I spent 11 years in the securities industry helping clients plan for their future.  Whether setting up college savings plans, adequately funding insurance needs, structuring retirement plans or general wealth building, I listened to what my clients wanted to accomplish and set forth to help them achieve their goals.

Consulting clients who are looking for a retirement destination or guiding a client and family on their purchase of a second home/vacation property is much like my days as a financial advisor.  You'll be hard pressed to find many real estate firms with the knowledge The Schaffer Realty Group has on this market and the manner in which we use it.  We have spent much of the past decade building knowledge and relationships in an effort to best serve our clients.  In the gated amenitized development market, there are a myriad of choices available.  An enjoyable endeavor, such as finding a great property for retirement or for a second home can quickly become an overwhelming task.  We'd like to think we take much of the legwork out of this process.  Our mission is to educate and inform our clients, thereby assisting them in making sound real estate purchase decisions with confidence.

We see gated amenitized developments continuing to be a solid sector in the real estate market for years to come.  This is attributed to three factors; the baby boomers, the second home buyers and the vacation property buyers.  These three factors will bring buyers to this marketplace for the next 20 years and beyond.  Add to this the Internet, the threat of terrorism and a change in how families vacation only add more fuel to the long term trend of buyers.

There are 78 million baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 that have started to retire and will continue over the next 20 years.  Research shows more than half plan to relocate to more than 3 hours away from their current residence.  Where will they go and what do they want?  People are living longer and want a more active lifestyle.  Retirees are much more pro active now than ever before on their attitude towards retirement and are giving greater thought to where they spend their golden years.

In 2005, second home and vacation home sales accounted for 40% of all real estate transactions.  For many, the primary home has been their single best investment.  Therefore, many have been inclined to buy a second home that they can enjoy while anticipating that it will increase in value.  We think second home ownership for future generations will continue to occur.  Many will want to own two homes, a primary to live in full time and a secondary home to recreate at with their family and friends.

The amenitized development market has also been in demand by vacation property buyers.  With 9/11 back in 2001 and the overall threat of terrorism around the world, many have pulled back from traveling abroad.  More and more families have decided to stay closer to home.  Add to that, the family home has become larger, therefore hotel room vacationing is no longer the choice for vacationing families with children.  Families are used to more elbow room.  One room, one TV and one bathroom are not enjoyable accommodations for families to harmoniously travel together.  For these reasons and add economics, more families have found purchasing a vacation home that they can use and enjoy has made both logistical and financial sense.  Many see this as a good investment as quality real estate over the long term has appreciated well.  And why not own a place that you want to vacation at that just might become a tradition for the family to revisit every year?  Additionally, we have witnessed that a lot of inheritance dollars are going not into stocks and bonds, but rather into vacation homes that the entire family can enjoy together now.

With advancements in technology, computers, cell phones, teleconferencing and an airport nearby, more and more families are making a choice to live where they really want to live.  Retirees who are taking up a second profession are also starting their second career in a part of the country they find more desirable or where they have always wanted to spend their 'golden years'.

Amenitized, gated developments is a market we enjoy educating our clients on.  It is very gratifying when our clients are thrilled with what we have helped them locate whether it is for a retirement, second home or vacation property.

Let us know how we can help.