The choice of geographic location for the purchase of a holiday home should be influenced by a number of factors, all of which can be researched as part of the purchase process. The key variables are:

• Popularity – is the area a tourism hotspot? Are visitors numbers increasing or in decline?
• Market saturation – are there numerous other holiday homes available to let in the area? How well booked are they?
• Occupancy trends – does the area enjoys visitors outside the traditional summer season, and are there reasons for visit at other times of year, such as events or business stays?
• Prices – how much do holiday homes cost in the area and how what rental rates can be achieved?
• Access, attractions and amenities – is the property easy to reach with nearby visitor attractions and good local amenities such as pubs, restaurants and shops.
• Many holiday home owners use their property themselves, in-between paying guest stays, so a location which is easy to access may be a consideration.

Even if the property is not to be used by the owner, property management arrangements may be a consideration too. A ‘hands off’ keyholding service means a close proximity to home is not important. If, however, taking an active role in the maintenance of the property will require frequent travelling to the property and therefore needs to be factored in.

So having identified the key influencers, how do you go about finding the answers which will influence the location to buy in? The following information sources may help:

• Regional tourism bodies – a good source of information on visitor numbers to the area and trends to those numbers.
• Local tourism groups – in many areas, there is a private, membership funded association for providers of self-catering accommodation.
• Competitor websites – looking at other accommodation providers in the area, will give an idea of pricing and advance bookings, as many websites now include availability calendars for the properties. This can also be an invaluable source of tips for successful letting.
• Speak to local experts – such as letting agents who currently let holiday properties in the area.
• Use search engine tools – Google has a tool which allows you to see the comparative popularity of search phrases, allowing you to compare ‘Lake District holidays’ to ‘Peak District holidays’ for example.