Private Residence Clubs and Luxury Fractional Property

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just reported that sales of vacation homes in the US rose 7.0 percent to 502,000 in 2011 from 469,000 in 2010. This is certainly an encouraging sign after falls in prior years and reinforces the trend seen in fractionals, where overall 2011 sales were up 4%.

Read more: Vacation Home Sales Rise in 2011

The annual North America survey by Ragatz Associates showed a slight increase of 4% across all shared property types, including fractionals, private residence clubs and destination clubs.

Read more: Fractional and Shared Property Increases in 2011

Four Seasons has recently announced that it will be opening a new resort community at Disney World. Planned to open in 2014, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney will include a 444-room hotel, 40 residence club units and up to 90 private residences. The new development will be an enclave within the existing Golden Oak residential community which was created and master-planned by Disney.

Read more: Four Seasons Starts New Residence Club at Walt Disney World

While it's no secret that North America boasts many incredible skiing destinations, choosing the location that packs both great snow and slopes with great service, good food and other desirable features can be overwhelming. Thankfully, the readers of SKI magazine have taken much of the guesswork out of the equation, and with many of these resorts opening this week, now is the time to look at places to stay.

Read more: The Best Ski Resorts for Shared Luxury Property

Many second home markets have seen price drops of 20-40% over the last few years. Private residence clubs and luxury fractionals in these markets have reflected these overall real estate trends. In some cases the prices are down by over a hundred thousand dollars. Here are some examples in some sought after locations.

Read more: Private Residence Clubs Lower Prices

Owning your own ski home may mean you spend more time worrying about burst pipes and roof replacements, than the time you spend enjoying the slopes. That's where shared ownership comes in. It removes the worries and hassles of ownership, while giving you a place to call home. Deer Valley offers several high end fractional options.

Read more: A Review of Shared Ownership Around Deer Valley, UT

Located in the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is one of several small towns towns known collectively as "Los Cabos" ("The Capes"). And with average temperatures that seldom go below the mid-fifties and highs that seldom reach above the mid-nineties, this mild climate combined with access to both beaches and deserts makes "Cabo" one of the more popular resort communities in the world.

Read more: Fractional Ownership Choices in Los Cabos, Mexico

Have you ever envisioned owning your very own luxury lodge nestled in the heart of Napa Valley wine country? What if it included access to an indulgent spa, gourmet restaurant and five-star hospitality services? Now fantasize sipping a fine vintage from your own private wine collection stored in an on-site wine cave?

Read more: Calistoga Ranch Living: Owning the Napa Valley Dream

London's 47 Park Street Grand Residences by Marriott in the Mayfair district provides members with all the amenities of a five-star hotel as well as all the comforts of a luxuriously appointed home. Part of the Grand Residences by Marriott program, this firm offers fractional ownership shares of prime real estate in the heart of one of the world's premier cities.

Read more: Own a Luxury Apartment at 47 Park Street in London

The Residence Club at El Corazon de Santa Fe, Santa Fe's only downtown fractional ownership property, is to be managed by Fairmont Heritage Place, an exclusive private residence club offering from global luxury hotel brand Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Read more: Fairmont Heritage Place Adds Residence Club in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Even the most avid winter sportsman knows that, at least sometimes, it's better to spend part of the winter somewhere the snow never flies. Of course, northern residents who don't enjoy any part of the season after November, the “snowbirds,” flock somewhere more temperate as often as they can.

Read more: A Better Place to Spend Your Winter – The Hyatt Residence Club at Siesta Key

Just in time for the Spring real estate season, a recent article in Barron's highlighted the best places to purchase second homes in the United States. Barron's rates these locations based on beauty, comfort, convenience, a range of lifestyles and, above all else value now that the worst of the financial crisis is over.

Read more: The Best Places for Shared Second Homes

In Costa Rica, one of the premier tropical destinations of the world, there's a new place to own a vacation home, The Palms at Playa Flamingo.

Read more: New Private Residence Club in Costa Rica

Under a new multi-year relationship, Fairmont Heritage Place owners will now be able to enjoy vacations at a select collection of The Registry Collection program affiliated destinations worldwide and have access to a broad range of luxury resort experiences. Similarly, members of The Registry Collection program will now also enjoy access to the Fairmont Heritage Place destinations.

Read more: Fairmont Heritage Place joins Registry Collection for Exchanges

Aspen, Colorado, known as a premier travel destination for the wealthy and the glamorous, is experiencing renewed interest in fractional ownership at private residence clubs. The popular mountain destination boasts year-round opportunities with a mix of cultural events, a cosmopolitan nightlife, verdant mountain scenery and, of course, ski resorts that attract world-class skiers. Even with all these vacation features, Aspen did not escape the real estate slump induced by the 2008 recession. But a turn-around appears to be in the works. Reports show residential sales are rebounding with fractional properties just beginning to show an uptick.

Read more: Aspen Fractional Home Market Showing Signs of Rebound

The Lake Muskoka region in Ontario is a very popular vacation area situated just two hours north of Toronto. There are thousands of vacation homes spread around the areas 1,600 lakes. Touchstone is a new vacation home community offering one quarter fractional ownerships.

Read more: Touchstone on Lake Muskoka, in Canadian Cottage Country

At last weeks FractionalSummit in Miami, two members from different destination clubs and two members of private residence clubs answered questions in front of a room of industry professionals.

Read more: Shared Luxury Property Owners Are Heard

The Parkway Club at Turtle Creek has introduced the first Private Residence Club on the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Read more: Private Residence Club Launches on the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

The Asheville Club at 151 is the new private residence club in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Comprised of lavish two and three-bedroom residences it sits atop the new boutique Hotel Indigo.

Read more: Luxury Private Residence Club is Launched in Asheville, NC

The wealth section of the New York Times ran an article last week on the stresses of owning a vacation home. Writer Paul Andersen speaks from personal experience and interviews a variety of people under the title “If It Causes Stress, Is It Really a Vacation Home?”.

Read more: Are Vacation Homes Stressful?