Innovative concept offers vacation home luxury for a fraction of the cost

A growing number of resort real estate developments have gone along the routes of the fractional ownership model that was first introduced in Canada by Intrawest Corporation, resort developers and real estate developments across the world including Whistler Blackcomb, Mont Tremblant and Copper Mountains. Also known as shared ownership or quarter ownership, it is different from traditional timeshare in that you as a real estate investor or home buyer are on title for the real estate property and have control over the eventual sale of the home.

Whistler-Blackcomb Resort

Storied Places – At Nature’s Door Fractional Ownership
Some of the first fractional real estate properties were started in British Columbia at the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler-Vancouver. The Whistler-Blackcomb resort is owned and operated by Intrawest and has seen a huge increase in fractional, shared and quarter ownership properties for real estate homes, chalets and condominium suites.

Some of the latest real estate opportunities from this fractional ownership model include the luxurious Storied Places up in Whistler where a home buyer can own a fraction of 1/10 in a luxurious three or four bedroom chalet style home that provides the ultimate in features, finishes and community amenities located in the prestigious At Nature’s Door development. An exclusive fractional ownership and shared ownership style features an exclusive ski-in/ski-out home starting from just $294,900. Thanks to fractional ownership, you can receive a deeded interest in an exquisite mountain home in Whistler’s exclusive Taluswood neighbourhood. With access to private, privileged community for the times you choose, At Nature’s Door, Storied Places is truly effortless shared ownership overlooking the Dave Murray Downhill and comes with stone fireplaces, well appointed kitchen featuring Sub Zero fridge, Viking gas range and wine fridge in addition to outdoor decks and private hot tub. There is also a Private Owner’s Lodge with fitness facility, sauna, steam room, heated outdoor pool and hot tub. This fractional ownership opportunity has been extremely successful and Intrawest has already built and planned many other Storied Places fractional shared ownership style real estate developments throughout North American resorts. For more information, please visit www.storiedplaces.com.

Whistler iQ Evolution Fractional Ownership
A modern take on mountain living in Whistler, British Columbia, the evolved way to own real estate in Whistler is through the Intrawest Quarter Ownership program (iQ) which has now returned to Whistler with Evolution real estate fractional ownership real estate properties. Offering stylish one and two bedroom resort homes in Whistler Creekside, Evolution is definetly a modern take on resort mountain living for singles, couples and families. Open floor plans, contemporary interiors, luxurious features and amenities are just some things to smile about at Evolution Whistler’s fractional ownership real estate opportunity that is selling now. Ski-in and Ski-out via the Creekside Gondola only a short stroll away. All for an incredible price through iQ that may never be available again. With Whistler Evolution, owning a stylish resort home in Whistler can be a reality, but only for a limited time. Register today at www.myownwhistler.com or call 1.877.771.6767.

Bighorn Mountain Resort Fractional Owners

Imagine owning a five-star property at Canmore’s Bighorn Mountain Resort. You arrive at your exquisitely furnished, 2,400 sq ft home, fridge fully stocked and spa services booked by the concierge. After a day in the Rockies, you can plunge into your rooftop hot tub, barbeque on one of four decks, curl up in front of one of five flat-screen TVs, or relax in one of three deluxe master suites …

Sound like a retreat for the ultra rich? IN fact, it’s easily affordable, thanks to an innovative fractional ownership concept premiering this fall at Bighorn Mountain Resort in 2006. The Resort is Canmore’s first private residence club. As a member, you share title ownership in one of 20 exclusive $2.4 million vacation homes. The cost per 1/8th share is $225,000, which mortgage companies view as an appreciating real estate investment, versus timeshares, which are considered depreciating assets.

You may buy as many shares ass you like. One share gives you five weeks’ accommodation annually, plus additional visits during 11 weeks of flex-time. Every day of the year at the Canmore Bighorn Mountain Resort , you have full access to resort’s private spa, mineral pool, fitness centre and lounge.

Since more vacation home owners spend less than four weeks annually at their real estate properties, fractional ownership, like the one at Bighorn Mountain Resort in Canmore, works brilliantly. For a fraction of the cost, home owners and real estate investors, can enjoy superb amenities and services, with no maintenance or security worries – while investing in Canmore’s sizzling real estate market.

For details on fractional ownership at Bighorn Mountain Resort in Canmore, please visit www.bighorncanmore.com or call toll-free 1-866-890-7563.

