Everyone has that one thing that they love about their home. For some, it’s the color of their front door. For others, it’s the view, their pool, or proximity to family. The Escape Home’s Angelina Nelson spoke to homeowners to find out what they love the most about their second homes. The following has been condensed and edited for clarity. 

David Kahan works in the commercial real estate business in New York City and owns a second home in Salt Lake City, Utah. David and his wife can visit their townhouse whenever they get the chance. 
 

EH: When did you purchase your second home?

Kahan: We purchased it in around 1999-2000. 


The interior of Kahan’s Salt Lake City home. Photo: David Kahan.

EH: Why did you choose that location?

Kahan: Why Utah is definitely a common question. Colorado really had all the pomp and all the public knowledge of all the ski resorts. My wife is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, although she escaped and she’ll tell you, she was never gonna go back. Then she introduced me to Utah skiing and I said, this is really where we should buy a place. So with a little bit of pushback, I still bought it. I’ll never forget, I went out there after it had closed and I sat there in the living room, looking out the living room window, and said, ‘this is the best thing I ever did.’ 
 


The view from Kahan’s home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: David Kahan.

EH: What do you love about your second home?

Kahan: What I love about my second home is its easy care maintenance. I also have great neighbors as it turns out. I’ve got hiking and mountain biking trails. From snowshoeing in the winter to hiking, biking and tennis in the summer. Also, sadly and fortunately, there was a group of pine trees that caught a beetle infestation in our neighbor’s yard across from us. They took down about 30 pine trees that were obstructing our view of the mountains. So now we have a clear view of the Wasatch Mountains. 


The beach near Hamre’s home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Photo: Britt Hamre. 

Britt Hamre owns a second home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, which she shares with her husband and two children. They continue to make new additions and consider their home a work in progress.

EH: When did you purchase your second home?

Hamre: My father-in-law found it 20 years ago and invited us to share it with him because it’s a duplex. So there are essentially two apartments and there are two sides of the house that mirror each other. We had it before the kids were born and it was just like a small beach community. 

EH: Why did you choose that location?

Hamre:  It’s in Florida, which was the state that at the time my parents still lived in. They lived just two hours away. My sister only lived an hour away. My husband’s family had moved to Georgia, but they were only seven or eight hours away. 

EH: What do you love about your second home?

Hamre: I love that it’s only three blocks from the beach so we could just walk there. The other thing that I really love about it is that it’s literally right behind the main strip of restaurants, bars, little boutiques and ice cream shops. Even though I know how to drive, I’m a total New Yorker, so it’s nice to still be able to walk everywhere. 

Mount Snow Ski Resort 

Steve Kaufman is a real estate agent who owns a second home near Mount Snow Ski Resort in Vermont. He visits the condo frequently with his family in the winter and occasionally during the summer.

EH: When did you purchase your second home?

Kaufman: I’ve owned a variety of homes in the Vermont snow area since the mid-80s.

EH: Why did you choose that location?

Kaufman: It’s 2,400 square feet and is good for the family when they come. I frequently entertain friends up there as well and it’s very convenient too; just about 3 1/2 hour drive from New York. 

EH: What do you love about your second home?

Kaufman: This location in Vermont is a lovely area and there’s a lot to do with skiing being the main activity but the summers are great too. There are awesome restaurants that we enjoy going to and good hiking.   


Desiree Borrero’s second home in Brick, New Jersey. Photo: Desiree Borrero.

Brooklyn-based Desiree Borrero works as an art teacher at a NYC high school. She owns a second home in Brick, New Jersey.


EH: When did you purchase your second home?

Borrero: We purchased our house nine years ago. We decided to buy somewhere that was more affordable that we could escape to when we wanted to leave the city on weekends and in the summer.

EH: Why did you choose that location?

Borrero:  I’m familiar with Brick because my parents have had our summer home there for 30 years. My parents live on the water and our house is about a block or two blocks away from the water. So I knew the area and knew it would be a good place to invest.


Borrero’s backyard at her second home in Brick, New Jersey. Photo: Desiree Borrero.

EH: What do you love about your second home?

Borrero: The first thing I love is having a place to escape to and get out of the city that’s within driving distance. It’s all private, so no neighbors can see into our yard and I love that. We can walk or ride our bikes back and forth from my family’s house that’s on the water.


Maureen McCabe’s second home in Miller Place, Long Island, New York. Photo: Maureen McCabe

Maureen McCabe is a physical therapist who works in Albertson, New York. Her second home is located in Miller Place, Long Island, New York.

EH: When did you purchase your second home?

McCabe: My brother had mentioned to me that the property had been for sale now for almost two years and the price decreased. He asked me if I was interested in looking at it and we had just paid off our mortgage on our other house. So I said, sure, this is a great opportunity to make an investment. That was probably in 2016 or ’17.

EH: Why did you choose that location?

McCabe: It kind of picked me, this location. My brother lived on this actual street for the last 40 years and my family and I have been coming to the street since he moved here. So I was always very familiar with the neighborhood and it was a very nice close-knit community. 

EH: What do you love about your second home?

McCabe: The quiet and the green. It’s 500 feet from the beach and it’s a beautiful property. We bought the house for the property, not the house. The house itself was not impressive and I was not even interested in living inside it. So we gutted the house and enhanced it. We come out here for the quiet because in Albertson we’re on a JFK runway strip. I like the house itself because it’s cozy. 

What do you love most about your second home? Let us know at hello@theescapehome.com.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply