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For John and Melinda, the dream of a more enriching retirement led them beyond the borders of Texas and into the heart of Europe. Inspired by the idea of living like locals in iconic cities, they discovered August and were drawn to the flexibility and ease of the Pied À Terre Collection. Now co-owners of five beautifully designed homes across Europe, they’re embracing a lifestyle that blends cultural discovery with everyday comfort, creating meaningful moments not only for themselves, but for their entire family.
John: We’re John and Melinda from Austin, Texas. While we’re both still working, we’ve been thinking seriously about retirement over the past few years. We've seen friends invest in real estate in different parts of the country and use those homes as travel bases, and that really appealed to us. We wanted something more meaningful to do in retirement than simply stay at home. I came across an article about August Collections in a magazine, and the concept immediately stood out. It was a fresh alternative to buying a single second property and felt like a smarter, more flexible way to enjoy travel and home ownership.
We knew we didn’t want to be tied to just one property or location, we wanted variety and the freedom to explore. We also didn’t want the responsibility that comes with owning a second home outright: the maintenance, the management, or the stress of it sitting empty or having to rent it out when we weren’t using it. That’s why August really intrigued us, it offered a way to enjoy multiple homes without any of the hassle.
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The only hesitation we had at first was that you don’t get to see all the properties up front, so it does feel like a bit of a leap of faith. But the concept made so much sense to us. After discovering it in that magazine, I did some research, but we actually sat on it for about a year, just thinking it over. Eventually, I reached out to the team, and from that point on, the whole process was seamless. It’s been a great experience.
Melinda: And to your Sales Advisor, Rory’s credit, he consistently stayed in touch with both John and me. He would check in periodically to see if we had any questions and would send through helpful information or marketing materials to keep the conversation going. It was a thoughtful, low-pressure approach that we really appreciated.
Melinda: What really appealed to me were the incredible cities where each of the homes is located, and the ability to experience city life right at your doorstep. For example, we’re currently staying in our Paris home, and just last night we stepped out of the apartment and, less than 50 feet away, found a charming café. We sat outside, enjoyed a drink, and watched the world go by - it was lively, cosy, and just felt so special. That’s the kind of sweet, everyday city living that I love and that August makes possible.
John: We didn’t want to vacation somewhere with nothing to do, we’re not quite the type to fully switch off right away. Slowing down on holiday is something we still have to work at! That’s why the city homes felt like a perfect fit for us. There’s always the option to do as much or as little as you like. We’ve explored museums, but one of our favorite things is researching great restaurants. We wouldn’t call ourselves foodies, but we really enjoy experiencing the amazing culinary scenes, something we don’t often get back home in the U.S. We’ve also been pleasantly surprised by how affordable everything is. And honestly, we haven’t met a single person who hasn’t been incredibly warm and welcoming.
John: Melinda’s mother is Austrian, so she spent time in Europe when she was younger. My dad worked in Germany for four or five years during my childhood, so our family lived there for a while and I was exposed to European culture early on. As we got older, nearly all of our vacations over the past 30 years have been in Europe. We’ve mostly gravitated toward places like the Amalfi Coast or the Greek Isles, rather than the big cities, though we’ve done those too, just not as frequently. So when it came time to think about slowing down, Europe felt like a natural choice.
Melinda: When I tell my friends back home in Austin about what we’ve done, they often look at me with confusion, they don’t quite get it and usually mistake it for a timeshare. I think it’s really important to clarify that it’s not. I’ve been calling it a fractional model, but even that doesn’t fully capture what it is. People are definitely curious about how it works; I’ve had quite a few friends ask for more information. But almost every time, their first question is, “Are you sure this isn’t a timeshare?” It’s not a timeshare, it’s a completely different concept. It’s just still very new to a lot of people.
John: I think it all goes back to our interest in European culture. Strangely enough, we’ve only taken a handful of vacations within the U.S. California is nice, and New York City has its appeal, but for us, traveling in the U.S. just doesn’t compare to the richness and variety of Europe. The cultural differences between Rome, London, and Paris are endlessly fascinating, and you simply don’t get that kind of contrast within the U.S.
The only real drawback for us is the travel time, it’s a bit of a journey. I’m often envious of people living in places like Amsterdam, who can hop on a short flight and be in Paris in under two hours. For us, it’s more of a haul, but we’ve adapted. We’ve figured out which airplane seats we can tolerate and just power through. Fortunately, there are now two nonstop flights from Austin to London every day, which makes things a bit easier.
John: "If you'll have us!" I know there’s been talk recently about how Europeans are getting overwhelmed with tourism, there’s even talk about issues like tourists with squirt guns in Barcelona. But we’re not letting that deter us. As long as we can keep visiting, we’ll continue to travel.
Melinda: London was our first apartment, and because we didn’t have the ability to see exactly what we were buying into, it truly felt like a leap of faith. I remember watching the video where one of your team members, Max, was standing on the street corner of Southwell Gardens, saying something like, “this is it.” At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. When we arrived, we followed Max’s advice and took the Tube from the airport. I was so relieved when I saw the apartment—it was real! It was a bit surreal, but also a validation that we had made the right decision. When we got to the apartment, it was just lovely, such a wonderful surprise, though not exactly a surprise, more like confirmation that everything had come together perfectly.
John: One thing that really stood out during the process, and I think August really nailed, is the regular video and email updates we received. Every month or so, or sometimes every six weeks, we’d get an update, and we’d find ourselves counting down the days until the next one, especially when it came to our Rome apartment. It was so exciting to watch the apartment come together, and it made the whole experience feel really engaging and special.
