Rising Financial Wealth Drives Increased Demand for Vacation Homes in U.S.

According to the National Association of Realtors' newly released 2019 U.S. Vacation Home Counties Report, increased financial wealth and low mortgage rates boosted the demand for and price of vacation homes. Between 2013 to 2018, the median sales price in vacation home counties increased at a slightly higher pace of 36% compared to the pace of increase of all existing and new homes sold, at 31%. Median price increases occurred across both expensive and inexpensive areas. The counties with the highest price increases during this five-year span were in three states: Pennsylvania, which includes Pike and Monroe counties; Wisconsin, which contains Price and Washburn counties; and Massachusetts, which includes Nantucket.