Is an escape to a tropical paradise in your near future? As the weather gets chilly there may be no better way or no better time to explore a second home in one of the most scenic places on earth.
Could waking up on Pine Cay each morning cure your Holiday Blues?
The true test is to see if you can find your “happy place.” Is there warm weather, plenty of activity to keep you busy or to stay busy doing nothing at all? Starry nights. Sandy beaches. It is the sort of mythical place The Beach Boys called Kokomo in their 1988 hit song (later updated by The Muppets), and that Rodgers and Hammerstein described as Bali Ha’i in their classic Broadway show South Pacific? Or will you find yourself in the nearby Turks & Caicos where some home sites can be fetched for as little as $375,000 and your neighbors will share your desire to get away from it all.
The best thing about Pine Cay might be its location, convenient to flights over the crystal clear waters or easy sailing just 494 nautical miles from Miami. However you get there, you may not wish to return from your own special island.
Whenever “year-end journalism” like TIME’s piece on the 00’s hits the news stands, our computer screens and mobile devices it is cause for reflection. Was this decade truly bad (even though it technically does not end for another 12 months) or have we been conditioned by our news media to focus on agendas somewhat removed from our own?
There is the sense that we share a collective American Experience, and we all mourn when tragedy befalls our nation. But we end up retreating to our own lives, our own families and situations. Americans are more likely to pay attention to football games than get caught up in world affairs.
As Thanksgiving is on our collective minds this week; best wishes to you if the decade has treated you well. If you have suffered, may the final year of this decade and the next decade bring you plenty to celebrate.
The Private Communities Newswire Poll is still taking votes, even if we are still waiting for a real estate market recovery. Results thus far show we are an optimistic bunch.
There are so many ways to set sail, and in second home hubs like Florida there are smart choices available for people who do. One good idea is to select a private community or a gated community where boats are central to the amenity experience. Being able to hop on your boat for a sunset cruise after a round of golf can make for an ideal day with family and friends.
Grand Harbor in Vero Beach, Florida
Fractional sailing is catching on these days and it makes sense for the same reasons fractional second home ownership makes sense for some. Sophisticated buyers of second homes do their best to get the most for their money and if you sail a little or a lot, a private community is the kind of place where these experiences await.
As with any list, the debate begins about which places don’t make the cut or get the attention that Chambers of Commerce across America love to see and promote. The Forbes Traveler list online has some scenic photos that only tell part of the story. A place can be beautiful, but that does not guarantee that luxury housing will hold its value there. Geography can influence a second home purchase far more. Human geography like jobs, health care, education and retirement.
An example would be the lovely 90210 ZIP code in Southern California, where not much has changed to make luxury home values rise since that 2008 BusinessWeek story by expert real estate writer Prashant Gopal. Not even a hit TV show can boost prices for a ZIP code these days.
It should be expected that, with video-enabled buyers and sellers, the way we find our ideal places to live, relocate or get a second home could be forever changed. Instead of lists, more and more Americans are going to be doing what Coldwell Banker “On Location” is doing with some of its research to motivate buyer interest based on life’s changes. College towns were a recent focus of the peppy video productions the firm has been posting and sharing on the Web.
So, who is it we trust anymore, when it comes to making a real estate investment that will be good for our lives and for our wallets? The best bet is to open those avenues of research, from news reports to social media and cross-examine the common wisdom. Oh, and remember that beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. We welcome comments about your favorite places right here.
You may just be a person who sets their internet home page to Google for convenient searches, like the one you may have just made to get information about second homes. For some fun Sunday reading, you should visit an excellent resource for information and news about Google’s activities at Telegraph.co.uk
The Voice of Google... is Changing
More than ten news stories about the search engine giant were collected here in just the past two weeks. Change is really the only constant in technology, but apparently, Google is delaying the onset of dementia, changing the way we use the telephone and helping us to avoid the “wrong Bob” when sending e-mails. Of course, most of these Google features are open-source and free. After reading all about Google, you might be amazed at the way the Web is changing so many things we do. Of course, PrivateCommunities.com has nearly 15 years experience on the Web helping uncover some of the best real estate in destination amenity communities. You can share that with friends and impress them.
With NCAA Football reaching its half-way mark, by now, your team is either destined for a bowl, nowhere or somewhere on the bubble. Great sports journalism about NCAA Football can still be quite helpful for following your favorite team. Look no futher than Heather Dinich’s blog about the Atlantic Coast Conference for all the latest insights.
Halfbacks Shine Beyond Football
The only thing better than following the star halfbacks of the ACC or any athletic conference is becoming a “halfback” yourself. The trend in those thinking about retirement in areas a little closer to their first home caught on in the 1990s, partly due to Del Webb Corporation’s aggressive and successful publicity efforts, but living in the coastal or mountain Carolinas has become mainstream for retirees and pre-retirees plotting out their golden years.
Private Communities Newswire welcomes comments on this post from folks who define themselves as halfbacks, or those who have relocated recently to college and university towns for the excitement and energy that emerges when the home time is winning.
The Family Travel Forum offers sage advice for setting up a family reunion and there’s no better place for family to gather than near a golf course or even the beach so everyone can stay active and enjoy the time together. Destination Amenity Communities (DACs) offer fitness and sometimes even equestrian facilities to create an experience packed with more than video games and watching TV. Keep reading →
Golf is set in harmony with nature at a choice spot near Asheville, North Carolina. And Balsam Mountain Preserve even features a Nature Center to show the developer’s commitment to green living. The center resulted from the creation of the Balsam Mountain Trust, a non-profit organization charged with documenting and preserving the natural and cultural history of Balsam Mountain. Director Michael Skinner and Naturalist Blair Ogburn bring extensive knowledge to the high-quality exhibits and the many programs that help residents explore the nature around them.
Golf is another form of Green at Balsam Mountain Preserve
Programs include guided hikes and mountain bike rides as well as birding for nesting yellow-billed sapsuckers or any of their other woodpecker cousins. Amazingly, 68 percent of the land on the preserve is set aside for conservation. There are just 354 home sites at this 4,400-acre preserve “community with nature.”
Those jumping on private jets or seated comfortably in first class this fall and winter might want to grab a copy of the new book by Harry Hurt III for a little excitement. Formerly of The New York Times, the writer owns the niche for colorful commentary and literary journalism about the affluent, namely the “executive lifestyle.” Hurt takes readers through the funny and often odd experiences he has rubbing elbows with America’s top one percent. To get a sense of his sense of humor, click here.
If you are wild about Harry, you just might see him in a town near you as he travels across America to tell its stories at his new Web site “World of Hurt” http://www.harryworldofhurt.com/ Backpack journalism is alive and well!
After driving around the nation in a Smart Car, Private Communities Newswire is certain this author would welcome an invitation to a luxury, gated community every once in a while.
If the 2010 reader rankings from Golf World don’t get you thinking about living at a private golf course, you may not like golf all that much. This year’s list indicates that many clubs in states like New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania remain strong offerings. This year, Rochester, New York’s Oak Hill even beat out Augusta National in the rankings. Oak Hill will host the 2013 PGA Championship.
Balsam Mountain Preserve in North Carolina
There is prestige and there is pure pleasure when it comes to golf. It is quite likely that residents of private clubs with outstanding golf offerings are content, even happy, to keep their hidden gems a secret and “off the list.”
Of course, through member-guest events, golfers love to sample new spaces. So Oak Hill is not the only game in town. People usually take a lot more than the golf course into account when making a big decision.
If you are interested in exploring some of these hidden gems see them here, before they make the 2011 list. Many of these destination amenity communities also offer plenty more than golf and make great primary or second home locations.
You could start by reading Joe Yogerst’s article on the top “15 Fall Foliage Drives,” or you could jump to the comprehensive Travel Video Section for some thinking about where you’d like to take that next vacation.
The Kapalua Resort: Ideal Fractional Ownership
If you like spending your weekends on the water, the site also offers a stellar look at fractional ownership of yachts and boats. There is no doubt that bookmarking ForbesTraveler.com on your Web browser along with PrivateCommunities.com gives you a powerful tool for a second home search with content that delivers you all the best.
If you are searching the Web for some interesting golf talk and content, Private Communities Newswire suggests you take a listen to Real Golf Radio. Brian Taylor and Bob Casper have a unique way of accessing tour pros for interviews (recently LPGA Tour winner Paula Creamer) and an excellent knowledge of the game.
If that is not enough reason to visit their Web site, consider that they are giving away a “Wedge a Week” between now and Oct. 10 through a promotion with TaylorMade and Hershey.
The best North Carolina second homes in private communities are featured here. This week we turn our attention toward summer camp, one of those childhood experiences designed to get us in touch with nature. We spend the rest of our lives with the fond memories of what it was like to play all day long with friends or family. Of course, the famous 1960s Allan Sherman song parody about Camp Grenada could also remind us of the flip side of summer camp and its rustic amenities that always looked better in the brochure than they did when we arrived.
But what if you could really have the ideal place for a summer camp that could be a winter, fall and spring camp too? What if nature were civilized without being urbanized? Scenic, but not isolated from the activities and events that enrich life?
Banner Elk, North Carolina and Aspen, Colorado offer Luxury + Nature. For Video, Click the Photo.
The Lodges at Eagles Nest is touting its High Country Land Rush Weekend this October in Banner Elk, North Carolina. For those interested in North Carolina real estate and second homes it should be a great gathering of people seeking to re-live all the good things about summer camp while staying comfortably in luxury’s lap.
Preferred pricing on preferred home sites runs from October 23-25.
Sometimes it is tough to decide between a gated community with only brand new homes, and a more established destination where the landscaping is mature — and where there is a sense of history and prestige.
On 2,900 acres that meander along the banks of the James River in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, Kingsmill on the James offers a mix of homesites where you could build something brand new or you could settle into a home, patio home or townhome that might be up for sale. Either way, you’ll get the golf courses.
Three Golf Courses Await at Kingsmill on the James
Other amenities at Kingsmill on the James include a tennis club, fitness center, racquetball courts, a full-service Spa and salon, marina with boat slips and rentals, guided fishing tours and many dining options, even in Colonial Williamsburg.
If history repeats itself, it will only be a matter of time until second homes in special places like this are in great demand. To see what’s out there, search here.
Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club- Gainesville, Virginia
A private master-planned community named the “Best Active Adult Community in the Country” by the National Council on Senior Living. Set in the rolling hills of Virginia’s Hunt Country, Heritage Hunt features a multitude of amenities including championship golf by Arthur Hills, three clubhouses, a Fitness and Aquatic Center and tennis courts. Homes priced from the $400,000’s. Condominiums priced from the $200,000’s.
Here’s an interesting slide show from BusinessWeek. It begs the question about the enclaves where more affluent buyers and owners have the strongest staying power. Are the kinds of communities that have helped certain ZIP codes hold their value despite previous downturns feeling the pain too?
Another good place to keep tabs on market conditions is Realty Times, or you can get super-specific and contact some developers directly to see what the latest deals and offers might be on vacation homes or relocation opportunities across America by visiting PrivateCommunities.com
When you think of Maine, you most likely have your favorite season in mind. Is it the winter, when ski season is in full tilt? Or the fall when the leaves change and offer spectacular scenery? With the economy so uncertain, the right vacation home might need to be a short drive away so that you can use it more often or even get some work done between hikes or a swim.
