- Singular properties and other ways to discover the world through extraordinary second homes
- ThirdHome aims to consolidate its presence in Spain ahead of 2027. Its network brings together nearly 30,000 properties worldwide, and 100,000 bookings were reached in the last month
From historic palaces and country estates to designer villas, with an average value of €2.25 million
Enjoying luxury, stepping into interior-design paradises, finding comforts unimaginable at home, waking up within the walls of a centuries-old building, staying in a property of great architectural value; in short, discovering new homes and living in them temporarily is no longer a dream. ThirdHome is arriving in Europe to propose a new model of premium tourism, in which the stay becomes an essential part of the experience.
It is not a vacation rental and there is no financial transaction; it is an exchange, nothing more and nothing less. That is ThirdHome’s proposition: a private American club, founded in 2010 by Wade Shealy, that is committed to bringing second homes to life, offering its members dream holiday experiences with other owners who are part of the company, whenever they are not enjoying their own property.
The network, which reached 100,000 bookings in the last month, brings together nearly 30,000 properties in more than 100 countries and 2,500 destinations, with an average value of €2.25 million. Its Reserve category brings together properties with an average value of €13 million. 300 of those properties are in Spain.
Now, ThirdHome is arriving in Europe, with Marbella as its headquarters; and it opens up the old continent to a proposition of experiences in dream homes around the world through a simple, agile system based on trust and the sense of community among the members of this club.
Through its system of travel credits, known as Keys, members make their homes available to other members and use those credits to stay in other properties in the network. The model is based on trust between owners and on the selection of the homes that form part of the community. It thus makes it possible to make better use of a second home and to access singular accommodation in other destinations, with potential savings compared to conventional vacation rental.
Spain and Marbella, launch platforms in Europe
In a country as desired and visited as Spain, with a strongly established premium profile, ThirdHome’s proposition opens an interesting path within luxury tourism that is sustainable and far from overcrowding; and always with exchange as the true transactional value. Indeed, this sector, that of home exchange, is projected to grow by almost 10% a year through 2035, so its potential is more than proven.
The advantages are evident: tangible savings, making use of idle assets, and highlighting authentic experiences in destinations with character.
Those who are already part of this club offer figures that corroborate the idea’s satisfactory performance. 25% of the annual travel of more than half of members relies on the advantages of this select club, which proposes a new twist on the use of second homes and premium tourism. In a survey conducted by ThirdHome between July and October 2026 among 5,000 members of its international community, 51% identified luxury with access to unique places and experiences, while less than 1% associated it with status and recognition.
One of ThirdHome’s illustrious members is Javi Martínez, a professional footballer, European champion with the Spanish national team and with Bayern Munich, who shares his experience. “My job takes me all over the world, so when I have time to disconnect and enjoy with my wife and children, I want to make the most of it. With ThirdHome we took the kids to Disney World and stayed in a mansion in Orlando: the perfect place to disconnect, enjoy time together and feel at home. For me, that is traveling smart: more freedom, more space and incredible experiences, our way.”
Making use of an underused asset
The second home has at times become a fossil asset, underused and subject to long periods of hibernation. ThirdHome’s proposition seeks to turn the property into a real asset: a genuine passport that, by making the home available for exchange, opens up for the member new possibilities of living authentic experiences in similar homes, but in remote destinations where, without the advantage of having a home to exchange, making the decision would be enormously difficult.
The collection includes castles, historic residences, country estates and contemporary-architecture villas, among others. Each property offers a different way of approaching a destination, through its architecture, its history, its surroundings and its relationship with local culture. For those who find in architecture, heritage and interior design a way of discovering new places, the accommodation can be one of the great attractions of the trip.
A historic residence allows one to approach local heritage from another perspective; a contemporary villa invites exploring new ways of understanding architecture, and a country estate can serve as a starting point for discovering a region’s gastronomy, traditions and landscape.
The second home adds one more value to its status as a family retreat or long-term investment: it becomes a true tool that opens the door to travel and tourism experiences that would truly be unthinkable without this exchange system. This philosophy also connects with the concept of Giving While Living, promoted by ThirdHome’s founder, Wade Shealy: enjoying and sharing one’s wealth during one’s lifetime, turning it into a source of experiences and memories with family and friends. “The most valuable thing you can do with a second home is not simply to own it, but to discover the world through it.” Wade Shealy, founder of ThirdHome
In this way, ThirdHome has built an international network of equivalent properties that defers or moderates real-estate investment by virtue of a system based on trust, a sense of community and exchange as the banner of an access economy. In short, it is a call to see in the second home, besides a patrimonial asset, a genuine residential passport to new experiences.
