It’s pathetic what the average attention span evolved to be. Prolonged focus and reaching a flow state is a relict of the past. It feels like living with an impaired brain thinking back to intellectual highlights where “focus” was a thing. If we continue down this road, we better wave goodbye to feeling at ease with ourselves and work. In an attempt to tackle some of the issues, I spent Four days in a remote cabin to realign my thoughts.
Being without the internet, communication, or even your computer makes you wonder what to do with your time. You end up pondering things. It’s the stuff that happens while munching oatmeal and staring at the fire for four hours. Then there is the discomfort of the digital void. A pretentious feeling of “disconnection” despite insignificantly less contact with real humans. And finally, there is calm. Calm in chores and discomfort. Clearly defined tasks, uninterrupted work, and alignment with the pace of nature make a difference between day and night.
The latter isn’t necessarily feasible in the race our societies have come. But taking yourself away from distractions is no utopian idea, at least for a few days every month. The other option is living in cognitive misery. What a choice…
I made a video about it with more of the experience. If you want a challenge, try watching it whole in one go and count the time you would like to cop out to check something else. 42 minutes can be a long time.
We moved to Norway in 2020. Living in the family cabin was delightful but felt like a burden. In October of the same year, the hunt for a cabin with large property or a small farm began.
PS: You will find two detailed videos with real-life experiences in the end.
The housing market in Norway
Before you start thinking about moving to Norway and buying yourself a neat place, you have to understand/know a few things.
The main property market is on Finn.no, a listing page like craigslist that is used by real estate agents.
If you’re up for a cabin or farm, you search for “hytte” or “småbruk”. There are a few more websites to buy a farm, but the main action is on Finn.
Bidding Rounds, here we come
Nearly every object ends up being auctioned. No fixed prices if there is more than one person interested. The bids aren’t confidential either.
If you check the Finn ad for your property, you will find the house showing date. People attend, make themselves a picture, and go home. By signing up for the showing, you’re often simultaneously signing up for the bidding round.
In Norway, everything is connected to your birth number. That’s what you sign up with. You also state your telephone number as the bidding works via SMS. It continues on until the highest price is reached. That is emotional.
Normally, the bidding starts the day after the showing.
If you made the highest bid, the seller still has to accept it. If he/she does, congratulations, you bought a home.
Cabin or farm
Cabins generally have a small plot and are often situated within designated cabin fields. You can find examples with more land attached, but the average is around 500–2000 m2.
Småbruks (Small farms) often have more land attached. If the previous buyer wasn’t a big farmer that stripped it from its property, the range goes from 15.000–500.000 m2.
In both cases, city distance is exponentially related to price. The higher north you go in Norway, the cheaper (and colder/darker) it gets.
The main difference is that there are more cabins than are demanded while it’s the opposite for small farms.
On a note, the great farms are given on or sold to family/friends. The rest goes to Finn. If you want a pearl, you better start networking. Everything you can get your hands on off the public market will make your life better.
Frustration
We’ve been on it for two years now and had barely a chance with a limited budget. But we learned a lot. So here are two videos with much deeper insights into the buying process.
As always, if you prefer to see the video version of this article, click here or scroll to the end.
We’ve been living in Norway for over a year! But now, after moving into our first own place (before that, we stayed at the family cabin of my girlfriend), financial reality hits differently. So today, we are going to have a look at how much it actually costs to live in a small house in Norway’s countryside. I’ve made a little list here so let’s go through it all the way from renting to going to the gym and having pets.
Housing
At the moment, we are renting a small house right by the sea. It has three small bedrooms, a big living area, and kitchen as well as a decent bathroom.
Rent
The rent for this 900$.
It differs a lot from the city and I would say that this is pretty much as cheap as it gets (except you go much further north). You need insurance here as well, so there is another 15$ adding to that.
Subtotal: 915$
Electricity/Water
Winters are cold here and electricity bills come outside the rent. We haven’t received our first one yet but it is most likely around 60$ if we are somewhat aligned with the average.
