More Americans purchased second homes last year than ever, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Investor and vacation homes represented 40% of all sales last year, up from 36% in 2004, according to the trade group. There were 3.3 million second homes purchased last year.

The average purchaser of a second home looking for an investment opportunity was 49 and earned $81,000. The average age for those looking for vacation properties was 52 with a median income of nearly $83,000.

The median home price for vacation homes was $204,100 in 2005, up from $190,000, while investor properties went for $183,500 on average, an increase from $148,000 a year earlier.