E. Wade Shealy's Blog

LA TIMES ARTICLE TODAY ON 3RD HOME

Wade Shealy — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:09:30 +0000

Lew SichelmanJuly 31, 2011

Reporting from Washington—

If there is one drawback above all others about owning a vacation home, it’s that you’re stuck going to the same place year after year.

Well, “stuck” may be too strong a word. But you are limited. Unless you have the wherewithal to travel at will anywhere you like, you are pretty much restricted to that one spot.

Or at least you were until 18 months ago, when a fledgling exchange service for second-home owners called 3rd Home opened for business in Nashville.

A Web-based company, 3rdHome.com is in its infancy. At last count it had just 300 members who had listed 400 properties. But what properties they are.

They range in value from $500,000 to more than $25 million, including a villa in Villefrance-Sur-Mer on the French Riviera; a mountainside home — five bedrooms, five bathrooms and five fireplaces — in Big Sky, Mont.; a 12-bedroom oceanfront manse in the Dominican Republic; and a 43,000-square-foot monster in Costa Rica.

Although most members’ second homes are in the U.S., the listings feature homes all over the world. “We have a good base of members in close to 60 countries,” said Terry Weaver, a 3rd Home partner who is the company’s chief sales officer.

One of Weaver’s partners in the venture is Wade Shealy Jr., a longtime resort real estate specialist who had a go at this idea 15 years ago when he started Vacation Link, an exchange service that allowed people to use their second homes as collateral to travel the world.

Edgartown Marthas Vineyard Home joins 3RD HOME

Wade Shealy — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:37:04 +0000

Wade Shealy announced today that a 5 key property has been added to the luxurious 3RD HOME collection in Edgartown Marthas Vineyard. This oceanfront, well appointed home is now available in this exclusive reciprocity club. You can exchange your second home with hundreds of others like these at www.3rdhome.com

Over 400 Properties Around the World

Wade Shealy — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:22:45 +0000

3RD HOME has over 400 properties around the World with an average value of $2.5 million. If you own a second home you can join 3RD HOME for just $495 and begin using any of our homes around the world by just depositing a week at your home. This is the most luxurious exchange program, or reciprocity club in the world. It is fully automated, gives credits up front and has a full professional staff supporting its members. Properties like the Ritz Carlton Residences in Vail, Auberge Palmetto Bluff and Esperanza in Cabo are all affiliated.

Costa Rica 5 Star property

Wade Shealy — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:16:06 +0000

Wade -

As we sit here enjoying the beautiful views of the grounds and ocean we are relaxed and content! What an amazing place! It is like being in your very own resort. Each day decisions must be made – whether or not to play tennis on the private tennis court, practice putting on the greens by the waterfall, go down the water slide, play chess on the large scale chess board (where the chess pieces are 3′), relax in the float chairs or swim up to the bar for a margarita, the options are endless!

Our biggest decision of the day is where we want the staff to set up for dinner – the upper patio, middle patio, dining room or down by the pool. The food is exceptional and the dinners rival any fine restaurant in the states! We can’t say enough good things about the friendly, caring staff.

We are having a fabulous time. In fact, we might not leave!!!

Laura and Lantz Welch

3RD Home in Aspen Colorado

Wade Shealy — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:55:59 +0000

This 3RD Home property is located atop Red Mountain in the Pitkin Green area. I had a chance to visit this property for two weeks over Christmas and New Years and it was fantastic. Close to town and spectacular views of Aspen Mountain skiing, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk mountain. Our favorite ski mountain was Snowmass, only a 15 minute drive. Try some of the outstanding dining here like LuLu Wilsons, or sushi at Kenichi.

Luxury Homes in Europe Join 3RD HOME. The World’s most luxurious reciprocal program.

Wade Shealy — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:13:03 +0000

Spend this summer in the French Alps using your empty time in your second home.

3RD HOME ADDS LUXURY HOMES IN EUROPE, ASIA and AFRICA

Wade Shealy — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:11:36 +0000

3RD HOME is the World's Most Luxurious Reciprocal Program. There is no other program out there with the level of homes and fully automated with instant reservations. 3RD Home is very selective in their membership program and only allow the finest homes in the world to participate.

BABY- BOOMERS WANT MORE VALUE OUT OF THEIR SECOND HOMES IN 2010

Wade Shealy — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:19:20 +0000

Baby-boomers have always been labeled the generation that “wanted it all, and wanted it right now”. It is no surprise that when it comes to owning a second home their attitude has not changed one bit. It’s not enough just to have a wonderful “play house” to go to, its all about the “added value”. That is where international second home exchange company, 3^rd Home enters the picture.

With 3^rd Home, members have the opportunity to exchange their property with other second homeowners from anywhere in the world. It offers members a completely automated service and is incredibly simple to use. And, best of all 3^rd Home has a fabulous array of properties from Cabo San Lucas to Palm Beach, to Kennebunkport to London to Thailand. So, when a second homeowner is not using their property, they can put those “empty” weeks to use, enabling them to travel anywhere they would like at a fraction of the cost. For example, one 3^rd Home member property is a three-bedroom brownstone in New York City, one block from Central Park, another member’s luxurious six-bedroom beachfront property is in Hilton Head, or in the Caribbean there is a spectacular five-bedroom oceanfront villa in St. John, all available to exchange. For only a nominal exchange fee, second homeowners can let their second home work for them, providing amazing travel experiences they may have never dreamed of affording.

New Member Property for 3RD HOME In Greece

Wade Shealy — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:32:22 +0000

“…the best villas in the Aegean…”
Matt Morley, GQ Magazine

“Spectacularly located private villas that come with a team of expert staff.” Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

“…feel as though you ‘ve commandeered your very own intimate hotel.” Mr & Mrs Smith

“No better place for your own house party
than in this five-bedroom beauty on Mykonos’s southern coast.”
Ten Best Summer House Feature 2010, Vogue.com

“The villas have a fairy-tale quality;
a dreamy oasis of luxury in the middle of a breathtaking landscape…”
Elle Decoration Magazine

Great article on 3RD HOME in MoneyWatch this past Friday

Wade Shealy — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:14:26 +0000

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/home-equity/7-amazing-vacation-homes-you-cant-rent/2599/