Vacation home sales rose strongly in 2013, according to the National Association of REALTORS. Vacation home sales jumped 29.7% to an estimated 717,000 last year, compared to just 553,000 in 2012. Vacation home sales accounted for 13% of all transactions last year, their highest market share since 2006.

The median vacation home price was $168,700, up 12.5% over 2012. All cash purchases remained fairly common, with 38% of vacation home buyers paying cash. Of buyers who financed their purchase with a mortgage, vacation home buyers typically put down 30%. Forty-two percent of vacation homes bought last year were distressed homes.

The typical vacation home buyer purchased a property that was a median distance of 180 miles from his or her primary residence. Eighty-seven percent of vacation home buyers want to use the property for vacations or as a family retreat; 31% plan to use it as a primary residence in the future.