June 6, 2026
Mark
How one Swiss homeowner exchanged the responsibilities of a second home for a different way of owning across Europe.
For Mark, a Geneva-based international consultant, the appeal of August was never simply about owning a holiday home. Having previously experienced the realities of maintaining a second residence, he was looking for a way to enjoy Europe more freely, without being tied to a single destination or the responsibilities that come with sole ownership.
After discovering August through the Financial Times and carrying out extensive due diligence, he joined in 2023. Three years on, he shares his experience of co-owning from Switzerland, the practicalities of navigating cross-border ownership, and why access to homes across some of Europe's most sought-after destinations continues to work so well for him and his family.
What really appealed to me about the August model was the concept of having access to five homes in different destinations, without the burden of full ownership and maintenance.
Can you introduce yourself and how you first discovered August, and what was the joining process like from your perspective?
My name is Mark, and I’m based in Geneva, Switzerland. I work as an international consultant and am semi-retired from the United Nations.
I first discovered August through an article in the Financial Times travel section, I believe back in 2022. Luckily, as a UN staff member at the time, I had a subscription to the Financial Times, which is how I initially came across the company.
Did you have any reservations before joining, and if so, how were they overcome? What kind of due diligence did you do?
I did a lot of due diligence and spoke to many people whose opinions I trusted. The main issue was always trying to separate timesharing from co-ownership.
At the time, many people still had quite negative views about timesharing, especially when it came to selling timeshares, so a lot of the reactions I got from friends and family when talking about the August concept came from people confusing it with that model.
Since then, the concept of co-ownership has really caught on, and there are now many competitors in the market. But a few years ago, it was still a relatively new idea for many people. You really have to be very clear about what the August concept is before doing your due diligence, otherwise you can get a lot of background noise from people confusing it with timesharing.
That said, I also received a lot of positive feedback. What I did do was meet both Kirsten, the Commercial Director, and Melie, the Co-Founder and CEO of August. I spoke with Melie several times on the phone and, because it’s a significant investment, I still wanted additional reassurance.
So I went to London, visited the office, and deliberately spent time in the building and meeting the team and seeing how the business operated. I met with both Melie and the CFO and asked a lot of questions. Seeing the offices in person, meeting the people behind the business, and experiencing it firsthand was very reassuring. It’s important to see actual bricks and mortar, especially nowadays when there are a lot of questionable operators out there.
I also did a lot of checking through the Financial Times and read a series of articles written in other publications, which was equally reassuring. And so I made the final leap at the beginning of 2023.
As a Swiss resident, was the fact that August helped to handle the paperwork and legal documentation an important factor in your decision?
In Switzerland, you’re required to declare not only your income, but also your assets and property holdings abroad. For the French properties, August uses a French legal structure called an SCI, which is very common in France. However, Swiss law doesn’t fully recognise the SCI structure in the same way, so it has created some additional paperwork and administrative work for Swiss residents when declaring these assets for tax purposes.
That said, August has been very supportive throughout the process. They’ve helped connect me with the right experts in France who understand the SCI structure and can assist with the Swiss reporting requirements. The first time was definitely more complicated, but now that the framework is in place, I think it will become much more routine going forward.
So while it wasn’t initially a deciding factor, the support August has provided around the legal and administrative side has certainly been valuable, especially as these cross-border tax requirements have evolved.
Why did you choose co-ownership in Europe rather than purchasing a second home outright or continuing to rent on holidays? Do you think this model is particularly attractive for Swiss residents?
For the first part of the question, I was hesitant to invest in just one property in the South of France and then wait for friends and family to come and visit. I’ve heard too many stories about people putting all their eggs in one basket and eventually feeling quite isolated in a second home, especially when there are so many responsibilities that come with maintaining a property. You have to spend time there managing and looking after it, even outside of the holidays themselves.
I travel a lot anyway, so I wasn’t comfortable committing to just one location or one investment. What really appealed to me about the August model was the concept of having access to five homes in different destinations, without the burden of full ownership and maintenance.
The second part of the question is more difficult to answer, because renting is still, of course, an option. But I do think renting high-quality homes in places like Spain, Italy, and France during the summer months has become extremely expensive. With co-ownership, there’s a different sense of consistency and belonging as well, rather than starting from scratch each time you travel.
As for Swiss residents specifically, I do think the co-ownership model can be very attractive. Many Swiss people travel frequently and appreciate flexibility, quality, and efficiency, so the idea of accessing multiple well-managed homes across Europe without the full burden of sole ownership fits quite well with that lifestyle.
Of course, there are maintenance fees involved, and they have increased over time, but it’s probably still more cost-effective than renting comparable properties regularly. And beyond that, it’s also nice to have home equity and feel that you’re investing in something tangible.
August has been very supportive throughout the purchase process. They’ve helped connect me with the right experts in France who understand the SCI structure and can assist with the Swiss reporting requirements.
Had you owned a secondary residence before joining August? If so, what motivated you to make the change?
Yes, I had previously owned a secondary residence, which I eventually sold.
