Windermere eyes second-home market

Launches niche marketing program and destination Web site
Inman News
Windermere Real Estate has launched a new Web site targeting resort and urban second-home markets across the West. The launch of WindermereDestinations.com is part of a new niche-marketing program within the brokerage company.

In line with Windermere's Premier Properties program, which offers exclusive marketing resources and a distinctive Web site tailored to luxury home listings, the Windermere Destinations program focuses on homes and condominiums located in resort, recreational, and urban destinations across the Western United States.

The development of Windermere Destinations mirrors the growing trend in second-home ownership across the nation. About 1 million vacation homes were purchased in 2004, representing about 13 percent of all homes sold, according to National Association of Realtors statistics. Further NAR data shows a near 20 percent increase in vacation home sales from 2003 to 2004.

"The Windermere Destinations program is in direct response to the steady increase of second-home ownership and the need for specialized, results-driven marketing resources for these buyers and sellers," said Matt Carroll, president of Windermere Real Estate.

Windermere Real Estate has more than 280 offices and 8,000 sales associates serving neighborhoods in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Washington and British Columbia.