Hedda´s journey to owning in Provence

For Hedda, Provence had long been a place that felt like home. After living in France for six years, she knows the region intimately; the culture, the lifestyle, the scenic villages, the landscapes that unfold from the coast and into the rolling hills. With a cabin in Norway that required constant care and maintenance, she could not imagine taking responsibility for another home far away, especially not one that she might have to rent out to strangers.

That changed when she discovered &Hamlet.

Buying a home abroad without visiting

“It feels like a combination of coming to your own house and a hotel stay. The beds are made, the towels are ready, there´s soap in the shower - you don´t need to think about anything.”

From the very beginning, the &Hamlet ownership model resonated with her. The idea of co-ownership did not just feel practical; it felt like the future. 

- I thought the concept was perfect, Hedda says. It’s a genius way. You share the costs but get the whole experience. 

She soon noticed others reacting the same way: 

- Everyone I talk to says, ‘oh my God, this is genius, we’ve never heard about this.’ I think this will become a trend in Norway, just like it already is in Denmark.

When a dream villa in Provence appeared through &Hamlet, it felt like a moment she did not want to postpone anymore. Hedda and her family had already done extensive research on the area, the accessibility, the ambiance, and the property itself. Still, they made the decision before seeing the property in person. 

- I hadn´t seen the property in person before buying it, but I knew the area really well. We had done quite a lot of research, and when I found this villa, I realized it was better to do it now. It´s a long-term investment for us.

A seamless welcome every time

“I hadn´t seen the property in person before buying it, but I knew the area really well. We had done quite a lot of research, and when I found this villa, I realized it was better to do it now. It´s a long-term investment for us.”

The first time they walked through the door, she immediately felt reassured. It was not just the charm and elegance of the house; it was the ease. Everything was ready, prepared, and thoughtfully arranged in an exclusive, warm and inviting way. 

- It feels like a combination of coming to your own house and a hotel stay. The beds are made, the towels are ready, there´s soap in the shower - you don´t need to think about anything. 

That feeling has become one of her favorite parts of co-ownership: each trip begins in a state of calm, not with chores. 

- Everything is taken care of: The garden, the pool, the cleaning. I don´t need to worry about anything. Our family can just enjoy our time together in the house.

Exploring Provence

She and her family spent their first visits exploring the region with a shared car waiting for them in the garage upon their arrival. The villa’s location offered the best of Provence and the Côte d´Azur: They drove between hilltop villages, followed the coastline, tested small restaurants and local markets, and found their own favorite spots. 

- We have probably done the maximum of the surroundings already, she laughs, and we are only just getting started. 

Now, Easter, summer, and even winter trips are planned, because as she puts it: 

- Winter in the south of France is particularly beautiful and with a calm atmosphere. The light is incredible, and the temperature is lovely.

“Everyone I talk to says, ‘oh my God, this is genius, we’ve never heard about this.’ I think this will become a trend. It’s a genius way. You share the costs but get the whole experience.”

Co-ownership that feels natural

At first, she wondered how co-owning with others would feel and how the dynamic would work. It did not take long before any concerns disappeared, and she quickly discovered that shared ownership brought a sense of community rather than complexity. 

- I think people take better care of something they own than something they rent. All the families are already completely in love with the house and take well care of it. That gives me a lot of comfort.

When close friends ended up purchasing the last ownershare, it added an unexpected joy: 

- We got some of our very best friends to buy the last share. Now we can actually do holidays together. That was an extra bonus.

A smarter way to own

For Hedda and her family, co-ownership has also been a matter of financial clarity. 

- Sharing on eight makes the expenses much more manageable, she explains. It´s expensive to have both a cabin in Norway and a house abroad, but this makes it possible. 

Now her family gets to enjoy a spacious, beautifully maintained villa in a region they cherish, without the stress, cost, or time commitment of sole ownership. 

She has already taken advantage of the option of more "spur of the moment” escapes on a short notice, made possible by &Hamlet´s scheduling system: 

- We probably won’t be able to use the home more than five weeks a year, but we’ve already done a spontaneous trip. It’s easy to just jump on a flight.

Looking ahead

Today, Provence is part of the family rhythm. A home they look forward to returning to, a place where their children can grow new traditions, and a landscape that opens itself a bit more with every visit. And perhaps the experience is best summed up in the way Hedda describes it:

- I already absolutely love it… and I do not need to worry about anything.

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