Changes in options for home ownership, Chicago Condo-hotels! What could be more perfect that having a five-star home at a landmark resort and receiving rent revenue whenever you’re not using it? Chicago Condo hotels are the newest real estate trend, combining a lavish lifestyle and comfortable ownership with investment potential.

Chicago Condo hotels diverge from owning a traditional Chicago Condominium or Chicago home. Chicago Condo Hotels offer services and amenities that a standard home owner cannot have the luxury of looking forward to. They are fabulously-furnished Chicago Condominium units located in some of the most famous hotels in Chicago. The properties are usually large, high-rise, upscale hotels celebrity like the Ritz Carlton, Trump, Hyatt or Hilton. Chicago Condo Hotels Generate Revenue to reduce the costs of ownership. Owners can participate in programs much like vacation home rental programs by capitalizing on hotel popularity. How? Chicago Condo Hotels can generate revenue when occupancy is available by offering the unit for rent to others who wish to stay for long periods of time in a non-traditional hotel setting.

Similar to vacation rental services, owners can use the name recognition, popularity and reservation system of the hotel to secure a higher income from this investment than general home owners would. Participating in a revenue generating program such as this can assist Chicago condo owners in reducing the costs of their Chicago Condo-Hotel unit. Managing this type of income is even easier as the hotel management company sees to the needs of guests and maintains the unit.

Why? Chicago Condo Hotels appreciate at a higher rate than traditional homes. The services and standards are parallel to none. Easy maintenance and cost is distributed.

Whistler has a magical feeling. It’s a place where you feel yourself relaxing just being there, and yet you feel energized too! It’s a place that is as gorgeous in the winter as it is in the summer, with plenty to do and see no matter what the time of year. And, of course, it’s going to be in the world spotlight as the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

So - what does it take to own a place in this future Olympic host city? And, does it make sense from a real estate investing perspective to put your money into a condo in Whistler?

Well, after spending some time with a local agent, here’s what we found out about buying in Whistler:

• You are not going to get rich from owning a condo in Whistler. Buying in Whistler is more of a lifestyle investment than a money maker. If you buy right, it’s a subsidized way of being able to spend time at a place you call your own in an amazing resort destination. And, over time, I am sure you will see some nice capital appreciation.
• Around Whistler Village and Blackcomb, properties are zoned Phase 1 or Phase 2. Phase 1 essentially means that the owner has unlimited use of the property, but when it’s not in use by the owner, it might have to be rented out as part of a rental pool. Phase 2 means that the owner can only use the property for 4 weeks in the winter and 4 weeks in the summer. The rest of the time it must be part of the nightly rental pool. Phase 2 buildings are mostly the hotels (Delta, Westin, Four Seasons, etc. and are right in Whistler Village).
• Expect to pay 40% for a Property Manager. There are plenty of companies to choose from to do your property management. The property management fee covers the advertising, renting, cleaning and reporting on the revenue/expenses of the property in most cases. You, as an owner, will pay cleaning charges when you use the property yourself but otherwise it’s all included.
• Prices are coming down - will they go up again before the Olympics? I think the fear that they will drop a lot after the Olympics weighs heavily on any investors mind so it’s quite possible we won’t see another lift. But, who knows? My crystal ball is broken.

We still have thoughts and plans of buying in Whistler, but when we do it will be because we will get a lot of use out of it. Not because we think it’s going to be a money making investment.

In the past year has seen an increase in the number of buyers moving into downtown condos. With the proximity of amenities and affordable prices is easy to understand why buyers want to live in a condominium for sale in Calgary. Many buyers of condominium living seen as an attractive option because of traffic congestion nightmares, the longest commute times and increasing the construction of roads from Calgary. The city traffic is probably the most important factor for people to make the move to downtown condominium living.

A lot of buyers who work for the city do not have to deal with the high cost of parking and proximity to shops and restaurants is also an advantage. Condo life has become a most popular form of life over the past 10 years. They are to own condos as an affordable option for the increase in the selling price for residential houses separated in the last couple of years.

The choice of a condominium for sale in Calgary is not just for the first time home buyer but for people who choose to mature and reduce the size and enjoy the convenience and simplicity of condo living. Condo living and lack of accountability can be a peace of mind of some people. Condo owners have the option of travelling for months and not worry about your pipes freezing.

The average size of a downtown condominium is approximately 600 square feet in the mid-range and the selling price is $ 330000. Condo sales now account for at least one third of all properties sold in Calgary. The price per square foot for the cost of real estate, materials and workmanship is now over U.S. $ 500.00 sq. / ft.

The trend now is with buyers buying condos and town houses rather than detached single family homes. There has been a decrease of Alberta with the purchase of housing single family homes. This decline was 84 percent in 1996 to 78 percent in 2006. Calgary and the decline in home ownership of condominium property was reduced from 79 percent to 75 percent since 2001 and this trend is not likely to change in the near future.

It’s easier to live in the center or the belt line area more than ever with the construction of new buildings and conversion of existing apartment buildings to condominiums. There are 2841 units under construction in autumn 2007 at the belt line area, compared with 848 under construction in the city centre. A little over 2100 units have recently been approved for construction in 1422 and belt-line downtown. In line with the belt near downtown and neighborhoods more than 11000 condominiums for sale are proposed for the future. As for this kind of numbers you can see that there is a demand for this lifestyle.