I would love to own a little place at the beach someday. Of course, since I'm a Jersey girl, it would have to be down at the Jersey shore. But nothing too big, just something comfy and close to the water that my kids and I can enjoy.
Sounds dreamy to me. But these days, folks with summer homes are not so enamored. With increasing energy costs, rising adjustable-rate mortgage payments, and the high price of gas, many folks are finding that sweet little escape at the beach is nothing but a money pit. As a result, many vacation-home owners have no choice but to consider renting out the place for a few weeks to help defray the costs. Once you get over the notion that a stranger will be sleeping in your bed and using your toilet, it's actually not all that bad -- at least on the tax front.



