Realtor economists release new investment, vacation home study

Lifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers with the desire for rental income driving investment purchases, according to the 2011 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey released today by economists at the National Association of Realtors.

Vacation home buyers want the property for their own personal use, with 84 percent saying the primary reason for buying was to use for vacations or as a family retreat. Rental-income generation was the primary motive for investment buyers. At the same time, nearly half indicated they sought to diversify their investments or saw a good investment opportunity.

Thirty-four percent of vacation-home buyers said they plan to use the property as a primary residence in the future, as did 10 percent of investment buyers.

Twenty-one percent of investment buyers and 14 percent of vacation buyers purchased the property for a family member, friend or relative to use.