Peace, quality, and time together

For Jan Sterobo and his wife, Rie, MyHomes has opened the door to a simpler holiday life. When they joined MyHomes, they wanted to continue travelling extensively without all the practical responsibilities that come with owning a holiday home on their own.

In 2021, they became members of a MyHomes COMFORT association, becoming co-owners of five holiday homes across Europe with no maintenance, rental logistics, or the constant search for the next hotel or Airbnb. Today, they typically plan 10–14 weeks of vacation per year, describing their holidays as more relaxed, flexible, and filled with what Jan calls quality togetherness: uninterrupted time in homes they know and feel at home in.

In the interview, Jan shares their thoughts before joining, explains how shared ownership works in practice, talks about booking and planning, and reflects on the joy of returning to familiar places, where small traditions and new memories naturally take shape.

No maintenance, no planning stress

The idea of owning another holiday home wasn’t new to Jan and Rie.

“We talked about buying another summer house, or something abroad. But I wasn’t attracted to taking on maintenance all over again, and I knew exactly who would end up doing it,” Jan says with a smile.

He was also all too familiar with the challenges of owning a property abroad on your own and wasn’t keen on the thought of a home sitting empty most of the year, distant rentals, wear and tear, break-ins, and practical problems to solve 2,000 kilometers away.

“I didn’t see the point of a house sitting empty for 45 weeks a year. And we know friends who rent out their homes and deal with all the hassle of wear and tear, plumbing, pools, and everything else. It didn’t appeal to me.”

That’s why MyHomes became interesting – it removed the worries while giving them access to more holidays than they would have had with just one house.

Today, the family typically plans 10–14 weeks of vacation per year, both extended stays and long weekends in places like Barcelona.

“At first, we were very focused on getting all the points booked in January. Now we’re much more relaxed and enjoy booking trips on impulse. We know cancellations happen and opportunities pop up over time. We don’t panic anymore.”

His advice for new co-owners is simple:

“Always have a couple of alternatives. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get first choice on every house every time. Over time, your wishes will be met – especially if you’re a little flexible.”

Quality in more than one sense

For Jan and Rie, it wasn’t just the concept that attracted them. Equally important was the quality and the combination of locations.

“What made the difference were the locations, the quality, and the price. Compared to an apartment in Andalusia or a summer house on the West Coast, it was very reasonable. And we were already familiar with almost all the places,” Jan explains.

The variety means a lot to them: they love having water, city life, and mountains all within reach.

“I would be disappointed if we only had summer homes. For example, we use Megève for hiking in the mountains, and we’ve skied in Piedmont. On a clear day, you can see the Alps all around from our country house. It gives us something more than just sun and sand.”

For Jan, quality isn’t just about design and location, it’s also about the level of access he gets through co-ownership:

“With MyHomes, I co-own five homes—each one at a level I wouldn’t have bought on my own—they’re more expensive than my own home. Co-ownership gives us access to something we otherwise wouldn’t have prioritized.”

At the same time, Jan emphasizes the peace of mind that comes from knowing the standard is maintained—even when the homes are used most of the year:

“Of course, there will be some wear and tear when a house is booked for many weeks a year. But the association has a maintenance budget, and everything is taken care of. When something breaks, MyHomes handles it, with fantastic service and support.”

The contrast to their previous ways of traveling is also clear:

“We used Airbnb a lot before, and we were often disappointed. The pictures looked great, but reality was different—or just very rental-focused. Here, we know what to expect. It’s a completely different level of security.”

Their friends and family respond positively to Jan and Rie’s approach to owning holiday homes abroad:

“Our friends and family think it’s a fantastic idea, though sometimes they confuse it with timeshare. Then I explain that it’s co-ownership, that I have five homes to choose from, and that I don’t have to travel the same weeks every year. Everyone understands that I don’t have to deal with maintenance. That’s what they respond to the most.”

Jan often finds himself acting as an ambassador:

“When people ask, I show them pictures and the booking system. It’s easier to understand when you can see the standard and the overview. Many are surprised at how simple it is.”

Peaceful holiday planning and the joy of familiarity

After many years of long-haul flights and distant destinations, the couple decided to take a different approach.

“We’ve seen most of the world and aren’t as hungry for far-off trips anymore. Now we choose places we know without it ever feeling boring.”

Owning through MyHomes has changed both their travel habits and everyday life:

“Before, we’d sit and plan: Should we go here, should we go there, should we book a hotel or an Airbnb? We don’t do that anymore. Now we have our own places. It makes holiday planning so much more relaxed.”

One of the things Jan values most is that their adult children actually enjoy joining them:

“Not all 22–25-year-olds want to go on holiday with their parents. But ours really enjoy it now, with five homes to choose from. That makes a big difference.”

Their holidays now follow a different rhythm—more everyday-like, in the best sense:

“When you have your own home, the holiday feels different. We don’t eat out every day. Often we have lunch out and cook in the evenings. We buy local ingredients and sit and enjoy the view—whether in Piedmont or Mallorca. It feels more everyday, but in a good way. I call it ‘quality togetherness’ when Rie and I are alone: time together without distractions, doing simple things in inspiring surroundings.”

At the same time, small rituals emerge that the family keeps returning to:

“We have our routines. We buy wine from a certain place, drive a special route in the mountains, visit favorite spots. You build a library of positive memories, adding something new each trip.”

And the feeling of “coming home” to several places in Europe is something Jan treasures most:

“When I step into my MyHomes homes, I feel at home. I know where everything is and what to expect. It’s like going to your own summer house—just with multiple postcodes.”