Top 10 Vacation Home Counties
Alleghany County, North Carolina is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of
Northwestern North Carolina, so its main attraction is the Blue Ridge Mountains
and its parks and rivers. It is a small vacation home county with 2,432 vacation
homes that account for 29.7% of its housing stock. In 2020, home sales rose
248%, the median sales price rose 9.9%, and properties sold six days faster than
in 2019. Home prices are in the mid-price range with the median sales price at
$219,900.
Garrett County, Maryland is the westernmost county of Maryland. It is in the
Appalachian Mountains and is drained by the Potomac and Youghiogheny
rivers, so it offers vacation spots for hiking, kayaking, and camping. It is a small
vacation county with 4,623 seasonal homes that make up 23.9% of its housing
stock. In 2020, home sales rose 35.8%, the median sales price rose 35.4%, and
properties sold 48 days faster than in 2019. Home prices are in the mid-price
range with the median sales price at $325,000.
Barnstable County, Massachusetts consists mainly of Cape Cod and several
small islands. It was formed as part of the Plymouth Colony in 1865. It is the
second largest vacation home county, with 62,643 seasonally vacant homes that
make up 38.3% of its housing stock. In 2020, home sales rose 20.4%, the median
sales price rose 16.1%, and properties sold 20 days faster than in 2019. Home
prices are bordering in the high price range with the median sales price at
$475,000, although home prices are relatively affordable compared to the
homes in Dukes and Nantucket.
Alcona County, Michigan is in the Northeastern Lower Peninsula with six miles
of Lake Huron coastline. It is heavily forested by the Huron-Manistee National
Forest. Detroit is about four hours away. It is one of the smallest vacation home
counties, with 5,573 seasonally vacant homes that make up 49.8% of its housing
stock. In 2020, home sales rose 80.4%, the median sales price rose 51.5%, and
properties sold 10 days faster than in 2019. Houses are inexpensive, with the
median sales price at $150,000.
Macon County, North Carolina is in western North Carolina. The Nantahala River,
one of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations, runs through it. It’s a
relatively small vacation home county with 7,633 vacation homes that account
for 29.8% of its housing stock. In 2020, home sales rose 155.3%, the median sales
price rose 30.6%, and properties sold two days faster than in 2019. Houses are in
the mid-price range, with the median sales price at $320,000.
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