Thinking About a Second Home????

Second Home Ownership: Could It Be For You?

Hollywood stars are not the only ones with homes in both California and New York. Farmers escape the Heartland for the sandy Floridian shores, too. Second home ownership has become an extremely popular trend in today’s real estate market. Why? Because demographics and technology are converging to create a historic opportunity for buyers and sellers. As Baby Boomers rush toward retirement, second homes suitable for play now and retirement later have enormous appeal.

Today, thanks to technology, second homes are becoming a place to work as well as play. Second homes may be located in resort areas. Others may be located near a second work environment for those who commute frequently between different business destinations. And the second home phenomenon stretches from Alaska to Florida, from Hawaii to Nova Scotia, and all points in-between.

How you use a second home is up to you, but if it’s something you’ve been considering, now is the time to get the information you need to make an informed decision. A qualified real estate professional can help guide you through financial considerations, assist you in finding the right community and even refer you to a resort property specialist for the destination of your dreams. Your real estate professional may be able to get you the information and advice you need to use the equity in your current home to finance the down payment on a second home, for example.

For many, a second home in a vacation or resort area can be an income property when not in use. Ennis, Montana is a very popular destination for fly fishing, hunting, skiing, and biking, which makes it a year round destination. A real estate professional will help you consider property management options that can be a crucial financial factor as well as important to peace-of-mind.

Married couples, generally over age 35, with or without children are almost twice as likely to own second homes as single persons. And the fastest growing segment of second home buyers are age 35 to 54, without children at home.

Some of the best locations are not more than two to three hours away from major metropolitan areas by car or plane. For example, many Montanans gravitate to the Madison Valley…one hour from Bozeman and Yellowstone. San Franciscans retreat to Lake Tahoe and Angelenos head for Palm Springs. Many people who live in the West also have second homes there.

What makes a second home location ideal? Natural beauty is great, but don’t forget about cultural and social resources, as well as first-rate golf, tennis and other popular sports facilities. Ennis, Montana has a golf course, tennis courts, as well as prime hunting and fishing.

Second homes are a discretionary purchase, and everyone wants to feel secure in their environment And locations such as Ennis, Montana, with it’s friendly neighbors and low crime rate removed from most urban problems, continue to be attractive. And be sure to look at each property with an eye toward tomorrow, because the vacation homes likely to appreciate the most are the ones that Boomers can play in today and retire in tomorrow.

Call Bill Mercer for some ideas on 2nd home ownership in the Ennis, MT and the Madison Valley, MT area.