The summers are more mild than the lower-altitude deserts of Arizona, and good winter skiing is a short drive away.
Recent sales: Three bedroom, two bath, 2,300 square-feet, $839,000; two bedroom, two bath, 1,113 square-foot condo, $170,000. Coastal North Carolina Lots of beaches and water views along this state's entire coast. It's one of the few places left where you can still get a decent beach house at a reasonable price. Plus, it's the vacation area for the growing "research triangle" tech business area near Raleigh. Recent sales: Four bedroom, three bath 1,510 square-foot house in Surf City, $638,000; five bedroom, four bath, 2,681 square-foot home in Pink Hill, $600,000.


