We have all been there:  We enjoy a great vacation in a beautiful destination and are smitten by life there. 

We imagine what it might be like if a vacation home was ours and start picking up local real estate brochures and searching online for sale listings.  Pretty soon, conversations with a realtor could be occurring, and you begin you wonder if this dream is realty or pie in the sky.  The idea of owning your own place in a ski town that your family loves just seems like the perfect next step. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Ski Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

Ski vacation homes, like in Boyne Mountain Resort, are no different than the pattern we see with other vacation homes.  They tend to be located in great ski towns that are fun in both summer and winter, have a charm that goes way above and beyond owning just a normal rental property, and they cater to people who are looking for both leisure as well as the active pursuit of a fun hobby. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of ski-in/ski out vacation rentals)

Check out this video for a look at the Skiing Lifestyle

When is it a good idea to buy a ski home, and when should you hold off?  The answer is a little different for everyone, but we did our best to boil it down to four important things to consider.  Here are four factors that would make a ski home a wiser decision for you.  If you pass three of four of the criteria, you just might be a candidate for that great Boyne Highlands Resort ski vacation home.  Three or less and be very careful.

  1. You Are In A Financial Position Of StrengthBeing in a strong financial position means that you are not going to stretch your family’s finances in order to purchase your ski vacation home.  You should have a down payment of at least 20% available (most vacation homes require at least 20% down) and more if possible.  You ideally would not need to raid retirement funds or other investments that you otherwise would not be liquidating. 

    On a monthly basis, the burden should fit with ease into your family’s budget, not be something that leaves you with no extra money for other vacations, key purchases, or your giving goals.  Buying a vacation home in a ski area should never be viewed as a sure thing in terms of investment.  Real estate is doing well right now given the limited inventory, especially in ski areas, but don’t speculate your family’s future when it comes to buying a ski area home.

  2. Any Rental Income From The Unit Can Be A “Nice To Have." Similar to the first point, we think it is important to be fiscally conservative when planning for rental income from the unit.  Many houses and condos in ski areas rent out quite well in the winter months, but those are the exact months when you may want to ski.  They generally do not make as much income in the summer months, but in many areas can provide enough income to be relevant.  The spring “mud season” market is generally very low, and you should expect to see several days with no occupancy.  Finally, fall tends to be hit-and-miss, as people know that at times like late October you may get beautifully colored leaves or a cold rainstorm.

    Keep in mind, as well, that if you rent through a major booking center such as the central reservation operation of the nearby ski resort, you will likely pay a property management fee of 55% of rental receipts.  You can get by with VRBO or AirBnB for a lower fee, but you will need to be prepared to be much more involved in each rental. Or, you can use Northern Michigan’s premier property management and vacation rental agency that has simplified vacation home ownership – Northern Michigan Escapes.

    Also, note that during winters with poor snow, the rental income can be much lower.  We have seen ski-season rental income decreased by 30% or more when a ski resort is having a well-publicized bad snow season.  The bottom line is that rental income is a nice thing to have, but should not be required for you to buy the place.

  3. Time Is On Your SidePrices on ski vacation homes can fluctuate significantly, as vacation homes are well-known for appreciating and declining in an exaggerated fashion compared to primary homes.  The 2008 recession was especially painful for vacation home renters (and appealing for vacation home buyers). What makes this phenomenon worse is that inventory in ski towns often goes in fits and spurts.  Attracting builders to the town can be challenging given the remote locations and expensive cost of living.

    When builders arrive, though, they can often expand the housing stock pretty quickly, compared to what was there before.  It is good to know exactly where your target ski area might be in that cycle. The broader point is that because of the exaggerated nature of value increases and decreases, it is important to know that your investment might not be as liquid as ideal. 

  4. There Is A Strong Chance That It Will Be Your Retirement HomeIf you are buying the vacation home for your retirement – and we are talking about heavy use in retirement, then it might be worthwhile to explore.  Notwithstanding market ups and downs, the long-term real estate market in the US averages an appreciation of around 4-5% per year, so purchasing your future home today could be wise. 

    Of course, that appreciation can easily be zeroed out by interest payments, cost-of-ownership, and maintenance if you do not buy carefully. If you were to buy a ski condo for say, $300,000, and the condo appreciated by 4% each year for 10 years, that same condo might cost nearly $450,000 to buy at that time. 

    Only you can decide if you could make better returns with that $300,000 in other ways over the same decade, but if you are relatively certain that you might end up in a ski town someday, buying soon could make sense as long as you are not buying into a bubble.  Of course, buying in a dip is highly desirable, but the problem is that you only really know that it was just a dip in retrospect.

Focused on Northern Michigan Investment Real Estate

Brook is focused on lifestyle real estate investment properties as most people want a vacation home to make lifelong memories that endure for their entire family, leave a profound legacy for generations, and they want a solid financial investment at the same time.  While the area does have many good realtors, there aren’t many with the unique financial, vacation home investing, and technology marketing background. Brook uses his diverse skill set to help clients properly evaluate and determine whether a vacation home makes financial sense.

"I have significant experience buying and selling Northern Michigan real estate and I'd like to help you find the perfect home. Send me a message or give me a call at 231.459.3179 to learn more today."
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Explore homes and real estate in the Northern Michigan communities below or contact Brook Walsh to help you with your search. 

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