One of the key motivations for making that change was the burden of maintenance. There is a significant amount of work involved in looking after a second home, even if you try to visit regularly. In practice, you often feel obliged to go just to deal with upkeep and ongoing issues.
For me, the idea of externalising all of that maintenance and responsibility was very appealing. It removes the operational side of ownership and allows you to simply enjoy the home when you’re there.
It also allows you to explore different regions in more depth, because you have a real connection to the homes you own, which naturally encourages you to spend more time getting to know each destination properly.
What specifically drew you to the Signature Collection?
For me, it was important to have something I could share with friends and family. I now have six grandchildren, so having the right amount of space to comfortably host everyone was ideal.
I also travel quite a lot to London and Paris, so I didn’t feel the need for the Pied à Terre Collection. The Premium Collection was also a question of budget at the time.
Ultimately, the Signature Collection properties were already very well suited to my needs, and felt like the right fit, so there wasn’t a reason for me to upscale.
How would you describe the design, character, and overall experience of the homes? Do you have a favourite home or location?
Our Collection of homes are excellent overall, although we did come across one challenge with the Mallorcan property. I absolutely love the house itself, but we felt the setting wasn’t ideal for how we would use it. It’s in a village that isn’t particularly close to the sea, which is an important consideration for us, especially with the grandchildren in mind.
There was an opportunity to potentially adjust the portfolio, including contributing additional funds to acquire a property closer to the coast, but that option ultimately didn’t move forward. One of the structural aspects of the model is that decisions require unanimity among co-owners, which can make changes more complex when views differ. In this case, not all parties were aligned on selling and reinvesting, so the property remains part of our collection.
That said, the rest of the homes are really gorgeous. My daughter, who has a strong eye for interiors, absolutely loves the Cotswolds property in particular. August has done a very good job across each home in terms of design and finishing. There is a consistent standard throughout, while still allowing for local influences in furniture and décor. At the same time, certain practical elements, like cutlery and core household items, remain standardised across all homes, which works very well.
For me, the South of France home is the best! Especially if you want to bring grandchildren and friends, the swimming pool is stunning! My second favourite would be the Tuscany home, then for a couples trip the Cotswolds is also stunning.
I have a few favourites, but it really depends on the kind of holiday you’re looking for. If you want something more active and adventurous, Mallorca is fantastic, you can spend the whole day hiking and exploring.
If it’s about bringing the grandchildren, then the South of France works beautifully, with plenty of space and a very family-friendly setting. And in winter, Chamonix is ideal for skiing.
I actually teach skiing, so with my grandchildren who are learning, Chamonix is great.
So it really depends on the purpose of the trip, but each home offers a different set of experiences.
What have you enjoyed most about being part of the August community?
To be honest, I don’t personally engage that much with other owners, but there is a platform where we do share tips and recommendations across the different destinations and properties.
Of course, when it comes to discussions around home improvements or budgets, owners are active and responsive.
I know August also organises drinks receptions for owners in London, Belgium, and the Netherlands, although I haven’t attended those. If there is ever one hosted in Switzerland, that would be great!
How have you found the booking system, and when do you typically prefer to travel?
The booking system has definitely improved over the years. In the beginning, we did experience technical glitches, but it has come a long way and I really like the latest version.
When it comes to booking your weeks, it can still feel a bit stressful trying to secure certain dates. In our collection in particular, there is very strong demand for the South of France and Tuscany homes.
The South of France property is especially high in demand, so even when joining a waitlist, it’s quite rare for weeks to become available. That said, I do think the booking system August has in place is the fairest approach. The points-based system, released three times a year, gives all owners an equal opportunity to book.
Of course, you may not always get every week you want, and the configuration might not be exactly what you’re hoping for each year. That’s an important consideration when co-owning, as opposed to owning outright, where you would get guaranteed weeks.
That said, I’ve personally always managed to secure my 10 weeks per year, and even more when using last-minute availability, such as with Chamonix. Overall, I’m very satisfied, and I don’t really see a more fair way for August to manage the allocation across all owners.
Switzerland is a very close-knit market, especially in Zurich and Geneva, people in the same industry tend to know each other well, so personal recommendations carry enormous weight. What advice would you give to someone considering joining August?
I do believe word of mouth in Switzerland would work just as well as it does in Paris or London, but I also think the locations of the August properties are exactly what appeals to someone living in Geneva. Historically, people in Geneva are very drawn to the South of France, Italy, and the French Alps, so the destinations August offers are perfectly aligned with the travel and lifestyle habits of French-speaking Swiss residents, as well as Italian-speaking Swiss. And, of course, everyone loves going to Spain.
Because of this, I think there is already a strong cultural affinity in Switzerland for the destinations that August offers, which makes the concept a very natural fit for the market.
Overall, I’ve been extremely satisfied since joining August. While I’ve shared some concerns along the way, I’m genuinely very happy with the experience and have never regretted the decision. My children absolutely love it as well.
Interested in learning more? A share in Mark's Signature Collection is currently available, or you can book a call with the August team to explore which Collection might be the right fit for you.