Fraction homes preceded jets, but jet shares got all the attention in the 90s as vacation-home fractions were defining themselves and picking up speed.

We now know that all types of property are being fractionalized: jewelry, cars, boats and the like.

So, it's not surprising that cruise ships are next. I spent an engaging afternoon with Randy Jackson, CEO of Residential Cruise Line and owner of the soon-to-be" keeled" Magellan a 860 foot, 15 deck vessel with 210 private residences sold both on a whole, fractional and club basis. Makes that other ship look like a shrimp!

The whole units go from $1.8 to over $7 million.

The fractions, for a month, range from $275,000 to $585,000 with annual fees from $9,500 to $20,000. Both sales and dues are certainly in the sweet spot for fractional products.

There's also a Club Membership for two weeks a year, floating unit, from $90k to $315k with dues from $4,000 to $10,000, which seems like pretty good deal. Matter of fact both the fractions and the clubs are both priced attractively.

www.residencecruiseline.com

Back to Randy…he's planned for some time to wed real estate, as he's a developer, to travel, cruising, aviation and high-styled amenity-action in one product. Sales so far, introductory level, are more fractions than whole units as one might expect, but, and here's the BUT, prospects are calling FOR the fractions! Sought good? Do those delicious words ring a bell?

A thought; is the fractional tipping point approaching? We've seen evidence over the past few months, not only with Magellan, but in many resort markets, that buyers are seeking out the product, and also those illusive real estate brokers may be coming around. Too good to be true? We'll see.

What part have the destination clubs played if the point is tipping? I don't know, but there is confusion out in the market place between the two products that may help both in the midterm period.

Lots of Hawaii calls recently….coming alive down there?