A second home offers an escape from the stresses of everyday life, giving you that essential opportunity to rejuvenate and relax. Getaways provide quality time to spend with yourself, family, and friends. On average, 77 percent of American employees get eight days of paid vacation every year. It’s been shown that families who own vacation homes take more family vacations. The characteristics vacation home buyers are looking for include a property which is: close to an ocean, river, lake or mountain; nearby to family members; accessible to favorite recreational activities; and close to their primary residence. The most popular activities that buyers seek for their vacation home includes beach, lake or water sports, boating, golf, theme parks, winter recreation, and hunting or fishing. More than three-fourths of vacation home buyers plan not to rent their property, and one-in-five look for it to become a primary residence upon retirement.
Vacation real estate comes in all shapes and sizes, from single family homes to maintenance-free townhomes, condos and villas to quaint mountain and beach cottages. Interval ownership and timeshare options continue to be an affordable and convenient option for many vacation home buyers and are available in most desirable vacation destinations. The most popular domestic vacation real estate markets are Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; South Padre Island, Texas; Naples, Florida; Holden Beach, North Carolina; Ocean City, New Jersey; Las Vegas, Nevada; San Diego, California; Park City, Utah; Orlando, Florida and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Vacation real estate studies indicate that the most common vacation property is located in the countryside at a median of just over 200 miles from the buyer’s primary home. Therealestatehomeguide.com features vacation real estate, second homes and investment properties in the most desirable locations across the country.
Featuring exclusive North Carolina riverfront property, Broad River Highlands offers you stunning and spacious 1 to 5 acre waterfront homesites for your dream mountain retreat home. This impeccable land is located in the college town of Boiling Springs, between the cities of Charlotte and Asheville, NC. °
Send Me Free Information Now! View More Photos & InfoPerched at an elevation of 4,500 feet, the elegantly appointed Mountainside Townhomes at Wolf Laurel give you long range mountain views, full resort amenities and the carefree lifestyle of townhome living. Surrounded by a beautiful ski resort and a stunning 18 hole golf course, you’ll enjoy the finest in mountain resort living, just 35 minutes from downtown Asheville. °
View More Photos & InfoSculpted by nature, The Preserve at Little Pine offers refreshing peace and privacy with a very limited number of mountain–view estate homesites within this 1,800 acre private preserve community. Over 85 percent of the land will be preserved, ensuring pristine views and exceptional mountain living for generations to come. The Preserve is just 35 minutes from Asheville, yet is surrounded by thousands of acres of beautiful national parks and forests. °
View More Photos & InfoLooking for a quality North Carolina mountain lifestyle for an affordable price? Bryson Farm’s new condominium homes give you superb mountain and river views and an ideal location within walking distance of the charming campus of Western Carolina University. Choose from 1 to 3 bedroom floor plans and enjoy amenities such as gas fireplaces, a clubhouse, swimming pool and beautiful community walking trails. Centrally located in Cullowhee, just 1 hour from Asheville in the mountains of Western North Carolina. °
View More Photos & InfoThis charming coastal Georgia community is located in rural Brantley County, just minutes from I–95 and a short drive from Brunswick and the world–famous recreation of the Golden Isles. Enjoy a family–friendly community pavilion, neighborhood lakes and parks within a superb natural setting. Take advantage of Palmetto Ridge’s pre–development pricing! °
View More Photos & InfoYou’ll love the lifestyle along one of the South’s largest lakes at Charleston Bay, a new waterfront community offering lakefront and lake access properties. This community is set on the shores of spectacular Clarks Hill/Thurmond Lake, with over 1,200 miles of unspoiled shoreline near the Georgia/South Carolina border just 60 miles from Augusta, within easy reach of Atlanta and Columbia, S.C. °
View More Photos & InfoThis new Blue Ridge Mountain golf community offers homes and estates with value in mind in a magnificent location just minutes from the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. Crestview Mountain surrounds the challenging fairways of Crestview Golf Club and offers extraordinary golf frontage and golf view building sites. Located near Sparta and Mt. Airy, just 20 minutes from I–77. °