Great Brook Preserve at Sunday River offers one of New England’s most coveted opportunities for second homes, and it is easy to see why. Bethel, Maine is an easy drive from almost anywhere in the region and offers the kind of lifestyle that welcomes your urge to connect with nature or the thrill of the slopes.
See how ski tourism in Maine is being impacted by the economy and how you might benefit at Boston.com
There is nothing better than having someone looking out for you, and the Web’s top research portal for destination amenity communities since 1996 is ready to do just that. If you are even casually looking for a second home or a relocation to a private, gated community almost anywhere — you can plug into the latest updates by clicking here.
Buying land or buying a spot on the sea, you will know when the latest primary or second home opportunities in master-planned communities are available. Once you find that dream location, you can easily cancel your updates or share the service with friends — telling them how all your shopping was done for you, while you were busy reading other e-mails. If you’re selling a house in a gated community, it is a great place to be seen too. Sellers tend to find the most qualified buyers at PrivateCommunities.com
Frenchman's Creek in Palm Beach Gardens is One Community Where Buyers and Sellers Find Common Ground Over Spectacular Golf and Recreation
Consumers are lining up for great pricing on cars with the extension of America’s Cash for Clunkers program, and attractive pricing on vacation homes and second homes is keeping pace at places like Lauderdale Bay in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Imagine getting all the beach access and golf, plus three or four bedrooms in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range.
An Ideal Vacation Dashboard: Spacious Private Balconies Come With Every Villa at Lauderdale Bay
Vacation homes in great destinations should start to see signs of solid sales once Americans get their buying confidence back, and what better investment is there these days than one that you can enjoy in your pre-retirement or retirement years?
At these prices, you don’t have to live with America’s Most Wealthy to live well. You might also try shopping at PrivateCommunities.com where you can select your own price point no matter your ideal destination.
With winter’s chill only a few months away, those who are making a big move to warmer climates are already thinking about selling their current home as part of retirement or pre-retirement plans. Good news is the friendly folks at the IRS are offering “Seven Tax Facts About Selling Your Home” so consumers can weigh all their options. Finding the right place to move is the first step, and consumers can find gated and private communities in many states by shopping here.
It is much better to be organized and have a tax plan for selling your home before winter arrives. More time for you to play in the snow.
The IRS offers tax tips all year long, and you can sign up for them by clicking here.
The lure of luxury desert seclusion. It has been drawing the rich and famous to places like Palm Desert and Phoenix for decades. One reason has been buying power. As you may keep hearing people say, the current economic downturn is yielding one of the best moments in history to snap up more home (and lifestyle) for your money. In fact, this could be the best time to buy… anything.
Sinatra's Former Desert Hideaway Twin Palms is For Rent
From Palm Desert to Peoria…
Desert Living is Still an American Obsession
A dry, warm climate most of the year and the cultural gains that have come with a rapidly increasing population since the 1960s make “The Valley of the Sun” an attractive first or second home, and Blackstone Country Club may be the ideal bedroom community for desert living here.
Bing Hu designed the Hacienda at Blackstone
A magical desert spot itself, Blackstone Country Club (just outside Phoenix in Vistancia) has devised a way for every resident to have a world-class amenity that rivals even Frank Sinatra’s splendor at Twin Palms.
The Hacienda clubhouse at Blackstone was designed by the renown Bing Hu and affords residents (many who live there year-round) a spacious 30,000-square-foot hub with fine or casual dining, resort-style pool and cabanas, tennis facilities, a wine cellar and bar — and outstanding golf out each door with an 18-hole championship course designed by Golf Digest’s 2003 “Architect of the Year” Jim Engh.
It’s so nice to have Frank and Bing together again, if only for one magic Private Communities Newswire dispatch…Swellegant!
For more magic places, take a virtual tour of the best private clubs and destination amenity communities anywhere at PrivateCommunities.com
So you think you know which gated, private community you are considering for a second home purchase. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a look at interiors of the homes that are actually for sale in that community before you contact anyone? That’s what makes shopping at PrivateCommunities.com so appealing.
If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air, you might fall in love with New Seabury in Mashpee, Massachusetts. See what it looks like in the bedroom and the kitchen of a home that you can actually buy.
Vineyard Reach Home Affords Water Views
Stylish Kitchen at Vineyard Reach
Shop the destination, then the home at the Web’s best spot since 1996.
Nostalgia by a lakefront sunset. Visits to Florida through the years to see those famous water skiing displays during summer vacations. Private Communities Newswire celebrates skiing on the water this week. Most people never realize how short-lived the summer vacation has always been for American workers. We all worked so hard all year for just two weeks off? It’s a good thing there are second homes.
Not everyone learns to water ski or do those fancy tricks. Not everyone can afford a second home these days. But, the allure of a place at the lake still remains strong in America.
The good news is, Cypress Gardens is still open and so is Florida (and every other vacation home destination).
Linger Longer at Georgia's Reynolds Plantation
Take Georgia’s Reynolds Plantation, for example, which rightly bills itself as a “Linger Longer” community where the days and weeks can blend into the kinds of family or even romantic memories that will last a lifetime.
Getting away on long weekends to a second home long enough leads to creating a comfortable destination that family and friends truly begin to appreciate. Check out more second home destinations by clicking here.
Even though the national economy might be sluggish, some developers are still making bold moves to complete projects in ways that will certainly lead to more sales. Any good developer will tell you that buyers love to see as much finished in master planned communities as possible. Private Communities Newswire sat down virtually with Jack Matthews, president of Matthews Southwest for some insights. The company is working on a real estate venture called The Tribute in North Texas.
Q: Who is the target buyer at The Tribute, and can you tell us about the golf course?
The target buyer frequently hails from the Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano area and is looking to move-up and/or to relocate to the highly desirable Lake Lewisville area with its great schools and lake access. Our new member/resort course is The Old American Golf Club, designed by Tripp Davis and PGA TOUR star and Dallas native resident Justin Leonard. The Old American Golf Club is inspired by the great American courses of the “Golden Age” in golf course architecture (1910-1937). As such, our golf buyer has an appreciation for history and strategically-oriented golf course design.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing golf real estate development in a down market?
In the short term, buyer malaise is the biggest challenge. Buyers may be qualified and actively in search of a new residential opportunity. However, the perception of “now is not the time” keeps them on the fence. But of course, now is the time to buy, nearly nation-wide.
Q: How will the golf dues and membership structure be a departure from other North Texas offerings?
The Old American Golf Club will differ from most Texas offerings in that it will feature a member/resort classification. It will be available to members and to resort guests of the future hotel, slated to open in the next 12 to 18 months. The hotel will be a boutique to mid-size to complement, yet not overwhelm the impact on total rounds and as a result, add to the quality of our members’ experiences. And of course, resort guests will not have to battle with the public for tee times.
Q: How much will course conditioning drive the experience, will that be a focus? How so?
Course conditions are a major focus and consideration on a private/resort course on the level of The Old American Golf Club. Turf is being methodically grown-in on each hole, and will be given ample time to mature before the course reaches its targeted number of rounds. Tripp and Justin place a great emphasis on classic bunkering, a la the styles used by Alister MacKenzie (Augusta National, Cypress Point). This style entails letting grass grow up around bunker edges to create a natural feel. The design duo also emphasizes shot values throughout the Old American Golf Club. Clearly, having the best possible turf conditions creates the ideal lies for executing the required shots.
Q: Will there be any specific HOA-style restrictions or rules that will preserve both the environment and property values?
Both the HOA language and the architectural guidelines will preserve property values and the environment. Additionally, The Tribute and Old American Golf Club are party to a “Green Alliance” formed with their development partners to ensure the highest levels of environmental quality and energy efficiency. The consortium includes Tripp Davis and Associates (“TDA”), Justin Leonard, TBG Partners (landscape architecture and planning firm), and homebuilders Coventry Homes, Drees Custom Homes, Warwick Custom Homes, Highland Homes and K. Hovnanian Homes. The Green Alliance employs sustainable development practices and green products in minimizing environmental impact and resource usage on the course, community grounds and residences. For example, well and surface water feeds into canals used for all common area irrigation; sustainable planning principals minimize paved surfaces while preserving and utilizing natural drainage areas; and limited planting of manicured turf grass decreases the use of air-polluting maintenance equipment.
Q: How do you make sure that inspiration will translate into the reality?
First, there is a very clear vision for the community and golf course (s) that drives everything else. Then, it is a matter of aligning with best-in-class partners who can achieve the vision when the rubber hits the road. Our vision and commitment at The Tribute and Old American Golf Club is classic quality and timeless values. This is manifested in the residential product, the surrounding amenities and particularly with the Old American Golf Club from the look and feel of the course, to the inspiring vistas of Lake Lewisville.
Since 1996, PrivateCommunities.com has been a comprehensive Web search portal where those seeking the very best in gated golf communities can go to find their dream destination amenity communities.
As trends in real estate development shift, existing communities are sometimes overlooked as the perfect choice for a second home. Here’s news this week out of Vero Beach, Florida, where one savvy gated community is restoring grasses on its eco-friendly golf course to augment long-term property values. The Indian River Club first became an Audubon Signature Sanctuary in 1995, and its designer Ron Garl is overseeing the job to make sure the golf course keeps its certification.
If you consider all the upside of buying an existing home in an established community, one of the first things that comes to mind is the stability. With the economic downturn, some developers are halting new construction efforts and existing private communities can sometimes have a location advantage. After all, they were built in prime locations before some of the newer communities. If the community has all the right amenities in the right location, new construction can actually emerge and older homes are torn down so the prime home sites can be customized, sometimes with “greener,” more energy efficient structures.
The Indian River Club in Vero Beach, Florida
Further south on the Florida coast in Palm Beach Gardens, the renown Frenchman’s Creek Country Club affords a few select buyers a year the chance to truly have it all. The Loggerhead Club and Marina gives residents priority access to the Intracoastal Waterway, a newly renovated 72,000-square-foot clubhouse, regionally praised fine dining (the food is delicious!) and residents even have their own private beach club right on the Atlantic Ocean.
Residents Only Beach Club at Frenchman's Creek in Palm Beach County - Truly the "Best of Everything"
The idea of having everything you have ever wanted should be appealing to second home shoppers and those looking to relocate. Despite the downturn, sources at Frenchman’s Creek report that six homes have closed at the private, gated community in the past two months. With all that this and other existing communities can offer buyers, it is easy to see why they remain attractive investments that can be savored immediately.
With All Star Weekend in full swing, first with a celebrity softball game, then Monday’s Homerun Derby Major League Baseball takes the field to showcase some of the top talent in the game. Writer Eric Fisher of Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal points to a changed tone for the 2009 All Star Game based on the changes in the economy.
Coach Bob Knight Takes Some Swings During All Star Weekend in St. Louis, Missouri
Americans have been looking at many aspects of their lives differently these days. Even in previous economic downturns baseball is something we’ve gone back to that offers us a sense of simplicity. A sense of community. At places like Hot Springs Village in Arkansas (the nation’s largest gated community) and Branson Creek in Missouri, another American tradition is celebrated: the family. Read this interesting story about how Branson, for example, is getting back to basics to beat the recession. If how we live defines us as a nation and our standard of living is to remain strong, second homes will be a part of that standard. They allow us an escape to ideal locations for a little rest and relaxation with those we love. Vacations are about changing your surroundings. Home is about family. See more “All Star” options here.
