There are few places in the world as spectacular as Loch Lomond – and there are few pastimes more appealing than a day of golf or a day at the spa. This is the unique appeal of The Carrick, a haven of peace and privacy, surrounded by hundreds of acres of magnificent countryside and fresh, tranquil waters. And by investing in an apartment at The Carrick, you can enjoy the benefits of an exclusive spa and golf resort on your doorstep, set on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond, near Glasgow.

Half an hour’s drive from Glasgow Airport, and just along the water from the leading Cameron House hotel and resort, The Carrick is the perfect location for the golf lover and the spa aficionado. And the enjoyment is not just contained to the estate – outside there is a wealth of local sights and scenery to enjoy, plenty of restaurants, shops and activities nearby, and the excitement of Glasgow city centre just 45 minutes away.

Two bedroom apartments within The Carrick’s Colquhoun Mansion House are available through fractional ownership, meaning you can enjoy all the privileges of owning a property at a world class resort for between four and twelve weeks of the year, without the commitment or expense of buying outright. The apartment is always available to you for the weeks you select – and you can even rent the apartment to friends and family too.

Your space at Colquhoun Mansion House is decorated using natural materials and stylish features, has a fully equipped modern kitchen, state of the art television, DVD and sound system, a washer/dryer, microwave and telephone.

Included in the ownership package is membership of The Carrick Golf Club and Spa – with a championship standard golf course set before the magnificent and rousing silhouette of Ben Lomond, and a world class spa with relaxing and reviving treatments, an infinity pool and rooftop treatment rooms.

As well as a dedicated concierge service, you can expect your favourite wine chilling in the fridge upon your arrival, your car of choice outside, golf clubs waiting in the lobby, and a daily maid service. You’ll also receive discounts on leisure breaks at De Vere Hotels, automatic room upgrades at any De Vere or Village Hotel.

RT @PerspectiveNews: Just responded to: What Is The True Definition Of Fractional Ownership? http://perspectiveforums.com/Prf4Urf

Welcome to La Tranquila® Breath Taking Resort – Spa & Beach Club, a place that offers a new sense of refinement, opulence, and style destined to investors that want it all in one place.

There are few locations blessed with natural beauty, warm waters, and soft white-sand beaches, like this one. Imagine yourself in the exclusive surroundings of lush tropical mountains and silky beaches overlooking an immaculate blue horizon. With only 8 units per acre, there is no reason for its members not to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of the property. Twenty-five (25) acres are dedicated to the ecological reserve located in the tideland surrounding a 150-acre Greg Norman golf course.

Located in the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, on the northern shore of Punta Mita known as Litibu, La Tranquila® Breath Taking Resort – Spa & Beach Club is a privileged place surrounded by magical, picturesque towns full of Mexican tradition; just 10 minutes away from Punta Mita town, 20 minutes from Sayulita and Marina de la Cruz de Huanacaxtle, 30 minutes from Bucerias and 40 minutes from Puerto Vallarta. Each town has a special charm with unique attractions and sites to visit. Exclusivity becomes a reality when just a few people have the privilege to enjoy it.

La Tranquila® Breat Taking Resort – Spa & Beach Club, offers the lowest density in its category. It has a surface area of more than 120,000 m2 (29 acres), 450 m (492 yards) front of white-sand beaches, a 100,000 m2 (25 acres) estuary, an exceptional golf course designed by Greg Norman and a construction density lower than 49 condominiums per acre. All these elements transform La Tranquila® Breath Taking Resort – Spa & Beach Club into a paradise for a select number of discerning investors.

La Tranquila® Breath Taking Resort – Spa & Beach Club has exceptional interior design mixed with beautiful contemporary Mexican architecture. In addition to its serene atmosphere and its first-class service and amenities, La Tranquila® Breath Taking Resort – Spa & Beach Club will feature a retail area designed with all the elements of the typical plazas of Mexican towns, including exclusives boutiques, gourmet restaurants, handcrafts market, and entertainment for visitors of all ages — in a few words, everything that the most discriminating guest would desire.

