Rocksure Property has launched an aspirational new investment and lifestyle vehicle, The Rocksure Property Alpha Fund, which provides invest...

Rocksure Property has launched an aspirational new investment and lifestyle vehicle, The Rocksure Property Alpha Fund, which provides investors with the opportunity to own a share in six exclusive properties located in some of the most glamorous locations in the world. The “House for All Seasons”, portfolio will consist of six exclusive properties, worth an average of £800,000 each. The innovation behind this portfolio is that through a commitment of £159,000, up to 36 investors gain access to the properties for an average of four rent-free weeks every year over the fund’s seven year lifecycle as well as benefiting, as owners, from gains accrued through the properties’ appreciation, which will be returned to investors at the end of the fund’s life. The six locations that have been identified are: Buzios in Brazil; Phuket in Thailand; Marrakech in Morocco; The Algarve coast in Portugal; Breckenridge, Colorado and New York City. This range of locations ensures that all tastes are catered for and provides investors with a variety of holiday options, from the year-round sunshine of Thailand and Morocco to the world-class skiing and snowboarding terrain of Colorado, which they can enjoy themselves, make available to friends and family or rent out to provide an income. Each of the properties is to be bought outright by the fund and, with no gearing to affect costs, all but a fraction of subscription funds will go directly into purchasing the properties and their furnishings. Running costs of the properties, including cook/housekeepers, maids, gardeners and pool cleaners, are covered from two sources, an annual management and maintenance contribution paid to the fund by each unit holder (£1,500 in 2007/8) and the net proceeds of renting a proportion of the available weeks. Around £2.5 million has already been raised by the fund, which is expected to have its first closing during January. The fund will have a life of seven years (plus six months for the acquisition and six months for the disposal of the properties) after which the capital and appreciation will be returned to shareholders. Strutt & Parker Real Estate Financial Services will be promoting the fund in the UK. David Rogers, of Rocksure, told WealthBriefing: "A House for All Seasons has been designed to give high net worth investors the best of both the investment and luxury travel worlds by combining competitive returns with a unique lifestyle offer. The fully staffed properties handpicked for the fund will answer the needs of the most demanding travellers. We have carefully selected their location in exclusive holiday hotspots, with each investor benefiting from an average of four rent-free weeks each year at their choice of properties."