Ocean City, Maryland is home to Chesapeake College and The Gateway Grand
Although community amenities like marinas, golf and fitness facilities remain a big draw for attracting today’s second home buyers, location is still central to how people decide on a second home. One attractive option is a college town. With a second home purchase near a college or university you can really benefit from the intellectual activity of the greater community when you step outside your gated community.
The Institute for Adult Learning at Chesapeake College, for example, offers classes in “Mastering French Wines,” and in “Navigation Charts” and “Electronic Navigation,” where instructor Jerry Friedman shows students how to safely pilot a boat with and without newer gizmos like GPS systems. If you wanted to take up boating as a new hobby, the resources are right there in the community through the connection to the college.
Second home owners can truly enrich their lives on both sides of the gates when they find private communities in these college-connected places. Walk the beach in the morning; experience life-long learning all day long. You’ll even know the best French wine to order with your fresh catch.
Chicago is not the only large city that has second-home appeal, the lifestyle at Chapel Cove in Charlotte, North Carolina touts easy access to the Queen City but is still close to nature
Nice story here about a family who splits their time between Naperville and Chicago, Illinois. Susan Saulny’s piece plays up the aspirational nature of second homes and this news is not getting out as much as it used to with the mainstream media understandably so focused on the bad numbers and the foreclosure culture present in so many vacation home markets.
There are many deals out there now, and maybe there are other potential splitters (people who split their time between two or more homes for work, family and recreation) who might begin to realize that a down market is a good time to buy. For some perfect second-home shopping all over America with little more than a mouse click, visit PrivateCommunities.com
Technology can present us with a dizzying amount of choices and things to remember. How many e-mail accounts, passwords and bookmarks can one person remember?
Four in five Internet sessions begin with search engines like Yahoo! or Google, and even these services are adapting to consumer demand. This handy video about Google Apps shows just how easy it can be to integrate your work and personal life around a central shared calendar, schedule meetings, share information and even subscribe to Google Alerts to get the information you want when you want it. The days of the typical e-mail box could be numbered. Of course, the wrinkle in all of this with Google is that they have added a $50 annual fee for use. So, redesigning your information experience will come with a price tag.
While Private Communities Newswire is not in the business of recommending technology to visitors, it might be worth the 30-day free trial Google is offering on Google Apps. Try subscribing to our RSS Feed too. If you are thinking about searching for a second home, we can feed you with helpful information about some of the best communities out there. If you already use Google Apps, please leave us a comment on how you like it.
Even in tough economic times, “July 4th” offers us a day to reflect on what America is suppose to be. The day is celebrated as a holiday for a reason; it belongs to all of us. The idea of our independence could be credited to Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), who offered the Resolutions for Independence in 1776 leading to the Declaration of Independence. So many Americans celebrate the freedoms we have enjoyed as part of our “pursuit of happiness.”
Richard Henry Lee -- Read more about him and the other signers of the Declaration of Independence by clicking on his photo
The New Deal has meant many things to many people, and one of its outcomes was Social Security. The idea that Americans entering their Golden Years could have something to work for; the opportunity to retire with dignity and pursue their own dreams. A new idea emerged in 1960, it was the original Sun City near Phoenix, Arizona. Builder Del E. Webb and his company created a place where the average retiree could afford a home on their fixed Social Security income. The concept was to keep the houses modest but build rich amenities for those “55 and better” to enjoy. Today, most anyone nearing retirement has heard of Del Webb. (To see one of the latest versions of the concept, click here.)
America is an experiment, and people moving to warmer climates in retirement was not even a brand new concept in 1960. But what Webb did was nothing short of build a new American Dream for people.
TIME Featured Webb's Concept (1962 Cover Story)
There is no telling what will be the next big trend in second homes or in American culture, but with 77 million baby boomers looking at their own retirement during the next two decades it would be unimaginable to think that the mobility to retire or buy a second home in any location they choose would not be attractive. That mobility has been driving our nation’s post-war economy. This “July 4th” marks the 35th Anniversary of Del E. Webb’s death, but the concept lives on all over America. The concept of creating places where people can pursue their happiness.
For more resources on Mr. Webb, click here. For a comprehensive hub for finding amenity communities, visit PrivateCommunities.com
The banner displayed on Private Communities Newswire this week is a stunning scene from a Wyoming second home landmark: Powder Horn. Golf is only the beginning to this celebration of wide open spaces. Powder Horn shares the Big Sky and the Great American West with a special place called Sheridan, where polo, art galleries, shopping, snow and live theater draw reclusive celebrities for some fresh air anytime of year. Sheridan has been compared favorably to Jackson Hole as the sort of place people find themselves through interacting with the great outdoors. For more great photos and in-depth information about Powder Horn, click here.
There are some incredible deals out there now in the second home marketplace. One concern people have is shopping for homes online and never quite knowing what they will get. The good news is that PrivateCommunities.com groups its second home and vacation home opportunities by specific community rather than relying on a multiple listing service. Like golf? See this. Tennis? Hunting? Babysitting services? Croquet? Boat slips? Go here and shop for everything you want. Get the research done in one spot.
Cheval in Mint Hill, North Carolina
Frenchman's Creek in Palm Beach Gardens
It is not always easy to find private clubs and communities, but if you are looking to buy a new second home or one in a more established destination, a little research at the Web’s top spot for destination amenity communities since 1996 can truly help.
You can also get materials sent from developers or homeowners associations right away, so you can do the comprehensive research it takes to make the big decision at what more people are saying is the best time to buy.
Just in from The New York Times, it appears that investors are looking at commercial real estate in Britain, and maybe U.S. residential real estate might get some attention from international investors soon too? For a decade, markets like Orlando, Florida, gained greatly from Brits who purchased vacation homes — and Florida is still The Sunshine State, after all. See this interesting 2008 piece about wider European tastes in second homes from Forbes.com
A community like VillageWalk at Lake Nona, for example, still holds wide American and international appeal for its great Central Florida location. A second home as a rental property could hold some cachet for investors as fewer Americans are in the market to buy and might instead decide to rent in attractive locations, even annually.
A private, gated community is still the best place to buy a second home because it can be maintained and kept attractive more reliably than the non-gated variety. The Times piece also compares this real estate downturn to that of the 1990s, so perhaps the bottom being near will get American and international residential buyers off the fence too. An assortment of ideal private communities can be searched at the Web’s best research portal for them — PrivateCommunities.com
Who uses Twitter? As the social networking/”microblog” Twitter.com has come of age and expanded its reach dramatically over the past year, it has reshaped itself into an ideal business tool for busy executives to stay connected. For example, execs can get a “daily stat” from Harvard Business Publishing to keep them in tune with key trends. They can also see what sorts of conversations are going on with investors or other stakeholders through an application called TweetDeck that streams information to their laptop computer or PDA.
When affluent executives take quick vacations to the physical address of their second homes, carrying Twitter along will make perfect sense as a new virtual second home for their communication with those who matter most.
Twitter may become a necessity for a majority of Americans very soon, in fact PCMAG.com’s Chloe Albanesius makes a great case that the site is wildly relevant, with 7 million unique visitors in February 2009, alone. If you want to see which execs are already using Twitter, check out ExecTweets, where these movers and shakers can compete for a spot in the “Best of ExecTweets” feature.
For decades the link between attractive tourist destinations and real estate has been growing. It’s no secret that people tend to buy second homes or retire in places they’ve visited and loved on vacation. Entertainment is a main reason Southern California has grown into a population center, with film and television production driving so much of the economy there.
Consider Las Vegas, Nevada and Branson, Missouri. These two vacation destinations frequently share some of the same entertaining experiences. Want to see Donny and Marie Osmond? How about taking the family to an IMAX movie? The entertainment offerings are similar up until the availability of gaming.
Developers are building great master-planned communities in vacation destinations. Some have come up with rather innovative ideas like fractional ownership to woo vacationers who like to make repeat visits.
At Branson Creek, The Cliffs at the John Daly-designed Murder Rock are 1,400-square-foot fractional units located on the front nine of the golf course. Purchasing just 12 fractional shares gets buyers three full weeks per quarter in any available Registry Collection resort property. The first fractional units begin construction at John Daly’s Murder Rock this fall, with fractional shares now available for purchase.
You don’t need to be Warren Buffett or Bill Gates to live the affluent lifestyle, but it sure helps. Forbes.com recently took us on a tour of the “Homes of Billionaires” and it is quite a tour at that. The dream of one marvelous home is enough for most Americans, but many “lowly millionaires” still make a habit of collecting the very best real estate for a second home. It’s a place where they can retreat and enjoy peak experiences with family and friends. Imagine moving your millions into The Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill, Georgia?
Town & Country Magazine named The Ford Plantation among the top U.S. "safe havens."
The Savannah-area community only has 400 home sites, and its history dates to 1734. If you are shopping, here’s an ideal starting point.
Homes that start at $1 million are certainly more modest than where Bill Gates lives, but you can beat out Warren Buffett easily with a second home gem at most any price. Buffett still lives in a home he paid $31,500 for in 1958. Window shopping is always welcome in the unique communities featured on the Web at PrivateCommunities.com
Vero Beach, Florida — Silicon Valley’s CCG Group will lead search engine marketing (SEM) initiatives for Florida-based PrivateCommunities.com, the Web’s premiere consumer research portal that has featured upscale, master-planned real estate since its launch in 1996.
CCG Group’s principals Andreas Ramos and Stephanie Cota have vast expertise in all levels of Web search, multi-channel marketing and Web analytics. McGraw-Hill published their latest book, Search Engine Marketing earlier this year. Unlike general real estate Web sites that focus on house listings, PrivateCommunities.com has grown its niche by showcasing private and gated communities, their amenities, locations, property offerings and pricing.
Ramos
Cota
“This initiative keeps PrivateCommunities.com in a leadership position marketing master-planned communities to affluent second home buyers,” said Vice President of Technology Robert Weimer. “Our firm is licensed by Nielsen Claritas to overlay socio-economic research data, and this provides unmatched competitive intelligence to developers who have communities listed on PrivateCommunities.com – the addition of CCG will help us improve our already effective SEM efforts.”
Co-Founder Elisabeth Miller-Fox explained that the Web site has been effective for both developers and affluent consumers alike, because it has always focused on meeting the needs of its niche user profile.
“This opportunity to work with CCG comes at the perfect time,” said Miller-Fox. “We already have a model that works for the affluent consumer to easily find what they want and it saves them time. Our SEM strategy will help us further differentiate PrivateCommunities.com as the tool of choice for developers trying to reach affluent buyers at a time when there is plenty of clutter on the Web.”
PrivateCommunities.com features the Web’s most comprehensive collection of master-planned communities throughout the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean by developers including Pulte (NYSE:PHM), Centex (NYSE: CTX) and Bluegreen (NYSE:BXG).
Watch the exciting Final Round from Dublin, Ohio. Who will win? Woods? Furyk? Byrd? Letzig? Ogilvy? Or will it be Davis Love, III? The tournament course at Muirfield Village Golf Club was designed by The Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus. See more of his designs by taking a tour of PrivateCommunities.com
Places like Klamath Falls are unsurpassed for their unique terrain and proximity to the dramatic beachscapes of the Pacific Ocean. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound in wide-open surroundings. The pace of life is easy too, so you can take your time when you are taking it all in.
The Oregon Shakepeare Festival is a nearby national treasure and the area, along the Northern California border, boasts the highest concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. You can get Oregon travel tips from insiders day or night by joining Twitter, and joining the free conversation.
If you decide to do your homework on getting a second home or relocating to Oregon, you can access the Web’s best resource for finding master-planned communities since 1996 with a visit to PrivateCommunities.com
Long-term thinking about luxury housing in America’s best destinations is not necessarily tied to larger economic factors. In fact, many gated communities have seen steady sales during economic downturns before, and it is hard to believe that those with means will not invest in a vacation home or second home at some point, maybe as soon as they escape some of the larger group psychology of the economic crises. Many communities that feature private club living can be researched at PrivateCommunities.com
Clearly, for buyers who can afford them, second homes and vacation homes will have an inelastic demand based on emotion and aspiration. When they begin to buy them, it may not be in significant enough numbers to get coverage from the mainstream news media who tend to cover trends that can be generalized over larger populations. Private Communities Newswire invites Comments from developers who are selling second homes, even if these numbers are lower than they were five years ago. This may give us all some local insights, which will be helpful long before the mainstream media crunches the numbers.
For global insights the Urban Land Institute (ULI) released its latest publication in June, examining the implications of global population growth, migration and urbanization as well as aging populations on the future of real estate.
ULI's Richard Rosan
According to ULI: “Global Demographics 2009…is the second in an annual series that explores how demographic trends are affecting real estate investment and development decisions worldwide.” Some findings of the study follow. Keep reading →
Wish you were here? Residents of The Georgia Club, a residential private golf community located just outside of thriving Athens, Georgia, were recently surveyed on their Internet usage. Here’s some interesting findings:
- 85 percent of respondents were 40+ years of age
- 60 percent of respondents were 50+ years of age
- 87 percent use the Internet multiple times a day, with another 9 percent using it at least once a day
- More than 50 percent indicated the Web was their primary source for finding their news and many used it to track their investments
- In addition to visits to Google and Yahoo, respondents gathered their news from online portals of legacy media organizations like Fox News, CNBC and CNN
Special thanks to The Georgia Club for sharing this data. If your private or gated community is increasingly using the Web to stay connected, please Comment
Jim Cramer of Bay Creek Resort and Club in Cape Charles, Virginia put the housing bubble nicely into context in a March posting on the community’s blog. After reading his insightful analysis, the question becomes: what might be keeping affluent buyers on the sidelines?
Claiming its territory as one of the best places for golf, Business North Carolina has once again named the state’s Top 100 Golf Courses. The publication assembles 150 experts from the news media, club professional and general managers as well as others in-the-know to rate golf courses in the Tar Heel State. Again this year, Keep reading →
Masters Legend Errie Ball visits with Willoughby Golf Club's members -- everyday but Sunday
When it comes to national treasures, few Florida golf clubs can claim to offer their members such a truly legendary experience. At Stuart, Florida’s Willoughby Golf Club an exclusive club has an exclusive golf instructor emeritus. There is only one surviving member of the original field of 72 men who played in the first tournament that would become known as the Masters: his name is Errie Ball. Keep reading →
Indecision plays a big part in the selection of a vacation home. What’s most important to a couple or a family can change over time. There are beach people and some are boaters; others must report to the golf course on a daily basis. If you have a big crew of family and friends joining you at your vacation spot, pleasing a crowd of undecided people can get complicated too. Keep reading →
The economy has forced “a correction” in the real estate market where pre-housing bubble prices are making a comeback. At Tantallon Preserve, there’s an incredible opportunity for getting more for your money. Get a great deal online and experience unbelievable luxury by placing a bid. The auction ends June 9, but if you visit www.buyatauction.com/tantallon you have a chance to live the dream at a price that will make you feel like a bargain hunter in the lap of luxury.
Does a $300,000 Discount Get Your Attention?
Homes previously selling from the upper $600,000’s are offered at minimum bids from the low $300.000’s. Tantallon Preserve is a collection of homes ideally located in Fort Washington, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. Near the eastern bank of the Potomac River, the community is close to boating at Fort Washington Marina, golfing at the Tantallon Country Club, swimming at the Fort Washington pool and convenient dining, entertainment and services.
This weekend’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) shareholders meeting will be watched closely by investors in America as Warren Buffett, one of the largest concentrators of wealth, speaks and fields questions.
Omaha, Nebraska is the location of the meeting and the game plan will be the discussion of investment opportunities. As a card game, Omaha Hold Em’ gives players the chance to win with better hands than in other poker games — and this can lead to high stakes. It could be argued that as an investment entity, Berkshire has played the “hold em’ game” better than anyone, even though 2008 was not the firm’s best year.
Fortune says more than 30,000 are expected
The questions and answers at this meeting will not change the economy overnight unless the group gets a little more creative. So much of the economy is tied to the housing market, and the jobs and investments it drives. At the same time, foreclosures by banks continue to spread fear and doubt in the American mind, so what can stop the fear?
Private Communities Newswire will not be sending a correspondent to the meeting, but it would be great to ask the entire group why investors are not more excited about making American consumers more stable by addressing jobs in industries that require a wide range of professional skills. How about the housing market itself? What about people who want to stay in their homes?
Notice how Buffett encourages his investors to buy from companies within its own portfolio, what if Buffett encouraged the same investors to buy second homes in their own communities (maybe even from people facing foreclosure who could rent it back from these well-heeled investors so properties are not vacated). Could one of the world’s richest people use his influence to creatively rehabilitate the second home industry and breath life into one of our nation’s traditional symbols of economic security? Maybe someone in line will ask the question before the game is over; investors buying up houses would be both noble and helpful for the larger economy. This shuffle and deal could be a hand where everybody wins.
As Mother’s Day approaches May 10, you could make the noble effort to grab Mom some jewelry she can wear to remember you, like these special pieces from Tiffany & Co. You could also win a spot on American Idol.
Mount Washington Resort in Brettonwoods, New Hampshire has another idea with Mother’s Day just around the corner. The great thing about a second home in a resort spot where you can ski is that there are ways to enjoy the place in warmer weather too. Here’s an offering for a Mother’s Day getaway where fantastic real estate opportunities await the entire family. It could become a Mother’s Day tradition for all the Moms in the family to visit the spa and go on nature walks to count their blessings.
No matter how you decide to honor Mom, these ladies usually appreciate spending time with their families, so why not suggest a family reunion at Bretton Woods? Or, you can discover another place you’d like to meet up with Mom by searching right here, where other special places have been featured since 1996.
The popular southern luxury lifestyle of lake living at The Reserve at Lake Keowee means golf on the Jack Nicklaus signature golf course and taking a stroll in the village or relaxing by the resort-style pool. Keep reading →
Would free golf for 10 years be enough for you to consider shopping for a second home, or even moving to a new primary residence? Many developers are eager to get shoppers interested; but not at the expense of other property owners who already live in gated communities. There is a danger in discounting the price of homes substantially during build-out, so the latest trend is for developers to offer added value. Keep reading →
VERO BEACH, FLA. – Second homes survive, even in a down market, as dream opportunities for many Americans and international buyers. After the real estate bubble burst nationally, finding ideal homes in resort destinations continues for savvy shoppers who only want the best. Keep reading →
In the beginning, if you wanted to own a vacation home, you had to buy the whole thing, lock, stock and year-round headaches. Now, the second home industry has evolved to the point where you can slice and dice your holiday house into practically whatever amount of time you actually use it.
This site is a great resource for content that can be used during the great weather we are having this fall. It even featured Ryder Cup updates and a “Featured” golf instructor.
NPR must have missed the New York Times story on this subject years ago. I think “splitters” is much more catchy…migrating to amenities seems like hard work.
“Amenity Migrants” in Flagstaff AZ, Walworth County WI & Elsewhere
National Public Radio recently ran a segment on “amenity migrants” who are buying vacation homes as weekend getaways and eventually as homes for their active retirement. NPR spoke with Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute, who may have coined the term “amenity migrants.” Keep reading →
Jacksonville’s Amenity Communities Marketing Summit this week was an excellent discussion of ideas and trends in marketing practices as we see a shift away from traditional media as the sole centerpiece for what developers are doing out there in a down market. Most impressive were the innovative community designs and opportunities out there for people shopping second homes. Maybe in 2009 we will start to see a fresh start in real estate, leading to a rebound. Until then, it was nice to see so many developers and marketers exchanging ideas and sharing best practices. Hope to attend again next year, and see how these new ideas are being put to use to result in sales.
Ever heard of Franklin, North Carolina? You might not find diamonds there, but this diamond-in-the-rough of a town fashions occasional rubies or sapphires and bills itself as the Gem Capital of the World. Mining as tourism? That’s right. Mining, hiking, cycling, kayaking, rafting and horseback riding are among the many recreational activities this area boasts. Keep reading →
Here’s an interesting story by Matt Woolsey of Forbes which supports what I have been hearing lately in expert conversations about America’s most wealthy folks and the real estate market. For people thinking about a purchase in private clubs and gated communities this downturn is more about the timing of their decision (when they are ready) than waiting on the sidelines for too long because of the troubled market. Government action to stem foreclosures (something that’s been on the table for more than a year) seems like a policy that might make the rest of America more like these top ZIPs in terms of holding their property values. Nothing hurts comps more than these anomalies. Still, having a golf course, pool and private club experience are attractive to all Americans at any price and that should continue to be the case.
Located near Athens and Atlanta, The Georgia Club and its amenities bring value beyond a nice ZIP code.
VERO BEACH, Fla. – North Carolina-based Himalaya Rankings, LLC and John Sweeney have been ordered to transfer five domains to Private Communities Registry, Inc., doing business as PrivateCommunities.com, by the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), a provider of the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
On August 13, 2008, PrivateCommunities.com filed a complaint for rights to five infringing domains, including Private-Communities.org, against domain owner John Sweeney and Himalaya Rankings from Wilmington, North Carolina.
The NAF issued an 18-page decision ruling that Himalaya Rankings, LLC and John Sweeney had registered nearly identical domains in bad faith for the purpose of disrupting the Complainant’s business, creating a likelihood of confusion, and intentionally attracting Internet users to their Web sites for commercial gain.
Trademarks for Private Communities Registry and PrivateCommunities.com were issued in 2002, with marks in use since 1996 and 1998, respectively. Himalaya Rankings and John Sweeney began using variations of the PrivateCommunities.com name in 2003.
“We filed this complaint to keep the good name of our first-to-market company and to avoid confusion by imitation companies whose marketing strategy is to hitch on our established good will, good name, and hard-earned reputation,” said PrivateCommunities.com co-founder Marie Roberts. “We have been operating for more than 12 years.”
Intellectual property and trademark attorneys Amber Neilson and Robert Wolter of Beussse Wolter Sanks Mora & Maire, PA of Orlando, Fla. filed the complaint on behalf of PrivateCommunites.com.
Rebecca Crandall of Williams Mullen, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, represented Himalaya Rankings, LLC and John Sweeney.
PrivateCommunities.com was founded in 1996 by Marie Roberts and Elisabeth Miller-Fox as an Internet-based company that generates real estate leads and website traffic for master-planned communities. According to HitWise, an Experian company, PrivateCommunities.com dominates the Destination Amenity Community custom category with a 45 percent market share.
Real Estate in The Hamptons is examined here by Oliver Haydock of The New York Observer. It may not be too surprising that the market has slowed in that exclusive enclave. However, a comment that appears to have been posted by blogger Laurie Mindnich laments that “75 (percent) of Hamptons listings are not entered into the widely utilized MLSLI system.” This comment supports a short feature we published in August. Question: is this true across America, just as it is in The Hamptons?
At the end of a long day, there is nothing better than escaping and relaxing. When times are tough, stress can really knock you out. People have always loved the idea of using vacation time to relax, but with a second home the vacation can go on for months and months. Sometimes it is balanced with consulting work and travel. Sometimes there are few more stressful experiences than the Holidays, when the family visits.
Spa Treatments Make the Difference When it Comes to Stress
With lifestyle consumers becoming more refined and more sensitive to their own well-being, private and gated communities with resort-style spas are a real draw. Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa in Kissimmee, Florida boasts a European Resort Spa, concierge services, 24-hour manned gate, state-of-the-art fitness center and a heated beach-entry family pool. But when it is time to detach, it is nice to know the developer already thought of the most important amenity: your comfort.
This piece by Nina Easton of Fortune speaks to how much impact the new president will have on reshaping our economy and in reshaping the housing market. This news from Ty McMahan of The Wall Street Journal is equally compelling, it shows that the Web is still prime real estate for venture capital. In the words of Institutional Venture Partners General Partner Todd Chaffee on the investment: “We feel like we have this undiscovered gem and we’re going to build it into a household name. It’s going to be one of the best-known companies on the Internet.” Meanwhile, savvy developers have always known that one key to attracting buyers is getting them to take a vacation at your property. Second homes are here to stay as a viable part of the U.S. economy because too many people want to live well and are willing to invest in the lifestyle. The real test will be just how quickly the Web can become a place where Americans begin dreaming again. Based on these two articles there is no question that changes are coming.
This post by Vacation Home Insider reviews the latest prices in California real estate. Few Golden State spots are more attractive than Carmel. At Tehama, a new fitness center has opened to members and this shows that the very best opportunities are not always that far away. View these dramatic scenes and this will soon become your “happy place.”
See this article from Businessweek about “The Best Places to Raise Your Kids,” and you might start thinking about their future. If you are considering some of the lifestyle advantages of a second home, some of the best are related to expanding the horizons of your children.
Sometimes a second home can be a good way to change residency, lower your taxes Keep reading →
Leave it to Jeff Zbar, the Chief Home Officer, to offer a great resource for those of us who rarely stay away from the office, even on journeys to our second homes. Many developers recognize the need for functional and dedicated office space in vacation homes and properties and as the world goes wireless this way of working will likely grow. From airport to home and from the golf course to the clubhouse, busy executives will increasingly expect to stay wired for work. La Cresta by Del Webb is near Orlando, and the developer has a long tradition of creating connective amenities.
Affluent investors in The Windy City will gather at the Harvard Business School Club of Chicago’s event Nov. 19 to hear about investing in “uncertain times.” It will be interesting to see how the experts view luxury real estate as part of the portfolio. Keep reading →
Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina, a spot where the lakefront is a playground for all ages. What better way to retreat from the daily grind than a getaway to the lake? The difference here is you can be comfortable at the moment you arrive. Arrival services include having breakfast food waiting for you, boat storage, yard services and even fresh flowers in the vases so everything is just as you left it. If life were always this easy we might just stay on vacation forever. Read all about Santeetlah Lakeside.
Lifestyle and Fitness Directors in private and gated communities have grown in popularity and play more of a specialized role these days. Luxury communities offer individual attention for those homeowners with active lifestyles and little time for scheduling. Centennial Bluff in Oak Ridge, Tennessee offers Keep reading →
As Americans become more health-conscious and aware of potentially dangerous pesticides in fruits and vegetables, many have turned to organically-grown produce. The growing trend in organic gardening has made its way to gated, private communities. Blogs like The Organic Gardeners by Jessica Walliser can aid newbies in the development of their own green projects. One organic “garden spot” hideaway is Ciěl, a private community located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. Residents enjoy an active organic garden near an open air pavilion and private walking trails. Sustainable luxury grows in North Carolina.
Tucked away amidst the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Valdese, North Carolina, is home to a variety of outdoor pleasures. Within an easy drive of many population centers in the Northeast and Midwest, this area of North Carolina has seen a recent boom in second home and retirement living due to natural and cultural attractions. The area’s history comes alive with sweet melodies between September and April.
Bluegrass Band Blue Highway
Acclaimed bluegrass musicians, like Blue Highway, perform regularly in The Old Rock School, a refurbished school building built by a group of French dissenters who settled in the area bringing their unique cultural traditions along with them.
The Settings Development Companies, LLC, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has quickly positioned itself for success in the Southeastern United States by finding unique locations where the quality of life is conducive to second homes and the ultimate in retirement living. See more about their offerings at PrivateCommunities.com, the leading research portal for private and gated communities across America and the Western Hemisphere.
Scenic 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls Could Be Your View
Temporarily reduced from $315,000 to $150,000 per lot, 26 very special Asheville, North Carolina mountain homesites with unobstructed views of the waterfall made famous by the 1992 feature film The Last of the Mohicans are available. Buyers must close on the half-acre to 2.23-acre parcels by the end of the year, and up to four lots are available at the reduced price. The greatest savings may be on the double lot (2.23 acres) normally priced at $675,000. The developer is offering that for just $300,000. See a clip from the famous film!
City water and sewer is in place. Golf is within 15 minutes. Asheville is within 20 minutes. Lake Lure, just 1.3 miles away, has been recognized by National Geographic as “one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the world.” Developer Darren Allen can be reached at (888) 203-3522 or at sterlinggrpprop@aol.com
Imagine shopping for second homes and vacation homes even 10 years ago, and calling the sales office to ask about the weather. No need to now. Communities like Lake James in Western North Carolina show up-to-date weather that rivals even The Weather Channel. There is no question that real estate shopping in America is an online prospect. The key is evaluating the best opportunities with a follow-up trip that allows you to experience the local sense of place. Hiking or even kayaking to get a sense of the lifestyle in store is the new strategy for evaluating the best second home opportunities.
Kayaking is part of the plan at Lake James in Western North Carolina
Texas Hill Country is Ideal for Natural Explorations
Private Communities Newswire – When families look for places to grow roots they have to take plenty into consideration beyond the price of the house. How are the schools? Where is the recreation? What will they do on the weekends? Where people live is just as important as what they will do with their free time. Texas Hill Country near San Antonio is one place where all of the positives seemingly come together.
Schlitterbahn Offers Family Fun
Savvy developers in the area know they must offer a complete lifestyle package to any buyer at any age to be successful. In newer communities, where land plans get better all the time, the focus is on nature and protecting the settings near where homes will eventually be built. Attractions on property like five miles of trails, sand volleyball and a 3,000-square-foot clubhouse are three reasons Cascada at Canyon Lake is a place the entire family can enjoy. Quality of life in San Antonio has been a driver for business relocation during the past decade, and some unique lakeside residential opportunities have emerged in time to receive growing families and even empty-nesters looking to enjoy the surroundings.
The nearby Natural Bridge Caverns offers Discovery Tours 180 feet below the ground. The unique experience is enough to keep visitors and locals engaged all year long. In fact, uncovering all that Texas Hill Country has to offer could take a month of Sundays.
New Braunfels, Texas, established by German settlers in the 1840s is home to Copper Ridge where residents can take advantage of a resort-style pool and a Texas-style pavillion with a fireplace as part of the amenity package. Communities that are developed with friendly and family gatherings in mind have been a staple of the most successful master plans for decades. One reason for this is the proliferation of lifestyle in America. Giving people more opportunities for fitness, exploring nature or even world-class golf are now par for the course. For traditional golf gurus, the 8,700-acre Cordillera Ranch features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and formidable natural surroundings for families just 13 minutes from San Antonio. As developers have done their share to create lifestyle experiences for buyers, the surrounding opportunities for enjoying life also get a boost. After so many years of development being a positive force, places like Texas Hill Country near San Antonio can sit back and enjoy the quality of life.
Interesting take on home values and how they are indexed from the Wall Street Journal’s Carl Bialik this week. As with any other research, there are caveats that make understanding the numbers a rather complicated task. The saying about “all real estate being local” holds validity, and hopefully the Internet is becoming a place where people can get a variety of opinions on matters like this. Bialik deserves credit for casting a shadow of doubt on the data we always seem to follow without question. At some of the higher price points, it is difficult to imagine large swings in value. A ski-in, ski-out resort home, for example, is the type of unique offering that is tough to compare.
Do some homes hold their value better than others? You bet.
The water always holds an attraction and Fawn Lake makes the most of its ideal setting
Gated and Private Communities Value Local History, Second Homes Open Up Historical Discovery
In many choice lifestyle and second home locations, the history of the region is an amenity on par with golf, fitness, horseback riding, tennis or any other diversion. Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Potomac River, Fredericksburg, Virginia has long been an American treasure, with numerous sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With its proximity to Washington, DC, Fawn Lake is an ideal second home destination and maybe one of the nation’s best historical destinations too. Cultural tourism is an important economic driver, for more information on this trend visit Shenandoah University’s History and Tourism Center.
There are many more reasons people are finding Hendersonville an attractive location, but let’s start with a lucky number:
The climate is favorable for four season living in stunning mountain surroundings.
Each spring, the Annual Garden Jubilee Festival brings the entire community together to celebrate the robust growing season in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Property taxes tend to be more favorable than many areas of the country. (See Zach Baker’s insightful local angle on Hendersonville.)
Scenery: Western North Carolina is one of the most spectacular settings in America.
Hendersonville Can Easily Inspire
Positive economic growth: Due to recent interest in the area from Americans seeking a gentler four-season style of living, Hendersonville has become a destination where the economy is healthy and makes resources available to those considering a business relocation.
PrivateCommunities.com, a leading Internet research portal, lists nearly 20 destination amenity communities in or near Hendersonville. This means it is easy to take a tour and sample the offerings in the area, and speaks to the popularity of the region.
In this type of setting, unique communities like Seven Falls Golf and River Club have sprouted up, planning to feature everything from a 25,000-square-foot with a Pub Sports Bar to dozens of ways for residents of the private and gated club to enjoy the French Broad River and the waterfalls that helped give this Hendersonville, North Carolina attraction its name.
Winter, spring, summer and falls -- in Western North Carolina
VillageWalk at Lake Nona is a gated community in Orlando, Florida.
Perhaps news reports, like those written by Geraldine Fabrikant of the International Herald Tribune just a year ago, will appear again to foster confidence in the luxury market and improve our outlook. If so, Florida may begin to see some of the positive signs in markets like Orlando, where second homes have been very popular with international buyers in the past decade.
Golf and More Await Second Home Seekers in Sunny Alabama
Start with the 12,000-square-foot spa inside the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort & Spa, add shopping and restaurants…if you really love golf, a look at Ross Bridge in Central Alabama has some of the best, along with a unique architectural style and setting that result in a true sense of place. Developers call Ross Bridge “A Classic American Resort Town” for hundreds of reasons, including the 18 holes on site and the 54 holes of golf just a few miles away in Oxmoor Valley. All this makes Hoover, Alabama a must-live golf destination.
Streetscapes, Landscapes Impress at Ross Bridge
When you are ready to tee it up, you are on the trail to superb golf experiences too. An 8,191-yard championship course awaits, one of the newest on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, just one of the state’s many advantages as a second home spot. If you think about it alphabetically, of course, Alabama always takes first place.
For those looking to relocate, there is good news about Alabama too, making its appeal of warmer weather and quality of life a growing asset. There is plenty to see, and when you visit, make sure you stop to see the azaleas in bloom.
Catch the Spirit of the Season at Callaway Gardens Near Atlanta, Georgia
From mid-November through the end of December, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, hosts its acclaimed “Fantasy in Lights.” With more than 8 million lights (that’s about 731 miles of stringed lights if they were all connected), kids of all ages can get into the Holiday spirit in this wonderland of sparkling seasonal splendor. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers a helpful map of metro Atlanta Holiday house lights if you plan to check it out. Living in a private, gated neighborhood in Georgia delivers mild winters with special benefits like warm, friend Southern hospitality.
"Electric Light Swans" glide through Callaway Gardens. If you visit, check in with Pine Mountain Builders, creators of a new private community there. Book a room now and enjoy the lights. If you cannot make it to The Peach State this month, a visit to the latest Callaway Gardens E-zine is fun too. Within an hour's drive of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Pine Mountain offers a range of activities from tennis to fishing - even a Gun Club.
One wonders if lower interest rates are the only answer to the housing issues facing America. Those with larger portfolios still have money and are likely not too pleased with their returns from Wall Street of late. A second home might be the sort of investment those with resources can make that can also drive other job creation and economic engines. Keep reading →
Few games balance strength and patience like competitive polo. There is a certain sense of history that goes along with the “Game of Kings” too. For all its popularity these days, polo still skews toward the affluent for either its sport or spectacle, and getting in on the fun is as easy as jumping on the Web to find out where you can jump on a horse and play. Nearly a dozen polo clubs pepper The Sunshine State, making it a retreat destination for polo enthusiasts. It takes a critical mass of people who love the game and horses to develop a community around polo and some developers have caught on that a polo field makes for an attractive amenity.
Places like Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota, showcase the finer things of Florida living. There’s more to do than just “horse around” near Lakewood Ranch. See Lynn Waddell’s vacation ideas if you plan a visit to the area this winter to watch a game or even take a lesson on how to play. Before you go, see what Richard Foxx has to say about polo terms so you can speak the language.
Here’s an interesting Squidoo lens about Outdoor Kitchens, a great starting point for anyone wanting a weather-proof pizza oven and the unique pleasure of “grilling out” from December through April. Mild winter climates are the best for this activity, but even scenic treasures like Talking Rock Ranch in Prescott, Arizona, afford opportunities for enjoying chilly fresh air and blue skies.
Custom Homes in Prescott, Ariz. Highlight Outdoor/Indoor Blended Living
Gulf Breezes, Personal Attention and a Round of Golf
If you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the warm winter lifestyle in the relaxed setting of Ft. Myers, Florida, you can now make that wonder a reality — if only for a day. LandMar’s River Hall has a great opportunity Keep reading →
This chart shows the performance of related Web sites in terms of the monthly market share of page visits for Destination Amenity Communities. When second home shoppers go to the Web for information, chances are they stop at PrivateCommunities.com first. PrivateCommunities.com has been a leader and expert resource in second homes and gated communities for more than a decade and counting. Developers listed on the site have a resource at their fingertips that allows them to fine-tune their Internet marketing.
Online Research of All Kinds is a Growing Trend
This story from BBC News points to what’s been popular on Google recently and it shows how important search engines have become for getting our information. Good news is that Google also knows Keep reading →
Web Grows as First Stop for Second Homes and Luxury
These days it is not surprising that affluent shoppers are less likely to flaunt their wealth. Sales of second homes in private clubs and gated country club communities have never really been a real estate buy where developers hang balloons out to get “drive-by” traffic. This interesting story from Marketplace Keep reading →
For more than a decade, the Marketing & Sales Institute (MSI) has created professional development opportunities for people specializing in real estate. The next ACES event looks like another great line-up. ACES 2009
Charleston’s Daniel Island Makes Rare Water Frontage Available
Daniel Island Park is one of Charleston, South Carolina’s premier golf communities, people have known that. But they may not realize that the Daniel Island Company also specializes in creating other unique lifestyle offerings. The Daniel Island Club includes two resort-style swimming pools, tennis and fitness facilities and a clubhouse on a scenic marsh where the water reflects the sky. Golf members of the club enjoy access to a nationally-ranked golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones. Just minutes away, Daniel Island’s restaurants, shops, schools and churches provide all the conveniences of island town living. Boaters, however, prefer all of this and more. This month, some waterfront opportunities have been made available for the first time.
More About the Waterfront Sites…
The Point is a cluster of four deepwater lots situated on a bluff overlooking Ralston Creek and the Wando River. At Ralston Point, a well-established neighborhood, these exclusive home sites offer one of the best ways to enjoy water-oriented lifestyle on Daniel Island. Each site is permitted for a deepwater dock on the protected waters of Ralston Creek. Prices range from just more than $1.5 million to $2.3 million.
The Reach offers four dockable golf and waterfront lots with 360-degree golf, marsh and tidal creek views, situated on a private peninsula of land overlooking the signature golf holes of the Daniel Island Club’s Rees Jones-designed Ralston Creek course. Landscaped and gated green space leads to a pier and floating docks on Ralston Creek are shared by the four owners. Prices at The Reach range from $995,000 to just more than $1.3 million.
Marketing Multiplication: Re-thinking Second Home Shoppers
This October piece in The New York Times should give real estate marketers plenty of food for thought as we roll into 2009. How much can some women play a role in the rebound of luxury second home sales in 2009? Could be a defining role. Are women better at spotting a great opportunity and better prices for the things they want? The research leading to this story was fascinating in terms of how it makes a case for Marketing Multipliers and their profound effect on the purchasing process.
Research from The New York Times Could Play into Second Home Sales
What’s really interesting is how women are dominating more and more of the entire lifestyle and travel discussion. Helpful resources like Travelgirl Magazine are popping up to help women find peak experiences all over the globe and why not pair these excursions with real estate shopping? Soon, developers might offer a special “Discovery Package” just for groups of ladies enjoying travel in the best destinations for everything from golf to shopping to nature.
Bald Head Island in North Carolina Offers a Turtle Walk Vacation Package
Heavy Snow Reminds Americans: No Need to Shovel Sunshine
Imagine trading in the snow shovels for poolside sun at a place in Florida this winter. The images set a stark contrast. Perhaps due to a downturn in the market and an upturn in the snow we’ll see a healthy “second home season” in Florida in 2009.
Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club offers Nicklaus private golf near Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona’s Climate and Scenery: More than an Oasis for Second Homes
The idea that private golf and social memberships bring friends together in the desert is appealing on many levels. Although “The Valley of the Sun” has been a second home destination because of its milder winter weather, the seasonal snowbird life is only a start to the discussion. When people live in private golf communities like Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club they really have year-round access to the social networks they develop at these desert jewels. The community’s members only Web site offers access to a variety of services. With the Internet and the rapid rise in connectivity, friends become part of your life, not simply people you see seasonally. Here’s a few quick facts about the membership offerings at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club.
Social Memberships:
-Clubhouse events and services
-Family membership, including spouse and children under 23 who are living at home, attending school full-time, or serving in the military
-Concierge services
-Swimming, tennis at the Sports Club
-Guest privileges
Golf Memberships:
-Privileges at Prospector, Lost Gold courses
-Use of practice facilities
-Clubhouse events and services
-Family membership, including spouse and children under 23 who are living at home, attending school full-time, or serving in the military
Private, Gated Communities Offer Investing Room to Roam
Roosevelt Ridge Private Reserve in Colorado
Going back to the land is something that many Americans always see as an option. Wide open spaces in America can really inspire thinking that drives business ideas or they offer an effective retreat from the busy grind of the job. Sometimes both business opportunities and recreation find a connection around a passion like horseback riding or fly fishing.
Near Denver and Boulder, Colorado, Roosevelt Ridge Private Reserve offers a private, 3-mile community trail system affording space for horseback riding or even a brisk hike. For even more reflection that can lead to big ideas, a dream home here might send you upstream.
Family Fly Fishing
Within four miles of Roosevelt Ridge is the Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club where fly fishing enthusiasts and their families can enjoy access to miles of world-class fly fishing on several preserves. Membership allows families to enjoy the benefits of owning their own fly fishing preserve at a fraction of what it would take to own all those acres. Club membership is also a great way to network while tying a fly. With all the changes we expect in the 2009 economy, real estate opportunities like this are an appealing way for successful business people to enjoy an investment while dreaming up new ideas.
Mexico is still an affordable paradise and an American developer is making five years with no interest a reality for international second home buyers. As vacation homes in the lower 48 become more affordable, Mexico is still an attractive option. See the video of this oceanfront site where $300,000 can buy you the full ownership and access to a beachfront condo. Home sites and homes are available too. A Golf and Beach Resort might just be the right opportunity for the cold U.S. winter ahead. This Mexico travel resource can help you with your travels south of the border. PrivateCommunities.com is a great internet hub for finding second homes all over the Western Hemisphere, even those closer to home.
As the PGA pros tee it up, there is optimism in the air, and the Pacific Ocean breezes are calling. The Golf Channel will begin airing coverage on January 8. Long after the stars move on, the people who have selected this special place as a first or second home will be enjoying all the resort-style living they can stand the entire year. Just this week, 2008 winner Daniel Chopra conducted a golf clinic for the locals thanks to Kapalua Realty. Just another perquisite of paradise.
After more than 12 years providing a resource for second home shoppers, PrivateCommunities.com leads the pack of Web sites showcasing private, gated communities. In 2008, more than 45 percent of all searches within this luxury niche took place at PrivateCommunities.com.
Many second home shoppers can get a very good deal on models that developers put up for sale. In 2009, this may be where we first begin to see the market turn positive again. Gated and private communities are really a good place to buy a model home because of the maintenance and security. This article is from an L.A. Times Sunday edition and highlights these interesting opportunities for buyers.
Black Bull Rates as Top 100 Golf Community, Montana Rates as a ‘Place to See Before You Die’
One of the most relevant golf publications in America just honored Black Bull, a new family and golf community in Montana. Black Bull is one of 10 new communities on Travel + Leisure Golf’s list of the “Top 100 Golf Communities in America.” The January/February 2009 issue of the magazine features communities that have “exquisite environments which are case studies in how to make life on earth as pleasing, stimulating and worthwhile as possible,” this according to expert writers David Gould and Lauren Kay.
The Winchester Group, one of the developers of Black Bull, has six communities on this year’s list, with three featured in the Top 25.
Activities in Bozeman, Montana include golf, swimming, tennis, cross-country skiing and ice skating in the cooler months. The centerpiece of the Black Bull community is the 19-hole Tom Weiskopf golf course, which opened for member play in July 2008. Every home site at Black Bull has views of five mountain ranges, the golf course or water features. Lots are priced from $195,000 and Club Homes can be built there starting at $795,000.
Of course, who can mention Montana without thinking about fly fishing, better yet reeling them in with “The Bozeman Angler.”
In the 2003 edition of her guide book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Patricia Schultz talks about Montana fly fishing, and skiing in nearby Big Sky, Montana. Schultz explains that Big Sky “boasts 3,600 spectacularly skiable acres, (almost) uniformly excellent conditions, vaulting Rockies views, and an average of only two skiers per acre – meaning lift lines are pretty much unheard of.”
A treasure not “unheard of” in Montana is the million dollar home. They can be found in several scenic Montana spots and all over the Western Hemisphere at PrivateCommunities.com
If you have never visited CNN’s Living Golf, it is a great site to bookmark for golf information. It offers news and perspectives as well as some great video features. Golf fans can also be real estate fans of their favorite player’s course designs. Some people buy second homes and primary residents at communities with the same course architect. The National Golf Foundation has done some great research on this topic.
North Carolina Was New York’s Favorite Second Home in 2008, According to a Report from PrivateCommunities.com
More than 33 Percent Requested North Carolina Real Estate
The Internet’s leading consumer research portal for second homes in gated communities reported that residents of New York requested more information from developers in North Carolina (33%) than any other second home destination in 2008. The data point to strong consumer Web site research about second homes and retirement despite the downturn in the economy.
“We had thousands of requests for information, and this tells us New Yorkers are still thinking of moving south to retire or get a second home,” said Elisabeth Miller-Fox, co-founder of PrivateCommunities.com. “Cold winter weather from Buffalo to Long Island is not the only contributing factor either.” Miller-Fox said the report is based on New Yorkers who made Web site information requests from January through December, 2008, and was tabulated as part of the portal’s proprietary tracking process. Florida received 27 percent (27 %) of all information requests and South Carolina (13%) and Virginia (6%) also remained appealing to New York’s second home shoppers. When combined, these four states Keep reading →
The Web’s top niche consumer research portal for second homes in luxury gated communities reported affluent residents in the Land of Lincoln shopped for real estate from Florida developers (29 %) most often in 2008. Florida information requests outpaced other second home and retirement destinations like North Carolina (20%), Tennessee (10%) and South Carolina (10%). Keep reading →
While millions in Pennsylvania celebrate a Super Bowl win for the Pittsburgh Steelers this month, some of the state’s residents might have retirement or second homes on their minds. Data from PrivateCommunities.com, the Web’s top research portal for finding homes in private, luxury and gated communities indicate Pennsylvanians favor an eclectic mix of destinations with interest concentrated in the Carolinas and Florida. Keep reading →
Buying American for Second Homes is a Smart Choice Too
Interesting piece here from Newsweek’s Ginanne Brownell.
Newsweek Story Goes Global But There is Luxury in the U.S. Too
Places like Red Tail Mountain in Mountain City, Tennessee can inspire awe as well. There is no question that the United States is one of the most scenic places on the planet — and with so many good opportunities for second homes with great golf in private communities — it may only be a short wait until affluent buyers begin to claim their territory in some of America’s signature real estate.
Red Tail Mountain is currently offering a Discovery Tour where a few days may lead to a decision many will not put off, even if the economy is uncertain.
With Scenery Like This, Many May Volunteer to Have a Second Home in Tennessee this year.
68% of Affluent Seeking Gated and Private Communities Turned Toward the Southeast, Some Shopped Closer to Home
With the economy top-of-mind in 2008, those in Connecticut looking for second homes online leaned toward lifestyle communities in the Southeast most often, and some looked to neighboring states for their ideal retirement and lifestyle destinations, according to PrivateCommunities.com.
Connecticut real estate consumers requested information from North Carolina developers most often (34 %) in 2008, followed by requests to community developers in Florida (18%) and South Carolina (16%). These three powerhouse second home states accounted for a combined 68 percent (68%) of all Connecticut information requests. Keep reading →
In gated communities, there are those who do not desire dogs around and others who are avid dog-lovers. As amenities in luxury communities have evolved in the past decades to appeal to those living a second home lifestyle, developers and homeowners associations now understand that being pet-friendly makes their real estate more buyer friendly too. But how do you keep both sides of the doggy debate happy?
“Stump,” a Sussex Spaniel Takes the 2009 “Best in Show” Title at Westminster in February.
Finding a Way to Please the Pups
One Florida gated community may have found the answer. Kathy Stein, of HRProperties.com reports the success of a Puppy Park at Harbour Ridge, where owners do everything from stage their own dog shows to “obey” assigned times so smaller and larger dogs can peacefully coexist. Keep reading →
Private Communities in U.S. and U.K. Have Affluent Appeal
Gates Can Be Good
A fascinating look at gated and private communities outside of America from Katrina Burroughs of the Financial Times of London. Burroughs speaks with U.S. experts Ralph Bowden and PrivateCommunities.com co-founder Elisabeth Miller-Fox about the fact that data on these hidden communities is not always easy to find, and how these choice spots still remain attractive to affluent regardless of geography. Keep reading →
When the Bottom Arrives, Will Second Homes Be on Top?
Kenneth R. Harney wrote this piece in Realty Times this week suggesting that 2009 will be the year housing begins to level out, largely due to favorable rates and lower prices across markets.
If Harney is right, this will be a very good year in terms of seeing light at the end of the housing market tunnel. Heavy hitters like GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have even suggested nationalizing banks to aid this process along and help first-time buyers. But what about encouraging second home ownership too? This would be common sense if our nation needs to lower inventory.
Much of the run up during the bubble was due to people buying second homes. We all might recall the extensive second home studies that said some 77 million baby boomers were going to drive that train. Where did they go? Could there be a few million of them who still want second homes?
The sour economy might just make buying a second home these boomers can enjoy during their retirement a good investment idea, especially when we see so many tourism-driven markets slumping. Perhaps leaders in Washington will have the courage to explore tax credits or other incentives to get these able boomers buying in greater numbers?
North Carolina Favored by One in Three Affluent Requesting Information at PrivateCommunities.com
When thousands of affluent second home shoppers in New Jersey and New York went searching for luxury, gated communities at PrivateCommunities.com last year, North Carolina was the state most on their minds, according to data collected from January through December of 2008.
With a 32 percent (32%) share of all information requests, some originating in New Jersey’s most affluent suburbs, interest in North Carolina’s gated and golf communities surpassed that of Florida (24%), South Carolina (12%) and Delaware (11%). Combined, all other states and international destinations listed on PrivateCommunities.com made up 16 percent (16%) of information requests from New Jersey’s Internet real estate shoppers. Keep reading →
If you believe Paul Taylor — that a rebound in the auto industry is tied to a rebound in housing — then lower prices and higher inventory might create a huge lifestyle upgrade opportunity for many affluent. Keep reading →
When all the envelopes are open and the parties end, celebs and other affluent will likely retreat to the privacy of gated communities. This 2008 piece from Forbes.com puts second homes of the stars in perspective. Even with declining viewership for the broadcast and lower advertising rates, millions will still pay attention to the surreal environment of the most glamorous people in the world celebrating the year’s best films. Keep reading →
If you know anything about one of New York’s most upscale addresses, The Hamptons, then you probably know what great writing awaits you at Dan’s Papers. If you do not, take a look. You will likely want to bookmark this news favorite that has successfully Keep reading →
Gated, Luxury Communities in the Southeast Could Get Attention Following an 18-Hour Storm
At least some affluent residents of Massachusetts are thinking of dropping their snow shovels, just as an early March storm dropped between 10 and 15 inches of snow on the Northeast. Messy, cold weather conditions led to flight cancellations at major hubs like Boston’s Logan International Airport. Some area residents have already been thinking of a new winter home.
The Weather Channel
Based on data from PrivateCommunities.com, affluent Massachusetts real estate consumers requested information from North Carolina developers most often (27 %) in 2008, followed by requests to community developers in Florida (24%) and South Carolina (16%). These three second home states, combined with Georgia (7%) and Virginia (5%) accounted for 79 percent (79%) of all Massachusetts information requests.
Year-end data has been collected and analyzed since 1996 by Private Communities.com, a Web research portal that tracks second home shopping habits and serves as a resource for affluent consumers.
“We’ve always seen interest in sunny climates during the worst snow storms, and a foot of snow in March can make people think of how nice it would be to visit Florida and see the Boston Red Sox during Spring Training,” said Elisabeth Miller-Fox, co-founder of PrivateCommunities.com. “We’re just days from the first day of spring and these late season snows can motivate people to consider a second home.”
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ozarks, Branson Creek is a unique planned mega-community made up of individual neighborhoods each offering unique homes and lifestyle options. Amenities include the championship Branson Creek Golf Club, the Murder Rock Golf & Country Club and clubhouse with a Pro Shop, fitness facilities, tennis and swimming. Lots priced from $60,000; Villas priced from $239,900.
Contuck Preserve – Mill Spring, North Carolina
Spacious homesites, gorgeous mountain views, and unlimited access to the Green River are just some of the highlights of Contuck Preserve in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
Contuck Preserve
Designed to be a place residents can relax, recharge, and renew, the community is situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with convenient access to larger cities of Asheville, Hendersonville, and Charlotte. Lots range from 2.5 to 7 acres, priced from $110,000 to $340,000. Before you come to the Carolinas to drop your fishing line in the water, drop a line to Contuck Preserve to say hello.
FishHawk Ranch – Lithia, Florida
An award-winning master planned community developed by Newland Communities in southern Hillsborough County, 25 minutes from downtown Tampa, Florida. Amenities at FishHawk Ranch include four community clubhouses, swimming pools, fitness centers, playgrounds, parks and one of the largest trail systems in the country. Offering maintenance-free villas, townhomes and condominiums, as well as single-family, executive and estate homes priced from the low $100,000’s to more than $1 million including homesite.
Just 45 minutes west of Jackson Hole, this gorgeous new planned community brings world-class golf, family-friendly recreational amenities and an attractive range of new housing options to the Idaho town Men’s Journalhas dubbed America’s best all-around place to live. Huntsman Springs offers spacious Park Homes, quality Mountain View Lodges, custom homesites and a magnificent links-style golf course, surrounded by some of the most glorious mountain scenery in the American West. Lots priced from $310,000 to $400,000; Mountain View Lodges and Park Homes from $800,000 to $2 million.
King Oaks – Iola, Texas
Lay claim to a spacious homesite at this blissfully secluded development just east of College Station, Texas, and you’ll have the freedom to choose your own builder and develop the property at your own pace. Lakes, meadows and towering hardwoods make this densely wooded property the ultimate backyard for King Oaks residents, with easy access to a full spectrum of shops and services in the Bryan/College Station metropolitan area. Pre-development pricing for the one- to four-acre lots ranges from $30,000 to $150,000.
Just 8 miles from downtown Charleston, Reverie on the Ashley is Charleston’s only private marina condo community, featuring 32 acres of spectacular riverfront property and exclusive access to Charleston by land or water. Elegant 2 or 3-bedroom condominiums priced from the mid $500,000’s to the high $800,000’s. Sounds sweet.
If you want to charter a fishing excursion, Charleston is one of the nation’s best places to do it. Here’s a wonderful resource for starters, no matter where you plan to charter. May you catch twice your limit!
Talking Rock Ranch – Prescott, Arizona
Located in a peaceful, rural setting, just minutes from Prescott, Arizona, Talking Rock Ranch is a 3,600-acre private, luxury home community with a casual western lifestyle and the amenities of an exclusive country club, including a Jay Morrish designed championship golf course.
Talking Rock Ranch
With more than 1,000 acres of preserved open space, Talking Rock offers spacious custom homesites priced from the $200,000’s, Ranch Cottages priced from the $500,000’s and Ranch Homes and custom homes priced from $700,000
Some positive news from Statham, Georgia: The Georgia Club Foundation contributed more than $28,000 to local charitable organizations last year. Members of the club also donated goods and volunteer hours that served the surrounding community.
“The Foundation continues to expand its efforts in ways we think will be meaningful to our residents and the greater community,” said Harvey Tarpley, chairman of The Foundation’s board and a resident of the community. “We start programs that we think will enrich the community for residents, and we try to respond to what needs there are locally.”
Members of The Georgia Club and Georgia Club Foundation volunteers Sam Dabbs, Lori Meyne, Sarah Baines, Carol Nelson, Kathy Dabbs, Eve Haanio, Joan Cleary, Brenda Cain, Linda Venghaus and David Venghaus.
In 2008, The Foundation launched a memorial program, giving residents and members the opportunity to purchase and dedicate benches and trees in honor or memory of a loved one. The first bench was dedicated in November in memory of a resident’s son who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan early last year.
To date, The Georgia Club Foundation has given nearly $63,000 to local charities. In addition to continuing the established programs and events, The Foundation engaged residents in compiling a cookbook that will be sold to benefit The Foundation.
So shines a generous, neighborly private community in one of our nation’s most scenic places.
There is no doubt that the coverage of second homes by Larry Olmsted in USA Today is a beacon to anyone searching for compelling information about these opportunities. The mainstream news media can be so powerful, but if they only focus on foreclosures and the economic crisis they neglect readers who still have aspirational feelings toward having second homes. Nothing is better than making an investment in something you can enjoy and this might be a great chance to take advantage of extras like free golf memberships and other incentives that do not devalue property and increase value. We need more writers like Larry Olmsted, who reach an affluent audience who can afford second homes. The housing market will need to rebound if our economy is to do the same. People who can buy second homes drive local economies all over America. We need to know about these ideal places as baby boomers consider their retirement and how best to invest.
See Kenneth R. Harney’s piece in the Washington Post. Perhaps with this help by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we can look at any home that is threatened by foreclosure as an equal problem. Even foreclosures of second homes can impact the home equity in the neighborhoods surrounding them. Second homes also drive tourism and spending that many folks in the media have forgotten of late. The Housing Bubble, and bust, should have showed us that housing is a real economic driver that we cannot afford to lose.
Briar Chapel – Chapel Hill, North Carolina A new master planned green community conveniently located just outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Briar Chapel includes over 900 acres of preserved open space and 24 miles of nature trails.
Briar Chapel
Featuring healthy homes constructed with green building principles, plans for the community include a residents club, over 20 parks, two schools and a village square and town center with restaurants, shopping and office space. Developed by Newland Communities, all homes must meet top energy-efficient standards; priced from the $200,000’s to the $700,000’s.
A house on the lake is a luxury, after all. The kind of place where you can think about life and spend family time — make memories. Who is to say if the memories people make in their own lives don’t matter just as much as being invited to the “Sweet 16″ of college basketball?
If you are thinking about second home locations, keep Tuscaloosa in mind for its quiet starlit nights and friendly faces. There is much more to life here than basketball. But it is fun to have that too.
Fresh from the Web, an interesting piece from CNBC’s Shelley K. Schwartz. The story includes several insightful quotes from author James Boykin, who understands what buyers should be looking for in a second home. The piece also illuminates that affluent buyers are still out there, perhaps waiting for “the bottom.” But insiders in private, gated community circles say that cash discounts are less likely than the developer underwriting a buyer’s golf membership for a year or two. These communities hold their values well because they typically avoid lowering the prices of new homes. Are we starting to see signals that second homes will make a comeback this year? If you are shopping, here’s a good place to start.
Greensboro, Georgia is home to The Kingdom and Michael Murphy himself might just appreciate this latest innovation from Reynolds Plantation. The Tour Trailer, a favorite hideout for PGA Tour pros, is coming to the community in April. This custom-designed tour trailer has served TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professionals for the past six years and has made hundreds of tour stops. It will now take up permanent residence at The Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation.
A 1972 Classic
The Kingdom features the “Tour Experience,” a two-day “total game-enhancement experience” with a round of golf, personal golf instruction and intense sessions with a TaylorMade Tour professional. Participants enjoy the same attention to their equipment needs at The Kingdom that TaylorMade’s pros receive on tour. Golf in The Kingdom comes with a competitive benefits package, after all. See other second home opportunities by visiting the Web’s most visited niche search portal for Destination Amenity Communities at PrivateCommunities.com
Florida’s gated and private communities have been a driver in the state’s economic growth for decades, with developers investing millions in resort-style master-planned communities across the state. The strategy was to ride the retirement wave of 77 million baby boomers over the next 20 years, but the economic downturn now has experts uncertain when to expect a comeback.
Billed as the “Sunshine Connection,” the symposium offers educational sessions, property tours and the chance for real estate professionals to swap best practices in marketing resort and second home properties around the world.
Brad Hunter, chief economist for Houston, Texas-based Metrostudy, acknowledged that Florida’s migration trends were “terrible” in 2007, but said 2008 data from the U.S. Census Bureau pointed to some improvement.
“Population flows are still negative in the main South Florida counties such as Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach,” said Hunter, who also serves as the firm’s national director of consulting. “But the outflow was much more moderate during 2008, and is probably headed back to positive growth now.”
Hunter also said population growth is still positive for the state as a whole, citing recent research by the University of Florida. “It is not as fast as it was a few years ago, but it is still positive.”
In addition to watching migration patterns, those watching Florida second home trends are trying to understand where to find the positive indicators. While increased tourism and the stabilization of home values might eventually be two signs, taking a look at second home shopping habits can offer a glimpse at where potential buyers might be looking for gated communities, where the bulk of the shopping these days is taking place on the Internet.
According to 2008 data from PrivateCommunities.com, a niche Web site where affluent consumers have been finding second homes since its launch in 1996, Floridians themselves are expressing the strongest interest in Florida’s gated communities.
PrivateCommunities.com tracked information requests made by Florida residents who visited the site last year. Florida developers netted the largest share of requests (30.7%) followed closely by North Carolina developers (30.4%). Information requests were also made to developers in South Carolina (9.5%), Tennessee (8.8%) and Georgia (8.6%).
PrivateCommunities.com reported that even when national information requests to Florida developers were compared from all 50 states, people in Florida (17%) were requesting the largest share of the information in 2008, followed by consumers in New York (12.3%), New Jersey (7.2%), Pennsylvania (5.1%) and Massachusetts (4.1%).
“While this data itself does not signal when demand might return for second homes it does show us that Florida was popular for affluent consumers inside and outside the state,” said Elisabeth Miller-Fox, co-founder of PrivateCommunities.com. “For now it is a waiting game to see what will motivate them, and Florida might be in a good position when they’ve decided to make these decisions.”
Year-end data has been collected and analyzed since 1996 by PrivateCommunities.com, a Web research portal that tracks second home shopping habits and serves as a resource for affluent consumers to find second homes in resort destinations.
Easily accessible via direct air service from North America, this eco-friendly Pacific Coast golf and equestrian community makes buying and maintaining a beach home in Costa Rica an enjoyable, problem-free experience. Spacious custom homesites are priced from $248,000 to $900,000, with luxurious homes and townhomes from $725,000 to $3.5 million. The ocean waves are calling…book a golf tour right away.
Haig Point- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Haig Point is an intimate, sea island golf community located on the northern tip of Daufuskie Island, South Carolina between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. Accessible only by private ferry, all of Haig Point’s world-class amenities blend tastefully into the island’s natural beauty, including the 20-hole Rees Jones Signature Golf Course acknowledged as one of the finest in the world. Other amenities include a charming Lowcountry clubhouse, an equestrian center, a fitness center and the magnificent 4,500-square-foot Calibogue Club with breathtaking views of the Calibogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Homesites priced from $65,000; Townhomes from $500,000; Courtyard Homes from $700,000; Custom Homes from $650,000.
Heritage Shores is a semi-private active adult golf course community centrally located in the Eastern Shore resort area, just 30 minutes from Rehoboth Beach and Delaware’s capital. Amenities include an Arthur Hills designed championship golf course a 28,000-square-foot Clubhouse with full-service restaurant and tavern, and a Fitness and Aquatic Center complete with indoor and outdoor pools, pro shop, tennis courts, driving range and fitness gym. Homes priced from the $200,000’s.
Hot Springs Village- Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of west central Arkansas, Hot Springs Village is the largest private, gated community in the United States with more than 26,000 acres. Described as a “large playground for all ages,” recreational activities include nine golf courses, fishing and boating on twelve lakes, three seasonal outdoor swimming pools, an indoor pool, a fitness center with an indoor walking track, 16 tennis courts, 2 country clubs, and over 20 miles of nature trails. Lots priced from $5,000 to $250,000; Townhomes from $70,000; Homes from $80,000 to over $1 million.
Indian River Colony Club – Viera (Melbourne), Florida
An active retirement community located on Florida’s east coast, Indian River Colony Club offers all the conveniences of maintenance-free living in a friendly, relaxed and casual atmosphere at an affordable price. Keep reading →
Lake Laceola- Cleveland, Georgia A densely forested community bordering the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeastern Georgia, Lake Laceola includes approximately 250 generously proportioned homesites surrounding a 120-acre private lake. Homeowners have access to a lakeside clubhouse, a private swimming pool and fitness center, a community boat dock and a network of hiking and biking trails. Lakefront and mountain-view lots range from $150,000 to $375,000, with quality homes priced from $400,000 to over $1 million.
Brunswick Forest- Leland, North Carolina Located on North Carolina’s Cape Fear coast, just minutes from historic Wilmington, Brunswick Forest features a wide array of neighborhoods and lifestyles, 27-holes of golf at Cape Fear National®, a Clubhouse, River and Ocean Clubs, Fitness & Wellness Center, parks and preserves and more than 100-miles of pathways linking residences and amenities. Homesites from $150,000; Homes from the mid-$200,000’s.
The Gateway Grand – Ocean City, Maryland
Enjoy the convenience of luxury condominium living at a prime Ocean City location facing more than 250 feet of pristine Atlantic beachfront. The new Gateway Grand offers a choice of elegantly appointed three- and four-bedroom residences with resort-style indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fully equipped fitness center and direct beach access; priced from $1 million to $2.8 million.
It would be difficult to imagine that shareholders would not want to approve the merger that is a bit of surprise this month. Both stocks closed up on April 9 following the news. See the Associated Press story here. Of course, it would be interesting to hear what Del Webb’s homeowners and buyers have thought of the merger between Pulte (NYSE:PHM) and the developer of highly-amenitized Sun Cities back in 2001. Keep reading →
