PERMANENT VACATION

By Charles Bogue

Thursday, October 11, 2007

As a resident of the Napa Valley, you may not be a likely suspect for purchasing a “permanent vacation” home here, but there may be a local opportunity to place a seasonal house guest who confuses your home with a hotel.If you need visual representation that changes abound in once sleepy Napa, all you need to do is count the cranes. Check my math, but entering town over the Third Street bridge this week I counted four cranes overhead, giving a glimpse of what is to come for our once sleepy little town. Slightly south and out of downtown is yet another project fully completed and gathering momentum as a destination resort investment opportunity. Call it a third phase if you like, but world acclaimed Carneros Inn on Highway 12 plays host with their state of the art hotel guest cabins. They have sold a dozen million-dollar homes and are now offering “The Orchard.”A one-tenth deeded interest in the project of 27 uniquely designed “cottages” will give your friend or relative a guaranteed minimum of three weeks in one of the fully equipped two-bedroom units. In addition to the three weeks’ guarantee, 42 percent of the year will remain open for space available bookings at no additional cost for lodging or housekeeping which could expand the use to over four weeks during the year.The cost for living the good life for a minimum of three weeks a year is under $300,000, not including the homeowners fee of an estimated $2,000 per quarter. Offered at a reduced first phase pricing, it is anticipated that your investment may well appreciate first as the project sales progress and secondly over time by your owning a deeded interest in these unique cottage homes.

Not intended as a revenue-sharing investment like Silverado Country Club or the Westin, the Orchard is your opportunity to have a 1,200 square foot state of the art single level cottage with separate bedroom suites, a full kitchen, private fenced yard with an in-ground spa, outdoor fireplace, indoor and outdoor showers, Bose entertainment systems and a separate 500 square foot covered outdoor living space with wood-burning fireplace and a Viking barbecue.If cooking on vacation is not your thing, the Carneros Inn offers the Boon Fly Café, Farm and the Hotel Restaurant. There are two swimming pools, an award-winning spa, a 2,000 square foot fitness center, bocce ball courts as well as a local market and a courtyard for mingling with other residents.By including all of these hotel amenities and services, your now houseguest would be able to book planned vacations well in advance and have their own place to stay each year when visiting the grandchildren or returning home to see family members and friends.Having toured one of the custom built cottages, I can give you assurance that you are in for a taste treat both in quality control and how to design a wine country vacation environment.As with other emerging real estate investment choices in our tourist centered valley, one type of residence is not appropriate for all. If, however, you anticipate an annual vacation in the valley, a deeded vacation cottage at the Orchard will put you well on your way to that permanent vacation.