Élan and the City: First Pied-à-Terre Comes to San Diego

Just when you thought The Élan Collection was all about beaches and fairways, we bring you urbane living in Southern California (Élan's version of “urban”). Harbor View West, The Élan Collection’s first true pied-à-terre, has started priority sales reservations for 10 fractional shares in downtown San Diego.

The contemporary 4,412 square-foot penthouse occupies the entire 37th floor of the Harbor Club’s elegant West tower…which means 360-degree wrap-around ocean views + two private terraces + plenty of space for hosting cocktail hours with your friends + high-tech touches galore + a front row seat to the waterfront, Coronado Island, Marina, Bridge, Point Loma, nightlife in the Gas Lamp Quarter and shopping at nearby Westfield Horton Plaza. And did we mention that owners of Harbor View West have full access to Harbor Club amenities, plus all of the A-list services that come with The Élan Collection?

Harbor View West just might be luxury urban vacationing at its highest—but it’s the lowest priced fractional opportunity currently offered within The Élan Collection. Want to learn more? Click here.

Secrets to a Happy Élan Retirement

Today, U.S. News & World Report posted the "7 Secrets to Happy Retirement." Friends, health, intellectual curiosity and money topped the list, but we thought we'd add our own secrets. It's not just about a happy retirement... it's about an èlan retirement as well, oui?

1. Smart Vacations

According to the Watson Wyatt survey, "the absolute amount of money you have for retirement is less important than how your retirement income compares to your income before retirement." In other words, your happiness quotient is a direct result of your ability to maintain the same lifestyle you enjoyed before retirement. Now that you've got more time on your hands, you might be tempted to purchase a luxury vacation property...but why tie up all of your finances in a multi-million dollar home you'll most likely only be able to use a few times a year? With The Élan Collection, you can purchase a share of a property for a fraction of the price, and enjoy 4-5 weeks guaranteed use, property deed rights, plus the ability to exchange use rights at other Élan residences all over the world. It's smart vacation ownership...magnifique!

2. Stress-Free

It goes without saying that good health is the single most important factor impacting retiree happiness. Yet it's hard to achieve good health without keeping your stress levels in check. Robert Greenwood, a real estate broker who is currently selling The Élan Collection's The Coral House in Turks and Caicos, says The Élan Collection is hassle-free vacationing at its best. "You can contact your Élan concierge to schedule your flights, and be picked up at the airport by a staff member," he said. "When you arrive at the house, your worries are over...food is stocked in the fridge, your personal items are laid out as if you never left and all of your needs are taken care of. You truly receive five-star service in one of the most beautiful beach destinations in the world."

A happy retirement might be a healthy retirement, but it could also be an èlan retirement--full of luxury, style, no hassles and financial opportunity. With The Élan Collection, you really can enjoy the gold in your golden years.

Fractional Real Estate Becoming an Increasingly Popular Investment Alternative

“65 percent of our overseas investors have expressed interest in fractional investments this year.” This is according to Aidan Rankin, an economic analyst for Property Frontiers, a UK-based international property and eco-investment advisory services company.

In a recent article in Fractional Life, Rankin notes that the 65 percent figure is almost double last year’s,"showing that the property market is reinventing itself or shape-shifting in ways that are varied and (in the best sense of the word) interesting."

What’s also interesting to note is that a growing number of investors and buyers seem to be recognizing fractional real estate as a viable alternative for investing in real estate at a time when economic uncertainty still lingers. When it comes to second homes and vacation properties especially, fractional real estate is appealing since buyers won’t find themselves in a position of buying a whole ownership property—only to let it sit idle for the majority of the year. The beauty of fractional ownership (and we at The Elan Collection can’t say this enough) is that they only buy what they will use.

Do you think Rankin’s comments are in any way indicative of what’s happening on U.S. shores? Do you think fractional real estate for vacation homes will gain traction as an economic trend in the coming years?

Video: The Coral House in Turks and Caicos Islands

A picture might be worth a thousand words, but a video is worth a million.

Robert Greenwood and Katherine Baryluk from Horton Realty recently posted this video on YouTube for The Elan Collection's The Coral House in the Turks and Caicos Islands. If this video doesn't inspire vacation visions of sipping mojitos on white sand beaches or napping in hammocks (in a tax haven), then we don't know what will!

Promising International Fractional Market Forecast

This news came from Luxury Fractional Guide last week: two recent studies have found strong potential for the fractional markets in Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

According to Fractional Life, a study presented at the first South American Shared Ownership Investment Conference found the vacation ownership market in Brazil "is poised for rapid and long-term growth for many years." On the other side of the globe, a recent report commissioned by the fractional exchange company The Registry Collection, titled “Australia and New Zealand Fractional Market 2010″ shows that the potential market for fractionals sits at over 470,000 households and possible sales revenues from $9.3 billion to $70.7 billion (USD).

While The Elan Collection does not currently include properties in these countries (yet), these forecasts show the market for international shared ownership is not only wide, but deep. About 1,208,200 households, or 12 percent of the population across Australia and New Zealand are eligible for fractional ownership. According to the NorthCourse 2009 Fractional Interest Report, 80 percent of the income-qualified households in the U.S. do not own a second home...a need the shared ownership industry hopes to fill. "Even 5 percent market penetration would produce over $4 billion in sales," forecasted the report at the time. (More to come on the U.S. fractional market soon). Earlier this year, the 2010 Ragatz Report also concluded: "The consumer research we continue to do in focus groups and consumer surveys indicate an ever-increasing preference toward fractional verses resort time-share and especially whole-ownership."

What do you think about the depth of the fractional market in 2010? Are you hearing that there will be a leap in potential fractional interest this year on a global level, or do you think it will be more localized? Where does the U.S. fractional market come into play?