Imagine yourself lying under the sun on the most beautiful beach of the Mexican Pacific, surrounded by mountains, exotic jungles, exuberant gardens and selected sculptures created by the best Mexican artists; in a natural environment in front of a turquoise blue ocean.

All these will make you live in paradise. Feel the fresh air, the ocean breeze and the softness of the sand while you admire a sunset full of passionate colors, the serenity and excellent climate that only you can breathe in this exclusive resort in Mexico.

Located in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, Borgo di Vagli is a quaint, meticulously restored 14th century Hamlet surrounded by a protected area of olive groves, fruit trees and ancient oaks. From the terraces, you can enjoy panoramic views of the breathtaking Tuscan hills, including a spectacular view of the 10th century Pierle castle.

For those who love the authentic Tuscan experience, Borgo di Vagli now offers a unique and affordable ownership opportunity. This fractional ownership resort enables owners to enjoy virtually unlimited vacations in your Tuscan country home for a fraction of the price of whole ownership.

Enjoy unlimited use of your vacation home at Borgo di Vagli, subject only to reservation policies. You can also share your home in Tuscany with friends and family.

Why buy a whole second home / vacation home when you can buy a fraction of one based on how often you may use it? Fractional Property Ownership is rapidly gaining in popularity at resort locations – see examples at our Fractional Property Guide

The Aventuras Club offers luxury fractional home ownership vacation homes in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico. The Aventuras Club is a private residence club representing innovation in second-home ownership, combining convenient hassle-free vacation property ownership with the amenities of a luxury resort. Owners have the flexibility to enjoy personal use of all of our clubs as well as to rent or exchange unused time with other owners.

Puerto Aventuras is strategically located in the heart of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. Just a 55-minute drive south of Cancun International Airport and 10 minutes from Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras is the perfect location for vacation homes and fractional ownership real estate.

Our customized one, two and three bedroom villas are fully and lavishly furnished in Caribbean décor and supplied with every item necessary so you can simply arrive with your personal items and begin your vacation:

• Televisions (including all bedrooms), DVD player and stereo
• Dining capacity for 8 people
• Family room seating for 8 people
• High speed internet
• Desk in master bedroom
• Walk-in showers with seats
• Double vanities in master baths with handpainted sinks
• Granite and marble counter tops
• Stainless steel appliances
• Arched solid mahogany doors
• Solid mahogany cabinetry
• Electronic keyless entry locks
• Covered terraces
• Brick pavers on ceilings in living room & master bedroom
• Cove lighting in dining rooms
• Art display niches

You can own your portion of a beautiful condo for a fraction of the price you would pay for full ownership of a unit. The property is professionally maintained and managed, so owners can spend their valuable time vacationing.

Exclusive club amenities include a private beach, free-flowing pool with waterfall, an outdoor 10-person whirlpool tub, a covered propane barbecue area, and concierge and daily maid service. Club members also have free use of bicycles, kayaks, laundry facilities and local transportation in Puerto Aventuras.

The Élan Collection, a collection of luxury vacation shared interest residences, has added a sprawling 19,500-square-foot mountain retreat at The Big EZ Lodge in Big Sky, Montana to its growing portfolio of properties.

Set on more than 60 acres, The Big EZ Lodge boasts 13 bedroom suites and 15 bathrooms, as well as a great room in the main lodge, elegant western furnishings, a game room with a billiards table, exercise room, wrap-around decks, caretaker’s quarters, a large garage and a western-style barn. The property also features two stocked trout ponds, an 18-hole championship putting course, a grotto-style hot tub, wine cellar, fire pit, Bocce ball and croquet courts, as well as numerous hiking trails.

