Things to consider when you're buying a second home:
How accessible is the property? Gas prices dim the appeal of a place that's hundreds of miles away. You can usually hop a cheap flight to Florida, but that's not necessarily true of Corpus Christi, Tex., or Durango, Colo.
Is the community well planned? In rural areas, a beautiful new cabin may adjoin a cluster of rusting trailers.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Is the house in good shape? New construction is fine, but an older place or summer home is likely to be the victim of deferred maintenance and premature wear. Instead of asking for a price concession, you may be better off asking the seller to hire a carpenter and a painter.
Will you feel at home there? Start your search at Web sites such as Escapehomes.com and Lakeplace.com. But nothing beats a visit to see if the locale offers what you're looking for.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Vacation Homes on Sale |
| Row 1 - Cell 0 | 5 Tax Rules for Renting Out Your Second Home |
| Row 2 - Cell 0 | More Real Estate Coverage |
-
Here's How To Get Organized And Work For YourselfWhether you’re looking for a side gig or planning to start your own business, it has never been easier to strike out on your own. Here is our guide to navigating working for yourself.
-
How to Manage Risk With Diversification"Don't put all your eggs in one basket" means different things to different investors. Here's how to manage your risk with portfolio diversification.
-
How to Find Foreclosed Homes: Best Foreclosure Listings SitesMaking Your Money Last Find foreclosed homes for sale on these foreclosure listing websites. Search for properties on these free, paid or government sites.
-
Luxury Home Prices Rise as the Rich Dodge High Mortgage RatesLuxury home prices rose 9% to the highest third-quarter level on record, Redfin reports, growing nearly three times faster than non-luxury prices.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage RateBecoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.
-
Kiplinger's Tax Map for Middle-Class Families: About Our Methodologystate tax The research behind our judgments.
-
Looking to Relocate? Plan for Climate Changebuying a home Extreme weather events are on the rise. If you’re moving, make sure your new home is protected from climate change disasters.
-
Retirees, A Healthy Condo Has a Flush Reserve FundSmart Buying Reserve funds for a third of homeowner and condo associations have insufficient cash, experts say. Here are some cautionary steps you should take.
-
Retirees, Make These Midyear Moves to Cut Next Year's Tax BillTax Breaks Save money next April by making these six hot-as-July tax moves.
