Real Estate Experts: 6 Best Places To Buy a Vacation Home Before Prices Spike in 2026
Written by
Vance Cariaga
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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The median price of homes sold in the United States remains near a record high at about $411,000, according to the latest Federal Reserve data. Given how expensive housing is right now, it’s hard enough to afford a primary home — let alone a vacation home.
But you can still find bargains in certain markets that attract a lot of visitors. GOBankingRates contacted real estate agents and other experts to get their take on where to find good deals.
Here’s a look at six of the best places to buy a vacation home before prices move higher in 2026.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Average home value: $326,577
- Median list price: $317,000
- For sale inventory: 898 homes
Chattanooga has transformed its downtown and waterfront district into an “outdoor enthusiasts’ playground,” according to Ben Mizes, founder of home sales platform Clever Offers. Younger people are especially drawn to the city’s rock climbing and mountain biking options.
“Chattanooga’s median vacation home value is still below other tourist spots, but that is quickly changing,” Mizes said.
Florissant, Colorado
- Average home value: $473,094
- Median list price: $567,000
- For sale inventory: 97
This small mountain town has surging short-term rental demand with “high average revenue and constricted supply,” said Brian Rudderow, real estate investor at HBR Colorado.
Florissant is also a “rising Airbnb destination with plenty of room for new investors,” he added.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
- Average home value: $283,104
- Median list price: $379,667
- For sale inventory: 54
This town in the eastern Pennsylvania Poconos — named after the legendary Native American athlete — is known as the “Little Switzerland of America.”
It’s gaining popularity with investors “by offering affordable home prices, healthy rental yields and a historic town that’s not very well known,” Rudderow said.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Average home value: $321,750
- Median list price: $283,300
- For sale inventory: 3,049
It says a lot about Myrtle Beach’s affordability that median list prices are below $285,000 — and there are thousands of homes for sale. Now is a great time to buy a vacation home at affordable prices before more people pour into this coastal tourist hotspot.
Oren Sofrin, a real estate investor and founder of Eagle Cash Buyers, includes Myrtle Beach among vacation markets that offer buyers a “unique blend of affordability, natural beauty and potential for a steady flow of rental income,” along with the potential for long-term price appreciation.
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
- Average home value: $311,026
- Median list price: $339,600
- For sale inventory: 147
Pittsfield is the largest city and cultural center of the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, which Mizes lists as one of the best markets to buy a vacation home right now.
“Everyone flocks to the Cape in Massachusetts, but the Berkshires offer a breathtaking mountain escape with a vibrant arts and culture community,” he said. “With its close distance to both New York and Boston, it is a perfect second-home market that’s ready for further appreciation.”
Stuart, Florida
- Average home value: $381,991
- Median list price: $431,667
- For sale inventory: 889
Average home values in this Atlantic coastal city have actually been falling in recent months, according to Zillow. So now might be a good time to grab a vacation home here at a price that won’t break the bank. Consider that in nearby Jupiter, Florida, average home values are close to $700,000.
Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO and broker at Echo Fine Properties, called Stuart a seaside city that is “built out with no land left to build upon and lots of demand.” That combination means you can expect home prices to move much higher in the future.
Editor’s note: All price and inventory figures are as of July 31, 2025, and were sourced from Zillow’s most recent data.
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