Seasonal Homes

Seasonal homes provide an important recreational opportunity for users and make up a significant portion of the housing stock in many communities. In recent years, the number of these homes has grown rapidly. Seasonal homes, also commonly referred to as cottages, vacation homes, or recreational homes, are private homes used by their owners on weekends, vacations, or holidays. The United States Census Bureau defines them as vacant units used or intended for use only in certain seasons, on weekends, or occasionally throughout the year. Accurately characterizing seasonal homes, however, can be difficult because they are so diverse, ranging from modest fishing or hunting cabins without running water, electricity, or other amenities, to multimillion-dollar estates.

Contemporary interest in seasonal homes can be attributed largely to three factors: growth in the number of seasonal homes, environmental concern for the impact of seasonal home development, and the social impact of seasonal home development on host communities.

Seasonal homes are an international phenomenon, with many homes found throughout Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. They are [Page 1211]most common in wealthy industrialized countries with highly developed transportation systems. Seasonal homes are concentrated on the coasts, along lakes, and in the mountains and are most often found close to population centers (within 100 to 150 miles). Within the United States, seasonal homes are concentrated in a few regions: Florida; the upper Midwest (northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan); New England (especially northern Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York); and increasingly in the West (primarily in Arizona, Colorado, and California).

The number of seasonal homes in the United States increased dramatically over the second half of the twentieth century. Since 1960, the number of seasonal homes has increased by almost 77 percent, from just over 2 million homes (2,024,381) to more than 3.5 million homes (3,578,718). Growth in the numbers of seasonal homes during the 1990s was concentrated in the South and the West. There has been a decline in some regions that had a large number of seasonal homes because retirees have shifted their residence, making what were once seasonal homes their primary residences.

Although still a small percentage of total housing units in the United States, seasonal homes can have profound impacts on localities where they are concentrated. In some counties, they account for more than 70 percent of the homes. In addition to increasing in numbers, seasonal homes are also increasing in price. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price of a seasonal home in 2002 ($162,000) was higher than the median price of a primary residence.

Seasonal homeowners are most often residents of metropolitan areas who seek out their seasonal homes as a retreat and escape from the pressures of urbanism and work. Seasonal homeowners are often drawn to characteristics that are not commonly found in urban areas: rural settings, access to open spaces and recreation, natural surroundings. For many seasonal homeowners, another important characteristic of the home is its exclusivity and, in turn, the status that ownership bestows.

As an escape from the pressures of work and the city, the seasonal home has traditionally been a haven for personal renewal. The seasonal home represents a break from everyday life, with simplified activities and time often spent with family and often oriented toward recreation and relaxation. For many families, the seasonal home provides stability and continuity in their lives, providing an emotional home no matter how physically distant family members become. Seasonal homes are often passed on from generation to generation, and the residents have a strong attachment to the place.

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