Luxury Real Estate still a Solid Investment

Some interesting numbers from the much talked about Architectural Digest / Sotheby's International Real Estate Survey
· 85% of respondents agreed that “Real estate continues to be one of the better investments a person can make.”
· 72% of respondents believe their primary home value has remained constant or increased in value over the last 12 months (46% remained constant; 26% increased).
· Nearly two-thirds of respondents report that current conditions have “no effect” on their likelihood to sell their primary home (63%).
· In the coming year, 79% believe the value of their primary home will continue to remain constant or increase (55% remain constant; 24% will increase).
· In the next year, more than half (54%) of the million-dollar homeowners plan to buy, sell, build or invest in a new home.
· 69% of million-dollar homeowners agree that now is a good time to add to one’s real estate holdings.
· 71% agree, “Over time, nothing beats real estate for building one’s personal wealth.”
· Half (50%) of respondents think the media exaggerates conditions to make the market seem worse than it is.

To day is the day!

Today Cape Verde became the WTO's 153d member! This is a winning result for the archipelago which has been in negotiations to join for years.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the rules of trade for goods and services between nations at a global or near-global level. Though only launched in 1995 the trade regulations on which the organization is founded have existed since the first General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which took place in 1949.

Construction Update (10)

Are nt pictures worth a thousand words!? The first picture (before) was taken in January of this year, and the second picture (after), was sent to us earlier this month from Ponta Bicuda, Cape Verde.

Share the wealth!

Up until now this was reportedly the most expensive luxury holiday home in the world. Built from the ground up for a reported £78M in the rugged mountains of Montana, the house includes the ski slopes, with ski lift (of course) and one of its most outstanding features - an outdoor swimming pool with a glass cover that can be removed on warm days.

However, recently the fifteenth wealthiest man in the world, Chelsea football club owner, - Roman Abramovich revealed the plans for his palacial "crib" in London. Spread across two stucco-fronted properties in Lowndes Square in London, the eight-bedroom building is expected to be worth up to £150M making his, the most expensive home away from home

Construction Update (9)

As you can see from the image, last week was an exciting one for Cor di Mar. With a great BIG BANG down went the cliff. By now all of the machinery we have so painstakingly described is making its way down to begin ground works, now much closer to sea.
Is this grass not the single most resistant natural fibre you have ever seen!?

Cape Verde, Mars

NASA is publishing impressive images from the Cape Verde promontory... i've heard local climate is not as perfect as Cape Verde's.

Rental Returns and guarantees - Ponta Bicuda

I’ve had a very interesting evening last night with a friend who works for a European hotel powerhouse. We’ve used our time to discuss developments, returns and rental revenues in two different fronts; the hotel and the residential.
The hotel is simple and straightforward: the income depends on the hotel quality, on the capacity to generate revenues from tourism, business and city travel – the glass is most of the times half full with the sales to professional operators (tourist packages, meetings, symposiums and so on), creaming the milk for the other half with direct sales and more expensive channels.
The residential is a different issue: One can’t guarantee a steady income, as there are no professional structure to half fill the glass. It always depends on the local rental market for permanent residents and on the weekly rental for tourists, and the weekly rental depend on factors like cheap flights availability (on the hotel packages this is not an issue because the flight is part of the package and was previously negotiated for a cheap price), knowledge of the place and management quality.
I am glad we have the five star Tiara hotels on our Ponta Bicuda resort; otherwise it would be impossible to guarantee a steady income. I just don’t comment on the way some do it!

Gearing Up!

Thanks to Helder Ribeiro, Design Resorts who has just returned from a long stay in Cape Verde and has brought us all the "in-loco" information, with pictures to boot!
It seems like all of Cape Verde is gearing up for the changes that are so iminent right now. For example, in order to adequately handle all the new visitors expected to start landing at The International Airport in Santiago Island, construction works are taking place to enlarge the VIP terminal and add a new parking facility. Completion is expected before year-end.

The Cape Verde government as well as the Fond Regional de Development de la CEDEAO are underwriting the costs for constructions.

Congrats Cape Verde!

Cape Verde Scored well in the 2008 Heritage Foundation (a Washington DC Think Tank) and WSJ Index of Economic Freedom Report. In a total universe of 162 countries Cape Verde came in 24 percentage points higher than the total average when it came to property rights and also achieving high marks in monetary freedom and investment freedom. Entrance into the WTO, as previously reported on our blog, will ensure Cape Verde scores improve all around!

Invest in a Second Home in Brazil

Brazil has in recent times been the word coming out of many an investor’s mouth, and the theme of a few of our own posts of late. Here are a few of the reasons why:

1. Currently Brazil is a Buyers Market: Lots of land for sale with prices which remains reasonably low
2. 100% free hold ownership (in other words full ownership) for foreigners, which in many countries is not the standard
3. Steady Economy and low inflation
4. Falling Interest Rates
5. Increasing Real Estate financing
6. Steadily increasing number of tourists7. Climate, 7,400 km of coastline, a beautiful tropical rainforest.....

Construction Update (8)

So its true! The grass is greener at Ponta Bicuda! As you can see ground work continues steadily and with a closer look, the terrain is really beginnning to take form.

In an attempt to really communicate construction progress we have asked our double-duty on- site Project Manager and photographer extraordinaire to take pictures from precisely the same spot everytime so that we can monitor progress more specifically.

Golf is HAPPENING in Cape Verde

Golf in Cape Verde is happening! By the time the Tedju and Cor di Mar Tiara Hotels are ready, the Island of Santiago will have two top quality golf courses, potentially becoming a top quality golf destination.
Golf swings at Ponta Bicuda! A 9 whole Pitch and Putt course has been a part of the project since its inception, and has been a point of attraction for golf lovers everywhere.
Ponta Bicuda pitches in for Golf! Before projects began for Ponta Bicuda, we were already partnering with the Portuguese Golf Federation and involved in competitions such as the Penina and the Open, and in Golf events including, the very successful Golf Fair in Cascais. In 2008 our commitment to golf remains, having sponsored 5 tournaments in Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima, in Tavira, Algarve.

I.M.F. on Cape Verde

Mr Takatoshi Kato, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF issued a Press Release regarding Cape Verde’s growing economy that we just don’t think you should miss:
"Cape Verde's impressive economic performance in recent years reflects both prudent macroeconomic management, and economic reforms. Good policies have catalyzed investments and export growth, especially in the tourism sector—breaking past dependence on aid and remittances—leading to robust growth and moderate inflation.”

For more information you can read the full Press Release here

Cape Verde

Cape Verde went to the red planet!
The new phoenix unmanned space lab is exploring an area near the promontory of Cape Verde in Mars.
Should we change our address to Ponta Bicuda, Cape Verde, Earth? (image from NASA, Houston, USA, Earth)