Real estate agents in the Pocono Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania are touting the area as an affordable alternative to other vacation-home meccas within striking distance of both the New York City and Philadelphia metro areas. They estimate that one-quarter of the houses in the Poconos are vacation homes. Typical buyers? Couples under 40, with kids, who don't have a fortune.

What's available? From one broker, ERA Anderson real estate in Stroudsburg, come these examples:

1. 3 bedroom, 2-bathroom chalet on 1½ acres for $159,000
2. 11-room, 4,738-square-foot traditional-style home, built in 2000, with four bedrooms and 2½ baths on 1.3 acres listed for $379,900
3. 1-acre lot to build on, with an existing septic tank, priced at $34,000

Thanks to Shannon Roxborough of www.northjersey.com, whose story this is adapted from.