By: Co-Editor, RB:

We have seen a trend towards vacation homes or time shares in this country over the last decade. What was once a European affectation, we now see in North America.

Previously, we have covered SecondPorch.com  which is a Facebook application that allows users to trade and rent vacation homes among their friends and networks. We also covered Mimbeo.com, a free vacation rental portal.

Newly launched MetroFlats.com, a Clifton, New Jersey based startup, is a vacation rental marketplace that enables hosts and renters to connect with one another on a secure network. Very similar to Mimbeo.com, you can search for vacation rentals by location.

While Mimbeo.com has a strong presence in Minneapolis, Metroflats.com has a strong following in New York.

All members of the MetroFlats.com team stay in vacation rentals while traveling to gain a solid understanding of the marketplace.

They have a nice data base of New York properties and their prices are affordable. However, they are currently limited to New York and/or Miami.

It is unclear how the site is monetized. I presume they are marking up the price they get from the renter.

By Co-Editor, RB:

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, will be celebrated this Sunday (and Monday as Monday is a federal holiday). As you should all know, Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and not just a blockbuster movie with Will Smith.

Millions of Americans will take part in parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. We will also watch fireworks displays in beaches and parks across the country.

One of the cool things to do on the 4th is to head out to Washington, DC and enjoy the holiday on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol.

This year’s event which will be broadcast for the 30th year in a row will be hosted by Jimmy Smits, musical guests include Reba McEntire, legendary R & B artist Gladys Knight, country music sensation Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfish), singer David Archuleta (American Idol), and actor and singer John Schneider, as well as world-renowned classical pianist Lang Lang with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly and the Choral Arts Society of Washington, under the direction of Norman Scribner.
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By: Co-Editor: RB

For better or worse, the health care debate is over. Here in the Northeast the snow has melted and the weather has warmed. We are looking forward to a real turn in the economy and to once again enjoy robust commercial interaction. So use this Easter holiday (or Passover for our Jewish readers) to enjoy yourself and let go a little bit.

We will be back on Monday April 5 to bring you Great Startups.

As Emily Dickinson once wrote:

A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King.

By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:

Vacation homes seems to be the flavor du jour on the web. I recently did a story on mimbeo.com. Now there is another company who has a different spin on accessing vacation homes on the web.

SecondPorch.com is a brand new innovative, Facebook application that allows user to trade and rent vacation homes among their trusted group of friends and networks. Based in Portland Oregon and launched SecondPorch.com is the first socially enabled vacation home site available on Facebook. Its Facebook application is titled “Rent & Trade Vacation Homes”.

Vacation home rentals are a growing $50 billion industry. Currently there are 8 million second homeowners in the United States alone, of which less than 25% are used as rentals. In today’s tight economy, SecondPorch.com is offering a chance for consumers to significantly save money, as well as create a new outlet to recoup investments of owners strapped by second mortgages.

Brent Hieggelke launched SecondPorch.com not just because vacation home rentals are the fastest growing segment of the lodging industry, but also because he had a rental horror story of his own. Apparently a few years ago, Mr. Hieggelke’s father rented his vacation home through traditional means only to find that the group of 20 men hosting a bachelor party managed to cause about $4,000 worth of damage including a fireplace glass door broken, all of the pictures on the walls of historic photos had been broken, and glasses of red wine had been smashed against the walls. Mr. Hieggelke knew right then that someone needed to create a way to rent or trade vacation homes among a trusted group of friends thus Second Porch was born.
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