Contact a Real Estate Agent
Once you've picked the towns you're interested in exploring more seriously, it is time to contact a local real estate agent. Most likely, you will be purchasing a vacation property in a location with which you are not intimately familiar. How do you identify a real estate agent to work with? There are several ways. First, ask friends if they can recommend a real estate agent. If the vacation location is within driving distance, visit the town and drop by several real estate offices. For example, if you are seeking to purchase a beach home, drive toward the beach-there should be several real estate offices close by.
They expect you to drop in and discuss potential vacation purchases. Or you can visit REALTOR.org and input the selection criteria for the vacation location you desire. As you look at the different property listings, there will be real estate agents associated with each listing, with their phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses.
A real estate agent can provide valuable information for you on the market, the town, the resort community, and more, as well as find suitable properties for you to consider. Outline your personal and financial objectives to your agent. Armed with that information, he or she can go to work for you.
I suggest that you:
1. Travel to your desired vacation location and meet with the real estate agent who most favorably impressed you. Drive around with him or her and get a feel for the area and neighborhoods. Review your personal and financial objectives together.
2. Let your agent recommend several potential neighborhoods in the area that satisfy your criteria.
3. On an ongoing basis, ask your agent to suggest vacation properties that satisfy your criteria with regard to size, price, quality, and so on. Ask your agent to e-mail you the property listings in detail, including potential rental income and virtual tours, where available.
4. Together, identify a number of properties to consider and then visit each one with your real estate agent. If the houses fall short of your expectations, sit down with your agent again and refine what it is you're looking for.