Seeking Advice on Purchasing a Vacation Home in Tennessee

[Philip Levi]

Hi BiggerPockets Community,

I currently live in California and renting a home here. I’m considering purchasing a home in Tennessee as a vacation property, and I’m wondering about the best approach to take in this situation.

My intention is to use it primarily as a vacation home and not as an investment property. However, when I’m not living there, I’d like to know if it would be feasible to rent out some of the rooms to visitors.

A few questions I have are:

1. How many days do I need to reside in my vacation home each year to maintain its status as a second home and not cross into investment property territory?
2. Are there specific guidelines or tax implications I should be aware of based on how I plan to use the property?
3. Any tips for managing this property as a second home while considering occasional rentals would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

Best,

Philip