+9 @oregonchick I find it odd that you're picking a location that is in neither community where you'd want to spend your time. Like, why not just live right outside of Houston or Austin, where you can quickly nip into town for cultural events AND doing more everyday things like going out to eat or shopping? It would also put you in closer proximity to a major airport, which I assume would make travel to your other home easier. When there is a concert or event in the other town that you'd like to attend, simply plan ahead and make the drive (or take a quick flight), then stay overnight in a hotel. Small indulgence for a lottery winner, right? I don't have estimates for operating expenses for the property you're describing, but I do have thoughts about what might make up those costs: * Property taxes * Utilities if on-grid (if off-grid, initial costs for development plus ongoing costs for maintenance) * Internet access (and any landlines, cable or satellite, or whatever that you might choose) * Landscaping * Security * Housekeeping * Home maintenance and repair If you have a large property with multiple buildings and plan to leave it vacant for months at a time, you may want to hire live-in staff who would have a small home on the property. In some places, that's just a property manager who handles certain maintenance tasks, manages when repairmen come in to work on buildings, etc. In other places, you might hire what's known as an "estate couple" who are typically married; one of them handles property management and maybe acts as a chauffeur or maintains your fleet of vehicles, the other handles things like housekeeping, keeping fridge/pantry stocked and possibly cooking, event planning/catering when you have parties or guests visit, etc. You'd need to provide housing and benefits on top of whatever salary you offer, so consider that as a potential cost, too.