Families Living Year-Round in Ski Condos? Looking for Advice!

Hi everyone,

My family and I are considering purchasing a property near a ski resort in Vermont, and we're torn between getting a ski condo or a regular house a bit further away. We've just begun thinking about this question and so we may be overlooking so very basic things. Go easy on me because you all really know more about this than I do. I was wondering if any families actually live year-round in ski condos? Even if it's relatively uncommon, does it ever happen?

We expect to live in the property about 55%-60% of the year and travel the remaining 40%-45%. By "traveling," I don't mean we're jet-setters. We have a moderate income with remote jobs, and we'll mostly be visiting and staying with our large extended families or doing some relatively inexpensive overseas travel to take advantage of the remote work situation.

For a bit of context, we have very young kids and they are still a few years before primary school. Once we hit that age, we might shift to just traveling in summer vacation, spring break and the holidays. But for now we can travel about 40-45% of the time (that might drop to 25-30% of the time when are kids are in school).  

We're worried about maintenance and upkeep when we are away for months a year. Moreover, I generally am not much for home improvements myself and prefer to spend less time on home maintenance tasks like mowing the lawn, fixing things that break, and general upkeep (I can manage but its not my thing --- I'd rather be skiing or backpacking somewhere in South America or Asia). That's where I see a condo having an advantage (and I am not sure if that's even a good assumption as I don't really know how ski condos work). However, I'm concerned about whether a ski condo is a good environment for kids and a realistic place to live (I really have very little experience on this so go easy on me).

Pros of a Regular House / Cons of a Ski Condo:

- Regular House Community for Kids: Our kids will have neighborhood friends and a sense of community.

- Regular House Feels More "Normal": It offers a traditional living experience with established neighborhoods.

- Regular House Space: Houses are built for full-time living, so I imagine amenities like the kitchen and storage spaces are typically larger and more designed for full-time use.

- Ski Condo HOA Fees: Homeowners association fees can add to monthly expenses.

- Ski Condo Privacy: Less privacy compared to a standalone house.

- Ski Condo Noise: Potential for noise from neighbors or tourists, especially during peak seasons.

- Ski Condo Transient Community: The community might be more transient, making it harder for kids to make lasting friendships.

Cons of a Regular House / Pros of a Ski Condo:

- Maintenance: Since we'll be away about 40%-45% of the year, upkeep and maintenance of a regular home could be challenging. Mowing the lawn, structural maintenance, and snow removal (especially after being away for a month or two in winter) could be problematic unless we hire someone which adds a lot.

- Ease of Airbnb: It might be easier to Airbnb a ski condo when we're not using it, should we decide to go down that route.  

- Amenities: Condos sometimes come with amenities like pools, gyms, and community spaces that can be great for families. Is this the case for ski condos?

- Less Responsibility: The condo association typically handles exterior maintenance and upkeep.

- Proximity to Activities: Being close to the ski resort means easy access to skiing and other mountain activities.

- Security: Condos often have secure entrances or on-site staff, which adds peace of mind when we're away.

Questions:

- Do any families actually live year-round in ski condos? If so, what has been your experience?

- Are there any additional pros or cons we should consider?

- How is the community aspect for kids living in a ski condo? Do they miss out on having neighborhood friends?

- How about general livability in a ski condo for a family?

- Are there any kinds of ski condo communities that are designed more to be owner-occupied?

Any advice or experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!