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HGTV host Matt Blashaw thinks the chief appeal of a vacation home is its convenience.
"It's an easy vacation," he explains. "The point is just to go have everything set up the way you want. You know the area, and you know you're going to have fun."




The vacation may be easy, but the second mortgage probably isn't.

For that reason, Blashaw helps families on his show, "Vacation House For Free," renovate under-the-weather homes into retreats worth renting out when the family isn't in residence.


Of course, no house is actually free, but by earning money on the home when it would otherwise be vacant, homeowners can essentially get a vacation house that pays for itself.
"You're contributing to your wealth and your future," Blashaw says, "not throwing your money away on Hilton and Marriott. You're building equity in what I think is the best investment anyone can have, which is real estate. Plus, people want to have a place they can retire to, so it's a win-win."
It's not quite as easy as it sounds, especially if you've never undertaken a renovation. Here, Blashaw provides his top tips for turning your vacation home into a free home.

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