For many, Covid-19 shifted priorities for what people search for in their second homes. Lockdowns in countries around the world confined people to their homes where they began to reassess their needs. As in the market for primary residences, buyers are looking for accessibility, more space, more wellness amenities, and better connectivity in their second homes. There is also the aforementioned trend of splitting time differently between primary and secondary residences, where owners will spend longer amounts of time in their second homes often balancing working from home, and relaxing away from their city primary home.

The locations that are most appealing for second home buyers are evolving from far-flung locales requiring lengthy travel times to locations closer to home. Many buyers are looking for destinations within 2-3 hours either by plane, train, and more increasingly, by car from their main city base. These shorter travel times enable owners to use the second home properties more frequently and for longer periods of time while also allowing for easy commuting to major cities – turning some previously seasonal destinations into lively year-round communities.

More than ever, wellness has become a high priority for many buyers. From searching for properties with gardens to considering air quality in a destination to looking for sport and wellness amenities when considering a location, buyers are keen to focus on their wellbeing and their health. Locations offering the above as well as those which have ample access to nature through beaches, mountains, and national parks will continue to attract buyers in the future.