Things to consider when you're buying a second home:

How accessible is the property? Gas prices dim the appeal of a place that's hundreds of miles away. You can usually hop a cheap flight to Florida, but that's not necessarily true of Corpus Christi, Tex., or Durango, Colo.

Is the community well planned? In rural areas, a beautiful new cabin may adjoin a cluster of rusting trailers.

Is the house in good shape? New construction is fine, but an older place or summer home is likely to be the victim of deferred maintenance and premature wear. Instead of asking for a price concession, you may be better off asking the seller to hire a carpenter and a painter.

Will you feel at home there? Start your search at Web sites such as Escapehomes.com and Lakeplace.com. But nothing beats a visit to see if the locale offers what you're looking for.

RELATED LINKS
	Vacation Homes on Sale
	5 Tax Rules for Renting Out Your Second Home
	More Real Estate Coverage

READER COMMENTS

Post a comment

Hide comment form

 | 

Read all comments (0)

Read recent comments

---

Permission to post your comment is assumed when you submit it. The name you provide will be used to identify your post, and NOT your e-mail address. We reserve the right to excerpt or edit for clarity any posted comments.
View our full privacy policy

Name:

E-mail:

Comment:

MORE: Kiplinger.com | Your Money | Real Estate | Magazine

TOOLS:   E-Mail Article  |  Print Article  |  Reprint Article  |  Content Sales

E-MAIL ALERTS: Keep up-to-date with the latest Kiplinger has to offer

SAVE, SHARE & DISCUSS:    |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   

ADD HEADLINES: