Arkansas offers a diverse array of retirement and second home destinations ranging from the “spa” towns of Eureka Springs, nestled in the Ozark mountains, and Hot Springs located in the center of the state, just south of Little Rock, to Little Rock itself, a dynamic, contemporary city with a thriving entertainment district and a distinctly southern flair. Known for its rich musical heritage, the Arkansas Delta runs along the eastern border of the state adjacent to the Mississippi River and is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the nation. Hot Springs, often referred to as “America’s First Resort,” is surrounded by Hot Springs National Park, which encompasses the Quachita Mountains that rise above the downtown and historic Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs is home to a thriving arts community, high-quality medical facilities, and a host of cultural and educational opportunities, and was recently ranked #2 on Forbes’ 2009 list of “America’s Best Bang-for-the-Buck Cities,” and acknowledged by Where to Retire magazine as one of “America’s Most Affordable Retirement Towns” in 2005.
Red Oak Ridge is a bucolic, 800-acre private community located near Hot Springs National Park. The community is convenient to shopping, dining, health care, and the semi-private Hot Springs Country Club which offers two challenging, vintage golf courses, both of which were recently renovated by Master’s Champion Ben Crenshaw. Amenities within the community include two private fishing lakes, a dedicated trail system, several parks, and a swimming complex.
If the vibrancy of the city is your cup of tea, Chenal Valley is well located in Little Rock. This 4,800-acre community offers 32 tranquil neighborhoods of luxury single-family and condominium homes, 36 holes of Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf, and an abundance of family-friendly recreation including a 105-acre botanical garden and arts center. Shopping is a pleasure at the Promenade at Chenal, a 340,000 square foot center that includes an IMAX theater, and Village at Rahling Road, a neighborhood center that includes a 13,500 square foot library.
Fractional ownership of high-end vacation/second homes is the upscale cousin to timeshare and a popular second home ownership option throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. While wholly-owned vacation homes have been traditionally viewed as the optimum investment, in desirable areas they have become increasingly expensive, out-pacing discretionary income for a large majority of U.S. households. The amount of time a second home is used is also at issue, as owners will budget upkeep into the equation on a per-week-of-use basis. A formal approach to shared ownership was developed about 25 years ago. Within the genre’s evolution, “Timeshare” and “Fractional” have become interchangeable terms, although neither catch phrase is particularly popular with Baby Boomers who represent the primary buyer. Thus, the Private or Resort Residence Club has become the vernacular of choice for upscale fractional ownership products. Interestingly, while the product has traditionally been part of the resort model, private communities are now offering this affordable program as an entry level product that permits potential residents to “kick the tires” so to speak.
Resort real estate practitioners believe that the shared-ownership industry will rebound rapidly and with vigor as the economy makes its way through recovery. Reasons for this opinion are varied but focus largely on the product concept, which is founded in ease of ownership, flexibility, and personal use rather than speculation and investment. Lock and leave, hassle-free vacation home ownership enhanced by high-quality services and amenities would not be expected to go out of vogue anytime soon, and remains a popular second home option within the upscale resort environment. The shared-ownership product appeals to a broad audience and levels the playing field for those that cannot afford a whole ownership product in a luxury resort environment, or can’t justify owning a second home that goes unused most of the time.
Hampton Lake Amenities
Recently introduced shared-ownership products include The Sanctuary at Hampton Lake, located within the private Hampton Lake community in South Carolina’s lowcountry. The 25 Club residences will be offered in 1/8 shares starting at $175,000 during the introductory period. All homes are 3,100 square feet and are accessorized right down to the bicycles and golf cart waiting in the garage. The units provide for comfortable sharing with two master suites and a study on the main level and a “bunkhouse,” bath, and owner storage on the second floor. A full-service concierge program will be available and residents will have full membership privileges at all of Hampton Lake’s recreational spa and fitness facilities, including access to the adjacent championship Pete Dye Signature golf course at Hampton Hall.
Located about 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah is the little mining town that could, transforming itself into a wealthy four-season resort on the heels of economic upheaval. Park City thrived in the late 1800s as a silver mining boom brought crowds of prospectors and wealth to this outpost surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains. The town was virtually destroyed by fire in 1898 and suffered through two wars and the Great Depression as the price of silver plummeted. By the1950’s it came close to being defined as a ghost town, hanging on by a thread, when “Parkite” miners presented a proposal for a ski resort called Treasure Mountain. The resort opened in 1963 on 10,000 acres marking the beginning of the area becoming known as a destination ski mecca with the “Greatest Snow on Earth.”
Today, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons Resort draw more than three million visitors annually. Ski Magazine readers named Deer Valley as North America’s top ski resort three years in a row, but Park City is much more than snow. It is also well known for unparalleled year-round outdoor recreational and leisure activities including blue-ribbon fly fishing, kayaking and white water rafting, hiking and biking expeditions, horseback riding, championship golf, hot air balloon and glider plane adventures, and a variety of local cultural events. The Sundance Film Festival is the largest of its kind in the US and attracted more than 40,000 attendees and contributed more than $90 million to the state economy in 2009. Park City is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States and has been named by ForbesTravel among the 20 “prettiest towns,” boasting a colorful and energetic main street where 64 Victorian buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wolf Creek Ranch, a unique private, gated community is located mere minutes from Park City and yet has a remote persona. This low-density property shares seven miles of common border with the 2.2 million-acre Uinta National Forest, and has a strong commitment to the environment, having designated 95% of its 14,000 acres to conservation. Each 160-acre estate homesite is two miles around at its perimeter. Roughly the size of Manhattan island, the 14,000-acre property provides refined ranch living enhanced by abundant recreational opportunities including private fishing on the upper Provo River and 50 miles of groomed trails for hiking, biking or horseback riding. Whether as a second home or retirement destination, Wolf Creek Ranch brings out the inner cowboy in a pristine four-season private environment.
Green housing features are becoming a premium amenity in private community development. Both primary and second home buyers are looking to “green” as a means to lower home ownership costs, be environmentally responsible, and embrace a healthier lifestyle. Interest in green homes spans all income levels and the average green buyer will spend $12,400, on average, for green home features. Green building focuses on energy, water and resource efficiency, indoor air quality, and low volatile organic compound building materials. Perhaps the most well known product standard is the Energy Star rating, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. With the help of the Energy Star program, Americans saved enough energy in 2007 to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 27 million cars, all the while saving $16 billion on their utility bills.
But what, exactly, constitutes a green recreational amenity? While we know golf courses are certainly popular, demand for land that has no purpose other than to just “be” is growing. The age of authenticity has arrived and buyers want to know that they are a part of the movement. Passive recreational land promises to be the “gold” in the next real estate rush. While natural elements such as a resident cypress swamp might have been a detriment to property development and sales a few years back, under current definitions, it actually adds to the property’s cachet as buyers have come to value wetlands and all of their attendant flora and fauna. A swamp, much like a dense stand of forest, can also provide a buffer from development encroachment, placing a premium on property values.
Based on a National Association of Home Builders survey, nearly 60% of homebuyers prefer walking trails to any other amenity, ranking them higher than tennis, swimming pools, and golf. Developers are responding by including dedicated trail systems in their land plans and adding them to existing communities in spite of the fact that trails are often costly to install because they must be level and well lighted. The demand for low impact, natural, amenities reaches beyond the traditional primary residential community. Owners of vacation/second home properties are even more demanding, with expectations of on-site guided and programmed recreation much like that offered at a luxury resort. Family-oriented activities designed to appeal to the outdoorsman are crucial to the new private community prototype.
Oldfield, Okatie, SC
Camping is becoming an increasingly popular pastime and outdoor specialists can make the experience much more pleasurable by coordinating everything from the equipment and supplies to getting to the campground and finding the right fishing hole. Guided expeditions to off-site destinations require local expertise to formulate just the right experience. The Outfitter’s Center at Oldfield, a private community in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, can arrange a fly-fishing expedition guided by an on-staff river pro or a duck hunting adventure at nearby Turkey Hill Plantation. A key ingredient to providing a high-quality green recreational experience is a well-trained and well-versed staff. These “adventure concierges” include naturalists, fishing and camping guides, and kayak and ski instructors, and not only provide entrée and guidance to your recreation of choice, but insight into local folklore that makes the experience infinitely rewarding.
Martin County has just been cited as one of the top five healthiest places to reside in the Sunshine State. The University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Center (WPHC) was awarded a $4.9 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation last year to expand their statewide rankings to all 50 states. The study also found Martin County to have the “highest quality of life” based on a variety of health, lifestyle and environmental factors. The WPHC rankings draw attention to the fact that a community’s health is determined by more than just its health care system. People’s health behaviors and the socioeconomic and physical environment all contribute to a community’s level of health. That said, Martin Memorial Medical Center has been named one of the 2009 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals in the United States. It is the fifth time Martin Memorial has earned this esteemed distinction, making Martin County a popular retirement choice.
Nestled between tony Palm Beach and burgeoning St. Lucie counties, Martin County is comparatively laid back, boasting a low density, uncongested environment that provides each of its municipalities with a decidedly small-town feel. The City of Stuart’s historic downtown is a winner of the “Most Beautiful City” title from America In Bloom and hosts a variety of year-round events including the annual Treasure Coast Pirate Fest.
Situated at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and the St Lucie and Indian Rivers, Martin County boasts some of the best beaches and deep-sea fishing in the state. The area is also well known for its high-quality luxury private communities. Deep water marinas and copious championship golf layouts designed by some of the game’s greats including Pete Dye, Arthur Hills, Gene Bates and Jack Nicklaus, are the norm in private communities such as Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart and Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club and Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club, both in Palm City. If the ocean is your passion, Sailfish Point is a world-class, second home, island community offering a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, a beachfront country club, and a full service marina with immediate ocean access.
Scotch Hall Preserve, a luxury private golf community located in coastal North Carolina has hired the World’s No. 1 Amateur Golfer as Director of Golf to oversee the operations and member events for its award-winning Arnold Palmer Signature golf course. Nick Cassini, a former PGA and European Tour professional played NCAA golf for the University of Georgia. In his senior year he was voted a First-Team All-American, and SEC Athlete of the Year. Cassini won the prestigious Porter Cup, was selected to the Walker Cup team, and was ranked the #1 Amateur Golfer in the World in 2001 by Golfweek. Cassini’s depth of experience playing a variety of courses around the world brings an exciting dimension to the Scotch Hall golf experience.
Located in North Carolina’s Inner Banks region where Albermarle Sound meets the Chowan River and Salmon Creek, Scotch Hall Preserve is just minutes from the historic towns of Windsor and Edenton, NC. The golf course, which features five holes that border Albermarle Sound, was named the 9th Best New Private Golf Course in America by Golf Digest magazine.
