MORE HOME FOR YOUR BUCK

Filed Under: Catskill Farms Vacation Homes | Sullivan County House Hunting | Catskill Real Estate Home Ownership | Old Houses and Catskill Farmhouses | Catskill NY Market Trends | Upstate New York Realtors
Written By: Jamie Hollier

 Buying a second home used to be an investment that made financial sense as well as something you loved and enjoyed, but with the rising real estate prices in many second home hot spots, finding something loveable and affordable is a little harder these days. Luckily, there are still plenty of good places you can both afford and also use as your escape from it all. The real estate markets discussed below, from the beaches of South Carolina, to the mountains of Colorado, to the country of Upstate New York, are places were your dollar goes far on undervalued properties but still give you a fabulous place to hang your hat.

Northern Coast of South Carolina: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach

This area offers up the niceties of the South alongside a temperate climate and beautiful sandy beaches. The beach is not all this area has to offer, either. Fine dining, shopping and tons of festivals and events abound alongside more outdoorsy adventures like state parks and fishing. Water parks and amusement parks will keep the young and young at heart entertained while the ones that take play a little more seriously will find games galore in the local casinos. In this area, you can get a condo on the beachfront area known as the Grand Stand for $200,000.

Catskill Mountains of New York: Sullivan, Ulster, and Delaware Counties

The Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York are a quick trip from the hustle and bustle of New York but are miles away in personality. This area takes things a little slower, where the good things in life are appreciated and people actually do stop to smell the roses. The Catskill real estate region offers year round activities like skiing, theater, hiking, fishing, and antiquing. You can get a one or two bedroom county home, with features like wide plank floors and cutting edge kitchens, with acres rather than a yard in the Sullivan county real estate market starting at $200,000.

South Texas Coast: Laguna Vista, Port Isabel, South Padre Island

If you love the beach and playing golf, this spot will be heaven for you. The beaches that make up this area are some of the best along the entire Gulf of Mexico and there is no shortage of access to both lounging on the sand and hitting the waves. Eco-tourism is a growing trend in this area as well, especially since many dolphins and interesting birds call this place home. The only real downside to this region is the masses of spring breakers that flock here year after year. Inland homes and condos, many of them on golf courses, can still be had for around $200,000.

White Mountains in Eastern Arizona: Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, Snowflake

All the advantages and adventures of a mountain lifestyle are right outside the doorstep in the White Mountains. This is a quiet mountain range that offers beautiful scenery, mountain lakes and streams, and the solitude you can only achieve when you really get away from it all. Camping, hiking and fishing make this a summer playground for lovers of the outdoors. Most winters bring enough snow to hit the slopes at Sunrise Ski Resort, as well. You can still snatch up a two bedroom, two bathroom rustic mountain home with land here for about $260,000.

The North Fork Valley on Colorado's Western Slope: Hotchkiss, Paonia, Crawford

That cowboy you see walking down Main Street might be an honest to goodness rancher, or he may be an Academy Award winning Hollywood producer, in this unpredictable region. The splendor and isolation found in the North Fork Valley has attracted a large variety of residents, including a fair proportion of artists and musicians. This is where the mountains end and the mesas and desert begin, making this crossroads one of the most interesting and beautiful sites in the country. There is even a budding wine region and a healthy amount of organic produce mixed in with the ranches of the area. A three bedroom log home with land and amazing mountain views can still be had from $300,000.