A
vacation home can be a great investment both in terms of financial gain and
enjoyment. Before you buy, however, here are some tips to consider.
Make
sure it’s rentable...
Whether
you’re interested in renting your place out or not, it’s a good idea to buy
with renting in mind--after all, a vacation property’s rental potential will
certainly affect its resale value. You’ll want to ensure local ordinances allow
for short term rentals, and that your property is in a location (and condition)
that’s attractive to renters.
...But
don’t rely on rental income.
While
renting can be a great source of income, it’s rare for rental revenues to cover
all the costs of owning and operating your vacation home. Additionally, to
benefit from tax deductions associated with renting, you’ll only be able to
occupy your vacation home for two weeks or 10 percent of the rental days,
whichever is greater. If that doesn’t sound realistic, you’ll have to include
those costs in your thinking as well.
Be
realistic about price.
Remember
that a vacation home is icing on the cake, not the cake itself. Remember, too,
that due to the real estate collapse of recent years, banks are imposing
stricter requirements on loan applicants. Before you commit to a big,
beachfront home, be sure you have enough cash flow to make the down payment and
cover your new mortgage, in addition to all of the costs above.
Do
hands-on research.
It’s
obvious you shouldn’t buy a vacation home sight unseen. But more than that, you
shouldn’t buy a vacation home unless you absolutely love the area. Since a
vacation home is a long term investment, and since you’ll still own (and pay
for) your vacation property in the off season, it’s important to get a full
experience of the surrounding community before you commit.
