Rental Properties

Many snowbirds appreciate the flexibility that renting provides because it allows them to explore different locations without long-term commitment. Renters often note the convenience of turnkey living such as furnished spaces that they don't have to maintain and the ability to simply “lock up and leave.” It's also less expensive to rent a few months rather than own a property and have to pay the expenses when it's not in use. However, drawbacks include rising seasonal rates and competition for the premium properties that results in limited availability.

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Florida Condo

Type: Long term condo rental in Florida

Time frame: Typically Jan 1 through the end of March, or occasionally December through March 31. Reserve a year in advance.

Considerations: Makes better sense for us to rent than own year round. When not in use nine months a year it avoids the headache of renting it out

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West Coast Rental Plus Cruises

Type: Primary home is in Michigan with an average of more than 100 inches of snow per season. Rental properties, typically in Arizona  via third party web sites are typical housing with ocean cruises added into the mix. This year is a stay in central California flanked by cruises. 

Time frame: Three to four weeks or more in a rental property and at least one or two ocean cruises. After the December holidays, the timeframe is to be away all but five weeks until late April. Bookings are made one to two years in advance for maximum discounts.

Considerations: The wife does not want a RV/camper, second home nor to be a host or landlord for a rental property. The couple uses strategic 0% interest credit cards, perks, points and air miles to obtain the best rates on travel, including hotels, cruises and airfare. They also choose to live in a modest home during the off season.

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Winter Florida Rental, Summer Cape Cod Rental

Type: Based in Northern Virginia. Rent in Florida during the winter and in Cape Cod during the summer, usually through a third party booking site.

Time Frame: One month in Florida, one month in Cape Cod.

Transportation: Travel is by autotrain to Florida, and although pricey, it's less expensive than fuel, hotel, food, wear and tear plus hotel for a couple of nights. They stop to visit friends on the way to/from.

Considerations: Because owning a place in either Florida or Massachusetts is expensive, not wanting to be tied to the same place every year and feel obligated to use it, renting is the better choice. An $8,000 to $10,000 rental may seem expensive for a month, but a second home or RV would be more expensive with insurance, maintenance and so forth.

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Arizona or Florida Rental

Type: Rental properties via a third party web site. Usually go to Arizona, but occasionally Florida.

Time frame: Primarily in January. Holidays at home bring contentedness and then the snowbirds depart for a warmer climate.

Considerations: Every year is different on purpose. The math for a second home doesn't make sense with today's prices and the routine of the same place every year isn't appealing. Low stress and flexibility are the priorities.

Owner Properties

For some snowbirds, owning a second or vacation rental home offers stability and familiarity that renting cannot match.  Property owners enjoy returning to a space that feels truly their own and often customize it to suit their lifestyle. Many have friends and loved ones in the same area. Over time, ownership can also provide financial benefits such as appreciation or rental income when not in use. However, owners must determine how the property will be maintained with the logistics of being away for extended periods. Owners also should be comfortable with the concept of returning to the same place rather than exploring new areas.

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FLORIDA TOWNHOUSE

Type: Initially rented a property in Florida as a single man escaping Midwestern winters. Made an offer on a nice small home in a preferred location, but the offer wasn't accepted. Then purchased a townhome in a second location. Six years of ownership.

Cost: Financially, the owner recommends renting if staying less than three months. 

Considerations: Now has a new life partner and she also likes the townhome community. They considered moving to a larger, nicer place, but don't want to leave their friends, so they plan to stay because it is a nice place to live.

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SOUTH FLORIDA CONDO

Type: Purchased a beautiful condo in gated community, Fort Myers, Florida. Two years of ownership.

Time frame: Rent to snowbirds for the winter which covers HOA fees and a portion of taxes. Owners also use it once or twice during the year.

Considerations: They bought their place when her parents were still alive, but after they passed there is uncertainty about keeping it because they don't really know anyone and are not planning to join social or sports clubs, so it seems "ridiculous to stay" for any length of time. We are considering selling because we can't make the emotional commitment.

