Owning their dream home on Côte d'Azur– Without the hassle

Rune and Heidi from Oslo have always loved the outdoors and the good life – both in Norway and Southern Europe. With grown children, grandchildren, and many interests at home, they wanted something that offered freedom, not more administration.

When Rune and his partner Heidi began looking for a vacation home in Southern Europe, it was no coincidence that France and Italy topped their wish list. 

– We've spent many holidays in the region and wanted a place that could become our regular retreat. But buying something outright, handling everything with rentals and maintenance – it felt more like a project than a joy.

Rune, who has worked in investment his entire career, is used to assessing risk and return. And as the owner of both a seaside and a mountain cabin in Norway, he knew exactly what it takes to own a property solo.

– Owning a house alone in France is simply much more expensive than owning a cabin in Norway. Many people I know who own homes in France rent them out a lot, but then you lose some freedom. I prefer sharing with other owners who treat the house like their own, rather than renting to strangers who use it intensively for short periods.

"It works brilliantly – the booking system is well-designed and flexible, so we can plan far in advance and still take spontaneous trips. Flexibility is important to us, and we get that here. &Hamlet has made it easy to own something that feels like ours, without costing time and energy. Quite simply, it’s an excellent setup – so this suits us perfectly."

Practical and flexible

That is why they began exploring more flexible models for owning a vacation property abroad. After reviewing some less relevant options, Rune stumbled across &Hamlet by chance.

– I came across something from &Hamlet in a different context and sent them an email saying we were interested in France or Italy. A few months later, Kristian reached out to say something exciting was happening in Provence. The timing was perfect.

The villa is located near the small village of Cabris, with views of the Côte d’Azur and easy access to both the mountains and the sea. Rune and Heidi traveled down, visited the house and the area – and were quickly convinced.

– We instantly fell for it. We now own two shares, and our family uses the home for around 12 weeks each year. It works brilliantly – the booking system is well-designed and flexible, so we can plan far in advance and still take spontaneous trips. Flexibility is important to us, and we get that here.

Freedom – Without maintenance duties

– The most important thing for us is that it’s easy. We don’t have to spend time on rentals, maintenance, or practicalities – &Hamlet takes care of everything and ensures a smooth experience. You don’t have to coordinate directly with other owners, and you avoid all the small things that usually take up time. It makes shared ownership easy, without the hassle.

He compares it to a previous experience of co-ownership:

– I used to co-own a summer cabin with my sisters, and it worked fairly well, but it required much more coordination. Here, everything is set up to be simple.

Exploration and belonging

The greatest value as owner, Rune says, is perhaps the feeling of truly getting to know a place over time.

– We’ve visited the area many times before, but it’s only now that we feel we really know it. Every time we’re there, we discover something new. The villa is perfectly located – elevated between the sea and the mountains – giving us access to coastal towns like Cannes and picturesque villages like Tourrettes-sur-Loup. We’ve hiked in the Esterel mountains, planned overnight stays in historic boutique hotels, and visited one of the most charming seaside towns I’ve ever seen, Théoule-sur-Mer – it’s small, authentic, and just a short drive away. There’s so much to explore, and yet it feels familiar and like home. This summer, we’re going on a trip to Gorges du Verdon – France’s answer to the Grand Canyon.

– And the house itself is simply fantastic. Spacious, practical, and with a spectacular view. We’ve hosted both children and grandchildren, and it never feels cramped. It’s a real home.

On the property are 50 olive trees:

– They belonged to an old olive farm that the estate used to be part of. Now, we produce our own olive oil together with the other owners – and it feels incredibly authentic. Probably the most expensive olive oil I’ve ever come by, but also the best, Rune laughs.

A place to return to

Rune and Heidi do not plan on moving abroad full-time.

– We have a lot going on at home – work, family, friends. But having a place that feels like our own, somewhere we can return to again and again, that means a lot. And the fact that we don’t have to manage something that’s meant to bring us joy – that’s what makes us use it more.

A life in balance

– &Hamlet has made it easy to own something that feels like ours – without costing time and energy. Quite simply, it’s an excellent setup – so this suits us perfectly.

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