The golf experience at Scotch Hall Preserve is the icing on the cake at this private, gated community which also offers an impressive array of family-oriented amenities including The Family Club Retreat replete with clubhouse, swimming pool and bathhouse, a Kid’s Adventure Camp, and an Outdoor Pursuits program designed to provide local recreational and educational opportunities for members and their families. The community’s waterfront location also provides convenient access to year-round boating and fishing in Albermarle Sound, Pamlico Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway. A private boat basin and 107-slip marina are also planned. Housing opportunities at Scotch Hall include maintenance-free cottages and custom home building sites with water, golf and wetlands views.
It’s a bright new day at Balsam Mountain Preserve. After a brief six-month hiatus, one of the Southeast’s premier private communities is back on track led by international resort industry veteran and expert Ken Costanzo. In his role as president of Balsam Mountain Preserve, a private golf community located in western North Carolina, Costanzo is dedicated and optimistic: “The worst of the real estate downturn is behind us. Balsam Mountain Preserve now has the advantage of stable, institutional ownership and no debt; we’re moving forward expeditiously to complete this exceptional project in one of the country’s most beautiful settings.”
The two-year-long economic debacle has hit builders, developers and homeowners particularly hard. Just recently we reeled from the purportedly nefarious practices of Wall Street bankers as many highly successful private communities continue to feel the proverbial “pinch of the shoe” while attempting to ride out the “perfect storm.” The turn-around at Balsam is a decidedly positive sign.
Immediate plans at Balsam Mountain Preserve call for the May opening of the Arnold Palmer Signature golf course for the season, and the marketing and sales of the community’s remaining 100 or so building lots. Set deeply in the dense forests adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in close proximity to Asheville, Balsam Mountain Preserve is a beacon for environmental stewardship. More than 3,000 of its 4,400 acres (77% of the community) have been placed in a permanent conservation easement to protect and sustain its park-like ambience. Just 354 families will have the opportunity to own a home at Balsam Mountain Preserve.
Ruby Valley Sports Camp at Night
In addition to the championship golf course and golf practice park, the community offers the Ruby Valley Sports Camp complete with fitness center, tennis courts, swimming pool and activity pavilion; horseback riding on 34 miles of private community trails; Dark Ridge Camp with pavilion, bunkhouse, numerous camping sites and trout fishing; a nature center featuring on-site Naturalists and a “Boarding House” that includes ten mountaintop cabins, a timber-framed restaurant, lounge and gathering room with a massive stone fireplace. Balsam has been recognized by Links magazine and Travel + Leisure Golf as one of the top private golf communities in the state of North Carolina.
At a time when many private communities are suffering the ills of Wall Street, they recognize their responsibility to local residents and are generously giving back. One such community is The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, South Carolina.
The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s Charitable Foundation has pledged $20,000 to four local non-profit organizations that provide support to the communities around Lake Keowee. On April 12th, members of The Reserve Charitable Foundation’s Outreach Committee proudly distributed $5,000 checks to four deserving Pickens County charities: Prevent Child Abuseof Pickens County, Pickens County Meals on Wheels, Mary’s House, and Helping Hands of Clemson. Funded by The Reserve’s real estate sales, the non-profit charitable foundation assists local organizations through its Outreach program and facilitates volunteer opportunities for its residents. Property owners also play a pro-active role in the foundation’s activities by suggesting beneficiary charities.
The Reserve at Lake Keowee has been the recipient of many awards including ranking among Travel + Leisure magazine’s “America’s Top 100 Golf Communities” in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The private lake and golf community stretches across 3,900 acres and 30 miles of Lake Keowee shoreline and has more than 550 homeowners from more than 30 states. $100 million in completed family-friendly amenities, including a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a 200-slip marina, a Village Center and more than 1,400 acres of parks, preserves, trails and green space will serve as the backdrop for the community’s four-day Memorial Day celebration beginning on Friday, May 28th. Scheduled events include a Kids’ Biathlon, a Boat Show, Boat Parade and Blessing of the Fleet, a cookout, and “Pooches on Parade.” The event will come to a close on Monday the 31st with a Flag Golf Tournament. In the spirit of the community, proceeds from a Wine Auction on Friday night will benefit The Foothills Humane Society.
The Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2009 was recently passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 241-181. The bill promotes the use of conservation easements by allowing private landowners to retain ownership and control the management of their property, while ensuring that the physical integrity of those lands are conserved for the future. Over the last two years, 535,000 acres were put into trusts, representing a 50% increase and a growing appreciation of, and responsibility to the “green movement,” particularly with respect to private, second home and vacation destination communities.
Some private communities have been ahead of the curve, using conservation easements and deed restrictions to protect the land and its indigenous wildlife while providing exceptional private lifestyle experiences. Balsam Mountain Preserve, located just off the Great Smokey Mountain Expressway in western North Carolina, has placed 3,000 of its 4,400 acres into a conservation easement resulting in an extraordinarily low-density environment of just 354 residences. In addition to its abundant natural amenities recreational opportunities include championship golf, equestrian, tennis, and fitness facilities, and family campgrounds, replete with bunkhouses and bathing facilities.
