Lifestyle Real Estate: How to Finance the Life You Actually Live

Liana Pomeroy
Sep 22
4 min read

Multi-generational family gathered around a dinner table, sharing food and conversation.

Most people think of “lifestyle real estate” as luxury vacation homes, timeshares in exotic places, or that dream cabin in the mountains. If you live on the coast, it’s your beach house. If you live inland, it might be a ski getaway or a lake retreat.

But here’s the truth: lifestyle real estate doesn’t have to mean luxury escapes. It can be as simple as financing your home in a way that supports your actual lifestyle today.

For example, I have a friend who loves to travel and works remotely. That means she needs a quiet place to land whenever she’s home, with space to work, but she hates the idea of throwing money away on rent. Studios are expensive, and sharing space with roommates while trying to work? Not a chance.

So here’s the play:

The ADU Strategy: Rent Out the Big House, Keep the Small One

Instead of renting, she bought a single-family home with an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). A small apartment, carriage house, or basement suite with its own entrance. The ADU is her home base. It’s small, private, and gives her the quiet she needs to work when she’s in town.

The larger main house? She rents it out. The tenants cover the bulk of the mortgage, which means her personal share of the payment ends up being less than she’d spend renting a studio. And she owns the asset.

Why it works:

She has no roommates, just her own space
Tenants cover most of the mortgage
She stops throwing away money on rent and starts building equity
Her monthly cost is lower than renting, and she has the freedom to travel without worrying about housing

That’s lifestyle real estate. Not buying a timeshare you’ll use twice a year, but financing a property in a way that works for how you actually live.

Rethinking “Lifestyle Real Estate”

We’ve been sold the idea that lifestyle real estate means luxury. But what if it meant something more practical? Something that actually makes your life easier, more affordable, and more connected?

For example:

You don’t want to be house-poor, so you buy with friends and keep your monthly cost manageable.
You convert a basement or garage into a rental so that someone else helps pay your mortgage.
You set up your property to create income streams that fit into your everyday life.

Real Client Example: Househacking in Longmont

One of my clients just bought a $500,000 two-unit home in central Longmont. Her total mortgage payment is about $3,000 per month. The basement rents for $2,200. That means she’s living in her home for under $1,000 per month. Less than she’d pay to rent an apartment anywhere in town.

Not only that, but she’s walkable to restaurants, she has RV parking (which she could rent for even more income if she wanted), and she’s building equity while living in a place she loves.

That’s what I mean by financing lifestyle real estate. She didn’t “settle.” She designed a living arrangement that supports her lifestyle and makes her money work smarter.

Multi-Generational Living: A Lifestyle Game-Changer

Another powerful way to think about lifestyle real estate is pooling resources with family.

Take this scenario: Grandma doesn’t want to live alone anymore. She’s still active, can drive, and loves to cook. Mom and Dad are juggling kids, careers, and travel. Right now, Grandma lives half an hour away, which makes it tough for her to help and isolating for her socially.

So the family decides to buy a home together. They call me to figure out the financing and then start shopping for a property with an ADU, a separate lower-level walkout, or even space to add a kitchenette. The goal is for Grandma to have her own independent space (and no stairs), while Mom and Dad live upstairs.

Here’s what happens:

Built-in support – Grandma can pick up the kids, cook dinners, or stay with them when Mom’s traveling and Dad has evening client events.
Peace of mind – Grandma knows that if something happens, family is right there.
Shared expenses – Mom and Dad cover the mortgage; Grandma chips in with utilities, a housekeeper, and groceries.
Improved lifestyle – With Grandma’s cooking, the family eats healthier and spends less on takeout. With shared responsibilities, everyone feels less stressed.

This is lifestyle real estate at its best: it’s not just about the house, it’s about financing a way of living that improves quality of life for everyone involved.

The Bottom Line

Lifestyle real estate isn’t about luxury. It’s about freedom, creativity, and designing a housing plan that supports your real life. Whether it’s renting out the main house while you live in the ADU, househacking a duplex, or creating a multi-generational home, the right financing structure can turn your home into a tool that funds your lifestyle instead of draining it.

Quick Takeaways: Lifestyle Real Estate

Stop renting, start owning – Structure your purchase so renters help cover your mortgage.
Househack smartly – Use ADUs, basements, or duplexes to reduce your monthly cost.
Finance your actual lifestyle – Don’t get house poor. Design a plan that keeps cash flow comfortable.
Think beyond luxury – Lifestyle real estate isn’t a vacation home. It’s a home that supports the way you really live.
Pooling resources can be powerful – Multigenerational living can save money, reduce stress, and improve quality of life.