Top Spots For Second Homes
Top Spots for Second Homes May 11, 2005 Naples, Fla., ranked as the most popular second-home destination, according to a study by EscapeHomes.com of homebuyer searches online last month. A look at homes in three other cities that made the top 10 Second Home Market Index. * * * PLACE/PRICE: South Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., $625,000 PROPERTY TAX*: $9,332 per year THE PROPERTY: 2,330 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, north of St. Augustine in a private marsh-front lot DESCRIPTION: Beach home is constructed of concrete block with stucco finish. A room upstairs has views of the salt marsh and intracoastal waterway. A pool is heated for year-round swimming. NOTABLE: The St. Augustine area ranked No. 7 on the index. The home is situated in a gated seaside community with tennis courts, a beachfront pavilion and private access to a beach. * * * PLACE/PRICE: South Padre Island, Texas, $675,000 PROPERTY TAX*: $8,000 per year THE PROPERTY: 2,500 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, just a 20-minute drive from Mexico DESCRIPTION: Plantation-style home comes with a swimming pool and balconies in the front and back of the house. The property has a three-car garage and is landscaped with 23 palm trees. NOTABLE: South Padre Island grabbed the No. 2 spot for second-home demand. The property is located a half-block away from the beach in one of the most upscale areas on the island. * * * PLACE/PRICE: Park City, Utah, $2.7 million PROPERTY TAX*: $8,366 per year THE PROPERTY: About 6,000 square feet, with 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains DESCRIPTION: Mountain-resort home features spacious great room and modern kitchen, with a master on the main floor. Large decks overlook more than an acre of land with a pond and aspen forest. NOTABLE: Park City took the fifth spot in the listing. Located in an upscale neighborhood, the property is close to skiing areas, such as Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and the Canyons Resort. Sources: horsthomes.com; featured.alicedonahue.com; dennishanlon.com; and EscapeHomes.com Note: *Current owner's payment