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ARIZONA HOUSE

Type: Smaller, economical desert home in an Arizona small town with low maintenance landscaping due to no lawns, low water plantings

Time frame: Owners enjoy the winter there with many social activities such as dances, music, potlucks, community activities

Considerations: Located in a place that many snowbirds pursue community theater and artistic endeavors that they missed in their younger days

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COLLEGE TOWN DUPLEX

Type: Duplex in unnamed warm weather college town

Time frame: Owners use one half of the duplex for the winter as snowbirds and a year round getaway. The owner's two children live in the other half of the duplex and maintain the entire property.

Considerations: One of the two now adult children decided to settle there and are now employed in the area and enjoy the social life.

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FLORIDA HOUSE, CONNECTICUT CONDO

Type: Florida house, downsized primary home in Connecticut to a condo

Time frame: Late October to late April/May in Florida, Connecticut in the summers and early autumn

Considerations: Husband and wife snowbirds. He is within weeks of retiring and she is already retired. They still have parents, family and friends in Connecticut so they fly back and forth as needed. They like their area of Florida because it's near friends and there's plenty to do. Owning two homes is not the least expensive option, but they like being home and having what they need in each place.

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Arizona House, Lake Property, Primary Condo

Type: Arizona house, lake property and primary home is a condo with "no worries"

Time frame: Six months in Arizona, plus a recreational lake property in summer season

Considerations: We can "lock and walk away." The Arizona house appreciated five times the purchase price, so the winter home turned out to be a good investment.

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Recreational Vehicles (RV) and Campers

Snowbird RV enthusiasts are attracted to the freedom and mobility of the lifestyle due to the ability to follow the weather, easily change locations and hybrid benefits of owning their rig without having to maintain it from a long distance in the off season. Many RVers also value the camaraderie and close community of campgrounds and RV parks. However, this lifestyle requires adaptability to live in much smaller spaces, being able to drive your RV, ongoing travel planning, as well as maintenance of the vehicle and storing it in the off season. It is not especially inexpensive for lot rent and occasional hotels. Amenities such as laundry, fitness centers, pools, convenience stores and more are sometimes available on site.

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Southern RV

Type: Recreational Vehicle (RV)

Time frame: Winter months of the year "in the south"

Considerations: The flexibility of going anywhere when the "mood strikes" is appealing. Extended time in a RV is not necessarily bad, however, that much time in a campground is a turn off. Storage for the RV in the off season is problematic.

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Arizona Camper

Type: 35 foot camper

Time frame: Five months in Arizona and the remainder of the year in Kansas

Considerations: The contributor's buddy and his wife live in Arizona for the winter and enjoy the same campground slot every year. Full amenities including on site laundry, pool, wi-fi, off leash dog park and the same friends every year. They love it.

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Small Florida RV

Type: Small RV

Time frame: Two months in Florida, January and February

Considerations: Although the RV is small, they have a large clam (screened tent) that expands the living space. They occasionally stay in a hotel and spend approximately $60 per night for the campground and $200 a night for hotels, it's relatively lower cost and provides flexibility.

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Small Rented Camper

Type: Small rented camper in Key Largo, Florida

Time frame: February of 2026

Considerations: This is our first time trying the snowbird thing. Baby steps to start...

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Double Wide Trailer in Key West

Type: Double wide trailer in Key West, Florida

Time frame: Mid January to early April

Considerations: One partner has been traveling to Key West for 30 years and has built a network of friends in an established park right on the water. The new partner has been going to Key West for three years and although not keen on being a snowbird or wintering in Florida, she's supportive of the arrangement. They drive down with their dog, split the rent, which makes it even more affordable and her man is passionate about boating and fishing with nearby boat storage. A relative stays in their Northern home while they are away and helps with mail and other things.