One thing we've learned from decades of renting and now owning vacation rental houses is that perhaps the most important factor is whether the owner uses the house regularly. We do. We love the house and the area. We spend a lot of time at the house during the offseason, working on it and enjoying it. It's also a great place to write, which is part of my job.
When owners use a house for more than a week in the summer, they make sure the kitchen is well equipped. They make sure everything works and is comfortable. You don't want your sister-in-law complaining about the beds!
They also add to the house over time, as we have done even after the initial renovation. We love the land and we've spent tons of time getting it as beautiful as it is. There's more to do but it's been gratifying to see it come back to life over time.