santosh Naik, Managing Director, Disha Direct, has a range of leisure properties, weekend homes, and plots of land at various locations in Tier I and Tier II cities across India. “For instance, the weekend home segment is an exclusive market by itself. Our customers are usually those who already have their own homes and are looking to buy another weekend home on the outskirts which can double up as a getaway and investment,” says Naik.

Before you buy

Although the designs and the whole idea of a weekend home are appealing, it is important to keep some points in mind. Anandi Srinivas was fascinated with the idea of owning a bungalow on the outskirts of the city and, after a small survey, zeroed in on a small plot where the bungalow would be built in six months. But what really happened was different.

“After we paid the initial amount, construction began but after that it was painstakingly slow. It is now almost two years and we haven’t got possession, and the quality of the construction is not up to the mark,” she says. Considering this, it’s best to opt for ready possession, or book through a reliable developer who delivers on time.

Another family, the Kwatras, decided that maintaining a weekend home was too expensive and took a toll on their time — they sold it after a couple of years. So, it’s important to think about the size, maintenance and time you can invest before making a decision.

Designer touch

Some weekend homes are oases of luxury which owners cannot have in their city homes, because of lack of space. Architect Krupa Zubin of ZZ Architects observes, “The requirements for weekend homes in the past few years have definitely been more elaborate than they used to be. Some clients want total exclusivity.”

One of the homes designed by Krupa used the plot to its maximum advantage. The plot was located on a rocky site that was highly contoured and it had two prominent large trees. “The house had to have a strong relationship with its immediate surroundings and distinct landscape. The design concept was to enclose all spaces in small courtyards, which eventually open into a large central space and participate in the passive climate control strategy. The large trees were retained and the design circulated to make natural use of the same,” says Krupa.

Maintenance issues

While buying a home is very easy, the people who invest have their doubts about maintenance. Kale says, “Today, the biggest concern while investing in a second home is the maintenance and security of your property. Only when we can assure the buyer that all this is taken care of, will they be able to enjoy weekends or holidays in a serene environment along with a hassle-free ownership experience.”

Price check

Goa is a perennial favourite and second home paradise for Mumbaikars. This rather unique market primarily offers villas for ready property buyers, with these units being priced between Rs 65 lakh and Rs 5 crore, depending on how close they are to beaches and other preferred micro-locations within Goa.

Around Chennai, coastal Puducherry is popular. Villas are the predominant second home format and prices range from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2.5 crore.

Yercaud’s peaceful, scenic splendour has grown popular of late. The Yercaud second homes market currently offers villas ranging in price from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Mysore has stood the test of time as a favourite second home destination of Bangalore citizens. Villas are the most popular second home configuration and are available in the range of Rs 60 lakh to Rs 3 crore.

Ootacamund is also an evergreen choice with second home buyers. Property rates in the Queen of Hill Stations range from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 3 crore for villas and bungalows.

Bungalows in Visakhapatnam are anywhere between Rs 45 lakh to Rs 90 lakh.

In Delhi , the most favoured second home format is the farmhouse. Farmhouses are developed in clusters around Mehrauli, Bijwasan, Rajokri and Chattarpur, and come in various sizes and configurations. The farmhouse culture of Delhi NCR is unique and has few parallels in the country. These properties are available in the price range of Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 12 crore.

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