In terms of water, we are connected to a well. So no charges for that. Wastewater as well regular waste service is included in the rent.
Trash is a bit different here tho. We collect it outside for a while until we make a trip to a container every once in a while which is about a kilometer down the road.
Having a car is inevitable. Distances are long in Norway!
And without owning it, work, groceries, and gym trips would be nearly impossible. Or at least they would take ages.
So we bought one in the very beginning. The search started back in Denmark. The 2014 Toyota Proace we bought with 100K mileage was 9400$. Let’s assume that it holds for 6 years. Which makes a monthly total of 130$.
To that, we need to add insurance, 115$ and fuel, 96$.
We are not done yet tho. Depending on where you go, there are some ferries to take and some toll roads to pay. Maybe just as an average add around 50$ if you are not commuting.
At least it’s not too complicated. You have this little device in the car called autopass. It’s a sensor for all toll stations, so everything is deducted automatically.
Then there is changing from summer to winter tires and if you drive as much as we do, either a small or big service every other year, maybe with some new breaks after all these hills. Adding another 85$ to the bill. This lets us end up with 476$ per month, for us two.
Subtotal: 1451$
Food
Assuming you are also in for a pretty decent diet, things are getting expensive.
Our current food bill is around 720$ for two.
That includes a good amount of chocolate tho.
Jokes aside, we are looking quite close at prices and are eating seasonal and pretty much whatever is on offer. So in terms of proper eating with a decent amount of calories, we should be pretty close to as cheap as it gets.
Assuming you think about working somewhat remotely here, then there is also the internet bill. 60 mbs unlimited usage wifi is around 60$ and mobile providers with unlimited data are 65$ per phone.
We are lucky to still be able to use the danish contracts so our current bill is 65$ for two. We use our phones as mobile hotpot and therefore don’t have any cable-based wifi.
Subtotal: 2344$
Pets
Then there is one extra which might be interesting.
Countryside means space and more people than in the city have pets. Assuming you would like to have a dog. With getting a yearly checkup and some vaccines as well as food, and the initial price of a pure breed dog with a life expectancy of 10 years, that would be another 65$ per month.
Total
Our monthly expenses for two end up being around
2409$
1405$/person
It’s easy to see that Norway is one of the richest countries on the planet.
An inspirational list for adventures off the beaten path.
In two years of week-long road trips through Norway, you see a lot. Things you like and things you don’t like.
What I personally don’t like are tourist queues. No magic view can withstand the destructive force of hundreds of smartphones longing for attention-grabbing Instagram stories.
If you come to Norway for guided tours up Galdhøpiggen and other mountains, fair enough! You will have to deal with other tourists. If you’re just up for amazing views, you definitely don’t have to stand on Trolltunga like a herd of sheep waiting to be shorn just to take a picture that millions have taken before.
Over time we have been hiking many alternatives with no less stunning views that could help you in planning your next Norway trip a bit around the hoards of tourists that flood the country every year.
It happens to be that I filmed five hikes from start to end so you know upfront what you can expect.
Katthammaren:
Eikesdalvatnet, Katthammaren
The peak is 1270 moh. (feels like more if the backpack is heavy).
You will find free parking even in the high season. Google maps coordinates for one of the parking lots are: 62.50996483486725, 8.170869083505032
Views 10/10, you can oversee all of Eikesdalvatnet.
Duration is 3.5 H up, 3 H down. You better start early and take the whole day.
This trip is for experienced hikers and is only to be done in good weather conditions. Try to avoid any rain as the steep parts will get dangerous. At points, you will have to hold on to chains and bands to pull yourself up along the wall.
Not without reason, the path is called the base jumpers path. Pretty much everyone you will pass on the way up won’t walk down, they jump.