“The Big EZ Lodge is an award-winning luxury mountain lodge, and it is the perfect location for a corporate retreat center, large family gatherings, reunions and weddings,” said Stan Tonkin, vice president of international marketing and sales for The Élan Collection. “A mountain retreat center of this size and caliber is extremely rare. Adding The Big EZ Lodge to our growing portfolio is just another example of how we are redefining the private residence club experience.”

Only 13 shared interest deeded ownership opportunities will be offered in The Big EZ Lodge. Priority sales reservation pricing starts at $1.5 million per deeded interest, but only on a limited basis. Ownership interests in The Big EZ Lodge will provide Élan owner-members with four weeks of exclusive use per year, and include a variety of A-list appointments and personal touches, such as a dedicated 24-hour concierge staff, travel accommodations, daily housekeeping, personal chef, limousine services, included private jet service, luxury vehicle to use when in residence, ski memberships, personal item placement inside the home and much more.

Located just minutes from Big Sky Ski Resort in Montana, The Big EZ Lodge overlooks the stunning Gallatin Mountain Range. The lodge offers world-class skiing—both downhill and cross country, as well as fly fishing, dog sledding, ice climbing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, rafting, kayaking and golfing. Yellowstone National Park is also about 30 miles away.

The Élan Collection currently offers a growing, yet grand portfolio of properties ranging from a 12,000-square-foot beachfront getaway in the Turks and Caicos Islands to a 6,200 square-foot classic Mediterranean estate on 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Ownership interests in an Élan property include four weeks of exclusive use per year, the option to exchange their usage rights for another property within The Élan Collection and an array of A-list appointments and personal touches, ranging from a dedicated concierge staff to limousine services and personal item placement inside the home. A map of current properties can be found here.

About The Élan Collection
The Élan Collection (www.elanPRC.com), a private residence club of distinctive shared ownership properties, combines the benefits of shared vacation home ownership with the advantages of a network of luxury destination resort properties across the United States as well as abroad. Owner-members at The Élan Collection can select their “home resort” based upon lifestyle interests and preferences, but can also enjoy other Élan destinations within the collection through an exclusive Club Exchange Network. Owner-members will experience unparalleled amenities and personal touches at each Élan property, such as 24/7 concierge services, daily housekeeping, travel accommodations, private jet service, onsite luxury SUV and placement of personal items upon each visit.

Former tennis ace and entrepreneur David Lloyd, Chairman of David Lloyd Resorts – the worldwide property and vacation specialists – has launched a ground-breaking alternative investment fund and ingenious vehicle designed to facilitate ownership abroad.

The David Lloyd Resorts Investment Fund – made up of 5 and 7 year closed funds operated and administered by Blue Gate Capital – will capitalise on the tremendous opportunities in the global property market and will enable investors to purchase equity within a diverse range of assets selected and managed in line with David Lloyd Resorts’ proven business model.

The fund will buy apartments, penthouses and villas located in prestigious world wide resorts with leisure facilities in the popular destinations of Barbados, Canada, Cyprus, Spain, Thailand and Turkey. Offering a target IRR of 10-14% per annum, the fund proposes to distribute 4% income per year to investors in addition to the projected capital growth of the assets over the term.

Tamlyn Stone, Director of Blue Gate Capital – the explained, “Traditional investments have come under enormous pressure in recent years so the need for alternatives has increased. This has mass market appeal for those that prefer to buy into real assets. David Lloyd’s entry into the market with the benefit of a proven track record and strong brand could not have been timed better. We already know from the amount of initial pledges that it is going to be successful.”

Key properties from David Lloyd Resorts’ worldwide portfolio are placed into a Limited Partnership structure offering capital growth over the term and secured annual interest on the original investment. This is made all the more attractive because of Lloyd’s ability to bundle discounted high quality property offering investors immediate value. Property developers have proven keen to work with Lloyd because they recognise the value of the brand and consequently the company has purchased assets at an average 16% discount off the current low market values after purchase costs.

