A look at the Rockies, the Intermountain West, the Southwest, shows that second-home locales are making their comeback.

As many prime markets moved into full recovery mode in early 2012, most resort properties had yet to see the spark of a turnaround. Today, that’s changed. Park City had $1,240,542,783 in sales volume (up 15% from 2011) and 1,816 sales (up 9%).

“Clearly, buyers have returned with new priorities, which might be the clearest indication that there really is a new normal. Instead of ski-in, ski-out condos, Benson sees buyers gravitating toward larger properties with more land and opportunities for a broader range of experiences and activities.

The switch to lifestyle properties is changing resort markets all over the West. “People are buying fewer properties with the intention of using them more,” observes Benson. And rather than a $2 million or $4 million condo, many affluent consumers would rather put their money into a $6 million or $8 million ranch. “Coming out of the recession, people have accumulated wealth and they are feeling comfortable putting that wealth into large properties. Now it looks safer than parkingmoney in the stockmarket. Family lifestyle and experience became more important than it ever was. They want their kids to experience snowmobiling, fishing and horseback riding,” observes Benson.”

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