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PropertyPlus
The Sunday Business Post December 21, 2014
St Athanasios Island off the coast of Greece is for sale for €6 million
Above: Male Orjule in Croatia; right: Cassandra Peninsula in Greece; below: Île de Boedic; right: David Island in Canada All pictures: Vladi Private Islands
Private island paradise An island in the sun is not just for millionaires: if you are willing to rough it, there are more affordable options, writes Tina-Marie O’Neill
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t’s a common misconception that private islands are the exclusive domain of millionaires and celebrities – a status symbol out of reach of the average Joe. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth, according to Sabine Rollinger of Vladi Private Islands, a German-based private island property specialist that has been operating
since 1971. “Our long list of low-budget islands proves it’s definitely possible to be a private-island owner and still have change left over from less than €100,000,” she said. “What low-priced islands lack in luxury, they more than make up for in spirit. Their incomparable sense of freedom sets them miles apart from their more traditional real estate equivalents.”
According to Rollinger, the most sought-after regions for private islands are the Mediterranean, the east coast of America and along the Scottish coast. Demand is particularly high for islands in the Mediterranean Sea. However, as there very few private islands available in this area, they are often overpriced. “But our rental clients prefer the more traditional island rental destinations, such as the Seychelles, the Maldives and the Bahamas,” she said. Vladi Private Islands has about 248 islands for sale and some 174 islands for rent, comprising luxury six-star resorts, idyllic peninsulas and some villas. Islands vary extensively in price. Krotteroy Island in Norway is 12.35 acres, 100 metres
off the mainland and close to the town of Molde. Thanks to its location on the ‘Atlantic Road’ the area is frequented by cruise ships and other tourists, making it one of Norway’s most visited towns. The island is priced at €85,000. The company also has a stock of stunning islands for sale in Nova Scotia, including David Island, a five-acre isle in the sheltered bay of Port Felix in Guysborough County, about 30 kilometres from Canso city and near the town of Whitehead. In 2003, a cottage was built on the island, which is mostly forested, but a new owner could build a new property. David Island is for sale for CAN$77,000 (just over €53,437). Returning closer to home, Île de Boëdic in the Gulf de
Morbihan in Brittany, France, is one of the most beautiful islands for sale with Vladi. A top sailing destinations, the 17-acre paradise has its own chapel and a number of properties renovated in 2011, including a traditional Breton long house, a main house, a guest house and a gate house. The price is available on request. Greek islands also feature, such as the 2.6-acre St Athanasios near Delphi for €1.6 million, and a property on 2.22 acres at Cape Cassandra in Chalkidiki, for €1.3 million. For those who dream of olive groves in the sun, Male Orjule, a 96.7 acre Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, might suit. It features pine and olive trees as well as two sweet water springs and
a natural habour. The price is available on request. Also in Croatia is Bijela Island, which incorporates a 2,000 square metre lot, including a 600 square metre cut-stone castle located a kilometre from the mainland town of Zadar. Again, the price is available on request. “Island owners generally look for privacy and a place away from the everyday routine. Sometimes they only live on the island for two or three months of the year,” Rollinger said. “Most island owners buy for emotional reasons. And most individuals buy islands as their personal retreat. They wish to catch the spirit of a quiet and untouched piece of land, surrounded by water.” She added that the demand for islands was growing as en-
vironmental problems, and the stress and frustration of modern life grew. A rise in conventional property prices was also making affordable islands more desirable. “Many island owners say their visits reduce stress and recharge their batteries so they are fit to face the rest of the year in ‘civilisation’. That is exactly what [company owner] Vladi himself feels on his own island in New Zealand.” The company has 12 criteria to determine which islands are habitable and which are too remote. This includes distance from the mainland, clearly determined and recorded property ownership records, the availability of drinking water, suitability for development, and a politically stable host country.
