From KCM (Keeping Current Matters) a report just released from The National Association of Realtors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows there are 7.9 million vacation homes in the U.S. Their 2013 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey shows vacation home sales improved in 2012. See entire article.
Excerpts from the article:
Vacation-Home sales rose 10.1 percent to 553,000 from 502,000 in 2011
29% said they were likely to purchase another vacation home within two years
25% of the vacation home purchases were in the West
46% of vacation-home buyers paid cash in 2012