
When this is all over, I think I will purchase a second home. Although I have considered it, I’ve never pulled the trigger on a second home mostly because I enjoy hotels and resorts. In years past, Kathy and I have considered buying a second home in New York, Hawaii or even Las Vegas, which are our favorite cities to visit. In New York, I love the Langham Hotel. It’s walking distance to most of my favorite spots and they have a great restaurant on the second floor. In Hawaii, we usually stay at the Andaz in Maui. It’s pretty new and they have several great restaurants including a great Morimoto sushi spot on the beach. In Las Vegas, we still love the Bellagio, but sometimes stay at the Waldorf Astoria if we prefer quiet. I always thought I’d miss the energy and amenities of these places if I purchased something. Kathy and I also worried that we would feel forced to visit more often to justify the expense and maintenance. But COVID-19 changes things a bit.
I don’t think I will ever be the type of person who avoids hotels, but having a second home would be a nice thing to have right now. I don’t think I am alone. It really makes me think that people are going to value their homes even more coming out of the quarantine. Those who have the means could start looking for larger homes; others may be thinking about investing in some home improvement work and still others might be thinking about a second home, like me. I’m confident residential real estate valuation, especially in the most desirable cities, will see another spike in the coming years.