Top 16 places for a second home
City | Median home prices |
Whitewater, Wisconsin | $380,000 |
Savannah, Georgia | $423,900 |
St. Augustine, Florida | $592,000 |
Charleston, South Carolina | $675,000 |
Vail, Colorado | $675,000 |
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina | $692,000 |
Palm Springs, California | $750,000 |
Barnstable Town, MA | $875,000 |
Bend, Oregon | $879,900 |
Scottsdale, Arizona | $1,100,000 |
Napa Valley, California | $1,200,000 |
Maui, Hawaii | $1,200,000 |
Ocean City, New Jersey | $1,300,000 |
Steamboat Springs, Colorado | $1,400,000 |
The Keys, Florida | $1,500,000 |
Park City, Utah | $1,900,000 |

1. Whitewater, Wisconsin
- Median home price: $380,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 3.2% (Jefferson County), 17% (Walworth County)
- Key features: hiking trails, lakes and lots of nature activities

2. Savannah, Georgia
- Median home price: $423,900
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 3.7%
- Key features: historic, walkable and close to the riverfront and the beach

3. St. Augustine, Florida
- Median home price: $592,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 12.1%
- Key features: proximity to beach, historic sites

4. Charleston, South Carolina
- Median home price: $675,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 6.9%
- Key features: history, great food scene and walkable downtown

5. Vail, Colorado
- Median home price: $675,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 32.5%
- Key features: mountains, nature, winter sports and activities
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6. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Median home price: $692,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 17.7%
- Key features: nature, family-friendly and beach proximity

7. Palm Springs, California
- Median home price: $750,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 8.5%
- Key features: close to the beach, desert wildlife and Hollywood history

8. Barnstable Town, MA
- Median second-home price: $875,000
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 36.7%
- Key features: beaches, cultural and art districts

9. Bend, Oregon
- Median home price: $879,900
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 11.8%
- Key features: natural beauty, hiking and brewery culture

10. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Median home price: $1.1 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 4.8%
- Key features: warm weather, proximity to large cities

11. Napa Valley, California
- Median second-home price: $1.2 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 6.9%
- Key features: wine country, hillsides and nature, great food

12. Maui, Hawaii
- Median home price: $1.2 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 11%
- Key features: beautiful beaches, nature activities and hiking

13. Ocean City, New Jersey
- Median second-home price: $1.3 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 51%
- Key features: family friendly, beach activities, shopping and entertainment

14. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Median second-home price: $1.4 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 29.7%
- Key features: winter sports and activities, natural beauty

15. The Keys, Florida
- Median home price: $1.5 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 25%
- Key features: beaches, water activities and tropical feel

16. Park City, Utah
- Median home price: $1.9 million
- Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 39.2%
- Key features: nature activities and natural beauty, large properties
4 factors to consider when buying a second home
The real estate cliche about location, location, location is just as true for second homes as it is for primary residences. It’s all about where you’ll spend your time and build your memories. We’ve identified a few factors to consider when searching through the best places for your second home. The real estate cliche about location, location, location is just as true for second homes as it is for primary residences. It’s all about where you’ll spend your time and build your memories. Below, we’ve identified four factors to consider — travel time, seasonal preferences, lifestyle and home use — when searching for where to buy a second home.Travel time
By travel time, we mean the time it takes to get to your second home. You’ll also need to factor in how far your getaway is from family members and attractions.No matter where you live, you're likely to use your second home more if you don’t have a spirit-breaking slog to get there. If you want the flexibility of driving to your destination, identify communities you love within a two-to-three-hour drive time from your primary home and family members. It's the reason Palm Springs and Las Vegas have long appealed to Angelenos, and why Napa, Sonoma and Lake Tahoe are retreats of choice for many San Franciscans.If you don't mind hopping on a plane and plan to use your home less often but for longer stretches, you could buy a second home in another part of the country. This will make planning ahead important, so factor both time and cost of travel into your buying equation.Make sure to consider locations with your preferred amenities and attractions nearby. A remote location might look enticing until you have to drive an hour to get to the nearest beach.Seasonal preferences
Some vacation home locations cater to seasonal visitors — think ski towns or sunny snowbird destinations. These bustling communities may transform into quiet, locals-only spots in the off-season.If you are looking for a second home for seasonal use, like skiing in the winter or lake access for summertime fun, it's wise to research weather and real estate market conditions to get the full picture of when to come to your home. You’ll want to know if roads near your summer home get plowed in the winter, or if your ski chalet is plagued with mosquitoes come summer. If you plan to use your home year-round, the community will be a big factor in your buying decision. Are there recreational clubs, events, shops and services that meet your needs?The more you know about where you’re going to buy, the more confident you'll feel that you've picked the best location for your second home.Lifestyle
Consider the kind of life you want to live in your second home.Does a remote home surrounded by nature appeal to you, or do you want to be within a stone's throw from urban amenities? Are you semi-retired and looking for new adventures, or are you in a young family seeking fun, family-friendly activities?Isolated locations are appealingly peaceful. If nature is important to you, what recreational activities are nearby? Explore area hiking and biking trails, and check out boating and fishing spots. If it's a ski hill you're after, see what it offers in both winter and summer. The tradeoffs of an isolated spot are fewer amenities, less access to satellite internet and more drive time to get to restaurants and activities. In addition to streaming Netflix, you may want the option of working remotely. That will require a reliable connection, powerful enough for video conferencing.On the other hand, city living comes with less privacy but more proximity to good food — a draw for many buyers. Larger cities may also give you peace of mind knowing there's a hospital close by. Or, you may need to be near a train or airport. Identify the services you can’t forego while spending time at your second home. Having these questions top of mind can help reassure you that you’re making the right decision.Home use
Finally, what is your goal for your second home?Are you looking for a private home to enjoy with your family and friends, or are you interested in a vacation rental property that can provide some annual gross rental revenue?You may choose to use the home as a secondary residence, a vacation home or a place for your kids to stay. How you use the home may determine whether it’s better to consider co-ownership. Co-ownership is one smart option for owning a home you’ll enjoy periodically throughout the year. You purchase a fraction of the property, share costs with fellow co-owners, and easily schedule your stays with an app.Consider a second home with Pacaso
After researching the best places for a second home, it’s time to consider your buying options. You can make your dreams a reality by co-owning a luxury home with Pacaso. With a portfolio of elite vacation homes all over the world, we make it easy for you to co-own a vacation home for you and your family to enjoy whenever you need to get away.Best places for a second home FAQ
01: Is it harder to get a mortgage on a second home?
Generally, yes, it is more difficult and time consuming to secure a mortgage for a second home. Lenders have more strict requirements like higher credit scores, better debt to income ratio and higher down payments. However, when you purchase and finance your home through Pacaso, the process is streamlined for a quick and easy buying experience.
02: What is a good rate for a second mortgage?
Interest rates will depend largely on the current market environment. But you should expect a good rate to be less than your credit card, but likely higher than your first mortgage rate. This will also vary by location. For example, current 30-year fixed mortgage rates in South Carolina are around 6.49%.
03: Are 2nd home mortgage rates higher?
Yes, typically, second mortgage rates are higher because lenders perceive increased risk. However, interest rates depend on a variety of factors like your credit score and down payment.