Second Homes

With a housing market full of new condos and converted loft buildings, Chicago is becoming a popular place to purchase a vacation home.

Construction is booming in Vancouver, with tall condo buildings rising around the city. The city has become more sophisticated over the last several years, and has attracted a significant market of second-home buyers.

The New York Times profiles Marathon, a tiny town in Texas with no jobs to speak of but a growing number of second-home buyers looking for the quiet life.