A shining example of the successful application of deed restrictions is Spring Island in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Over 1,200 of the community’s 3,000 acres are dedicated to nature preserves managed by the Spring Island Trust, a non-profit, third-party entity created solely for the purpose of protecting the land. The community contains just 410 homesites, an on-site nature center, an equestrian center and 35 miles of riding trails, more than 30 freshwater and saltwater ponds for fishing, and the award-winning Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay-designed golf course that meanders through a 150-year-old live oak forest and along the marsh and the community’s famous Tabby ruins. Balsam Mountain and Spring Island are Chaffin/Light communities, leaders in environmentally responsible community development.
Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC
Resort communities that have taken the “green” initiative Palmetto Bluff. Located in coastal South Carolina, this 20,000-acre property began by setting aside 6,500 acres as managed forest and putting another 734 acres into a conservation easement. The waters surrounding Palmetto Bluff team with wildlife and nearly 200 acres have been dedicated to equestrian activities. The southernmost of North Carolina’s Cape Islands is Bald Head Island, a private retreat boasting thousands of acres of unspoiled coastal preserves. The island is accessed via a 20-minute ferry ride from Southport, and the absence of automobile traffic on the island speaks to the sublime nature of this luxury resort community. Bald Head is extending the availability of its Island Passport Package through the end of the year for those who wish to visit.
North Carolina’s reputation as a second home and retirement haven for splitters and half-backs is well known. From its miles of pristine beaches meandering along the Atlantic to the majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Tar Heel State is one of the most beautiful and bountiful in the southeast region. But a less known fact is that by the dawn of the 20th century, North Carolina had become the leading wine-producing region in the nation. Since 2001, the number of wineries has more than quadrupled and now approximately 90 vineyards dot the landscape from the Outer Banks to the Piedmont.
When Sir Walter Raleigh first landed on the beaches of the Outer Banks, his men reported that it was “so full of grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them.” During the 17th and 18th centuries, settlers planted cuttings from the parent muscadine vine found on Roanoke Island. Imported European vinifera grape vines followed and were found to thrive in the Western and Piedmont regions. The Yadkin Valley is one of the most productive wine growing regions in the state, producing award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling and Viognier varietals. The industry has become quite popular as a tourist attraction and tours and wine tasting events are relatively common throughout the state, year-round.
The Headwaters at Banner Elk
The 10th Annual North Carolina Wine Festival will be held on May 29th, 2010 at Tanglewood Park near Winston-Salem, NC. It is the largest event of its kind in North Carolina; more than 25,000 people attended last year. The Headwaters at Banner Elk, a private mountain community located north of Asheville, is a Presenting Sponsor of the event at which more than 30 wineries will be presenting their wares. The pairing of the festival and Headwaters makes for a perfect match. The private luxury community considers itself to be a steward of the land, embracing sustainable, environmentally responsible development practices that respect and supporting the natural ambience of the property. If you happen to attend the May festival, stop by The Headwaters tent and find out why so many families have made it their second home choice.
The composition of the American household has changed dramatically over the years and will continue to morph well into this century. Fueled by an aging Baby-Boomer-dominated population, trends suggest that more households will consist of smaller families, singles and unrelated people. The impact on primary and secondary housing has already begun to emerge. A diversity of smaller home designs within large mixed-use master-planned communities in urban, suburban and rural locations is becoming a popular lifestyle choice. These self-sufficient communities offer residents the opportunity to live, work, and play without having to get into a car, and are the perfect venue for Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), a clustered, pedestrian-friendly community concept. The TND lifestyle tends to attract people who value social interaction, cultural and economic diversity, pedestrian activities, housing variety, and environmentally responsible design. The clustering of diverse housing types to create neighborhoods within a single community brings people of many economic levels together. This is achieved through a broad array of housing options at various price levels. Nevertheless, housing values in the TND environment tend to exhibit as much as a 15% premium over conventional subdivision housing values in the same marketplace.
Daniel Island
A paradigm TND example is Daniel Island in Charleston, SC. This 4,000-acre private golf community boasts abundant natural amenities including 23 miles of shoreline, 400 acres of parks and open space, and more than 12 miles of trails woven throughout the community. The community comprises a variety of traditional neighborhoods and lifestyle enhancements that include two championship golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones, a comprehensive tennis facility, and a centrally-located downtown village offering retail shops, restaurants, a supermarket, medical offices, banks, churches and schools. And if straying off-island is your desire, the vibrant and historic city of Charleston is at your immediate disposal. One of the key tenets of the TND concept is a focus on the economic diversity of its residents. Daniel Island exemplifies this criterion featuring a variety of housing options with prices ranging from the $100,000s to more than $1 million. Daniels Island is a 2007 recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s prestigious “Awards for Excellence” and has been cited as one of “America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities” by Where to Retire magazine.
Definitions of luxury vary from person to person, but I think most would agree that luxury is palpable — yet unpretentious — in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. From its luxuriant marshes, picturesque inlets and unspoiled beaches, to its profusion of verdant golf courses and architecturally striking housing, the region is internationally renown for its history and culture, attracting millions of visitors and thousands of new residents seeking that “ahhhhh” sensation that is so typical a reaction to this bucolic destination.
