2006 'The Holiday' Movie Sets Major Trend for 2010 Second Homeowners

2006 'The Holiday' Movie Sets Major Trend for 2010 Second Homeowners

ATLANTA, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy The Holiday was released in 2006 starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. It was a story of two women, one living in England, one in Los Angeles, who traded homes via an on-line website, both women looking for adventure and an exciting change in their life. Fast- forward 5 years to 2010, the birth of 3rd Home.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091218/CL28534 )

3rd Home is an international second home exchange company, where members have the opportunity to exchange their properties with other second homeowners around the world from Paris to Costa Rica to Miami Beach. 3rd Home is completely unique, because it is fully automated, is simple to use and is a trusted source for homeowners. It also has an accomplished array of some of the most beautiful homes on magnificent beaches, in vibrant cities and on amazing mountains in their portfolio of residences. Unlike in the movie, 3rd Home is not a "direct" exchange company, but features an incredible data base for members to pick and choose where they would like to visit. "During the holidays, many vacation homeowners with beach homes may wish they had a mountain ski property to use; or vacation homeowners in cold wintry places may be dreaming of a villa on a tropical island. Now with 3rd Home any vacation homeowner can have it all, and for a fraction of the cost of renting," said E. Wade Shealy, Jr. Founder of 3rd Home.

Second home exchanges are not a new phenomenon, but due to current economic conditions homeowners are now either renting out their properties more frequently and are looking for other alternatives like home exchange. For example, out of the 52 weeks in a year, a second homeowner often only uses their property 4 weeks, perhaps rent it out another 15, leaving 33 weeks empty. Even if they only trade out only a few weeks, it will still give them the opportunity to take amazing adventurous vacations throughout the world for a fraction of the cost of a regular vacation. Their second home can now not only be a wonderful family retreat, but it can open up doors to places they could only dream about. And today, with the cost of a primary residence, and a second home, most families are not able to spend up to $15,000 a week for a family vacation. Most Americans take an average of 3-4 vacations a year, which can really add up. But, with a membership in an organization like 3rd Home the exchange fee is only $250, making that holiday vacation a lot more affordable.

Currently, it is estimated that there are approximately 10 million people owning second homes in the U.S. alone. So, the 2006 The Holiday movie may have perpetuated the idea of exchanging homes from one continent to another, but in 2010 it's turned into a booming business.

So, whether you are Cameron Diaz or Kate Winslet the trend is clear, it's all about letting your second home "work for you". Quite honestly, I think this should be one of the best top deals in 2010. For more information go to www.3rdhome.com.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091218/CL28534
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: 3rd Home

CONTACT: Clarice A. Frederickson of 3rd Home, +1-404-995-4594, or
+1-404-394-6745 cell, Clarice@3rdhome.com

Web Site: www.3rdhome.com

-------
Profile: intent