25 Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home in 2022

25 Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home in 2022

AvantStay, a hospitality brand focused on redefining the way in which people travel, invest in, and manage vacation properties, released their exclusive report “25 Best Places To Buy a Vacation Home in 2022” in which they recommend the top US destinations to invest in vacation rentals. The report uses proprietary AvantStay vacation rental data and survey data compiled from US-based investors to provide a comprehensive rundown of US short-term rental vacation investment market trends and insights.

For those looking to purchase a vacation home, AvantStay predicts that 2022 will be an advantageous year to invest. “After nearly two years of uncertainty, the short-term rental market has truly accelerated throughout the pandemic,” says Sean Breuner, Founder & CEO of AvantStay. “We’re seeing travelers, homeowners, and even investors view vacation rentals as a ‘home away from home’ with all the benefits and comforts found within a hotel.”

As Americans become more accustomed to ever-changing regulations and shifting travel plans throughout the pandemic, short-term rentals continue to be a reliable solution for people looking to reconnect safely. Single-family rentals—especially those that are professionally managed—offer all the amenities of a home away from home, with the added benefits of closer proximity to preferred attractions.

To rank the top 25 vacation rental home markets, AvantStay used proprietary data to calculate each market’s investment score, taking into account year-over-year growth, cap rate, population density, cash-on-cash returns, and median market price. Here are the top 5 locations to consider when purchasing a vacation home this year:

  1. Joshua Tree, California takes the top spot on AvantStay’s top 25 destinations. With an AvantStay investment score of 9.90 and a median home price of $400,000, Joshua Tree’s desert summers and cool autumns attract nearly 2.4 million tourists annually, making it an ideal destination for travelers to experience the unique nature, sculpture gardens, museums, and more.
  2. Temecula, California, “A Tourist’s Secret Paradise” scored a 9.80 investment score with a median home price of $685,000. Most notably known for its famous vineyards, 100+ miles of bike trails and more, Temecula is a designated “Playful City USA” and ideal investment destination.
  3. Smoky Mountains, Tennessee takes the third top spot for home investment location due to its excellent ROI, investment score of 9.73 and a median home price of $819,990. Attracting nearly 12 million tourists annually, the Smoky Mountains are an up-and-coming East Coast destination.
  4. Cape Coral/Captiva, Florida serves as a perfect family destination drawing in nearly 5 million annual visitors. With an AvantStay investment score of 9.67 and median home price of $360,000, the “Waterfront Wonderland” is a consistent rental destination for snowbirds.
  5. Charleston, South Carolina takes the fifth spot with an investment score of 9.60 and a median home price of $429,364. Voted the #1 US city for 10 consecutive years by Conde Nast Traveler, Charleston ranks among the top “highest occupancy markets” within AvantStay’s portfolio.

Additional locations include Savannah, GA; Coachella Valley, CA; Sarasota, FL; Palm Springs, CA; and Austin, TX amongst others. To view the full list of 25 best places to buy a vacation home, please see here.