Stretching from the ancient beach dunes of the Sandhills to the vibrant resorts of Hilton Head, the Palmetto State’s Lowcountry is dotted with dozens of quaint seaside retreats and fishing villages. Murrells Inlet has earned the title “ fish capital of South Carolina” for the fare drawn from its waters and served daily at the many restaurants lining the waterfront. Pawley’s Island, approximately 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach, is one of the country’s oldest beach resorts, and just half an hour away from the bustle of Myrtle Beach, Litchfield is noted for its miles of wide sandy beaches, world-class golf, village-style shops and fine dining. Just off the lowcountry coastline lie a bevy of islands that have established the region’s persona as a casual luxury resort destination. Edisto, Fripp, Kiawah, and Hilton Head are just a few that provide not only copious recreation opportunities and luxury accommodations but a variety of housing – everything from single family estate homes to “lock and leave” condominium apartment flats and townhomes.
Hilton Head Island
Private communities located along this naturally endowed stretch of coastline include DeBordieu Colony, a 2,700-acre hideaway located just north of Charleston in historic Georgetown. Located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, DeBordieu features a Pete Dye-designed golf course and six and one-half miles of beachfront. Dataw Island is located in the Sea Islands region and was the site of an 18th century plantation that has been transformed into a secluded private community boasting two championship golf courses. Amenities abound at Oldfield in Okatie, conveniently located nearly equidistant between Hilton Head, Beaufort and Savannah. Greg Norman golf, 20-acres of dedicated equestrian facilities, 8 miles of nature trails, tennis, swimming, a variety of water sports and access to a 1,000-acre hunting preserve make this private community one of a kind. Nature is the key amenity at Hilton Head Lakes in Hardeeville where the 452-acre community is surrounded by nature preserves and 22 miles of lake shoreline. Hampton Lake, located in Bluffton, just west of Hilton Head Island, received top honors in the 2009 National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) “Best in America Living Awards” (BALA). Initially envisioned as a golf community, Hampton Lake was redesigned as a lake community with a resort style amenity complex, enhanced by a 340-acre nature preserve with nine miles of trails.
Shopping for a new, vacation or second home in South Carolina’s Lowcountry is like going to an “all you can eat” buffet — so much – and then so much more. Finding just the right combination of enticements can make the experience very gratifying.
Texas has been cited as a forerunner in the ongoing economic recovery and a solid location for investment in retirement and second home communities. Located in Texas’ famed Hill Country, both San Antonio and Austin have become well known for abundant opportunities to purchase second homes and retirement homes in an upscale recreationally-oriented environment. Private communities that personify this perception include Cordillera Ranch, a multi-recreation community located in Boerne, a suburb of San Antonio. The 8,700-acre private community exemplifies the active adult lifestyle, boasting seven different club opportunities featuring golf, tennis and swim, equestrian, hunting and fishing, health and fitness and water sports. With regard to size, First Mountain on Canyon Lake represents the opposite end of the housing spectrum. At just 90 acres and fewer than 50 homes, this intimate enclave is situated on the 8,300-acre Canyon Lake, aka, the “Water Recreational Capital of Texas.” Conveniently nestled between San Antonio and Austin, First Mountain on Canyon Lake is located on its own private mountain and is endowed with some of the most panoramic vistas of the Texas Hill Country. Ancillary amenities include a resort-style swim facility, miles of walking trails and access to the Guadalupe River by way of Canyon Lake, two full-service marinas and Canyon Lake Golf Club.
Canyon Lake
According to Allied Van Lines’ 42nd Annual Magnet States Report, more individuals and families chose to settle deep in the heart of Texas than anywhere else in the US in 2009. This is Texas’ fifth consecutive year outpacing every other state, and based on recent achievements and projections, the recognition appears well deserved. Texas added 50,000 new jobs in the 4th quarter of 2009, and projections for 2010 call for continued job growth in several of the state’s larger markets. San Antonio is expected to add 22,000 jobs in 2010 and Austin is projected to expand local payrolls with the addition of 19,000 payroll positions. On the housing front, Austin area homes sales jumped 5% in January 2010, and the median price was up 1% to $179,250. Statewide, housing inventory fell approximately 5% in January. Both conditions suggest that now may just be the time to buy.
Watching the final day of the Masters golf championship at Augusta National, the allure of the game was patently clear. Besides great golfers – Mickelson was masterful and Tiger walked away with a respectable eleven, albeit to the chagrin of his adoring fans after finding himself amongst the trees more than once – the splendor that is Augusta National was awe-inspiring. A well-designed golf course is not just a recreational retreat, but a thing of beauty. This is perhaps the reason that Tiger Woods designs, in his own words “a very select few.” While walking the terrain of the first Tiger Woods-designed course in the U.S. and discussing its progress, Woods was asked by Cliffs at High Carolina developer Jim Anthony if he thought High Carolina represented a good location, particularly for splitters, people who own second homes and divvy their time up between them. Woods enthusiastically replied that he would, in all likelihood, be a splitter himself, having a home in Central Florida and eventually a second in High Carolina. He could not say enough about the abundant “viewscapes” inherent in High Carolina’s topography and the private community’s convenient location just east of super-popular Asheville, NC, a consistent #1 pick by a variety of pundits for both retirement and second home living. In keeping with The Cliffs’ wellness philosophy, the golf course at High Carolina will be a walking course and will accommodate players of all skill levels. Construction at High Carolina began last year and completion is anticipated for 2012.
How about that Duke! Persevering to beat Butler 61-59 to become the NCAA basketball champions in a benchmark game – at no point in the final competition did either team have more than a six point lead. The private university’s persistence to succeed personifies the spirit of the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Triangle region. Loaded with educational, cultural and social opportunities, high-quality healthcare, myriad private community choices and historic charm, the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill market area is a slam-dunk when it comes to making a second home or retirement destination choice.
