For years, the snowbird lifestyle felt like the ultimate retirement reward: trading icy sidewalks for palm trees, spending winters in the sun and returning north when spring arrived. Many retirees turned that dream into a seasonal routine by purchasing second homes in warm-weather destinations.
But lately, that routine has become more expensive and complicated. Rising insurance premiums, higher property taxes, maintenance costs and travel expenses are forcing many seasonal residents to reconsider whether owning a winter home still makes financial sense.