Dønnamannen:
Dønnamannen, The man from Dønna
The peak is 858 moh. 50% easy 50% steep
Arrival: Take the ferry from Sandnessjøen to Dønna (within the week it drives pretty frequently). Some rides make take a little longer as you’re stopping by a neighbor island along the way.
Google maps for parking lot: (66.0461250, 12.3977206)
Free parking. Free Camping along the beach. You will even have access to a public toilet. Prepare for a good amount of wind.
Duration 2.5 H (one way)
Views: 10/10 all from the seven sisters to Lovund!
The parking spot is magical. If you are into it, there are great fishing opportunities so you won’t have to bring dinner.
Prepare for a good amount of Norwegians as the hike rose in popularity within the country in the past years.
Dønnamannen is for semi-experienced mountain hikers but doable for most without any experience if the weather is warm and dry. Otherwise, it can get a bit slippery.
One thing upfront, the weather around Dønna changes rapidly, if you can see the peak, you better run for it!
Ånderdalen Nationalpark:
Ånderdalen Nationalpark, Åndervatnet, Senja
There are many peaks in the national park but you most likely won’t aim for a specific one. This should be an overnight adventure.
There is a parking spot right at the entrance of the national park. On google maps, it’s called Trailhead Åndervatnet. The coordinates are 69.199039, 17.456935
Duration to Åndervatnet 1.5–2 H(one way)
Views depend on if you choose to head for the peaks afterward, I went to Ryphaugen and liked it quite a bit 8.5/10
Along the entrance of Åndervatnet, you will find a cabin with four sleeping spots that are free to use for everybody. Gas is available. So is firewood.
In the case it’s full already, you can stick to the left of the path for 20 minutes to reach a traditional Gamme (House with a grass roof) with another three sleeping spots. But well, always good to have a tent, right?
Be prepared for hoards of mosquitoes and blackflies on warm summer days!
PS: If you like fishing, up there is a great area to catch some big trout. Instructions for fishing cards can be found at the park entrance.
Lyngsdalen:
Lyngsdalen, Lyngseidet
Hike number two without aiming for a specific peak. Here you aim for the cabin in Lyngsdalen. This could be an overnight adventure.
There is a parking spot right at the community house in Furuflaten. It’s paid and damn expensive. The locals are upset about it too! One day is 30$ but I could not find an alternative place to stand. Here are the coordinates: 69.439725, 20.154705
Duration to Lyngsdalen 2–2.5 H (one way)
I did not plan to hike Lyngsdalen. My destination in Troms was Blåisvatnet near Tromsø.
In talks with locals on the day before the hike, I got to know that is one of those places that got flooded with tourists in the past years.
Later, Lyngsdalen was mentioned as a similarly beautiful alternative and it was! After walking a few hours to the cabin, you can choose to go onward to three different glaciers.
The best thing is that the cabin is even free to use. If you have a key. Ask for it in the community house!
Segla:
Segla in Senja
The peak is 639 moh. The hike is easy.
It’s said to say but this is the second very expensive parking spot. One day will cost you 25$ but if you’re just going up and down, you won’t need that long.
Google maps for parking lot: 69.504451, 17.626064.
Duration: 2H one way.
Views: If you have them (which is rare) 9/10
Senja is Norway’s second biggest Island and Segla is located in the north of it not too far from Senjahopen. There isn’t too much infrastructure, so be prepared for that.
We have been sleeping in the van close to Senjahopen and made our way down to Segla in the early morning. Already halfway you have a nice view with fjords to both sides.
For me, this was on the brink of being too touristy. And we were there at the end of the season.
If you want to have an even deeper insight into the Norwegian housing market and prefer to watch instead of reading, there is a video attached if you scroll down.
Golden sunsets, frosty winters, mountains, and fjords come to mind if anybody mentions Norway. And that is surprisingly exactly what it is. There is a lot of rain too. But however I twist it, Norway is one of the most beautiful countries to call home. The wide-open fields, steep mountain formations, and lush green, mossy forests emanate a sense of calm you can hardly find anywhere else.
