LFG Fractional Ownership News Blog

by Sherman Potvin

Participating in an Inspection Tour or Discovery Visit at a fractional resort allows you to “try it on” and make sure that the property is the right fit for you and your family. You will have the opportunity to experience firsthand exactly what you might expect as an owner. This is your chance to ask all the right questions, make note of the answers and come to an informed decision.

Below are the 13 essential questions that you should ask during your visit. The answers to these questions should be the foundation for any decision you may make. Read the rest of this entry »

A recent article on the British website Telegraph.co.uk called “Fractional Ownership: A Property Portfolio for All Seasons?” gives an overview of fractional ownership from a European perspective. It mentions several European-based fractionals and destination clubs, including:

The Hideaways Club (European destination club)

Bom Successo (fractional project in Portugal)

Rocksure Property Portfolio (fractional ownership of a portfolio of 6 homes)

Castello di Casole (fractional project in Tuscany)

View all European fractional projects on the LFG website here

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 13th highlights fractional ownership. Titled “Paris Pied-a-Terre at a Fraction of the Price”, it mentions two fractional ownership properties — Paris Pied-a-Terre and The Fairmont Heritage Place San Francisco. Walid Halabi, owner of Paris Pied-a-Terre is quoted in the article:

“These are people who can afford to buy the whole thing. But what they’re buying is a lifestyle,” Halabi says during a break from a three-day conference on fractional ownership held at the San Francisco Fairmont last month.

They show up at their apartment, which is clean and stocked with the groceries they have requested. They spend time enjoying Paris, living among Parisians, but without the hassles that Parisians have living in a big city. “And when you leave, you shut the door and go home,” he says. “You don’t worry about it.”

See the “Metropolitan” category in our Fractional Property Directory for more urban fractional properties across the globe.

For those of you who don’t subscribe to the Luxury Fractional Guide newsletter, you can read our April Spotlight on The Ritz-Carlton Club® & Residences, San Francisco here. They are offering fractional ownership of one- to three-bedroom residences with all the personal touches that Ritz-Carlton is famous for.

By Jill Potvin Schoff

The idea of buying only a piece of a vacation residence makes a LOT of sense. Why buy 100 percent of something you’ll only use a few times a year? It’s this logic that was behind the creation of timeshares back in the 1970s. In the 1990s the concept was taken one step further and “fractional” real estate was born.

So what’s the difference between fractional real estate and timeshares? In the simplest terms, fractionals can be seen as a step up from timeshare. You get “more” of everything. More time, more space, more services, and more luxury. Of course the downside is, there is more cost – but not as much as you might think. Read the rest of this entry »

by Jill Schoff

Do you like the idea of owning a vacation home in your favorite location, but don’t want the burden and cost of repairs and upkeep? Do you love the services of a luxury hotel but dislike living out of your suitcase? You’re not alone. A new breed of vacation home ownership, called “fractional ownership,” is becoming increasingly popular with busy professionals looking to maximize their family vacation time.

Fractional resorts are real estate developments in prime resort locations on the golf course, ski slope or ocean. They provide the amenities of a luxury home, such as granite kitchen countertops, whirlpool baths and roomy closets — combined with the benefits of a first-class hotel, such as concierge, housekeeping and grocery shopping services. Depending upon the design of the property, residences may be hotel suites, cabins, townhouses or detached homes. Read the rest of this entry »