– The sale is a bit tired, says Ane Furusæter. Since Easter, she has been trying to sell eight ready-to-build cabin plots on Venabygdsfjellet between Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen. The plots are so-called high-standard plots, where water, road, sewerage and electricity are in place. – But there has been little interest, says the landowner. Difficult to sell plot The cottage market was quite different, few Furusæter started preparing plots for sale a few years ago. – A couple of three years ago, it would probably have been faster to get something sold. I would very much like these plots to be ready by then. – It’s a bit sad, but not something you can do anything about, says Furusæter. Ane Furusæter has invested several million kroner in making the plots ready for sale. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Henning Lauridsen is managing director of Eiendom Norge, and confirms that the cottage market has, so to speak, stagnated. Although the sale of used cabins is slow, the sale of these cabins is still much better than new cabins and cabin plots. – It requires more risk to buy something that you don’t know what the price will be or what the market will look like when it is finished, than buying something that is used and is already there. Henning Lauridsen, managing director of Eiendom Norge. Photo: JOHNNY VAET NORDSKOG He thinks it may take a long time before the arrows start pointing upwards again in the cottage market. – I think we must be prepared for things to go much more slowly than it has for a while. Sooner or later you will get to sell it, but not at the rate we have seen in recent years, says Lauridsen. I think it’s good. Last year, the sale of used holiday homes plummeted. The trend continues this year, according to Statistics Norway. At the same time, there is a decrease of 60 per cent in the number of applications for new construction projects of holiday homes compared to the same time last year. That the rate in the cottage market has calmed down is a good thing, believes Ole Midthun, county manager of the Nature Conservation Association in the Interior. – The cottage market has only growth, growth and growth far beyond what is nature’s toll limit, says Midthun. Ole Midthun is positive that there is a brake on the cottage market. He believes there are more than enough cabins in Norway today. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Loss of nature, as a result of, among other things, cabin construction, is among the biggest threats to nature, according to a UN report. – Although it is not good that people are struggling with the economy, it is good that people are now putting the brakes on when it comes to cabin construction, says Midthun. Demand a change of course Even though cabin sales have stagnated, Norwegians are still in the Norwegian mountain home. The Norwegian Tourist Association (DNT) has close to 320,000 members today. This is an increase of 3 per cent compared to last year, and very strong membership numbers according to the association itself. They believe that there are several reasons for the increase in membership, among other things that expensive time makes people look for more affordable alternatives for travel and holidays. – With many vacant cabins and tighter finances, cabin sharing, letting and other forms of the sharing economy can become more relevant for people, says Dag Terje Klarp Solvang, secretary general of DNT. Dag Terje Klarp Solvang, secretary general of DNT, believes that the sharing economy will be important in cabin Norway in the future, both because it is economical, environmentally friendly and provides good experiences, he believes. Photo: MARIUS DALSEG SÆTRE He believes that all the vacant cabins on the market, and the cabins that are empty for large parts of the year, should have the warning lights lit by the authorities. – We need a far more sustainable cottage policy and a course in the way we use our land. We must share more of what we have already built, rather than building new and in untouched nature, says Solvang. – Things that you must not have Tor Arnesen is a researcher at Østlandsforskning, and refers to holiday homes as a luxury phenomenon. – In that sense, it is an unnecessary degradation of nature, says Arnesen. The land seller at Venabygdsfjellet understands that it is not an expensive time for people to buy cabins. – People typically save on things like this, things that you must not have. Ane Furusæter would like to sell some plots of land, but is in no hurry. She thinks the trends will soon turn. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Nevertheless, she hopes that the market will turn around. The farmer from Ringebu has invested millions of kroner in the project. – I have faith that it will turn around. I have to be patient and wait a while longer, says Furusæter. For the record: Ane Furusæter is related to an employee at news Innlandet. Those concerned have not been involved in the work on this case.
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Stop new cottage project – Ane still has eight ready plots