The Raleigh market area has grown nearly 40% — more than 4% per year — since 2000. This compares to a growth rate of less than one (<1%) percent per year for the rest of the country. The rate of growth for the “mature” population is even more remarkable. The market area’s 65+ segment is projected to grow more than 50% by 2014 or 11% per year. In a recent study conducted by the Brookings Institute, the Raleigh market area ranked number one for senior relocation ahead of Austin, Atlanta, Boise and Las Vegas.
Briar Chapel
Private community opportunities offering a wide array of recreational and social amenities and activities abound throughout the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Triangle area. Located in Raleigh, Wakefield Plantation is a 2,200-acre master-planned community with a private TPC golf course and TPC Sports Club. In North Raleigh, Bedford at Falls River boasts a Central Park, a Recreation Center, two swimming pools, tennis and volleyball courts and 26 miles of tree-lined sidewalks. In Chapel Hill the Governors Club offers 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf, a 42,000 square foot clubhouse, a comprehensive Tennis Club, and fitness and swim facilities. The Legacy at Jordan Lake offers direct access to the 14,000-acre lake for boating, fishing and swimming. This resort community also has tennis and sports courts, a short iron golf course, fitness and swimming facilities, and 12 miles of dedicated walking trails. Located on the periphery of Chapel Hill is Briar Chapel, the largest “green” community in the Triangle with a 66-acre community park with soccer, football and baseball fields, 21 neighborhood parks, a village center, an amphitheater, and 24 miles of hiking and biking trails. And those are just the on-site amenities. The Triangle abounds with state and county parks and hiking, biking and golfing opportunities. Wake County alone has more than 30 golf facilities, more than half of which are open to the public.
South Carolina’s Grand Strand has been, for decades, a mecca for tourists, second homeowners, and retirees seeking a sublime escape. Stretching from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina, it consists of more than 60 miles of essentially uninterrupted Atlantic Coast beachfront. But its pristine beaches aren’t the only contributor to the region’s popularity as a tourist destination. There’s also golf — lots and lots of golf. The Grand Strand is home to more than 125 courses, (more than 1,800 holes of golf) — all kinds — all sizes — all skill levels – designed by a bevy of celebrity golf course architects. And the best part of Grand Strand golf is that the vast majority of the facilities are open to the public.
Located in North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Resort and Golf is marking its 10th anniversary this year. Barefoot is one of the most popular destination golf resorts in the country having four championship layouts designed by golf greats Greg Norman, Pete Dye, Davis Love III and Tom Fazio. Barefoot Beach Resort is well known for the most highly anticipated debut in golf history with the opening all four of its acclaimed layouts on the same day on April 13, 2000. But the amenities don’t end with golf. A 40,000 square foot clubhouse; an 8-acre Resident’s Club including fitness facilities, an outdoor pool with lap and wading areas, lighted tennis courts, a variety of kid-friendly features, restaurants, a private Beach Cabana with a furnished sundeck, beach showers, and privileged beach access and much more make Barefoot a unique resort community. Future plans call for the development of a hotel, marina and water complex, a town center, and a full-service spa. Centex Homes, rated “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with New Home Buyers” by J.D. Power and Associates, is the master builder offering a broad array of single-family homes, townhomes and villas. In the spirit of celebrating its past and in excited anticipation of its future, Barefoot will be offering a variety of promotional packages this spring.
Colorful, vibrant, miles of pristine beaches, crystalline bodies of water, and an abundance of resort opportunities come to mind when we think of Mexico. But in recent years, it has evolved into a safe haven for real estate investment, offering attractive home ownership opportunities in an environment that is undergoing significant growth. While much of the early development in Mexico had been highly commercial in nature, focusing on all-inclusive and timeshare resorts, as ownership laws and lending practices have become more “Americanized” private community development has taken flight, appealing to second home owners, and ex-patriots from all over the world who are seeking a more cost-efficient way of life upon retirement.
Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta – all recognizable Mexico resort destinations that have attracted visitors for decades. Unlike these resort locations, Mazatlán has roots in a tradition of trade and commerce, coming late to the discovery that its miles and miles of sand beaches translated to tourism opportunities. In this regard, it’s towns and city centers have a prevalent historic nature not often found in Mexican resort locations. Situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, almost directly across from the tip of the Baja peninsula, Mazatlán was first colonized by the Mayans. The name, which means “place of the deer” in the native Nahuatl language, speaks to the region’s remarkable scenic beauty. Set at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains on a peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean, Mazatlán boasts Mexico’s largest commercial port and has its own international airport and car ferry service for trips across the Gulf of California to La Paz. Interestingly, the City is segregated into two distinct areas: Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) where the majority of hotels and restaurants are located, and El Centro, the downtown, or “heart of the city.” Since 2000, the historic downtown has been undergoing a major restoration of many of its buildings including the famous Plaza Machado. The two city centers are linked by Avenue Del Mar, also known as the Malecón, a scenic beachfront walkway connecting the two destinations.
Estrella del Mar Golf and Beach Resort is being developed as an “American” master-planned community approximately ten minutes from Mazatlán’s International Airport and less than 30 minutes from the heart of the city. The 800-acre oceanfront luxury resort community offers overnight villa accommodations for visitors, and condominiums, and estate beachfront and golf course lots for ownership. The community is anchored by an 18-hole beachfront golf course designed by legendary Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is rated amongst the best golf courses in Mexico. An on-site Turtle Preserve dedicated to protecting sea turtles and other precious wildlife speaks to the environmental sensitivity of the Estrella del Mar development.
