Where are the best places to buy a vacation home in the U.S. today? Based on factors like affordability, location, amenities, and climate factors, let’s look at seven places in the U.S. you should take a look at.
Tampa Bay Area, Florida
Located near the western Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa and its surrounding communities offer golf courses, beaches, museums, international airports, and the attractions of Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, and Saint Petersburg within a two-hour drive.
While the weather usually gets above 90 degrees from May through September, winters are mild, with average highs in the 60s and few freezes. The housing market is currently recovering from the tumbles that affected many other areas of the country, allowing buyers to get in on some great deals. Two bedroom condominiums in the Tampa Bay area can be had for less than $125,000.
Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
Less than three hours from the bustle of New York City lay the scenic and peaceful Pocono Mountains. A popular vacation spot and conveniently accessible from Interstate 80, The Pocono Mountains offer affordable homes (many in the $100s and 200s), mountain views, lakes for fishing and boating, skiing in the winter and stunning scenery that in the fall turns shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Lake Tahoe, California
Lake Tahoe, California offers a vast array of things to do, including skiing during the winter and art festivals and water activities in the summer. Because home prices have dropped considerably in California in the recent past, buying a good property that you will enjoy for years to come should be affordable for nearly anyone looking to enjoy a retreat in Lake Tahoe. Prices range from under $300,000 to the millions, but all locations are in close proximity to the water.
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
The Smoky Mountains afford people a chance to live the log cabin life without having to spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars to do it. In fact, some of the appealing things about having a vacation home in the Smoky Mountains is that you can enjoy a retreat among the woods that comprise one of our country’s most loved national parks while still being within a few hours of major cities like Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Nashville, and Chattanooga.
A half-day drives gets you to the Atlantic coast beaches. Prices range from under $150,000 for a small, two-bedroom cabin and up to several times that figure for larger homes on dozens of acres of land. Winters can get cold, with temperatures in the 20s and below during the mornings and snow, but the summers are pleasant.
New Castle County, Delaware
Delaware makes a wonderful place for a vacation home. New Castle County, which is the home of Wilmington and Newark, offers two-bedroom townhomes for under $150,000. This price is remarkable given New Castle’s central location along Interstate 95 in the “BosWash” corridor and close proximity (less than 90 minutes) to Delaware’s famous beaches – including popular Rehoboth Beach. Delaware – which has no sales tax – is a peaceful state with parks, rivers, and beautiful scenery that will please singles, families, and younger and older people alike. Delaware also brings welcomes summer heat, fall colors, and winter snow, and spring flowers, bringing all four seasons to your front door and weather to please every taste.
