Fractional or fractional ownership is the hottest new approach to buying luxury items that a person could not otherwise afford.
Fractional ownership (fractional real estate) allows a group of people to buy a percentage of real estate, luxury cars, resorts, vineyards, restaurants, planes, yachts, works of art, or even a fancy Rolex. Fractional owners or investors get all the benefits of ownership, but their investment expense is also lower, so they can afford a bigger house, a yacht, or multiple watches.
How fractional purchases work
Luxury homes, condos, and exotic vacation homes are the most popular items for fractional ownership. Typically, the title or deed is divided into shares and those shares are then purchased by a group of investors, usually between four and twelve, sometimes as many as fifteen. A management company is often employed to maintain the property and manage the investment. In some deals, the owners actually own shares in an intermediate structure or in a company that, in turn, owns the assets.
Most fractional ownership is established with an ownership agreement or contract that includes some fees to cover the cost of managing the property, usage details for each owner, and various other guidelines for renting the portion to own or sell, as well as what do’s and don’ts. ‘ts for property. Some groups are formed among friends or family who work with a lawyer to establish the contract. Others are strangers working through a fractal development company or broker. Either way, a strong, clear, and concise agreement is key to ensuring a worry-free, hassle-free investment. And similar agreements can be created and implemented for fractional purchases other than real estate.
Fractional Ownership Advantages
Although it may sound like a new name for timeshares, fractional ownership is not the same as a timeshare. In a timeshare situation, the buyer only owns “time units,” not the property. Also, much of the cost of a timeshare, up to 50%, pays sales commissions. Because timeshare ownership is not tied to ownership, combined with the fact that they have fared poorly in the secondary market, the value of most timeshares has seen a marked depreciation in value.
Fractional ownership of a property gives owners rights of use, but since they own a fraction of the title and deed, their investment increases in value as the property appreciates. Fractional owners are also eligible for any tax breaks associated with ownership of the asset. Banks and mortgage companies often treat fractional purchases like second home purchases, making them easier to finance. Lastly, fractional shares of a property or assets can be transferred or sold quite easily.
Fractional ownership is growing in popularity for other high-end items such as planes, yachts, real estate, and jewelry. Many of these opportunities are found with online businesses. The Internet has opened markets around the world to buy and sell everything from abstract art to collectible figurines, fine jewelry, ski lodges in the Alps, or a condo in Madrid. With the practice of fractional ownership, these investments are available to more people with some degree of disposable income.