How to use your second home to secure a dream vacation: Michael Matusik

Apparently – well according to Luke or Matthew (I get so confused as to who said what in the Bible these days) – Jesus said to Satan, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!”  Well, I don’t really know about the words from God either, but living on nothing much rings true.

So in the spirit of the season, I bring you Missive Monday.  From now on and on a semi-regular basis – and yes, on Mondays – we will feature a property-related product or service that we think offers real value for money.  Of course, we have done a bit of a deal, so we get some coin – note coin and not dollars – for helping out with promotion.

We have resisted placing advertising on the Matusik Missive site but instead – and let’s face it, we all need to earn a crust – Missive Mondays will bring you legitimate offers than we think provide real value for money.

This Monday will bring you 3^rd Home.

3^rd Home is easy to join, is affordable, is a quality product and offer, and is extremely timely given the current and emerging market conditions.

Australia is facing a demographic tsunami.  It is named “baby boomers approaching retirement”.  There are 5.3 million baby boomers (born between 1945 and 1964), and the oldest are now starting to retire.  This dominant market segment makes up 25% of the Australian population; represents 38% of the country’s households; comprises 43% of the paid workforce and holds 49% of our housing assets (in dollar value), split 46% for owner-occupation and 57% for investment housing.

Two-thirds of 800,000 unoccupied second homes (yes, there are that many) dotted around the country are also held by baby boomers.

So what will the boomers do with their residential assets when they start to retire or retread?  Now while they, on average, have great equity in their properties – 93% for owner-resident stock and 86% for their investments and secondary homes, they might want to sell some or all of these assets.

But if the market for such assets remains soft, what can boomers do instead of selling off quality assets in a buyer’s market?

One answer is to check out 3^RD Home.

What is 3^rdHome?

3^rd Home is a “members only” luxury second home global property exchange program. Membership allows second-home owners to exchange weeks in their second homes for vacations at hundreds of international destinations.  At last look today, there are over 800 properties in the program and over 1,000 weeks currently available! By depositing unused weeks in your property into the club system, you earn “keys” that can be immediately used to stay at a whole host of other fabulous places.

Pictured above and below are actual 3^rd Home members’ properties in Greece and in Noosa.  Both are valued at five “keys” in the 3^rd Home system, and members can stay in either property (I for one would pick Greece) for just $495 per week.  Amazing, hey!

3^rd Home was created to fill a need expressed by second-home owners who wanted to hold their assets but also experience a different getaway experience.  In short, the benefits of owning a second home can be magnified by sharing your vacation home with other 3^rd Home members around the world.

As a 3^rd Home member you stay in a home that meets your standards.  All 3^rd Home properties are part of a private club that comprises affluent travel-minded members who own a second home.  All 3^rd Home members have their own properties in the program.

Regardless of whether you rent your second home out or just keep it for family and friends, there is a certain amount of value that can be unlocked with 3^rd Home membership.

As a program based on reciprocal benefits, 3^rd Home members get out what they put in.

• Just deposit the number of weeks that you are willing to let others use your property.
• Instantly receive “keys” for your deposited weeks.
• Find the property you want at the time you want it and use your “keys” to secure it.

The 3^rd Home platform allows members to make their plans in real time.  No waiting for any replies, if the property you want is available and providing you have enough “keys” in your account, you simply pay a $495 booking fee and it is yours. Once a booking has been made, the 3^rd Home system allows both members to converse on the arrangements and details.

3^rd Home ensures that each property meets the highest levels of quality, and the site provides detailed information about each member’s property, so everyone can make informed decisions before they book another second home for themselves.

3^rd Home has also introduced a feedback system, which provides added peace of mind and allows guest and host members to comment on each exchange experience.

The 3^rd Home reciprocal benefits system is built on platform that uses a simple “credit” and “debit” arrangement based on the use of “keys”.  “Keys” have a 15-month life span, providing members with plenty of time to take a dream vacation or two.

Do you want to find out more?  Remember this isn’t time share!  I have arranged for Matusik Missive subscribers to receive a two-year free 3^rd Home membership, valued at $495. Click here to find out more.

Michael Matusik is the director of independent property advisory Matusik Property Insights. Matusik has helped over 500 new residential developments come to fruition and writes the weekly  Matusik's Missive.