SANTA CLARA, Calif.,
Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Searches of homes in ski towns were up nearly 36%
year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to a new
report from realtor.com®. Much of the increased demand
is coming from residents of cold weather, Northern states, often
referred to as Snowbirds, as they search for homes with outdoor
recreation options closer to home during pandemic.
"Historically, residents of the Midwest and Northeast have shown
a preference for warmer cities, and contributed to much of the
out-of-state demand in homes in sunny states, such as Florida," said
realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "This year, we found that
Snowbirds' interest in ski towns increased more than interest from
other areas across the country. It's not surprising. Americans are
increasingly searching for getaways that are within driving
distance. Skiing is done outdoors and generally at a distance from
others, making it a relatively safe sport during the pandemic. Many
of these areas offer year-round outdoor activities, making them
summer destinations as well."
The analysis examined the home searches of residents from 10
"Snowbird" markets to nearly 200 resort-linked ski towns. It found
residents of eight of these markets -- Boston; Chicago; Columbus,
Ohio; Indianapolis;
New York; Philadelphia; Providence, R.I. and Minneapolis -- were showing record interest in
ski towns. The exceptions were Baltimore and Detroit, where searches for ski towns were
still up year-over-year, but lower than the rest of the U.S. market
overall.
Views to ski towns from residents of Snowbird metros were up
44.5% in the fourth quarter year-over-year, higher than the 35.7%
increase recorded nationwide.
Overall, the top 10 ski towns that showed the greatest increase
in home shopper interest from Snowbirds averaged a 127% increase in
searches in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to last year. Seven
of the 10 top ski towns seeing the largest percentage increase in
searches were located in Northeast and Midwest.
Ranked in order of percentage increase, the top 10 ski towns in
the fourth quarter of 2020 were:
1. Union Dale, Pa.
Increase in searches
(y/y): 225%
Median list price: $185,000
Home to Elk Mountain Ski Resort,
which offers 180 skiable acres and 27 trails, Union Dale is an alternative to the more
touristy Poconos. It is less than a three-hour drive from both
Philadelphia and New York City and just over 30 minutes from
Scranton, Pa., the setting for the
popular television sitcom, The Office. Scranton is one of the largest cities in
Pennsylvania, giving Union Dale residents nearby access to water
activities on Lake Scranton, minor league baseball and a vibrant
art and restaurant scene.
2. Choteau, Mont.
Increase in searches
(y/y): 143%
Median list price: $174,500
On the path between the Glacier
and Yellowstone National Parks at the foot of the Rocky Mountain
Front, Choteau provides a small
town feel and a wide range of recreational activities from
exploring ancient paleontology sites to golfing, hiking, boating,
fishing and hunting. Ear Mountain, Freezout Lake and the Teton
River are just a few of the area's scenic attractions. Teton Pass
Ski Resort, about 20 miles north of Choteau, offers skiing and snowboarding. Great
backcountry skiing and snowboarding are also nearby.
3. North Creek, N.Y.
Increase in searches
(y/y): 132%
Median list price: $272,000
Home to the Gore Mt. Ski Center,
North Creek is a mecca for outdoor
activities, including downhill and backcountry skiing and
snowshoeing in the winter and whitewater rafting, hiking, biking,
fishing and camping in warmer months. North Creek is located near Lake George and is a four-drive from
New York City. Owned by the
State of New York and operated by
Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Gore Mountain ski area
has been expanded in recent years, which has resulted in an influx
of private investment in new businesses as well as several new
housing developments.
4. Eden, Utah
Increase in searches (y/y): 122%
Median list price: $1,190,000
Situated along the Ogden River at
an elevation of 4,941 feet, downtown Eden is just 30 minutes from
Salt Lake City and three
world-class ski resorts -- Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic
Valley. Its small town charm includes historic 25th Street, which
is lined with shops and restaurants. At the end of 25th Street is
Union Station, which houses a vintage car museum, art gallery and a
collection of historical trains. In addition to skiing and
snowboarding in the winter, Eden offers year-round outdoor
activities, including golfing, hiking and biking trails.
