REAL ESTATE TOPICS...8 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Buying a Second Home

Although tremendously exciting, the decision also comes with its own unique financial considerations. 

1. How much will a second home cost?

We’re not just talking about the sale price here—there are a lot of associated expenses you should factor into the equation too. So while that vacation house you’ve been eyeing may be small, it still requires budgeting for a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance fees—and some of those expenses are probably higher than you think.

When you’re not living in a home on a daily basis, you often don’t have the ability to tackle small problems before they become big ones—and that can translate into higher maintenance costs in the long run, says David Blaylock, a CFP® at LearnVest Planning Services. “Plus, you’re not on site. So a lot of the things you might normally take care of yourself, you’re going to have to hire someone to do.”

A good rule of thumb to consider? Consider budgeting about 1% of the home’s purchase price for annual maintenance. So if you bought a $300,000 home, set aside $3,000 a year for such common pop-up costs as an emergency plumbing repair or a new furnace. And if you have an older home that could present more issues or if you plan to rent it, you should aim for 1.25% to cover extra repairs.

And don’t forget to factor insurance into the equation. In general, insuring a vacation home will cost about 20% more than a primary residence, says Craig Venezia, author of “Buying a Second Home: Income, Getaway or Retirement.”

Insurance providers generally view vacation homes as a higher risk because you won’t be living there full-time. “In their eyes, there’s a greater chance the house can be damaged,” Venezia says. “And if you’ll be renting out the property, you’ll need additional medical and liability coverage in the event that one of your guests gets hurt on the property.”

2. Can you really, truly afford a second home?

Buying a second home is a money decision—not just a fun way to spend your leisure time—and it’s one you shouldn’t make until after the rest of your finances are in tip-top shape. Are you mostly debt-free? Are you saving enough for retirement? Do you have at least 20% equity in your primary residence, plus enough cash on hand for a 20% down payment and 3% closing costs for the vacation home? “You also want to consider making sure things like college savings are taken care of before you start evaluating the purchase of a vacation property,” Blaylock says.

And while mortgage approvals for second homes typically aren’t as stringent as they were a few years ago, lenders will still be looking closely at your debt-to-income ratio, which is how much money you have to pay each month for debts like student loans, compared to what you take home. Ultimately, Blaylock says, lenders want to know how capable you’ll be of paying back the loan in a timely manner.

In general, you should be able to accommodate all of your mortgage payments (including the vacation home) and the rest of your debt using no more than 36% of your monthly gross income. If you can’t make those numbers work, this probably isn’t the right time to spring for a vacation manse.

3. Are you buying it for the right reason?

Some people may view a vacation home as a cost savings tool—they see it as a way to save on the lodging fees they’re paying every year when they take a trip.

But Blaylock warns against this strategy: “That’s pretty flawed logic—for the amount you’ll spend on a vacation home, you can take a lot of nice trips each year and stay in hotels.”

Another perspective? View it as an investment—either as a place where you plan to retire or a property that you can sell down the road to supplement your retirement income. When evaluating the investment property’s long-term potential, it’s important to research how prices have appreciated over time in the market where you’re buying.

“I suggest looking at median home prices over the last ten years,” Venezia says. “While this is no guarantee of how it will appreciate in the future, it will give you a sense of how it has performed historically.”

4. How do you plan to use the home?

Are you reserving the property exclusively as a second home for yourself, or will you rent it out to help cover associated costs? “Definitely think about why you want to buy it and how you want to use it,” says Venezia. “This gives you a basis to start thinking about types of properties and where to look.”

If you’re buying the house for your own personal use, you’re free to purchase whatever strikes your fancy—and disregard what might attract tenants. But if you’re counting on rental income to cover the mortgage, you should be more conscious of the home’s location and appeal to others. “For example, you may prefer that secluded cabin in the mountains,” Venezia says, “but many potential renters may find it to be too remote to rent.”

Also keep in mind that very different tax rules apply, according to whether your second home is for personal use or if you rent it. Given the complexity of tax considerations and reporting rental income, make sure to consult with a tax professional before you make up your mind.

5. If you do rent the home, is it the right property?

The first step is to think about how often you’ll want to rent, plus how long the potential rental season will be. “On average, people who are actively renting are doing so about 15 weeks out of the year,” says Eric Horndahl of vacation rental site FlipKey.com. “And they report, on average, that they make approximately $26,000 per year doing so.”

After marketing costs, that’s enough to cover the mortgage, taxes and insurance on the average $360,000 home—if you put 20% down, Horndahl adds. For some perspective, the median vacation home purchase price in 2013 was $168,700, and the median down payment was 30%, according to the NAR.

While you’re vacation-home shopping, take a look at similar properties in your area on FlipKey.com or HomeAway.com to see how active the rental market is, and how other places are priced on a nightly or weekly basis. “This can help prospective rental owners make assumptions on how many nights or weeks they will rent it out for, and project their rental income,” Horndahl says.

Next, consider how attractive the home will be to potential renters: Is it close to local attractions, such as the beach or a vibrant downtown? Does the property have any unique selling points or great amenities?

“When they’re going on vacation, people are looking for a hot tub or swimming pool,” Horndahl says. “Also, people who rent vacation homes tend to be larger groups, so you also want to make sure you’re taking size into account.”

Bottom line: Make sure there are a few characteristics that will help your house stand out from others in the area, helping to make it a top choice for renters.

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6. Will you need to hire a property manager?

If you’ve decided renting makes sense, you need to determine whether you’re willing to do all the work yourself, or if you’ll pay someone to tackle it for you.

And by work, we mean everything from advertising, finding and screening tenants, cleaning, handling contracts and deposits, and regular maintenance and repairs. According to Venezia, you should expect to pay 20% to 30% of your rental income for property management services.

Many people start out thinking they’re going to do it all themselves—until “they realize how much time they have to put into finding tenants and dealing with paperwork,” Venezia says. “Then that 30% isn’t such a bad deal.”

If you live within a reasonable driving distance of the home, you’re handy and you have the time, you may be able to do the property management yourself. It also helps if your vacation spot is a condo—where some of the maintenance is done for you as part of your association fees—or it’s a newer home, which may have fewer issues.

7. Is the home located in a risky area?

It’s one thing to buy a vacation home near the shore. It’s another to buy one in a region that’s regularly hit by hurricanes. “If your home is in a designated flood zone or prone to other natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tornadoes, it will be more expensive to insure,” Venezia says. “Waterfront homes, in particular, will be more expensive. On the flip side, they also tend to attract more renters and command higher rents.”

Only you can decide if the location and potential rental income are worth the extra insurance costs, plus the hassle if your home is damaged. If you do decide to buy in a riskier area, it can be key to budget for higher—and sometimes unexpected—costs.

8. Are you rushing into the decision?

As with any large purchase, you should make sure you’re not buying a vacation home based purely on emotion or impulse. Research the area and sleep on any big decisions before you make them.

“The beauty of a vacation home is that it’s a luxury,” Venezia says. “You have the flexibility of time on your side, so whether you buy something this month or next month isn’t going to make a bit of difference.”

In other words, take your time and find the type of property that you really want—and can afford. Then leap.