The Best of All Words through Fractional Ownership of Real Estate

It’s part of the North American dream. The vacation getaway. A place by the lake where you leave everyday cares far behind, where sunny days are filled with water sports and where good times seem to stretch to eternity. And as we near the end of the 21st century’s first decade, more people than ever are making that dream into a reality thorugh real estate fractional ownership or co-ownership of property opportunities. A great article by the most trusted resort property writer, Susan B for the Homes and Resort magazine of BC. But if you’re thinking quaint if somewhat rustic cottage in the country, think again. Fueled in large part by demand from the growing legions of baby boomers across North America, today’s resort getaways need to be increasingly sophisticatd, upscale and urbane to attract attention. Boomer homebujyers in recreational real estate know what they want which usually includes luxury, pampering, amenities, fine dining and they have both the money as well as the inclination and time. Already well heeled in their own right, many boomer home buyers are also reaping the benifts of what financial analysists believe will be the largest transfer of wealth in history – some $41 trillion that’s beginning a relentless migration from the pockets of the aging boomer population into the pockets of their active – leisure oriented adult children who are the beneficiaries. And with more than 80 per cent of this financial tsunami yet to hit, recreational real estate property and resort homes is clearly taking the lead as their investment vehicle of choice.

Fractional wnership Provides Sound Economics and Ultimate Flexibility to Boomer Buyers

With the price of new recreational property and resort homes skyrocketing, fractional ownership also makes economic sense. “Why would you pay a full time price for property you only use part time?” says Craig Andersen of PilotHouse Real eState Inc and an enthusiastic suppoerter of this sales model. In fact, after marketing a variety of resort fractional real estate propreties including The Residences at Sun Peaks, Craig purchased a quarter ownership as alegacy for his oen family at Currents at Otter Bay on Pender Island. “The national average for use of a vacation property is 19 days – or rougly three weeks per year,” he points out. “So what happens to your vaction property for the rest of the year? Usually it just sits there… empty. Quarter ownesrhpi or fractional ownership gives y ou use of your resort property for 12 weeks throughout the year, and it’s guilt free. You know everything will be clean and in perfect working order every time you show up – no more spending half the holiday fixing things, and if you decide not to use it yourself, it goes into the rental pool and generates revenue for you.” If you’re truly serious about taking more time off but can’t quite see eye to eye with your significant other about where to spend your vacations, fractional resort ownership of real estate could also be the route to the return of holiday harmony. As one fractional ownership purchaser at The Residences at Sun Peaks puts, “I like to ski, my wife prefers the desert to eh mountains and my kids want to vacation in Hawaii. Instead of buying one property that’s a compromise, fro the same price I can buy a quarter interest in four properties, enveryone gets what they want and everyone’s happy.”

A New Style of Co-Ownership of Resort Property

Rapidly becoming a serious contender in this competitive world of vacation properties, fractional ownership is on the rise. From Whistler and the Gulf Islands to Osoyoos and ski slopes in Fernie real estate, many of the most exclusive resorts under constructin are adopting this sales model in order to appeal directly to a real estate market of boomer homebuyers who want maintenance free, distinctly hands off approach to recreational property. These hotel style strata units come fully furnished most of the time and are most frequently offered in quarter, third or half shares basis although twelfth shares are now appearing with more regularity. Unfortunatley, often still tarnished by the unsavoury reputation of the totally unrelated timeshare, each fractional share of resort property is fully deeded property you can resell, mortgage, or will to the beneficiary of your choice. Boomer buyers have access to their property on a rotational basis – typically for a week period each month. However, if you choose not to use your property during your rotation, it’s placed into a rental pool generating a revenue stream that can be sued to offset your carrying costs. Here too, the emphasis is on no worry resort real estate investment through fractional ownership – professionals like Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts and Bellstar Hotels & Resorts handle the myriad details of hotel management, reservations and housekeeping. One baby boomer home buyer at the recently opened, $31 million Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina in Pender Harbour put it this way. “We’re too busy to worry about maintenance and repairs, and we certainly didn’t want just any property. Here you have 24/7 serivce, the amenities are of an excellence that means we can bring clients as wella s family, and witht eh marina we have the option of arriving by private boat or floatplane. There really is nothing else like it.” Now selling in the Gulf Islands, Galiano Oceanfront Inn & Spa fractional ownership opportunities is proving so popular that many early boomer buyers are purchasing additional fractions in this oceanfront retreat. “We’re seeing people who bought one of our Villas now buying a Spa Suite for when they have guests or older children come to say,” explains sales rep Ian Watts. “Everyone has privacy, but you can all get together for socializing or meals.”