Here are some interesting numbers recently released by the National Association of Realtors. If you are interested in what is happening with second homes, vacation homes or investment properties than take a minute to read these stats from NAR’s March 2008 survey.
The median price of a vacation home was $195,000 in 2007, down 2.5 percent from $200,000 in 2006. The typical investment property cost $150,000 last year, unchanged from 2006.
Fifty-nine percent of vacation homes purchased in 2007 were detached single-family homes, 29 percent condos, 7 percent townhouses or rowhouses, and 5 percent other. In 2006, single family homes accounted for 67 percent of vacation-home sales, while condos were 21 percent.
There were no significant changes in investment housing types. Sixty-one percent of investment homes purchased in 2007 were detached single-family homes, 20 percent condos, 11 percent townhouses or rowhouses, and 8 percent other. Twenty-eight percent of vacation-home buyers paid cash for their property, as did 35 percent of investment buyers.
Sixty-five percent of vacation home buyers and 71 percent of investment home buyers purchased existing homes, while the remainder purchased new homes.
The typical vacation-home buyer in 2007 was 46 years old, had a median household income of $99,100, and purchased a property that was a median of 287 miles from their primary residence.
In listing the reasons for purchasing a vacation home, 84 percent of buyers wanted to use the home for vacation or as a family retreat; 30 percent to use as a primary residence in the future; 26 percent to diversify investments; 25 percent to rent to others; 16 percent for the tax benefits; 14 percent for use by a family member, friend or relative; and 6 percent because they had extra money to spend.
Last year, 19 percent of vacation homes were purchased in the Northeast, 16 percent in the Midwest, 41 percent in the South and 24 percent in the West. In terms of location, 30 percent of vacation homes were purchased in rural areas, 20 percent in resorts, 20 percent in a suburb and 14 percent in an urban area or central city.
Investment-home buyers last year had a median age of 42, earned an income of $92,900, and bought a home that was relatively close to their primary residence – a median distance of 27 miles.
When asked about the most important reasons for their purchase of an investment home, 51 percent said to provide rental income; 39 percent to diversify investments; 21 percent to use for vacations or as a family retreat; 16 percent for use by a family member, friend or relative; 11 percent for tax benefits; 10 percent to use as a primary residence in the future; and 4 percent because they had extra money to spend.
Twenty-three percent of investment properties purchased in 2007 were in the Northeast, 19 percent in the Midwest, 38 percent in the South and 21 percent in the West.
Thirty-nine percent of investment homes were purchased in a suburb and another 20 percent in an urban or central city area, 21 percent in a small town, 15 percent in a rural area, and 5 percent in a resort area.
Vacation-home buyers plan to keep their property for a median of 10 years; 38 percent plan to keep their vacation home for 11 years or more. Investment buyers plan to hold their property for a median of four years, with 29 percent planning to keep for six years or more. However, 10 percent of investment buyers plan to sell in one year or less.
Eight in 10 second-home buyers consider it a good time to invest in real estate, compared with 59 percent of primary residence buyers. Forty-four percent of vacation-home buyers and 57 percent of investment buyers said they were likely to purchase another property within two years.
NAR’s 2007 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, conducted in March 2008, includes answers from 1,965 usable responses. The survey controlled for age and income, based on information from the larger 2007 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, to limit any biases in the characteristics of respondents.
