Private Residence Clubs and Destination Clubs still have a way to go in marketing their products to the wealthy, according to the latest Affluent Market Tracking Study just released by the American Affluence Research Center. The AARC reports that less than half of the target market for private residence and destination clubs said they are familiar with these concepts.On a more positive note for the luxury housing industry, the study concluded that the wealthiest 10 percent of U.S. households plan to acquire more vacation homes than primary residences.

To read highlights from the report, go to:
http://www.affluenceresearch.org/highlights.html

To read Unique Homes‘ recent article on Luxury Alternatives, which defines private residence clubs and destination clubs, click here: http://www.uniquehomes.com/cms/1006_35things.html

The Pacific Northwest, Texas and North Carolina account for some of the areas bucking the national trend by not experiencing a slowdown in residential real estate, according to this article published earlier this month by The Wall Street Journal: http://www.realestatejournal.com.

At Unique Homes, we’re acutely aware of how important it is for agents to have great photos of the properties they are trying to sell. Here’s an extremely informative article from the LA Times about how to get that perfect picture: http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-re-photo27may27,1,3900007.story

Tenancies-in-common or TIC’s, are the newest and most exciting thing to hit the real estate market in some time as this form of co-ownership allows several people to buy and occupy multi-unit structures.

The TIC market has exploded in San Francisco which has allowed major lenders to provide partially assumable and rollover financing for purchasers of these deals.

Because of the demand, fractional financing has become available to foster resale fluidity within this niche market.

The TIC market is gaining momentum in wake of soaring median home prices and the affordability factor of living in the state of California where home ownership is nearly out-of-reach for for many first-time home buyers.

According to USA TODAY, sales of new homes rose 16.2% in April while prices fell a record 11%.

New single-family housing unit sales increased to annual rate of 981,000 from a revised forecast of 844,000 in March according to the US Commerce Department.

The jump in sales was the largest since April of 1993.

While sales increased, the median price of a new home dipped some $28,500 to $229,100.

The USA Today quoted Rick Goodwin, our publisher, in its article about the $103 million sale, which appears on the front page of the newspaper.http://www.usatoday.com

Reports today indicate that billionaire investor Ron Baron has purchased a 40-acre East Hampton parcel adjacent to his current estate for $103 million. Baron is the founder of Baron Capital Management. The New York Post reported that Adelaide de Menil Carpenter, an heiress of the Schlumberger oil fortune, sold the oceanfront parcel to Baron. It also reported that the homes previously on the site have been removed. This would make the $103 million sale strictly a land deal.

According to the California Association of Realtors, the Santa Clara community of Los Altos has the highest median home price in the state at $1,660,000.

With a median household income of $126,740 and the median family income at $148,201, Los Altos is one of the most exclusive communities to reside in all of the United States.

This suburban enclave of 27,693 people has 10,462 households and just over 8,000 families residing in the city. The median age is 44 and the average household size was 2.61 while the average family size is 2.9

In heart of Silicon Valley, Los Altos is the home of Jerry Yang, co-founder of YAHOO! as well as Charles Geschke, the co-founder of Adobe Systems. Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Computer is also from Los Altos.

Striving for a semi-rural atmosphere, Los Altos prides itself on low density zoning with few sidewalks except in commercial zones. Low crime, excellent schools & weather make Los Altos one of the most expensive places to live anywhere in the state.

Here is the top ten in order of price:

* Los Altos…………………..$1,660,000

* Manhattan Beach…………$1,610,000

* Saratoga……………………$1,569,000

* Newport Beach…………….$1,400,000

* Burlingame…………………$1,311,000

* Santa Barbara……………..$1,100,000

* Los Gatos…………………..$1,079,000

* Lafayette……………………$1,050,000

* Ranco Palos Verdes……….$1,035,000

* Danville……………………..$1,033,500

Environmental Responsibility is the objective of one of the Westside’s premiere trio of real estate professionals.

Charles Pence, John Hathorn and Loraine Silver (Pence, Hathorn & Silver) of Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS International are coloborating with residential developers on building and selling “eco-friendly” homes to the upper-tier consumer.

Buying “green” in the high-end is now more prevalent that ever and the efficiencies derived from the investment far outweigh the incremental up-front costs. These LEED certified homes will be introduced to the public by September, 2007.

For more information on the grand opening of the first green house, visit www.phsrealty.com or call (310) 458-4024.

Real Living Relocation Management, a 20-year player in the relocation market announced the development of a new web source, www.RealLivingRelocation.com

The new website packages all of Real Living’s offerings in a concise, easy-to-use way.

Real Living is a family owned company based in Columbus, Ohio and is one of the fastest growing real estate firms.

With 70 company owned offices, Real Living also offers a growing network of franchisees coast to coast.

Real Living was named one of the best new franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine and winner of the Inman Innovator Award.

For more information on the firm, visit: www.RealLiving.com