A Retreat from Everyday Life

Carina smiles warmly as she talks about what the cabin means to them.

“It’s a place where we can truly unwind and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Here, we can forget about laundry and everyday responsibilities for a while and simply enjoy quality time as a family. Our boys love alpine skiing, so the cabin has become a natural base for both activity and relaxation,” she says.

Kaja nods in agreement.

“Having a place to go to, whether for a weekend or a longer holiday, brings us immense joy. We would never have been able to afford a cabin each on our own, but by sharing, we were able to realize the dream. And it has truly given us so much – not just a place to stay, but also a closer bond between our families.”

Shared Ownership – Many Advantages

Sharing a cabin may sound complicated, but for Carina and Kaja, it has exceeded all expectations. They financed the cabin by taking out individual loans, using their respective shares as collateral.

“The bank had no issues with it, and everything has worked seamlessly,” says Kaja.

“With shared ownership, everything is split in half – except the joy,” Carina adds. “Half the loan and half the fixed expenses. And half the chores and maintenance.”

“It’s actually quite cozy to do things like painting and snow shoveling together.”

Another advantage of shared cabin ownership is that the cabin is used much more frequently.

“We have children who are active in sports, and there’s always a tournament or event on the weekends. It’s nice to know that someone else can enjoy the cabin when we’re not able to,” says Carina. “And that it’s still possible to take a trip abroad if we want to!”

Kaja adds that they have organized usage through a simple booking system:

“We’re often here together, but it’s also possible to stay here separately with our own families or invite friends. During holidays, we usually spend time here together, and it has worked very well.”

Carina and Kaja say that good communication is essential for making shared ownership work:

“We know each other well and have spent many holidays together. We know we can talk things through if anything comes up,” says Kaja.

A Cabin Model with Plenty of Space for Everyone

When choosing a cabin model, they were careful to find one that suited both families’ needs.

“The number of bedrooms was important. We needed five – one master bedroom for each couple, two boys each who needed their own rooms, and one extra room for a mother or mother-in-law,” Carina explains.

“We also chose a model with two separate zones, so the boys have a place where they can retreat to play or game. It has been absolutely perfect! We considered a cabin with an open loft, but we’re so glad we didn’t choose that option. It would have been very noisy with the boys up there!”

Tips for a successful shared cabin agreement

For those considering shared cabin ownership, Carina and Kaja have a clear message:

“Go for it! It has given us so much joy and peace of mind,” says Carina.

“But it’s wise to have clear agreements in place from the start, for example regarding maintenance and how holidays are divided. We don’t have a formal contract, but we agreed on the terms from the beginning, and it has worked very well.”

Kaja adds:

“A co-ownership agreement can be a good idea, even though we haven’t needed one ourselves. Clear communication and cooperation are key. It’s much less intimidating than it sounds!”