Remember when a second home meant the owners used the residence occasionally, at limited times a year when the family traveled from their primary residence for vacation? This model has been replaced by the concept of “dual dwelling” living, whereby the modern second home is elevated to equal or nearly equal status to the main house. Technological advances that have made remote working possible have allowed owners to split time between two relatively close residences, enjoying for example the best of urban lifestyle in one, and a comfortable, rural life in the other.
“Couple living has provided the opportunity for many to have regular retreats close to home,” says Greg Fisher, owner and principal broker of Oregon’s West + Main Homes. “Without the hassle of long vacations, there are short trips almost every weekend, which deepen relationships. The essence of dual-residential living is not just about owning two homes but about belonging to two distinct communities.
“This duality offers homeowners a broader range of interactions, adding depth to their daily engagements.”
Accelerate retirement
With the arrival of dual living, homeowners no longer have to wait until retirement to experience a type of life that many consider ideal. So says Jeff Hall, executive sales officer at Martis Camp Realty.
Located in Truckee, California, Martis Camp is a luxury private community spanning approximately 2,200 acres in the Lake Tahoe area. It offers a four-season lifestyle, including private ski access to Northstar California Resort.
Other activities include golfing on the Tom Fazio Course, biking or horseback riding along dozens of miles of trails, boating and canoeing on Lake Tahoe and enjoying the Martis Camp Club’s summer concert series featuring popular performers.
“Living in San Francisco and Truckee allows owners at Martis Camp to have the best of both worlds, with urban living complemented by the tranquility and adventure of Martis Camps’ popular mountain lifestyle,” Hull reported.
“It is truly unique to the Bay Area and Tahoe that anyone can experience the high energy of the city’s arts, cuisine, sports, community offerings, and one of the world’s great mountain destinations, all within a three-hour drive.”
Juniper forest
In addition to Camp Martis, other West Coast communities attract those seeking duplex living. One such area is Sancadia, in Cle Elum, Washington.
Located 80 miles east of Seattle, Suncadia is a 6,400-acre all-season residential resort community located on the eastern or sunny side of the Cascade Mountain Range. The community is an oasis for outdoor sports enthusiasts, offering activities ranging from golf, hiking, biking, fishing, river floating, ax throwing, and horseback riding in warm weather. When temperatures drop, residents turn to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, tubing and snowshoeing.
“What’s attractive to affluent buyers about splitting their time between a city condo and a Sancadia home is that in just over an hour’s drive, they can enjoy a completely different climate and lifestyle,” says Corey Atherton, brokerage director at Suncadia. Sincadia Real Estate Company. “Homeowners can complement the hustle and bustle of the Seattle work week with a more relaxed, entertainment-focused lifestyle here in Cle Elum, while monitoring the weather as it benefits them.”
Located thirty minutes from downtown Bend, Oregon, and 150 miles from Portland, Juniper Bend is a 640-acre enclave spread amidst a 1,000-year-old juniper forest. Known as the region’s leading health destination, Juniper Bend offers four distinct neighborhoods, as well as panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains.
Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio golf courses, a full-service spa, multiple restaurants, and an abundance of outdoor entertainment make this a popular spot with people looking for a dual-occupancy lifestyle.