The traditional summer exodus to Cape Cod is already in full swing. Yet, as hundreds of New England families scurry to load their sport utility vehicles with overpriced gas, beach gear and screaming children, another Cape seems to be drawing more and more attention.

Carole Sharoff, president of Atlantic Vacation Homes and former director of the tourism committee for the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, said her 200-plus vacation homes on Cape Ann are renting at an unprecedented rate in her 25 years of business.

"The rental market is far better than any summer we have ever experienced," Sharoff said. "(While) not every single house is booked at every single moment in time, for the most part, we have done really well."

Elizabeth "Betty" Pool agreed. This summer, the waterfront homes the rental manager for Carlson GMAC Real Estate rents in Rockport are attracting many vacationers.

"Rentals this year are going better than last year," said the longtime Cape Ann resident. "I find the Internet has generated a constant steady stream of people wanting to come."

While both real estate agents believe that technology has enhanced their ability to attract visitors to Cape Ann, the Internet has done little to stem the tide of what seems to be an increasingly bleak rental season for other coastal communities such as Salisbury Beach, Plum Island and towns on Cape Cod.

Why does Cape Ann appear unaffected by this negative trend? Sharoff believes an increase in visitors from abroad account for much of her success this summer.

"A lot of guests to our homes come from overseas," she said. "The international market is very strong. The dollar, unfortunately, is very weak against the pound and euro. This makes it a perfect opportunity for people from overseas to come here."

Pool offers another explanation.

"The interesting thing I find about Cape Ann is that I know a lot of people who were born and brought up here and they have a tie to this community. And even though they may be all over the world, they come back each year to get their Cape Ann fix," she said. "Once you get a clientele and they like it, they are much more apt to come back several years running. One of my landlords has a bungalow that has been rented to the same couple for 12 years."

People are also justifying their summer rental expenses by sharing the cost with family members.

"The buzzword right now is 'togethering," said Sharoff, whose properties range from $650 to $15,000 per week. "Children are getting married and moving all around the world and the only time the family can spend together is when people take vacations together. If you rent a house by the beach, it is an adventure. Everyone is happy, and they get along."