A guide to Savannah · Second homes
Owning a second home in Savannah
Savannah is under three hours by nonstop flight from New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago and Miami, and about an hour from Atlanta and Charlotte. That short trip, a walkable historic core and mild winters are why more buyers are choosing it for a second home. This guide covers what part-time ownership here actually looks like.
Getting here
Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) sits about 20 minutes from the Historic District, with nonstop service to most major East Coast and Midwest cities.
| From | Nonstop airline | Flight time |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta | About 1 hr (≈50 min in the air) |
| Charlotte (CLT) | American | About 1 hr 10 min |
| Miami (MIA) | American | About 1 hr 35 min |
| Washington (DCA, IAD) | American, United | About 2 hrs |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | American | About 2 hrs 15 min |
| Chicago (ORD) | United | About 2 hrs 20 min |
| Dallas (DFW) | American | About 2 hrs 20 min |
| New York (LGA) | Delta, American | About 2 hrs 30 min |
| Boston (BOS) | Delta, JetBlue | About 2 hrs 30 min |
Scheduled gate-to-gate times as of fall 2026; airlines adjust schedules seasonally. Private and fractional jets also use SAV.
By car, Savannah is roughly 4 hours from Atlanta, 2 hours from Charleston and Jacksonville, and 45 minutes from Hilton Head.
Why a condominium suits a part-time owner
A second home only works if it is easy to leave. A condominium in a new building removes most of what makes an old house hard to own from a distance: the roof, the exterior, the landscaping and the building systems are handled by the condominium owners association (COA), not by you.
At The Amelia, that means you lock the door, fly home, and come back to a residence that is as you left it. A new building also means no deferred maintenance: new mechanical systems, new windows and current energy and life-safety codes, inside a district where most homes are well over a century old.
What to budget for
- Property taxes. In Chatham County, tax is charged on 40% of a home's fair market value, multiplied by the combined city, county and school millage rates set each year. Georgia's homestead exemption applies to an owner-occupied primary residence, so a second home is taxed without it.
- COA dues. Dues are set by each residence's unit and square footage. The listing agent can share the figures for any home you're considering.
- Insurance. You insure your residence's interior and contents; the building policy is carried by the COA.
- Utilities. Billed to each residence. Many part-time owners keep a smart thermostat and leak sensors on year-round.
Renting it out when you're away
Short-term rentals in Savannah need a city certificate, and the Historic District is tightly controlled. New certificates for homes that aren't the owner's primary residence are capped at 20% per ward, and many downtown wards have reached that cap. Certificates do not transfer to a new owner.
The Amelia's COA does not set a rental policy of its own: whether and how to lease is up to each owner and the lease they draft. Leases of six months or longer don't require the city's short-term rental certificate. For most owners here, the residence is a place to live part of the year, not a rental business.
The Savannah year
Many second-home owners plan their visits around the calendar. Spring brings the St. Patrick's Day parade, one of the largest in the country, and the Savannah Music Festival. Autumn brings the SCAD Savannah Film Festival in late October. Winters are mild, which is why many owners from the Northeast spend January through March here.
Why The Amelia
The Amelia is ten condominium residences at 302 East Oglethorpe Avenue, in the middle of the Historic District. Homes range from one-bedroom residences to penthouses with private roof decks, with ten-foot ceilings, white oak floors, and Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchens.
The building has on-site garage parking, with deeded spaces negotiated as part of each purchase, plus an elevator and a lobby with a package room. Outside the door, you can walk to the squares, Broughton Street, the riverfront and Forsyth Park, so you won't need a car for most of a visit.
See the residences in person.
From one-bedroom homes to penthouses with private roof decks. Private tours by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Savannah from Atlanta?
About an hour by nonstop flight on Delta (roughly 50 minutes in the air), or roughly 4 hours by car.
Can I rent my condo out when I'm not using it?
Yes. The Amelia's COA does not set a rental policy, so leasing is up to each owner and the lease they draft. Leases of six months or longer don't require the city's short-term rental certificate; shorter rentals need one, and in the Historic District new certificates for homes that aren't the owner's primary residence are capped at 20% per ward.
Do second homes get a property tax exemption in Georgia?
No. Georgia's homestead exemption applies only to an owner-occupied primary residence.
Who looks after the building when I'm away?
The condominium owners association manages the building, its exterior and its common areas, and the lobby has a package room for deliveries.
Do I need a car in Savannah?
Not in the Historic District. Most daily errands, dining and the squares are within a few blocks of The Amelia, and the airport is about 20 minutes away by car service.
