Escapes! Second-Home Expo Coming to The Woodlands

First expo of its kind in the U.S. comes to Houston Area

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20, 2008

THE WOODLANDS, Texas –– Ever thought of owning a second home? With boomers seeking the perfect retirement destination, young families dreaming of a fun weekend retreat and stressed-out professionals looking for a relaxing getaway from the corporate world, more Americans than ever before are saying "yes” to second-home ownership.

Escapes! Second-Home Expo, a monumental, two-day extravaganza of dream living destinations in Texas, the U.S. and around the world, comes to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20, with answers to every possible question about owning a second home.

"We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring this extraordinary event - the first of its kind in the country - to the Houston area,” said Tony Wood, president of Texwood Shows, Inc. Wood said that recent statistics reflect that 57 percent of homeowners age 55-64 will purchase a second home within five years. "And a study by the National Association of Home Builders reports that ten million baby boomers will own a second home by 2010.” Wood added that the Houston Metro area is home to 1.3 million baby boomers.

"To help meet the growing demand for information on all aspects of the second-home market, we thought it was important to bring all the resources that people need to make decisions about buying a second home together in one place.”

This spectacular event brings together, in one place and in one weekend, representatives of some of the most exciting U.S. and international second-home destinations available. Exhibitors showcasing the hottest vacation, retirement and second-home properties worldwide will be joined by distinguished speakers who have the answers to every possible question on buying and owning a second-home.

Millions of Americans are enjoying the luxury of a second home. What used to be a reality only for the elite is now a growing trend. Expo attendees will be able to get all the information needed to look for a relaxing vacation home, the perfect retirement community, a lucrative investment property or a fun family retreat.

More than 40 seminars will be presented by top industry experts on three Expo Stages: the Texas Stage, sponsored by Farm Credit; the International Stage, sponsored by Stewart Title; and U.S. Destinations Stage, sponsored by Fairway Living.

Wood is also pleased to have as Expo sponsors the Mexico Board of Tourism, Houston Chronicle, Texas Monthly, the Travel Channel and Continental Airlines.

Internationally Acclaimed Speakers - Hot Topics
DR. Jim Gaines, research economist at the highly acclaimed Real Estate Center at Texas A & M, will provide an insightful analysis of current real estate trends in Texas and the long-term forecast for the real estate boom in Texas.

Learn why Texas is now the No. 2 U.S. retirement destination, surpassing Arizona and California – Florida is still No. 1, but the Lone Star State is gaining! His sessions on the Expo's Texas Stage will also provide second-home buyers with specific data on popular second-home destinations, including the Hill Country, East Texas and the incredibly popular Texas Gulf Coast.

Mitch Creekmore, co-author of "Cashing in on a Second Home in Mexico” and executive vice president, Stewart International, says "Mexico has it all!” He will discuss why Mexico is the No. 1 retirement destination for North Americans and how to own residential real estate south of our border. Get answers to these questions and more: What is a "fideicomisco?” - Who closes the transaction in Mexico? - What are the hot markets?

Creekmore also comes to the Stewart International Stage in separate sessions to discuss second-home ownership in the popular destinations of Panama, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

Adsinar Cajar Bocek, Consulate General of Panama (Houston), will discuss the Pensionado Visa, a retiree benefits program, and talk about why Panama is paradise for retirees. He will lead a forum of dynamic panelists that includes Panamanian professionals who will speak to the real estate, financial and legal/residency aspects of home ownership in Panama – all on the Stewart International Stage.

Samantha Brown, lively and vivacious Emmy Award-winning host on The Travel Channel, stays busy guiding her TV viewers through destinations in Latin America, Europe, Hawaii and more! See her at the Expo's U.S. Destinations Stage.

Steve Dering, pioneer of the Equity Residence Club concept, will discuss this specialized form of fractional ownership that has become the fastest-growing segment of the vacation real estate industry – on the Texas Stage.

Christine Karpinski, author of "How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner,” is often referred to as the most respected voice in the vacation rental industry. As such, she is a frequent guest on CNN's "Open House,” Bloomberg's "Personal Finance” and other TV and radio shows and is often interviewed on real estate topics for The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Personal Finance and more. U.S. Destinations Stage. ,p> And there even more experts with key second-home information, including:

Christopher Hill, CEO of Stewart Title Latin America; Joe A. Patterson, Jr., VP and branch manager of Capital Farm Credit's New Braunfels credit office; Michael Gordon, VP, broker and director of real estate operations for Horseshoe Bay Resort on Lake LBJ; Cathi Montgomery, retired from the Department of Defense with numerous awards to her credit, now uses her skills to help others in buying a second home; Brooke Blackwelder, with Huntsman Springs, will give an overview of the Teton Valley, Idaho; Rick Billington will talk about Branson, Missouri and the beautiful Ozark Mountains; and Stacy Germaniuk, with Bear Mountain Resort, will talk about all that Canada's largest and fastest-growing golf resort community has to offer.

Exceptional Exhibitors
The long list of Expo Exhibitors includes representatives from properties and developments in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Central America, the Caribbean and golf communities and high-rise properties in the U.S. and worldwide. Texas properties in the mix include offerings in the Texas Hill Country - Horseshoe Bay, Lake Travis, Canyon Lake and more - and the rapidly growing Texas Gulf Coast, including Galveston, South Padre Island, Rockport and the Intracoastal Waterway area. Other unique destinations that are represented include the Branson area, Idaho, Colorado, the Rocky Mountains, New Mexico and much, more!

Escapes! Second-Home Expo exhibitors represent incredible second-home opportunities worldwide!

Getaway-Giveaways
Attend the Escapes! Second-Home Expo and register for a chance to win one of the outstanding Getaway packages! Sponsors include: Horseshoe Bay & Resort (Texas Hill Country), Rancho Santana (Managua), Reserva Conchal (Costa Rica); Bear Mountain Resort (Canada), Brookfield Homes Hawaii and Continental Airlines.

Ever thought of owning a second-home? Now is the perfect opportunity to learn more! Plan now to attend the Escapes! Second-Home Expo!

Pre-purchased tickets are $10 online; $12 at the door. Ticket admits one adult for one day of the Expo. Two-day passes available. For detailed information on seminar times, a list of exhibitors, hotel accommodations and area attractions, please visit the Web site below.