References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.
Vacation/Second Home Market Activity
People are snatching up vacation homes. And many are paying with cash. (CNN, Jun. 17, 2021)
Vacation home sales rose by 16% in 2020 from the year before, outpacing overall growth in existing-home sales last year which was 5.6%, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors. And the trend has continued into this year with sales already up 33% through April over last year.
More People Are Buying Vacation Homes, but Where They’re Looking May Surprise You (realtor.com®, Apr. 20, 2021)
“[T]he data does not account for sales made in cash (a preferred method of vacation home purchasing for the wealthy), most of the places on this list aren’t the typical playgrounds of the uber-rich. Instead, we found a new crop of more out-of-the way destinations—relatively affordable, not too far from larger cities, and typically near water or the mountains”
Vacation Home Counties Report (National Association of REALTORS®, 2021)
- In 2020, vacation home sales rose 16.4%, outpacing the growth in total existing-home sales of 5.6%.
- In 2020, the median existing-home sales price typically rose by 14.2% in vacation home counties, compared to 10.1% in non-vacation home counties.
- In 2020, the top 10 vacation home counties were in the states of Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina.
Working With Vacation/Second Home Buyers
3 Things to Consider When Working with Second-Home Buyers and Sellers (RISMedia, Sep. 15, 2021)
Be ready to pounce if a property comes on the market in a location the client desires. With multiple offers now the norm, developing a coherent strategy is important. Setting proper expectations (and managing them) is vital whether you’re representing the buyer, seller or both.
I'm A Financial Planner, And There Are 3 Things I Always Tell Clients Before Buying A Vacation Home (Insider, Apr. 12, 2021)
How much use will the property get? How will it be financed? How will rental use be managed?
4 Things Financial Planners Wish People Knew Before Buying a Second Home (Insider, Oct. 20, 2020)
- Buying a second home takes patience, preparation, and lots of savings.
- Financial planners wish their clients knew all the expenses involved in owning a second home, because the costs add up.
- They also wish their clients knew that they didn't have to have their first homes paid off before buying, and that rental income isn't guaranteed.
RSPS (Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist)
RSPS Certification (National Association of REALTORS®)
Find a RSPS Specialist (National Association of REALTORS®)
Resort Area and Second Home Specialty, (National Association of REALTORS®)
NAR Education Matrix—Resort and Second Home Markets, (National Association of REALTORS®)
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Buying a Second Home (eBook)
How a Second Home Can Be Your Best Investment (eBook)
Second Homes for Dummies (eBook)
The Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico (Audiobook, eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
Investing in a Vacation Home for Pleasure and Profit (Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western, 2006) HD 1341 B69
How a Second Home Can Be Your Best Investment (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2004) HD 1341 K28
REBAC Roundtable 2004, Volume II, Resort, Vacation and Second Home Markets (Chicago, IL: Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council, Inc., 2004) CD016
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