Renting a vacation home

Renting a single family home is a great option for your ski vacation. However, many people think that it is unfordable when compared to renting a condo. In some resorts, home rentals indeed are for just the most well-healed traveler, but not in all resorts.

For exmaple, in Keystone Resort, Colorado, there are thousands of condos available, therefore, most people rent condos and don't even consider homes. Since homes are harder to rent, and the home owners generally don't really need to rent their homes, there are very few homes on the rental market in Keystone.

Consider this example. You will pay about $250/nt/bedroom for a condo during holiday season to rent a condo that cost the owner about $250K/bedroom to purchase. With a home, you will pay about the same/nt/bedroom to rent a property that is valued at twice that amount/br. so the cost of rental vs. the value of the property rented is twice as good while renting a home. Here are some example home rentals in Keystone Resort to give you an idea of how much value you can get for your rental dollar.

In Vail on the other hand, homes are much more well established and bring a much higher rental rate.

But price isn't the only consideration. Here are some advantages for renting a home.

1) Everyone in your party is together.
2) The living areas are generally 2x as large as a similar condo.
3) No elevators or noisy neighbors or lugging groceries down the hall.
4) Peace, quiet, privacy (isn't that why you are on vacation?)

Homes can have some disadvantages also.

1) Usually no common pool or hot tub or lobby amenities to use.
2) Generally have to drive 5-10 mins to get to the ski area.
3) Cleaning costs are usually higher.

So renting a home for your ski vacation in the mountains is a great option in some resorts and you should seriously consider renting a home while in resorts, like Keystone Resort Colorado, where condos are the norm and homes are a bargain.

Barry Cox is the owner of vacation property in Keystone Resort and owner of SkyRun Condos which provides condo and home rentals in Keystone Resort Colorado