We got to watch the process unfold, from the gutted or initial stages, to seeing the plans and the layout of the rooms take shape. One thing that’s been especially important for Melinda and me is that we’re quite particular when it comes to our accommodations, and we really appreciate the sophistication of the interior design that August delivers. All of the apartments are beautifully finished, and as someone in the design business, I’m just so grateful that someone else took care of all of it. I didn’t have to lift a finger, I can simply walk in and enjoy everything. Walking into the apartment for the first time and seeing a space that I have an equity interest in, beautifully designed and fully realised, was an incredibly satisfying experience. It’s exactly how Melinda put it: it’s not just a dream, it’s real, and that feeling is truly rewarding.
John: We absolutely love the locations of our August homes. In Paris, for example, we've explored every corner of the city, visiting all the different neighborhoods we can during our time here. But no matter how much we explore, we always end up coming back to our little neighborhood and feeling at home. We truly feel fortunate to be in this spot, there's no other neighborhood we’d rather be in. August does an amazing job selecting these locations. It’s the same in Rome, especially in Monti. It’s a charming, quiet neighborhood that makes it feel like home. After a day of roaming the streets of Rome, it’s so nice to come back to our area. Walking back to the apartment always feels like a comforting return to a special, peaceful place.
Melinda: Another thing we really love is that we never have to get into a car or drive. Back in Austin, driving is a necessity. You have to drive everywhere – even for simple errands like going to the grocery store. You can't just walk anywhere; it's all about getting in the car and dealing with traffic. So, it's such a relief to be somewhere where everything is easily accessible, right at your fingertips, without the burden of driving.
Melinda: I’m going to say Paris, so far. However, I'm not completely sure yet!
John: They're all so different, and each one has its own unique appeal, which makes it hard to choose a favourite. That said, maybe Paris—but really, that’s what’s so great about the whole concept: the diversity. You can visit different places and enjoy different experiences. I wouldn't want to only have the Paris apartment and come here every time. I love being here, but I also really value having the option to explore other cities and enjoy what each one has to offer.
John: One of the unexpected joys we’ve discovered is being able to share these experiences with our family. For instance, this year our son and daughter-in-law spent a week in Rome and had a wonderful time. A month ago, my daughter and I traveled to Rome just the two of us, it was such a special time for us to reconnect. She’s 40 now, so we haven’t had many opportunities to spend that much time together in recent years, and it was truly meaningful.
Another benefit has been the flexibility to mix city stays with more independent travel. For example, I’ve done a week with August in one city, followed by a few nights on my own, staying in charming hotels. We’ve found that in Europe, especially outside major cities, it’s easy to find lovely, reasonably priced hotels. Last year, I stayed in Provence on my way to Cannes, and this summer, we’re planning to visit the Amalfi Coast. After our stay in Rome, we’ll take the train to Naples and spend a few days in Capri, staying in our favourite hotel before heading home. It’s great that you don’t have to stay in the apartment the whole time, you can broaden your horizons and explore more of what Europe has to offer.
Melinda: It’s still all pretty new for me, so I really enjoy the simple pleasure of a day spent exploring, just walking around, discovering new corners, and stopping at a café. It may sound cliché, but there’s something so special about just sitting and soaking it in. Last night, for example, John and I went downstairs to have a drink at a little spot just around the corner before our dinner reservation. It was so comfortable, we had a lovely drink and a small bite, and honestly, it was one of the nicest parts of the evening. Afterward, we went to this great, over-the-top restaurant, but we both agreed that just sitting there beforehand, watching the neighborhood go by, was incredibly relaxing. You start to recognize familiar faces - the shopkeepers, neighbors, even the local dogs, and that brings a real sense of comfort. I think I appreciate that feeling of being part of the neighborhood even more than the ‘hunt’ for new experiences.
John: I think the natural instinct when you first arrive in a place like Paris is to run around trying to do it all - the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, checking everything off the list. But over time, we’ve learned to slow down and settle into the rhythm of the neighbourhood. Now, a perfect day for me is spent browsing the little shops nearby, especially across Rue de Rivoli where you’ll find antique stores and vintage jewellery shops. We love just wandering through, taking our time. By around three or four, it’s nap time, we head back to the apartment, decompress for a bit, and then head back out around seven for a simple dinner. We’ve done the fine dining thing a few times, but honestly, one of our favourite meals was at a small Indian restaurant just two blocks from our place, 60 euros for the two of us, and it was delicious. So now we tend to keep things simple, stay local, and avoid wearing ourselves out with too much sightseeing.
John: We came to Paris for New Year’s Eve, and in our 40 years of marriage, I think we’ve only stayed up until midnight maybe three times. But that night, Melinda was dancing on the Champs-Élysées at three in the morning with her sister and brother-in-law, it was incredible. We had such a wonderful time. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Paris in the winter, but we were either lucky or just well-prepared, because the weather felt invigorating. It was cold, but really pleasant. I definitely don’t shy away from winter travel now, especially since it feels a bit less touristy. That said, our favorite seasons to travel are probably spring and fall. Barcelona in July last year was beautiful but extremely hot, so the shoulder seasons suit us best.
John: I would say the key is to trust the process and trust the team at August. Everyone we've interacted with, from legal to property management, has been incredibly professional and reassuring. Honestly, the scariest part for me was wiring the initial payment. With all the fraud stories out there, it felt nerve-wracking not knowing exactly where the money was going or how it would all work out. Even my lawyer, who reviewed the legal documents, said everything looked fine but admitted it was outside his usual experience, especially with entities spanning multiple countries. But in the end, I would tell anyone considering August to have confidence in the team, they clearly know what they’re doing and have structured things in a very thoughtful and secure way.
I also feel like we've diversified in a meaningful way. We've made a real estate investment that not only adds a different dimension to our financial portfolio but also seems to have appreciated since we bought in. It’s nice to feel that we’re getting both personal enjoyment and potential financial value from it.
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