Many New Englanders take pride in the region's reputation for grit and determination, first forged in the cultivation of uncooperative soil and stoked each year when confronting the winter.

Others, given the opportunity, are content to never lift a snow shovel ever again. Thus the birth of "snowbirds," retired or semi-retired folks who spend their summers up north and flee to more temperate regions such as Florida or Arizona during the winter.

If you're considering this type of seasonal retreat, you'll need to determine what your new living arrangements will be. For some snowbirds, purchasing a second home won't be a problem. Others may find that renting is a more suitable option.

It's usually a good idea to try renting for your first winter away from home. Melinda Sineriz, writing for Realtor.com, says this gives you an opportunity to make sure the destination lives up to your expectations. Pat Mertz Esswein, writing for Kiplinger, says some snowbirds try out several communities before they find one they're truly comfortable with.

This trial run will also help you make sure you're comfortable with the tasks involved in wintering away from your primary residence. These include winterizing the home to prevent the risk of frozen pipes or water damage, clearing out the fridge, suspending services such as cable and phone, notifying your bank and credit card companies so your spending does not raise any red flags, and updating your address so your mail will be forwarded to you.

You don't have to spend all of your first rental period in one place. Harriet Edleson, writing for AARP, says you may want to rent a different place each month to try out different communities and regions. If you've vacationed in a place before and are familiar with it, you can try staying for the season to see if you'll be comfortable with long-term stays.

Vacation rental companies can help you find a home that will fit your needs. Esswein says you can also work with a local real estate agent, who can make recommendations based on your budget, desired property qualities, and preferences for nearby amenities.

Be aware of any restrictions included in the rental agreement. For example, certain pets may not be allowed. You should also find out whether the landlord will cover utilities or if you are expected to pay them.

An initial stay will give you some sense of the costs involved in maintaining two homes. Even if you've paid off your primary residence, you'll still need to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, and utilities for the time you aren't there. You should be able to manage these expenses as well as the rent payments and other costs of the residence where you're spending the winter.

Renting a winter home can also be preferable to owning for other reasons. Sineriz says renting means any maintenance and repair costs and responsibilities will fall to the landlord, not you. Renting is also a good choice if you are worried that it will be difficult to sell a second home after you purchase it.

If you've fallen in love with a community and are happy to spend the winter there, purchasing a property is often the best choice. Doing so gives you the opportunity to set up a second household to fit your needs, eliminating the hassle of packing up several suitcases of belongings each season. The second home can also be something you can pass on to your children, with the location serving as a meeting place for family get-togethers and a potentially valuable asset to pass on to your heirs.

Buying a second home also gives you the option of changing your primary residence. Edleson says that if you spend more than half of the year in a warmer clime, you can claim it as your primary residence – and potentially save a substantial amount of money in taxes. However, other factors will also come into play in determining your primary residency, including your federal and state tax returns, your mailing address, where your car is registered, and where you are registered to vote.

Before you start a home search, check your finances to make sure you can take on another mortgage. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will let you know how much money you can reasonably borrow. Esswein says there is also keen competition among snowbirds, so you might find yourself confronted with bidding wars or elevated prices.

Be prepared for other expenses involved in splitting your time between residences. Jennie Phipps, writing for the financial site Bankrate, says you might have to update your health insurance coverage to a more expensive plan to allow for care in two different states. You'll also need to buy furnishings and other essentials for the home where you'll spend the winter and potentially purchase a second car if you don't want to drive back and forth between the homes twice a year.

Renting out either home while you aren't staying there can provide you with cash to offset the costs of ownership. However, you shouldn't consider this income a guarantee. Sineriz says some properties may have homeowners associations that forbid short-term rentals. You'll also need to take on the responsibilities of a landlord, such as screening tenants and resolving any maintenance issues that come up when you're not at the home.