The Investment Fund has been specifically constructed to target Individual and pension investors and together with their professional advisors Blue Gate Capital has ensured compliance with HMRC and FSA regulations. Lloyd explains, “The structure has been refined to fit in with the market conditions that are likely to prevail during the best part of the next decade. We need to assure potential investors that we have done our homework thoroughly and that the projections stack up.”

One of the key benefits of the fund structure will be the ability to use SIPP and SSAS contributions. Stone continued, “With a minimum investment of GBP20,000 and a bricks and mortar underlying asset base this fund could suit many people. We know intermediaries will welcome the chance to take something genuinely different to their clients. The potential market for this product is enormous.”

David Lloyd Resorts is also launching a lifestyle product in the form a unique and financially astute way of purchasing and owning abroad. Shared ownership in properties in exceptional global resorts with a host of sporting and leisure amenities will enable purchasers the chance to share in and enjoy ownership in properties that may have otherwise been unaffordable. Shared owners will not only hold equity in their vacation property which guarantees two weeks occupancy rights but also benefit from two additional weeks vacation elsewhere in the world through a flexible resort exchange programme.

For further information contact Melanie Hickey, +44(0)1372-824518

Visit http://www.davidlloydresorts.com

Star Resort Group (Scottsdale, AZ), a leading developer, marketer and seller of resort real estate in North America, has reacted to the business climate with a “cautious optimism” when it comes to fractional ownership.

Carl Berry, CEO of Star Resort Group and pioneer in the shared ownership resort industry, notes that there are key hard steps and soft steps to success in making the product work in 2010-2011.

Steps to Success

1. Know the market. Are people ready to buy? Star Resort Group’s SMART assessment program surveyed customers to determine this factor. Surprisingly, in late 2009 and early 2010 the results have been surprisingly positive.

2. Know new media and new media lead generation. There’s lots of talk about web sites on steroids, social media, blogging, search engine marketing, EDM marketing, pairing with industry websites, with real estate broker websites and the like. There’s lots of talk out there. But, how does one make it work?

3. Get a CRM program (such as SalesForce.com) to capture all these new media leads in a format that works for 24/7 and gives permitted users access 24/7 to track prospects and sales.

4. Get the right project. Sounds simple doesn’t it? But, the core adage of location still holds true, quality building is still important, stylish furnishings are still necessary, and the correct size for the bulk of the market is paramount.

5. Determine the right share size to sell. Offer multiple share sizes. Be innovative in the use plan. Have a common sense reservation plan. All this sounds simple, but this is the area where success or failure will largely be defined.

6. Build the HOA budget with a combination of ‘built-in’ services and other a la carte services. The balance in this task is to meet the expectations of the owner for carefree vacations with an annual fee that makes sense as it’s applied to their use. At Star we’ve done a full 180 going from all-inclusive to a combination of included services and extras. Naturally, there’s no fooling with the maintenance and reserves for replacement part of the budget.

7. Deliver a level of hospitality management that will fulfill the owner’s expectations.

8. Educate and train the selling staff in the science of how to sell fractions. There’s no ‘art’ here; just the science of knowing the product and documents; to be unconsciously conscious in the presentation; and to fully understand the decision making process of the buyer who are concerned first with personal use and second with ongoing costs. Lastly the staff should understand that maybe one of the buying ‘unit’ will want the fraction more than the other, so if there is an ‘art’ it’s bringing along the trailing buyer.

9. Sales of documentation and registration in selling jurisdictions are necessary and must be accomplished before hard sales begin.

10. Marketing from Branding to EDMs, from Old to New Media must be skillfully planned and executed to first fill the customer pipeline with qualified leads; and secondly, to keep the pipeline full for the selling staff.

11. Administration and escrow management is vital for this process and translates the product into cash in the final analysis. Does the title and escrow company accept credit card down payments? Can a documented sale be closed within 30-days?

