Remember when a second home connoted a dwelling owners used occasionally, on the limited times annually when the family traveled from their primary residence for a vacation? That paradigm is being supplanted by the concept of “bi-residential” living, in which the modern second home rises to the status of an equal or near-equal of the main house. Tech advancements that make remote work possible have enabled owners to divide time between two comparatively proximate residences, enjoying for example the best of an urban lifestyle at one, and savoring a relaxed, countrified life at the other.
“Bi-residential living has unlocked the opportunity for many to have regular retreats close by,” says Greg Fischer, owner and managing principal broker of Oregon’s West + Main Homes. “Without the hassle of long vacations, there are short escapes nearly every weekend, deepening connections. Bi-residential living’s essence is not just in owning two homes but in belonging to two distinct communities.
“This duality introduces homeowners to a wider spectrum of interactions, adding depth to their daily engagements.”
Accelerating retirement
With bi-residential living’s arrival, homeowners no longer have to wait until retirement to experience a type of life many consider ideal. So says Jeff Hull, sales executive at Martis Camp Realty.
Located in Truckee, Calif., Martis Camp is a luxury private community that spreads across almost 2,200 acres in the Lake Tahoe area. It offers a four-seasons lifestyle, including private ski access to Northstar California Resort.
Other activities include golfing a Tom Fazio course, biking or horseback riding along dozens of miles of trails, boating and paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe and relishing the Martis Camp Club’s summer concert series featuring household name entertainers.
“Living in San Francisco and Truckee allows owners at Martis Camp to have the best of all worlds, with an urban life complemented with the serenity and adventure of Martis Camps’ iconic mountain lifestyle,” Hull reported.
“It is truly unique to the Bay Area and Tahoe that someone can experience both the high energy of the city’s arts, culinary, sports and community offerings, and one of the greatest mountain destinations in the world, all within a three-hour drive.”
Juniper forest
In addition to Martis Camp, other West Coast communities are attracting those who seek bi-residential living. One such enclave is Suncadia, in Cle Elum, Wash.
Situated 80 miles east of Seattle, Suncadia is a 6,400-acrea all-season residential resort community set down on the east, or sunny, side of the Cascade Mountain range. An oasis for fans of outdoor sports, the community offers activities that range from golf to hiking, biking, fishing, river floating, axe throwing and horseback riding in warmer weather. When temperatures fall, residents take to cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, tubing and snow shoeing.
“What appeals to affluent buyers about splitting their time between a residence in the city and a home at Suncadia is that in just over an hour’s drive, they can enjoy an entirely different climate and way of life,” says Corey Atherton, managing broker for Suncadia Real Estate Company. “Homeowners can complement the hustle and bustle of a work week in Seattle with a much more laid back, recreation-focused lifestyle out here in Cle Elum, following the weather as it benefits them.”
Thirty minutes from downtown Bend, Ore., and 150 miles from Portland, Juniper Bend is a 640-acre enclave spread out amid a 1,000-year-old juniper forest. Acclaimed as the region’s leading wellness destination, Juniper Bend offers four distinct neighborhoods, as well as panoramic perspectives of the Cascade Mountains.
Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio golf courses, a full-service spa, multiple restaurants and an abundance of outdoor recreation make this a popular place with folks seeking a bi-residential lifestyle.