As the luxury property market shifts from asset accumulation to experience-led living, home-swapping platform ThirdHome is rapidly gaining traction in Australia, and officially launching in New Zealand this month.
The company, which connects second-home owners through an exclusive global exchange network, has positioned itself as the go-to alternative for high-net-worth individuals who value lifestyle access over rental returns.
Following a strong year of organic growth, ThirdHome’s founder and CEO Wade Shealy visited AREC 2025 to reinforce the brand’s presence in the Asia-Pacific market.
“We’re not trying to disrupt real estate,” Wade said.
“We’re enhancing it, offering homeowners and agents a way to extend the value of a second home well beyond the walls.”
Unlike platforms like Airbnb, ThirdHome does not facilitate rentals.
Instead, members “trade time” in their second homes via a credit system called “Keys,” allowing them to stay in equivalent properties around the world.
No money changes hands between hosts and guests, just a nominal fee to ThirdHome per stay.
That exclusivity, and the social layer that goes with it, is key.
“Over half our members would never consider renting their home,” Wade said.
“But they’ll happily let another ThirdHome member stay, because they know that person is doing the exact same thing. There’s mutual trust.”
It’s not just about luxury locations either; it’s about luxury experience.
Properties in the network include branded residences like the St. Regis in New York, Ritz-Carlton ski-in ski-out homes in Aspen, 25-bedroom castles in Europe, and fully staffed yachts in the Mediterranean.
One recent member, Wade said used the platform for 96 trips in two years, spending nearly every week abroad for a fraction of traditional luxury rates.
ThirdHome’s growth in Australia is closely tied to its Real Estate Ambassador Program: a partnership model that lets prestige agents offer their clients exclusive access to the platform as part of the sale process.
Participating agents receive travel credits for every qualifying client they refer, and can use ThirdHome’s extensive property library to help close deals.
“It’s become a selling tool,” he explained.
“When agents say, ‘Buy this beachfront property in Byron and you can stay in a Paris penthouse or a Swiss chalet for $900 a week,’ it changes the conversation.”
That strategy has already proven successful elsewhere.
In Cabo San Lucas, for example, ThirdHome went from zero to 7,000 properties after developers began packaging membership access into sales pitches.
“They weren’t just selling homes,” Wade said. “They were selling the world.”
Celebrity-Backed and Social by Nature
ThirdHome isn’t just a network, it’s a club, with in-person events and a strong social fabric.
Wade and his partner Debbi Fields (yes, the founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies) host private events around the globe to help members connect.
Their most recent gathering took place on Wade’s horse farm in Nashville, where 200 members flew in for a night of music headlined by a well-known country artist and fellow ThirdHome member, Kenny Chesney.
“We want our members to feel part of something meaningful,” he said. “They’re not just booking trips. They’re building relationships, sharing experiences, and living globally, while owning locally.”
With post-pandemic shifts in how affluent buyers think about their assets, ThirdHome taps into a growing desire for flexibility and enrichment, not just returns.
“People aren’t as interested in short-term rental income anymore,” Wade said.
“They’re interested in lifestyle. In maximising what their home can do for their lives, not just their balance sheet.”
ThirdHome members often bundle weeks across destinations, with increasing demand for multi-stop itineraries combining New Zealand, coastal Queensland, and Europe.
“We’re packaging three-week trips for American and European members who want to make the most of the long journey Down Under,” he said.
“Australia’s lifestyle, safety, and quality of homes make it a top-tier draw.”