12. Purchase financing is mandatory. At this time there is no third-party financing available due the financial collapse of September 2008. Therefore, developers have to make the loans and warehouse the loans until they can be sold. Star estimates that will be mid-2011.

The twelve steps above are all ‘soft’ steps.

The ‘hard’ steps involve product:

Product to Sell

1. The ideal situation is to have completed product, completely furnished, with all amenities in and ready to use. However, presales are sometimes necessary and provide an advantage in that, last minute configurations to the product can be made based on customer response. If presales have commenced, a firm construction loan needs to be in place, subject to the presale requirement, so the buyer can expect a semi-firm date for construction to begin and occupancy to occur. At Star we’ve sold in all situations. In a recovering market like there is today, the more certainty the better.

2. Before there can be new product to sell there’s the total lack of development and construction financing, and also buyer financing. These markets are still frozen save for a very few isolated cases of local banks continuing to work with their developers. The vise banks find themselves in is that on one hand the Federal government says to, ‘Get the money out’, and on the other hand the FDIC auditors say, ‘Don’t you dare make any loans’. This is a nationwide situation.

3. The current end loan options out there are:

A. The developer makes and holds the balloon loans for the 3, 5 or 7 year period.
B. Some brokers are working with developers to ‘package’ their developer-made loans in the right form to be sold, if and when the market opens up.
C. Lastly, some developers are just stuck as they don’t have the capacity to get releases from their lender, save for all cash sales or huge down payments, and to then carry the paper themselves.

4. There’s been talk of private money coming in for the loans, but there’s also the consensus that private money will flow first to timeshare loans as they yield is much higher than for fractions.

The real question is how will fractional developers move beyond potential stumbling blocks to successfully bring in those who want quality, vacation home living at an affordable price?

Star Resorts is a leading developer, marketer and seller of luxury fractional ownership real estate, private residence clubs, timeshares, and whole ownership resort real estate products in The Americas and soon in Europe.  Star Resorts provides sales and marketing, development and management expertise to developers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America. The Company also develops resort projects for its own account, and is unique in that aspect.

Find out how Star Resorts can assist in the development of your project. www.starresortgroup.com

47 Park Street is London’s first fractional ownership property offering elegantly designed one- and two- bedroom residences. Designed for frequent visitors to London, membership at 47 Park Street provides an alternative to committing a large amount of capital to a second home, and offers a significant financial advantage over staying in a luxury hotel suite.

Tailored to be highly flexible to suit individual’s schedules, membership offers occupancy of the residence for a minimum of 21 nights per year. Offering optimum flexibility and convenience, 47 Park Street membership gives members the right to use the residence for a selected number of nights each year until 2050. It is available in multiples of 21 and allows members to stay for a night, two weeks or longer on each visit.

Members have the flexibility to enjoy personal use, make nights available to family and friends, participate in Marriott’s rental program, exchange time for stays in Marriott’s global network of luxury hotels through Marriott rewards or to use their time in any of the Ritz-Carlton Clubs. Membership ranges from £111,000 for one bedroom executive residence to £260,000 for a two-bedroom deluxe residence.

For those seeking the most exclusive experience available, Stowe Mountain Lodge introduces The Front Four Private Residence Club, named for the storied trails it overlooks. Located on the top three floors of the lodge, these Stowe Front Four condos offer its guests access to not only the world-class

facilities, services and amenities offered throughout the main lodge, but also their very own private respite away from the rest of the hotel and the mountain. Upon arrival in Vermont, Front Four condo guests are led by private elevator to a separate check-in and separate lounge, introduced to their personal concierge, and then whisked to their condo residence. In your Front Four home, wake to the aroma of coffee brewing in a gourmet kitchen. Fill your lungs with fresh mountain air from the terrace. At the spa—just an elevator ride away—you can recharge for the evening with an alpine flower aromatherapy and body scrub. Or simply gaze at a view few in the world can call their own. Fully furnished right down to the china, and ranging in size from 2,000 to more than 3,200 square feet, these superbly appointed two-, three- and four-bedroom residences offer services and amenities worthy of a world-class resort.