View More Photos & InfoThe Ranch Club is an upscale rural escape, located close to Jacksonville and St. Augustine, yet worlds apart with a collection of 2 to 18 acre equestrian estate parcels. The Ranch Club at Ashton Oaks offers an elegant lifestyle with outstanding privacy and the opportunity to experience Florida ranch living in an ideal setting. This exceptional property is convenient to the Atlantic beaches, the St. Johns River and the spectacular World Golf Village, a short drive from I–95. °
View More Photos & InfoDiscover the difference at Georgia’s premier waterfront gated community, The Sanctuary on Lake Sinclair. This 600 acre neighborhood offers tranquil landscapes, gently rolling hills, abundant wildlife and sweeping views of magnificent Lake Sinclair. Enjoy resort style amenities and generous waterfront, water view or wooded interior homesites. °
View More Photos & InfoAt the coastal community of Liberty Harbor, you’ll discover authentic small town living with the exceptional amenities of a private waterfront club. Located in the renowned Golden Isles, this gated community features waterfront homesites and elegant condominiums where nearly every residence enjoys a water view. Set along the community’s riverfront is a luxury, full service marina with ocean access and a unique boardwalk. Liberty Harbor is within walking distance to beautiful Brunswick, Georgia and is just a short drive from I–95. °
View More Photos & InfoEnjoy days filled with spectacular boating, fishing or simply relaxing along the shores of Table Rock Lake in your new home at Kings River Beach. This lakefront golf course community features lake and golf view homesites and is located nearby to the world–class entertainment of Branson and the historic destination of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. °
View More Photos & InfoPerfect for horses and outdoor enthusiast, Ruger Meadows is a unique opportunity to own some of the most magnificent land in Arizona. Set in the high desert near the town of Prescott, these 36 acre ranches are an authentic taste of the West– offering residents pristine land, sweeping vistas and a legacy for future generations to enjoy. °
View More Photos & InfoExperience the ultimate in privacy and solitude on this 120 acre luxury island community located in southern Idaho in the middle of the fabulous Snake River. This sportsman’s river retreat offers stunning waterfront homesite estates and access to year–round outdoor recreation including thrilling whitewater rafting, challenging rock climbing and spectacular snow skiing. This private island retreat is located within easy reach of the cities of Sun Valley, Boise and Idaho Falls and Salt Lake City. °
View More Photos & InfoBreathtaking views of paradise can be yours at Ko Olina, Oahu’s newest luxury residential resort located on the magnificent Waianae coast. Here, elegantly appointed condominiums and villas rise majestically from the beach, offering residents a true oasis of luxury and pleasure. The world–class amenities offered include an oceanside lagoon style pool, a Sports Club, superb golf and tennis and a private marina. The Beach Villas of Ko Olina is located on the island’s pristine west coast and is convenient to the cosmopolitan capital city of Honolulu. °
View More Photos & InfoYear round sunshine, sparkling white sand beaches and ancient volcanic lava fields– this could only be Hawaii’s Big Island and the spectacular Kohala Coast. Find your piece of paradise here in Hali’i Kai at Waikoloa, a private community of ocean and golf view villas offering the finest resort amenities. Enjoy golf on dramatic Weiskopf and Robert Trent Jones designs where lush green fairways are accented by black lava and the backdrop is the vast Pacific Ocean and an ancient snow–capped volcano! °
View More Photos & InfoLife on the water doesn’t get any better than at Larkspur Landing, an intimate community of generously sized homesites set along the shores of Clarks Hill Lake near the Georgia–South Carolina border. This lakefront community features a number of dockable waterfront homesites and superb views of the lake and the surrounding pristine landscapes. Larkspur Landing is an outdoor lover’s wonderland, located just 35 minutes from Augusta and two hours from Atlanta. °
View More Photos & InfoInspiring Blue Ridge Mountain views in concert with a refreshing four season climate make Chincoteague an ideal mountain retreat. Fewer than 60 pristine home sites of up to six acres are available to a select few who will make their home here. Those with a passion for the outdoors will enjoy the outstanding river and stream fishing as well as the community’s superbly outfitted equestrian center. Chincoteague is located in scenic Ashe County near a host of state parks, natural attractions and exciting ski facilities. °
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