If you’ve ever driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, you know the feeling. Breathtaking vistas for miles around are picture-postcard perfect. A temperate four-season climate, abundant recreation and extensive and diversified housing opportunities have been attracting visitors and new residents to the western North Carolina Mountain Region for decades. Strategically located less than a days’ drive of 70 of the nation’s top 100 metropolitan areas, the region is uniquely suited as a second/vacation home destination. A significant influx of retirees and pre-retirees has spawned a variety of ancillary services and amenities. As part of the local campus of UNC, the Asheville-based North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement is today regarded as one of the nation’s top institutions for adult learning.
Nestled amongst majestic mountains, the eclectic city of Asheville has popped up on many national rankings over the years including AARP’s “Best Places to Reinvent Your Life,” and “The 50 Most Alive Places To Be.”American Style magazine recognized it as one of “America’s Top 25 Arts Destinations,” and it has also been cited as one of the happiest places in the U.S. in Eric Weiner’s 2008 book, The Geography of Bliss. Therefore, it was not surprising that it showed up on Barron’s 2009 rankings of the “Best Places for Second Homes.” Currently available luxury homes located in and around the Asheville market are priced from $600,000 to several million dollars for an average list price of $1.2 million.
Just a short drive from Asheville is Burnsville, the “Gateway to Mt. Mitchell,” the highest point east of the Rockies and home to The Preserve at Wolf Laurel. The 1,300-acre master-planned community marks the final phase of the larger Wolf Laurel Resort development. The community’s established environment and copious in-place amenities make for a distinct sense of community. “Down home pleasures” are commonplace at The Preserve and have included the gathering of 700 residents for a 4th of July celebration. This spirit of community lifestyle is showcased in the preservation and restoration of the The Buck House, the former homestead of original property owners David and Pearl Buck and their eight children. Eighty-five percent of the 13-room Colonial Revival structure’s wood is original, and the property, which is operated as a B&B to accommodate potential property owners, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A leader for 85 years in wealth analysis, Barron’s, recently named Pebble Beach #6 on its list of the “10 Best Places in America” for second homes. Located on the Golden State’s pastoral Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach has long been known for its superlative golf. Rated the #1 public golf facility in America by Golf Digest for 2009-10, the Pebble Beach Golf Links have hosted four U.S. Opens and will be the site for the 2010 challenge slated for June 14-20. But Pebble Beach isn’t the only game in town. There are more than 20 other golf opportunities, some of which are located within the verdant Del Monte Forest, which surrounds the community of Pebble Beach. Estate homes, with panoramic views of Monterey Bay are abundant. According to Barron’s, the median home value in the marketplace is $1.1 million reflecting a 20% reduction from peak pricing.
Just minutes from Pebble Beach lies the quaint seaside village of Carmel. Well-known as the home of Clint Eastwood, a former mayor of Carmel, this charismatic town has been a world-renown destination resort and artist colony since the turn of the last century. California’s “jewel city” is at once eclectic and bucolic and has been cited as the “dog-friendliest” city in the country. From inception, preservation of the natural environment has been a vital consideration as the city founders constructed roads to weave around existing trees in an effort to preserve the area’s ambiance.
And the concept upon which the town was founded has never been forgotten. Sustainable development is the principle upon which Tehama is emerging. This contemporary development overlooking Carmel Bay comprises 2,000 rolling acres but is planned for just 90 homesteads.
The development of Tehama, which is a Native American word meaning “abundance of nature,” has been guided by Clint Eastwood’s dedication to sustainable development – more than 85% of the land has been permanently preserved as open space and the project has been honored with California’s Golden Bear Award for diligent protection of the environment. In addition to its abundant natural assets, the community includes an 18-hole Jay Morrish-designed golf course, tennis, swimming and fitness facilities.
Ah . . . the seduction of a getaway in an exotic location. Second home sales have begun to gather momentum again as buyers recognize that prices have never been better. Due to its relatively recent emergence on the second home market radar, Curacao is one of the best-kept getaway secrets in the Caribbean. Its location off the coast of Venezuela suggests it is a part of South America, but this gorgeous transcontinental island is actually one of the five island territories that comprise the Netherlands Antilles. Curacao is a culturally rich, polyglot society – a veritable melting pot of ethnicities. Most residents speak many languages including the native creole Papiamentu, which derived from Portugese, as well as Dutch, Spanish and English. The history and culture of this island territory is most evident in Willemstad, a world-class capital and port city and a United Nations Heritage Site. There are some 750 historic buildings in Willemstad which merit preservation, including the Mikve Israel – Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue still standing that has been continuously used for religious services. Built in 1730 by a Sephardic Jewish community that had relocated to Curacao from Amsterdam, the structure’s simple sand floor contrasts sharply with the regally appointed sanctuary accentuated by huge brass chandeliers and candelabras.