5. Windham, N.Y.
Increase in searches
(y/y): 118%
Median list price: $692,000
Windham is located in the Catskill
Mountains, just 2.5 hours north of New
York City, making it a perfect weekend getaway. It's known
for Windham Mountain Resort, with ski trails, terrain parks and a
mountain bike park. Area trails include the multi-use Windham Path,
passing streams and a covered bridge, and the Escarpment Trail to
the summit of Windham High Peak. The
Five State Lookout offers far-reaching views of the Hudson River
Valley and surrounding mountain ranges.
6. Boone, Iowa
Increase in searches
(y/y): 113%
Median list price: $165,000
Named for the youngest son of
Daniel Boone, this Central Iowa town is located about 40 miles
north of Des Moines. The town grew
rapidly following the arrival of the railroad in 1866, which easily
connected it to Chicago to the
east, Omaha to the west,
St. Louis to the south and
Minneapolis to the north. Today,
Boone's close proximity to the Des Moines River and abundant parks
makes it a good destination for outdoor activities year-round. In
addition to hiking at Ledges State Park and skiing, snowboarding
and tubing at Seven Oaks, the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad's
dinner train is a great way to enjoy a meal while viewing the
changing of the leaves.
7. Otis, Mass.
Increase in searches
(y/y): 113%
Median list price: $402,000
Otis is located in the Berkshires in western
Massachusetts. Known for outdoor
activities like hiking and water sports, as well as cultural
experiences, the Berkshires is a two-hour drive from Boston and only three hours from New York City. This picturesque town is
nestled along several lakes and ponds along the slopes of the
Berkshire Range. Otis is home to
Otis Range, a family-friendly ski resort, several campgrounds and
forest preserves, and is a great starting point for hiking with the
Taconic, Appalachian and Berkshire
ranges all in the vicinity.
8. Lakeside,
Mont.
Increase in searches (y/y): 105%
Median list price: $972,500
The cozy town of Lakeside lines
the northwest shores of Flathead Lake at the base of Blacktail
Mountain. It is just south of Kalispell and about two hours north of
Missoula and is known for
entertaining tourists who come to visit the Flathead area and Glacier National Park. Lakeside offers four
seasons and something for everyone, including skiing the slopes of
Blacktail Mountain and sailing and boating on Flathead Lake as well
as biking, camping and horseback riding and a lively cultural and
restaurant scene.
9. Paoli, Ind.
Increase in searches (y/y):
103%
Median list price: $135,000
Home to Paoli Peaks Mountain
Resort, the town of Paoli is about
100 miles south of Indianapolis.
Paoli was first settled in the
early 1800s and holds the distinction of playing a role in the
Underground Railroad. Today, Paoli
is a close knit community that offers residents a suburban rural
mix. In addition to skiing, snowboarding and tubing, Paoli is close to French Lick, which is known for its historic
mineral springs.
10. Boyne Falls, Mich.
Increase in
searches (y/y): 100%
Median list price: $321,700
Named for the falls on the nearby
Boyne River, this small northern Michigan community is nestled along Lake
Charlevoix, which has been named by USA Today as one of the Best Lakes in America.
Surrounded by a rolling countryside, Boyne Falls is home to several ski resorts and
recreation areas that offer four seasons of outdoor recreation from
downhill and cross country skiing, snow biking, snowshoeing and ice
skating at Boyne Mountain to golf, ziplining and biking. Nearby
Deer Lake offers canoeing,
swimming and boating.
Methodology: Realtor.com® analyzed search
activity to 180 towns with populations of at least 1,000 people and
at least one ski resort. Towns are defined by ZIP code and will not
match municipal boundaries. The analysis also was narrowed to
explore searches from residents of 10 Snowbird metros, which are
defined as Northeast and Midwest markets with the highest search
traffic to warmer-climate vacation or second home markets.
About realtor.com®
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living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone.
Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate
more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile
apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and
professional expertise that help people move confidently through
every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science
and machine learning technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and
sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the
guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals,
realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer
connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in
today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by
News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move,
Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of
REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com®.
Media Contact
Janice McDill,
janice.mcdill@move.com
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SOURCE realtor.com