Real Estate Experts Symposium

Checklist for Fractional Resort Real Estate Success
By Carl G. Berry

When resort real estate experts congregate in throngs to learn and share information about an exciting product, they are bound to come up with some guidelines. A May 2006 gathering of nearly 400 resort and real estate experts at the Ragatz Symposium in Coronado, California was held in wrapped attention as their colleagues shared “dos and don’ts” about Fractional Real Estate for developers.

Fractional Real Estate projects (including Private Residence Clubs) increased by 218% say Ragatz Associates, internationally recognized as a leading market research organization in the resort industry. Primarily, the rapid growth in this intriguing product results from the void it fills for both consumers and developers: it has a good image; it offers variety of types of products and locations; many major hospitality brands have jumped aboard; and it is increasing in market acceptance.

So, if you are a developer considering fractional real estate, what seems to be working best, you ask? Well, it is real estate after all. Logically, the first component is always location in a popular vacation resort area. Secondly, a great location within the resort is always optimal. If families can ski-in/ski-out, golf-in/golf-out, it is a bonus for all involved.

After location, buyers look for credibility in a developer. What have they done before? With whom are they associated? Do they know the area? All these elements are key to building a strong foundation with potential buyers.