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CONDO HOTELS OFFER NEW WAY TO OWN A VACATION HOME
Many people dream of owning a vacation home. But often concerns about maintaining it, renting it out in the off-season, or even justifying the expense when it’s only to be used for a couple weeks of the year keep people from making the dream a reality.
Now comes along condo hotels, a new type of vacation home ownership that provides solutions to all these problems. Condo hotels enable you to own a luxury vacation home at a world-class resort and receive rent revenue whenever you're not using it.
CONDO HOTELS OFFER FABULOUS AMENITIES
So how do condo hotels differ from owning a traditional vacation apartment or condominium? First of all, these are not your typical second homes. They are beautifully furnished condominium suites in some of the most prestigious hotels and resorts around the country.
The properties often feature four- or five-star amenities ranging from full-service spas and fitness centers to concierge services, business centers and fine-dining restaurants.
BRAND-NAME MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
Condo hotels are operated by big-brand management companies such as Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Sonesta, Starwood, Hilton, Trump and Rosewood. Typically they are high-rise luxury hotels located on prime land overlooking the ocean or a golf course, near popular theme parks or attractions, or in the heart of a booming downtown. Prices for condo hotel units range from 0,000 to over million for top properties.
CONDO HOTELS GENERATE REVENUE FOR OWNERS
Here’s what makes the condo hotel concept so appealing. When you’re not using your condo hotel unit, you have the option of placing it into the hotel's rental program. You receive 40%-60% of the revenue your unit generates (it varies by property), with the balance going to the hotel operator.
While the hotel operator doesn't guarantee the rental of the unit, by capitalizing on the hotel's brand name, big league advertising, national affiliations, centralized reservation system and management expertise, unit owners typically receive a higher level of rental income than they would from a traditional vacation home.
More importantly, ownership is 100 percent hassle-free, as the hotel operator takes care of renting and maintaining the unit as well as managing the property’s many amenities.
CONDO HOTEL EXPENSES ARE SHARED
How are the ownership expenses split? As part of the rental agreement, the hotel pays for most operating expenses such as housekeeping, administrative and marketing. The condo hotel owner typically pays for real estate taxes, insurance and capital improvements. The rental revenue that owners receive helps defray these expenses and, in some cases, provides additional income.
CONDO HOTELS AS INVESTMENT TOOLS
While developers primarily sell their condo hotel units as a lifestyle and vacation home alternative, many buyers see merit in the condo hotel concept as an investment tool. They say it gives them the best of both worlds. They can enjoy all of the amenities of vacationing in a first-class resort while having ownership of a real estate investment that has potential to appreciate.
About the Author: Joel Greene is the President of Condo Hotel Center in Miami, Florida. Visit his information-packed website at www.CondoHotelCenter.com for listings, prices and photos of condo hotels. At his website you can also sign up for his free Property Alert newsletter which notifies readers of new condo hotel properties coming on the market.
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