Retirement

Buying a Vacation Home? 5 Questions to Consider First

1. How Will I Use the Home? Think about how often the home will be used - and by who. Will you be renting it out? Can family come and stay when you’re not there? Or will it only be occupied a few weeks a year? Did You Know 600,000 Americans use online marketplaces to rent out their property to vacationers. Source 1.

2. Am I Rushing This Decision? When are you making the decision to buy a second home? Is it right after a relaxing vacation at a new location? Or have you been considering this for awhile? A second home is a large expense, you’ll want to avoid being impulsive when making your decision. Tip: Travel to your desired location during each season to get a better feel for what it’s like all year round.

3. Have I Calculated the Costs? Aside from the cost of the house, you’ll need to prepare to pay the ongoing costs of owning a second home. These include: Insurance, property taxes, maintenance, property manager (if renting), and HOA or Amenity Fees (if any).

4. Are There Rules About Renting? If you plan on renting out your vacation home, check local laws and guidelines. Some places cap the number of days a home can be rented out or provide further restrictions on renting to vacationers.

5. What Will I Do in an Emergency? In some instances, an emergency might be a broken water heater or an electrical problem. In other instances, it may be more severe. What's your plan? Would your home be within driving distance, or will you hire someone to check on it periodically throughout the year? Did you know on average, the US is hit by 6 hurricanes a year. Source 2. Sources: iPropertyManagement.com, October 19, 2021, Insurance Information Institute, October 19, 2021.

Share |

Related Content

Social Security: By the Numbers

Here are five facts about Social Security that might surprise you.

Money Matters: Why it Pays to be Financially Responsible

Responsible money management is often a foreign concept to teens that is complicated and confusing. Yet, if they learn how to save and be financially responsible early, they can protect themselves in the future.

What Is My Life Expectancy?

Estimate how many years you may need retirement assets or how long to provide income to a surviving spouse or children.

Have A Question About This Topic?

Buying Auto Insurance For Teen Drivers

Tips on insuring your teen driver.

Tax-Advantaged Retirement Planning

Reduce your tax liability in retirement.

Infographic: Risks at Retirement

Make a plan to take these risks off the table.

View all articles

What Is My Risk Tolerance?

This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.

Historical Inflation

This calculator shows how inflation over the years has impacted purchasing power.

Tax Freedom Day

Assess how many days you'll work to pay your federal tax liability.

View all calculators

Managing Your Lifestyle

Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.

Principles of Preserving Wealth

How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.

5 Smart Investing Strategies

There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives

View all presentations

Investments

You’ve made investments your whole life. Work with us to help make the most of them.