“In some countries, there are restrictions concerning the ownership of a private island and the development of an island. In the Seychelles, for example, you must get permission to develop from the state. “In Canada, it is easier to build a house on your island, as it is in Scotland. In Asia, it is almost impossible to get a registration of property for an island. In Denmark, foreigners could buy a private island, but only with special permission. In the Bahamas, government permission also has to be obtained which, under normal circumstances, is only a formality,” advised Rollinger.
Miami Beach Edition resort hotel – and has its own private entrance as well as an anonymous “celebrity” entrance for increased privacy. Pierce is also joint agent (with Meylin Rodriguez and Alex Gomez) on the largest Miami Beach penthouse on the market. The Blue Diamond penthouse, on the 44th and 45th floor of the tallest condo building in Miami Beach, is 1,375 square metres and is listed at $20 million.
Featuring sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Miami skyline, the penthouse offers eight bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and two kitchens. Three private master bedrooms each have their own private rooftop pool on the 45th floor, and four bedrooms have direct ocean views. The luxurious condo also comes with a gym, office, private laundry room and maid’s quarters. The penthouse has
a private cabana and five reserved parking spaces for the owner. Located on 500 feet of beachfront on Miami Beach’s “Millionaires Row”, the Blue Diamond and its sister property, the Green Diamond, are the tallest condo buildings in Miami Beach. The twin buildings are known for their distinctive blue and green diamond crowns that light up the Miami Beach skyline at night.
For more information, and to view islands for sale and rent, visit vladi-private-islands.de
The Blue Diamond penthouse, on the 44th and 45th floor of the tallest condo building in Miami Beach, is 1,375 square metres and listed at $20 million
Limited-edition luxury of Miami penthouse By Kerry O’Donoghue
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lorida’s housing market is bouncing back from the US recession big time. The state has gone from having the highest mortgage delinquency (or default) rate in the country at the end of 2008, to being one of the country’s most improved urban areas following double-digit house price gains last year. It shows higher rates of improvement behind Las Vegas, Chicago and California, according to US mortgage company Freddie Mac. At the high end of the state’s property market, new homes and condominiums continue to appeal to foreign investors, including well-heeled Europeans and affluent Russians,
who compete with wealthy American investors often based in the north east. New homes in south Florida also command a premium as a result of a shortage of land in the area. William PD Pierce of estate agent Coldwell Banker is based in Miami Beach, Florida and specialises in high-end luxury property. The firm has just brought two top-of-themarket penthouse apartments to market. The first, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom penthouse of almost 490 square metres, with an additional 280 square metres of outdoor space, is the most expensive penthouse in Miami Beach. The three-storey unit in the newly completed Residences at The Miami Edition is listed at $27.5 million.
All 26 of the limited-edition Residences at The Miami Edition were developed by Studio 54 founder Ian Schrager, also known for bringing Miami Beach back in style with his renovation of the luxurious Delano hotel resort in the 1980s. The American entrepreneur, hotelier and developer is often associated with the creation of the boutique hotel concept. The triplex apartment features floor-to-ceiling windows boasting 180-degree views of the Atlantic, the Miami skyline, Biscayne Bay and South Beach. Each of the four bedrooms has a terrace with bay and ocean views. The apartment has bleached teak wood flooring throughout, a custom-designed Bulthaup kitchen, a media room, and
an indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge equipped with a summer kitchen and trellis-covered dining area. “This is the hottest penthouse in Miami. With the Edition, Ian Schrager knocked this one out of the park,” said Pierce. “South Florida is still underpriced compared to Los Angeles, New York City and international markets, so a penthouse this glamorous, with such incredible ame-
nities and services, will undoubtedly attract interest among global luxury buyers.” Residents of The Edition have priority access to 24hour, five-star concierge services, 24-hour security services, poolside cabanas, beach and pool chaise lounges and umbrellas, a fitness centre with personal trainers and a travel agent service. The Residences tower sits on the top floor of the pre-existing 1950s building – the
Residences at the Miami Edition, the triplex apartment features floor-to-ceiling windows have 180-degree views of the Atlantic, the Miami skyline, Biscayne Bay and South Beach