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Second home and Investment Properties

By
Real Estate Agent with Twin Lakes Realty

When Looking for the Best Second Home Location--Be sure to look at East TN

Search Tip: Try using our search by interest tool and look for activities you most enjoy as a way to find your ideal second home location.

A second home is as much of a reflection of who you are as your primary residence, and so deserves thoughtful consideration. While you're researching locations, here are some tips to help you discover the best place for your vacation home. Remember that it is impossible to know if real estate will appreciate over time-that's why our philosophy is to let enjoyment take precedence over the financial outcome of your second home purchase and only make a purchase when it is in your comfort zone financially.

 

Defining Who You Are

Spend some time thinking about the type of person you are, your likes and dislikes, your hobbies. Define the kind of lifestyle you desire, whether it is recreational, educational, or cultural. Think about how you spend your leisure time. Are there activities that you cannot live without, even when you're on vacation? If familiarity is important, consider areas where you have friends or family-a built-in community-or spots that you have frequented over the years. Look for locations that have the amenities that reflect who you are and what you like to do.

 

Vacation Bliss

Pull out your old photo albums and reminisce. Think about past vacations: where were your most enjoyable visits, what activities did you enjoy the most? Consider a second home in one of these places or a spot that offers these vacation activities.

 

Seasonality

Think about what season, or time of year, is your favorite and choose a climate that matches your needs. If you are planning on using your second home all-year long, make sure it has weather you enjoy any time of the year.

  

Distance

Determine how often you will visit your second home and calculate the ideal travel distance by car or plane. If you don't like to fly or financing plane tickets is an issue, you should consider a property that is within driving distance from your permanent residence. If you want to be able to commute to your vacation home during the weekend, look for a property within 300 miles from your primary residence-as this is the maximum distance most people are willing to travel for short vacations. Distance is also an important consideration if your planning on hosting friends and family-think about how far people are willing to travel and how much they are willing to spend to get there. Another determining factor is vacation time. If time off is in short supply, you may want to take advantage of the weekends and consider a place that is easy to get to.

  

Long-term Use

It's important to think about your second home's long-term use. If you're considering renting your vacation home, make sure you look for communities that are popular for renters. If your house will be used in retirement, make sure the area offers all the appropriate amenities.

 

When Looking Real Estate in East TN and the Great Smoky Mounatains of TN Call Angela Privett 865-803-6643

www.angelaprivett.com

Angela Privett

Specializing in Waterfront and Mountain View Properties

 

JEROME G
White Plains, NY
Great information, thanks for sharing.
Mar 18, 2008 11:09 AM
Keith Elliott Jr
KEIRE Realty Group - Manassas, VA
Principal Broker/Owner

Hello Angela,

Welcome to Active Rain and congrats on your first post! The opportunities to learn and network are incredible here. Best of luck to ya!

-Keith

Mar 18, 2008 05:20 PM
Bill Exeter
Exeter 1031 Exchange Services, LLC - San Diego, CA
1031 Tax-Deferred Exchange Expert

Hi Angela,

Great information.  Something to keep in mind when shopping for the second home.

Mar 19, 2008 03:26 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

    We invite you back to ActiveRain in 2017!

    Much has changed since you last posted to ActiveRain.  I encourage you to take another look at the website.  

    Surf some blogs, leave some comments.  

   Best to you! 

Dec 07, 2017 08:01 PM