In your Front Four home, you’ll be surrounded by designer furnishings and elegant interiors created by the award-winning interior design firm, Wilson & Associates. The full-service gourmet kitchens come complete with an oven, four-burner gas range, full-sized refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, toaster and dishwasher, and are furnished with Cuisinart cookware and Simon Pearce dishware. Spacious private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of either Mt. Mansfield, Spruce Peak or the Stowe Mountain Lodge swimming pool.

The Front Four Private Residence Club private elevator and lobby is for owners’ exclusive use and is dedicated to concierge services and providing a comfortable and quiet owners’ lounge with unparalleled views.

Mountain Club at Cashiers is an intimate enclave of luxurious, three-bedroom homes that are operated exclusively for the enjoyment of its owners. Secluded in the pine forests of Cashiers, North Carolina, ownership in Mountain Club offers the ultimate mountain escape by combining the advantages of vacation home ownership with the amenities and services of a luxury hotel. Owners enjoy generous and flexible vacation use, subject only to reservation policies. Owners also enjoy the spectacular beauty and wide variety of recreational activities that are available year-round at Mountain Club.

Encompassing 2,400 square feet, including three bedrooms and three and one-half baths, each handsomely furnished residence offers ample living space. Premium-quality appliances and granite countertops grace the kitchen. Two of the bedrooms are master suites, one featuring a steam shower and the other a walk-in shower and soaking tub. A washer and dryer add extra convenience, and all bath, kitchen and laundry sundries are provided. Your home is elegant, yet rustic in all the right places. Wood and stone sheath the exterior, while inside, oak floors and knotty-pine ceilings impart cozy warmth. Expansive windows bring nature’s beauty inside.

Two large decks – one off the great room, the adjoining a master suite – invite relaxed viewing of the surrounding mountains. In the great room, a large wood-burning fireplace serves as the convivial heart of your home.

Because Mountain Club recognizes that some owners have more time during the year to enjoy the Club than others, the Club offers two unique ownership opportunities: a one-sixth ownership and a one-twelfth ownership. During each Club Year, each one-sixth ownership can reserve a maximum of 28 planned vacation days in Mountain Club homes designated for one-sixth owners. Each one-twelfth ownership can reserve a maximum of 14 planned vacation days in Mountain Club homes designated for one-twelfth owners. Planned vacation arrivals and departures may occur on a Friday or Sunday.

In addition to planned vacations, each ownership has unlimited access to and use of Mountain Club homes within their ownership category on a space-available basis. Each owner can have only one space-available vacation reservation on the books at any given time. In addition to planned vacations and space-available vacations, each ownership can make short notice vacation reservations anytime within three days of the scheduled arrival date for that reservation.

With this flexibility, owners can own a vacation home at a price commensurate with their family’s unique vacation needs.

Zorgvliet Private Residence Club offers luxury bush lodges at Dinkweng Safari Camp at Ka’Ingo in the Waterberg.

Each spacious bushveld lodge has its own private facilities with a braai area, open fire place, viewing deck and splash pool. The three 280-square-meter ensuite bedrooms, open-plan lounge, dining room and modernly appointed kitchen area makes this a functional luxurious lodging unit in the bush.

Finishing is in line with the environment and includes TV and Internet accessibility. A communal area with pool, leisure deck, bar and shop adds to the experiences and comfort. Other facilities include a Zorgvliet Spa, tennis court, walking trails, Polaris six seater game viewers on hire, business center and a children’s play area.

Zorgvliet Private Residence Club membership benefits include complimentary ‘outlook deck’ wine tasting, Zorgvliet wine at cellar price and a 15% discount on Ka’Ingo game drives and excursions, airport transfers and spa treatments.