| Long admired by thousands of devoted fans, | | | | variety of custom home buyers to reproduce |
| Thomas Kinkade announced that a architect is | | | | Kinkade-style homes. Riding on the |
| designing homes based on the artists input in | | | | single-minded nature of these fans, plans are |
| the $4-6 million dollar range that will be | | | | progressing on the development. I see the |
| built in Couer d'Alene, Idaho. The new | | | | only possible drawback is a resale one, when |
| development will not be the first to have | | | | the first wave of fans decide to move on, |
| Kinkade inspired homes. Four years ago a | | | | will there be enough interest by a second |
| subdivision in Vallejo, California sprouted | | | | wave at extremely high price points to |
| Kinkade-styled homes. The subdivision sold | | | | support the resale of Kinkade homes?My |
| well with average prices around $400,000.The | | | | attitude is a wait and see. Kinkade as a |
| homes will be built on a 20 acre parcel with | | | | brand has never been marketed at the |
| views of Lake Couer d'Alene, a easy commute | | | | super-luxury level. Most serious art |
| to Spokane, Washington. The homes design and | | | | collectors aren't in this developments target |
| look will focus on reproducing his style from | | | | market. But then does taste really matter if |
| the Kinkade Gate series. A total of five | | | | you have the money? The developers think not |
| homes will be built and will be marketed to | | | | and might consider Kinkade high-art as many |
| fans of Kinkades that want to live in a | | | | his followers do.Mark Nash's fourth real |
| three-dimensional experience of his art. Five | | | | estate book, "1001 Tips for Buying and |
| designs have already been selected from five | | | | Selling a Home" (2005), and working as a real |
| paintings that will fit into the site | | | | estate broker in Chicago are the foundation |
| appropriately.Kinkade has been very | | | | for his consumer-centric real estate |
| successful selling his artwork to middle | | | | perspective which has been featured on |
| America, for many years and in many forms. | | | | ABC-TV, Associated Press,CBS The Early Show, |
| The developer has had requests from a wide | | | | Bloomberg TV, Bottom Line Magazine. |