Low population density has its charm. Looking at the YouTube and Google search statistics, city folks realize that a calm life in the countryside ain’t that bad. In the online space, Norway manifests itself as the holy grail for silence hungry overworked caffeine, and social media addicts (welcome to the club, eh). A tiny cabin or a small farm is a retreat of choice.
As a creator that has moved here two years ago, I can tell you finding the right place, or barely anything to start your dream is not that simple.
Context
My girlfriend and I moved here in 2020 amidst the corona chaos. Living in Denmark at that point, we had just canceled our rental agreement, ready long for South America travels. Despite the travel ban, we did not want to stay any longer homeless in Copenhagen. So our only options were to return to one of our home countries. With no desire for the crowded Germany, we chose the family cabin in mid-Norway. The most peaceful place I had ever been to at that point.
Long story short, we stayed there for a bit over a year. At one point borrowing a home stops feeling right, and you start looking for your own place.
So we decided, not willing to rent in the long term, to search for a small farm (Småbruk). A place surrounded by nature where we could transform into a space where people can reunite with nature.
How to buy a cabin/farm in Norway
There are just two options you stand a chance to buy any property in Norway. Either you have strong social connections and get news that somebody you are already acquainted with would like to sell their property, or you get lucky on Finn.no.
Finn (More often called Finn.no) is an equivalent of the many different digital marketspaces from other countries. Think about craigslist and ramp up trustworthiness and security.
The first option is rather unsuitable for immigrants and young people. If you are in your mid-twenties, you probably don’t know too many property owners and even less that would like to sell.
You can still go and knock on doors but Norwegians are often more skeptical towards novelty than you would expect. So, Finn is your only chance.
Buying Property on Finn.no
Once you find a cabin or farm you would like to buy, it’s time to take up the fight with the rest of Norway.
Typically, the selling process consists of an official showing and a bidding (normally starting the next workday after the showing). As long as there is more than one interest buyer, the sale automatically shifts to continuous bidding for the highest price.
You do that via your birth number and liquidity proof from your bank via SMS within the system of the real estate agent.
The bidding round is what kills dreams. Incomes in Norway are high and hard to keep up with when it turns to the bidding. So here is example which is not uncommon in the current market.
The cozy pink glasses
This wonderful property was priced at 89.000$. It has 40 hectares of land (mainly forest) and is nicely sheltered with direct access to a river and mountains. Our dream property.
But do not let this scam you here are some of the costs you have to work with.
Making it liveable:
Roof asbestos, broken frame 20.000$
Foundation wet, new drainage 20.000$
Chimney broken — 3000$
New pipes — 8.000$
New bathroom — 20.000$
Making it nice:
Barn rotten, roof is asbestos and broken, the foundation is eroded by the rain river. Worth 0$ either tear down or complete restoration. If you do that yourself to keep the costs down — 50.000$-75.000$
New outside facade — 10.000$
Leveling the rooms (30 cm height difference due to the age and rotting wood) — 15.000$
Repairing the shed (with bedroom) 10.000$
That’s all fair enough. The costs will be spread over many and all in all it would be a fair price for having your dream home in Norway. 160.000$ to make it liveable, 110.000$ to make it nice. These prices assume that you do everything you can do by yourself and only use contractors if necessary.
If you are not willing to do that, you can add another 100.000$ on top.
Well, 270.000$ to get our dream home sounded doable for us. But now the bidding round came in.
The property went for 260.000$ buying price instead of 89.000$.
This system is broken.
In total with renovation, you would have to spend 520.000$ for the property now.
If you ever think about selling again, the commune estimated that it would be worth 300.000 after all repairs are done.
Whoever bought will lose money if they ever sell it again.
Don’t give up the dream
All the information should not play down any of the charms of living in Norway. It’s still amazing despite all the hassle!
But I want to warn you. Getting something nice is hard. Getting something nice for a fair price is nearly impossible!