Willemstad Harbor
But Curacao has more than history to offer. It is, perhaps one of the best-known deep-sea fishing and reef diving venues in the world with more than 60 locations for scuba diving and snorkeling. The island’s coastline is diverse and features many bays and inlets, most of which are suitable for mooring. And Willemstad offers more than 200 shops, restaurants, casinos and nightlife spots in its historic downtown. One of the most recent developments on the island has been the construction of the five-star Hyatt Regency Curacao, which is located within the island’s newest resort community, Santa Barbara Plantation. The 350-room property is accepting reservations beginning April 20, 2010. The 1,500-acre Santa Barbara Plantation is surrounded on three sides by the Caribbean and boasts a full service marina and “Old Quarry,” an 18-hole Pete Dye golf course.
As 78 million Baby Boomers reluctantly march toward their “golden years,” they are taking no prisoners. Long known for having mega-influence on all kinds of trends, this massive group of active achievers has made “wellness” into a buzzword for community development.
Well known for an unparalleled portfolio of high quality golf and recreational-oriented communities, The Cliffs Communities have become equally acknowledged for their “wellness culture.” In addition to golf, tennis, boating, hiking, biking, etc., each of the Cliffs’ private residential communities has a Wellness Center, the focus of which is to enable residents to recognize and utilize their own resources for health and wellness by providing them with the tools necessary to achieve their individual goals. In this regard, the toolkit keeps getting bigger and better with each new community.
The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, one of three Cliffs communities located on Lake Keowee in Sunset, SC is perhaps the most exemplary of the company’s health and wellness philosophy. Designed as a multi-generational family wellness destination resort, the community boasts a 50,000 square foot Wellness Center and a 23,000 square foot, full-service Spa. As a complement to all of The Cliffs communities, which are within a one to one and one-half hour drive of each other, the company has opened a fully staffed primary care medical facility. Preserve Health is located within The Village at The Cliffs at Mountain Park in Travelers Rest, SC. It offers primary medical care to all property owners, residents and employees of The Cliffs Communities as well as residents and visitors to northern Greenville County, SC. But those are just the boxes — it’s what’s inside that counts.
Cliffs at Keowee Springs
Wellness initiatives and activities include guided hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, etc. Classes in aerobics, Yoga, Pilates, spinning, cooking and crafts are also offered, as well as forums on volunteerism, and healthy eating guided by a team of wellness experts. Clubhouse dining emphasizes healthy menu options, and proper serving proportions speak to the Baby Boomer’s passion for food and the role it plays in wellness. Golf is a mainstay at all Cliffs Communities. A recent addition to the Cliffs at Keowee Springs’ amenity roster is the International Institute. Noted Australian golf coaching team of Steve Bann and Dale Lynch provide expert instruction in a state-of-the-art teaching facility modeled after the Victorian Institute of Sport in Melbourne. The training incorporates a variety of factors including diet, mental and physical attributes.
While many communities talk the talk, The Cliffs Communities walk the walk. All associates are afforded the opportunity to have a wellness coach in order to achieve their individual goals.
Second homes made news in 2009, but unlike a few years ago they were not the center of attention, with foreclosures and general economic woes taking center stage.
Private Communities Newswire polled thousands of monthly visitors to see if they thought second homes would make a comeback in 2009; a robust 52 percent said “yes,”37 percent said “no” and the other 12 percent of responders were “not sure.” The poll conducted through “polldaddy.com” was not scientific, but it did show those who have an interest in the second home market are still in the game either as shoppers, real estate professionals or sellers.
The Tennessean Media Group's Snapshot of Boomers
It is possible that second homes will become more popular in 2010 with some select buyers like baby boomers, some who still have the means to make the lifestyle change from one to two homes. Even a souring economy is not likely to curb some independent-minded boomers who have had their hearts set on the decision for decades.
Expect those with second homes to get more use out of them as they consider their own future plans and face another cold winter in some regions.
The housing industry faced similar tough times in the early 1990s and it was the boomers who helped fuel a real estate expansion to the Sun Belt and even in locations closer to home. If they do it again, it could be a gradual increase rather than another boom. Please share your 2010 predictions with us.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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. Continue 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?
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.
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?
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%). Continue reading →
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.
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.
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.
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
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 Continue reading →
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 Continue 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.
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 Continue reading →
As the site of the Reno-Tahoe Open, Montrêux is one of the nation’s best golf destinations. Northern Nevada is not only a tax haven, its quality of life is Continue reading →
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.
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.
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.
Arkansas offers a diverse array of retirement and second home destinations ranging from the “spa” towns of Eureka Springs, nestled in the Ozark mountains, and Hot Springs located in the center of the state, just south of Little Rock, to Little Rock itself, a dynamic, contemporary city with a thriving entertainment district and a distinctly southern flair. Known for its rich musical heritage, the Arkansas Delta runs along the eastern border of the state adjacent to the Mississippi River and is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the nation. Hot Springs, often referred to as “America’s First Resort,” is surrounded by Hot Springs National Park, which encompasses the Quachita Mountains that rise above the downtown and historic Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs is home to a thriving arts community, high-quality medical facilities, and a host of cultural and educational opportunities, and was recently ranked #2 on Forbes’ 2009 list of “America’s Best Bang-for-the-Buck Cities,” and acknowledged by Where to Retire magazine as one of “America’s Most Affordable Retirement Towns” in 2005.
Red Oak Ridge is a bucolic, 800-acre private community located near Hot Springs National Park. The community is convenient to shopping, dining, health care, and the semi-private Hot Springs Country Club which offers two challenging, vintage golf courses, both of which were recently renovated by Master’s Champion Ben Crenshaw. Amenities within the community include two private fishing lakes, a dedicated trail system, several parks, and a swimming complex. 
