The Latest in Luxury Resort & Real Estate News

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Land Launch Project Marketing Selected to Sell Golf Club at Rise Property

(VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA) -- The Rise announced June 1 that Land Launch Project Marketing has been selected to market the existing real estate inventory in its established neighborhoods. Land Launch was the first to bring liquidation style selling to the Okanagan with its recent sale for the Kelowna Mountain project.

As a result of the worldwide recession, liquidation real estate sales are a growing trend as several successful blowout sales have been conducted in Vancouver this year.  One such sale for the Omni Development Group sold more than 350 condos in eight weeks. Liquidation sales work when a developer has large inventories and can justify large discounts.

Land Launch moves to The Rise after four record sales years at Predator Ridge where most recently they sold out two phases of the Osprey Green town home project in 2008. Land Launch has selected to work with The Rise because the resort development has the type of product that is selling today: liquidation priced property.

"We have received more interest for our Kelowna liquidation sale than we have for all other campaigns this year," says Greg Lowe, president of Land Launch Project Marketing. "In three weeks, we have had $10 million in sales. We are at The Rise to achieve the same level of success."

In October 2008, The Rise, a 735-acre development with master plan approval for 1,200 units, was listed for sale with Marshall MacLeod of CB Richard Ellis in Vancouver.  In December 2008, The Rise was awarded protection from its lenders and creditors by the Supreme Court of B.C. using the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act for a period of nine months. The developer is currently operating the resort and the completed golf course while it works through its financial difficulties.

"Today's real estate buyer is savvy and demands deeply discounted pricing," says Lowe, "With the financial situation the developer is in at The Rise, now is the time for great deals. A new owner, with an improved capital structure, is not likely to be as motivated to offer large discounts."

Marshall MacLeod, of CB Richard Ellis, reports that, "we have a number of qualified buyers seriously considering the opportunity to acquire The Rise."  He further indicates that he expects to have a contract in place soon.

The resort's $14-million Fred Couples Signature Golf Course has been open for the season since April and it is generating rave reviews. Recently, Score Golf magazine named The Golf Club at The Rise a nominee for its 2009 Best New Golf Course in Canada Award. The resort offers $105 million in amenities and infrastructure, including a beach club on Lake Okanagan. Though plans for a winery are currently on hold, the resort has 17 acres of vineyard with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Riesling vines.  The first harvest last year produced a quality of grape that has created rave reviews from the winemaker.

With over $310 million of recreation property sold since 2002 in the Okanagan, California and Washington, Land Launch attributes its success to knowing what the market wants.

It is currently devising a liquidation sale for The Rise that will be launched in early June 2009.

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Private Golf Club Communities Continue to Show Philanthropic Side

(KONA, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII) -- Luxury resort and golf club communities are struggling throughout the Americas, with a number of high-end developments going out of business. But that hasn't stopped several word-class luxury golf course developments from showing their philanthropic side.

For example, the common denominator at three unique, world-class golf communities - Hokulia in Hawaii, Las Campanas in New Mexico and Superstition Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz. -  is one common goal:  helping others
 
For some, stunning locations, luxury amenities and beautiful custom-built homes might be enough.  But for members of Hokuli`a, Las Campanas  and Superstition Mountain , it's giving back to those less fortunate that sets their communities apart.

To be sure, numerous other affluent resort-style communities are as committed to charities as they are to good living, but this is just a little slice of life at three of the premier private club charities: 
 
Hokuli`a Foundation - This member-supported, non-profit foundation is dedicated to funding numerous local Hawaiian causes, including college scholarships for Kona youth, drug education and treatment, public school teacher salaries, and the Kona Community Hospital.  Hokulia's Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course offers a community play program, making the course available one day each month to a local charity for a fundraising tournament.  Today, nearly $2 million has been raised for beneficiaries, including the Onizuka Space Center, which honors the grandson of Kona farmers, the late astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who died aboard the Challenger space shuttle.
 
Las Campanas Compadres - Every Monday, the world-class equestrian center at the Las Campanas community in Santa Fe, hosts a very special group of riders:  children and adults with special needs.  Las Campanas Compadres is a member-driven charity founded by Las Campanas residents Lawrence and Suzanna Becerra and dedicated to inspiring and empowering special needs students through the joy of horseback riding.  Las Campanas Compadres' 16 participants, ages 10 to 52, spend 45 minutes each week with a certified instructor, learning every aspect of horsemanship.  With a strong base of Las Campanas members, this charitable program has now expanded to include programs in swimming, fishing, golf and tennis.
 
Superstition Mountain Foundation - Founded by the members of Superstition Mountain, this Arizona Foundation is committed to helping citizens of the East Valley community - specifically, at-risk youth, underprivileged families and seniors.  Donations are guided by an advisory committee of Superstition Mountain residents, and all members are encouraged to bring a needy Arizona charity to the attention of the foundation.  In addition to its many beneficiaries, the foundation has helped organize special events, such as Rally for a Cure, a breast cancer awareness golf program supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

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Resort Spa in Kimberley Responds to Changing Market with "Try Before You Buy"

(KIMBERLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA) -- Vacation home buyers are finding peace of mind this year at Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa. The only resort spa in Kimberley, B.C., is responding to the changing market by giving prospective buyers the chance to "try before they buy" and experience the best of what the Kootenay region has to offer.

Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is the latest destination for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation in the Kootenay region and it is meeting the needs of today's recreation property buyer with "ready right now" spa-inspired, ski-in and ski-out resort condominiums. Mountain Spirit is opening the doors of its first phase in February to allow buyers to ensure the right fit.

"Many purchases in the recreation property market are made before the project even breaks ground," said Allyson Hunter, vice president of marketing at Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa. "Mountain Spirit is ready right now and we want buyers to be confident in their purchase decision. Most purchasers wouldn't buy a car without test driving it first and we feel the same way about our suites."

Nine suites will be available starting March 1 for a nominal fee for a maximum of two nights for the perfect weekend getaway at the luxury resort at the base of Kimberley Alpine Resort. Availability is limited.

"We can tell people that a ski-in, ski-out location is ideal, but until they see that the first step out the door is into their skis, they don't realize how convenient it really is," Hunter says. "After that you can't imagine staying anywhere else."

Fractional ownership starts at $86,900 and full ownership starts at $382,900, resulting in a wide range of options to match nearly any vacation home buyer's budget. Everything from studios to 3-bedroom suites and penthouses are available and a membership in the exclusive home exchange program, Resort to Resort, is included with every purchase.

Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa features a true ski-in, ski-out location in the Purcell Mountains, and will feature a 6,000 square-foot health and wellness spa, fine dining, year-round outdoor heated pool and hot tub and fully furnished suites in the up-and-coming vacation destination of Kimberley, B.C.

Its resort spa will tap into the emerging spa tourist market. The Canadian Tourism Commission has reported that the spa tourist is a consumer segment that has yet to come even close to reaching its full potential in Canada, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission's 2006 Canadian Spa Sector Profile.

Kimberley is steadily gaining popularity thanks in part to the expansion of the Canadian Rockies International Airport, which is now accepting Delta Airlines flights from Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a short 20-minute drive from Kimberley.

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