And luxury in Africa
"Usually, when buying property abroad, people tend to purchase housing that is best suited for recreation, on the most favorable terms," says Varvara Osokova, manager of the MMD PR company. "In long–known and popular destinations, it is already difficult to choose an option that combines unique nature, luxurious living conditions and an elite environment – that is, all the characteristics of luxury real estate." By purchasing a premium house in South Africa or the Middle East, the owner gets the opportunity to live in the most modern apartments or a mansion and admire the magnificent views, while not denying himself the usual comfort.
Recently, the demand has been increasing not only for exotic real estate, but especially for housing with additional features: for example, villas with private beaches or yacht parking are popular. According to Ella Bratilova, director of the luxury real estate department at Paul's Yard, Russian citizens are especially attracted to Mauritius, Seychelles and other exotic islands.
There are a lot of advantages to such offers: always a warm climate, magnificent ecology, secluded beaches, exotic landscapes, century-old tropical trees, crazy beautiful sunsets, protected areas and clear sea. Luxury real estate here has all the advantages of premium class housing: the house is usually equipped with the latest technology, decorated in accordance with the most fashionable trends and, of course, built using the highest quality and expensive materials. Luxury eco-houses are now in high demand, created for those who want to live in harmony with nature, their unique interiors help the inhabitants get rid of stress.
South Africa and Indonesia
Varvara Osokova believes that the advantages of exotic real estate lie in its exclusivity and, of course, in the richest investment prospects.
"IFA Hotels & Resorts offers its clients real estate in such exotic destinations as Lebanon, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Zanzibar," Varvara Osokova lists. For example, in the resort of Zimbali in the Republic of South Africa there are exclusive facilities that are located on the territory of the Zimbali Coastal Forest Reserve. The project includes a gated community with 500 houses, an exquisite 120-room hotel and a multifunctional complex that includes a shopping center, offices and residences.
In the same area, on the coast of Kwazulu-Natal province, there is also an elite resort, the Zimbali Coastal Resort, co-owned by IFA Hotels & Resorts. The exclusive Hotel Zimbali Lodge, Golf Course Estate Golf Club with an 18-hole course, luxury villas with a total area of up to 1000 square meters are located here. apartments and condominiums; the management company is Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
According to Ella Bratilova, another very popular exotic destination should be mentioned – Indonesia, where you can buy a villa with a total area of 2,800 square meters. m on a plot of 1.4 hectares, which combines traditional Polynesian architecture and modern amenities. The house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms with a Jacuzzi, a kitchen, a bar, a dining room, a living room, a cinema, an office, an indoor pool, there are front and back entrances. A bungalow has been built near the house, including a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and a terrace with magnificent ocean views. All rooms in the houses are furnished with high-quality wooden furniture, there is a gorgeous swimming pool with a size of 6 x 30 m and a depth of 4.5 m. Next to the villa there is a tennis court, the best golf club in Asia and a unique spa center with a huge range of services.
The Arabian Peninsula
Any of these projects can boast of the highest level of services provided thanks to carefully selected management companies. So, in Lebanon, in the city of Bamdoun, an elite secluded village of Alabadiyah Hills with a view of Beirut will soon be built. Covering an area of 7.5 hectares, this project will include first-class villas, townhouses and apartments, in addition, the complex will include a world-class spa and beauty salon. The fact that the housing will be managed by Kempinski Hotels already speaks volumes.
In general, the Arab direction is rich in luxury offers. "The Malkai project in Oman, which will open in 2010, will offer buyers a luxury resort complex, hotel, spa and villas," says Marina Chikurova, Customer Relations Manager at Columbus PRCo. The project will be managed by the international company GHM, which considers its task to be "creating a new standard of service and style in one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world." This project includes 101 villas and 92 suites, the price of which, as announced, will start from $4 million, as well as a boutique hotel with 41 villas. The interior design will be handled by the world-famous designer Jaya Ibrahim.
This project will also be of interest to investors: there are practically no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency in Oman, real estate tax and personal income tax are not levied. The owner of The Malkai apartment gets full access to the hotel's resources, including restaurants, a beach club, a spa, a golf course and a club house.
Islands all over the world
If the future owner of luxury real estate dreams of living next to the stars of show business, it is better for him to choose the island of Mauritius, where famous actors and directors purchase vacation homes. The richest people on the planet and members of royal families love Mauritius for its beautiful nature, hospitable local people and amazing cuisine.
"One of the brightest destinations for buying luxury real estate is the Seychelles, a group of granite islands located northeast of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean," says Ella Bratilova. Felicite Island, part of the Seychelles Archipelago, is remarkable for its unspoilt nature. Most of it is occupied by a unique nature reserve. Currently, 28 luxury villas with magnificent views of the coast are being built in the forested area.
The Bahamas is also among the leaders in luxury real estate sales. For $ 8 million, you can buy a house with 10-15 rooms and the opportunity to separately accommodate guests, a caretaker, and maintenance staff in buildings located on a land plot of 33 hectares.
"If we look in more detail at the Caribbean region, it is impossible not to note the "island of millionaires" of Saint Barthelemy, which attracts increasing interest from Russian buyers," says Kirill Dolginsky, director of development at Belle Fleur. "It belongs to the overseas territories of France and is considered one of the most expensive and exclusive. It is in search of tranquility and relaxation that many of the celebrities visit this island, for whom all conditions for recreation are created here. The island is called "golden" for a reason, the average real estate price is $6 million for a small 3-bedroom villa with beautiful sea views, while the price of more interesting offers of private residences with 5 or more bedrooms is more than $11.5 million, apartments on the island are almost impossible to find."
Buyers of real estate are not at all deterred even by the fact that real estate in Saint Barthelemy is purchased in accordance with French laws, which, although they guarantee the purity of the transaction, impose their own restrictions related to taxation and property maintenance. This island is for those who can afford not to think about it.
"Choosing an unusual direction for buying real estate, it should be borne in mind that the road from Russia and back will take a long time," says Ella Bratilova. Also, do not forget that each state has its own laws and customs, and cities may not have the infrastructure familiar to Europeans. The buyer sometimes faces other difficulties – the peculiar mentality of the local population, unusual cuisine... But it is precisely from these features that the concept of exoticism is formed, besides, in the eyes of a true seeker of paradise on earth, all the shortcomings are redeemed by the highest level of comfort, gorgeous virgin beaches, the splendor of the sea and the beauty of pristine exotic nature.