Winter Wonderland!

When it comes time to purchase a 2nd home, there are many decisions to be made!

Particularly where! Aside from a good investment, buying a vacation home brings enjoyment to you and your family. Maybe all you need is a spacious Condo. Are you looking for a golf community or a resort style community with lots of activities? Maybe a boat dock? Lots of criteria, questions and things to think about. To help you make a good decision on when and where to buy your vacation home, here are some tips!

It’s All About Location

You need to know why you want to buy a second home. Do you spend a lot of time in one specific area? Do you want to explore one particular place a bit more on a frequent basis? The reason behind why you purchase a home for vacation purposes will fuel your decision on location. If you’re looking for a simple getaway with your family several times a year, the answer may be different than if you want to have a rental property. Choose a location that has varied seasons. You don’t want the prime time for use of the property to be the same as when you’d like to be on the property with your family.

Do some research!

While it can be tempting to search for homes while you’re on a getaway, you should rent several times before you make the decision to buy in a particular place. Vacations can give buyers this sense of awe that could quickly fade. You don’t want your decision to be fueled by emotion. You need to be certain that you’ll actually enjoy an area for the long term.

Shopping for a vacation home is quite similar to shopping for your main house. You want to know you’re in a good area and that you’ll enjoy the house or the long haul. It’s tough to do that if you don’t have a basic understanding or appreciation of the area.

Is this a Winter Getaway? Or will turn into a full time residence?

You need to be realistic about how often you’ll actually use your vacation house. It may not be worth it to buy in an area that will only be used one week out of the year. If you know you’ll be able to use the space all of the time, then go for buying a home in the location of your dreams. If, however, you’re unsure of how often you’ll be able to get to the house you might want to think twice. You could do just as well finding a spot that you can use as a reliable rental when you want it.