Where to buy vacation home

Real estate rental company Vacasa has just issued its fourth Top 25 Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home report, finding that based on the rate of return on investment, the best place to buy a vacation home is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Guest demand for rentals has also surged. Here are the most expensive countries to rent a one-bedroom apartment. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which is near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and southeast of Knoxville, is the city with the best return on investment for second homes.

The city with the second best return is St. Augustine, Florida, which is the oldest city in the country, founded in It is along the east coast of Florida, south of Jacksonville and north of Palm Coast. Vacation rental management platform Vacasa just released its fourth annual report on the top 25 places to buy a vacation home in the U.

According to the company's Vacation Rental Buyer Report , the number of people looking to purchase their first rental home has nearly doubled since , and many are looking for a place they can also retreat to several times a year.

Whether you're looking for a new mountain escape your family can enjoy together every summer and work remotely for a few weeks each year or a beachside property that will bring in some extra income, these destinations are sure to inspire your ideal location. Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Newcomers to this year's list include Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, Cle Elum, Washington, Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, and Twentynine Palms, California, showing the variety of locations and environments people are seeking for a nature-inspired vacation.

Deep Creek Lake is home to the state's largest inland body of water and several popular state parks. Cle Elum is just over an hour's drive from Seattle in the heart of the Cascade Mountains where outdoor activities and adventures abound.

Litchfield Beach lies just north of Pawley's Island and has all the beauty and amenities of a coastal South Carolina resort town with less of the hustle and bustle. Guests in Blue Ridge can do just that, with one foot in Georgia and the other just north in Tennessee. But after that photo op is complete, guests can dive into the lush nature and all the activities Blue Ridge has to offer. There are so many memorable experiences to have in the Peach State—like chasing one of the 16 waterfalls found along popular hiking trails , horseback riding among the rolling hills, and catching some fresh trout to throw on the grill of your vacation home.

Explore Blue Ridge Vacation Homes. Then again, it could be the smiling faces at the outdoor restaurants and bars that line downtown, ready to serve patrons a cold drink and a snack. Explore Palm Springs Vacation Homes. While most vacation destinations have worthwhile activities and attractions year-round, Deep Creek Lake is one of those places that truly offers four-season fun. In the winter months, skiers and snowboarders escape to Wisp Resort in the Western Maryland mountains, where they can glide down 33 slopes totaling 11 miles of terrain.

For those who opt out of hitting the slopes, there are plenty of other winter activities—including hiking to the waterfalls at Swallow Falls State Park, partaking in a guided snowshoe tour, and even slushing through the snow on a festive sleigh ride. In this small coastal Oregon town, storm watching may be more common than sunbathing, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit Seaside. Stop by the Seaside Aquarium to feed the seals, who each have their own unique ways to get your attention.

Those who want to spend time in the water will find waves ripe for surfing and a bay ideal for kayaking. With a 5. Explore Seaside Vacation Homes. Frequently included in our Best Places to Buy a Winter Vacation Home report, Ludlow draws guests in search of the great outdoors—and boy, do they get a healthy dose. The Okemo Mountain Resort is a true winter wonderland, with world-class amenities and different terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Another spot that attracts guests year-round is Buttermilk Falls, a series of three waterfalls and various swimming holes where summer revelers can take a dip.

But if you really want to absorb the local culture in Ludlow, look no further than the Green Mountain Sugar House. Each weekend, the sugar house offers visitors complimentary sugar on the snow, maple cream donuts, maple coffee, and even maple milk.

This sweet vacation rental market boasts a cap rate of 5. Explore Ludlow Vacation Homes. To determine its ranking of top vacation rental markets, Vacasa analyzed home sales and vacation rental performance data from the last twelve months for vacation destinations throughout the country where Vacasa and its licensed subsidiaries manage vacation rentals.

To calculate average cap rate, we considered the averages of the following in each market: property taxes, utilities, HOA fees, insurance, and property management fees. With Vacasa's full-service, professional vacation rental management, you get a trusted local team on your side—and a whole lot more.

Find out everything the right property manager will take off your plate, from marketing to maintenance and everything in between.

The discussion is general in nature and has not taken into account your personal financial position or objectives. You should consult a licensed financial advisor or other professional to discuss your specific situation. Estimated rental income figures and home sale prices are based on averages for a given market for the prior 12 months ; for any specific property, the actual revenue, purchase price, and cap rate may differ materially from estimated amounts and depend on a wide range of factors outside Vacasa's knowledge or control, such as the property's condition, layout, and furnishings; expenses associated with the acquisition and ownership of the property such as property taxes, utility fees, HOA fees, insurance fees, and mortgage-related expenses ; rental calendar availability; existing and future regulations; current and future economic, social, and political trends and conditions; and weather and environmental factors.

These estimates do not take into account the potential impact of state income taxes. Many locations restrict or impose conditions on the use of properties as vacation rentals, or restrict vacation rentals to certain defined areas. Before purchasing a particular property as a potential vacation rental a buyer should confirm that the property can legally be used for this purpose.

Vacasa makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the accuracy of this document.