Home away from home

Owning a second home for extended vacations, weekend escapes, or family reunions has never felt more appealing. Even before the pandemic, the market for second homes was heating up thanks to historically low mortgage rates and a prolonged stock market rally. Then 2020 ushered in an era of remote work, making vacation homes that could double as full-time retreats that much more attractive.

The yearning for a second home isn’t likely to fade away soon, even as offices and schools reopen. “People are more comfortable buying homes hours from their job now,” says Redfin lead economist Taylor Marr. “They still