Fall is the time to buy

The best vacation-home buying season is fall, when prices are cheapest. This year, low mortgage rates make the deals even better.

The first few months after the end of the summer season is usually the best time of year to buy a vacation home.

Vacation-home owners often squeeze out one more season of rental income before putting their properites on the market. That means many beach homes and summer cabins go up for sale in the fall.

This year, there are even more bargains than usual, thanks to the sustained home price plunge and rock-bottom interest rates.

"Vacation home owners are sitting fat and happy, having collected their rents all summer," said the author of "How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner," Christine Karpinski. "Now, they''re looking at long periods during which bills are coming in but vacation rents are not."

If you are interested in vacation homes in Dana Point, or real estate in Dana Point or San Clemente and surrounding areas, please let us know, and we will be happy to help you with your search.