Posts Tagged ‘Europe’

In the Catalonian city of Sitges, property investors are captivated by raked beaches, laid-back charm and a cosmopolitan heartbeat

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Sitges

Twenty miles along the craggy coast from Barcelona, the unspoilt seaside town of Sitges, with its style, culture and élan, instantly stands out from the overdeveloped resorts along the Costa Dorada.

Sitges is in a beautiful setting between the hills of the surrounding Natural Parc del Garraf and the Mediterranean Sea. The town is well known for its amazing golden sandy beaches, gastronomy, nightspots, golf courses, marinas and historical sites. It is a famous area for avant-garde art and houses many art galleries and museums, and is renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival.

A former fishing village with narrow streets, a compact old town and a mellow vibe, this is where rich Catalans come to tan. With miles of meticulously raked beaches, laid-back charm and a cosmopolitan heartbeat, it is a jet-set favourite, too. Sitges has a very exclusive feel, and it is known by many as the St. Tropez of Spain and the Crown Jewel of the Mediterranean.

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Madrid and Barcelona property leading Spanish real estate recovery

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

barcelona

The Spanish property market expanded in March according to latest house sale figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). In March, residential property sales totalled 33,632, up 8.2% compared to the same month last year. It will take a few more months to establish whether a true growth trend is emerging but this is the third consecutive month that the market has experienced growth, suggesting rising confidence in the Spanish property sector.

For the first time in over a year, resales have overtaken sales of new builds just as they should do in a healthy market. According to INE the property sales are currently being driven by Madrid and Barcelona where real estate sales have increased 30% and 41% per cent on an annual basis.

Barcelona is a beachfront city that, along with its coastal areas, is regularly voted one of the best places to live in the world. It is a cosmopolitan city and a fantastic place to live, work and visit. Everyone is captivated by the city’s urban old world charm. Barcelona is arguably one of the finest of European cities.

The range of property for sale in Barcelona is diverse; from traditional and contemporary city apartments for sale in Barcelona’s old town to exclusive family homes and modernist mansion houses to buy in Barcelona’s Zona Alta and from sleek modern beachfront villas to apartments to buy in Sitges, Castelldefels and Gava Mar.

Madrid is Spain’s capital and a city of cultural, political and economical importance and is the third largest European economic centre. Madrid hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies, as well as the headquarters of three of the world’s 100 largest companies. Barajas international airport is one of Europe’s major transport hubs and means that the city has excellent access from Europe and the rest of the world.

Madrid offers an incredible lifestyle, excellent international schools and fantastic transport links to Europe and the rest of the world. The city is also home for the legendary football club Real Madrid.

The range of property for sale in Madrid is diverse, from traditional and contemporary city apartments for sale in the best parts of the centre of Madrid city such as Barrio Salamanca; to family homes to buy in exclusive residential areas such as La Moraleja and Aravaca.

Considering all factors above, it is no surprise that Barcelona and Madrid are the starting points for the recovery of the Spanish property market.

View property for sale in Barcelona by International Luxury Real Estate.

View property for sale in Madrid by International Luxury Real Estate.

Luxury Real Estate, Food & Travel Magazine THE ADDRESS launches its summer issue 2010

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

The Address Magazine No6

THE ADDRESS Magazine is an international showcase for distinctive properties, featuring the latest and most exquisite luxury real estate for sale.

Each issue of THE ADDRESS Magazine features some of the most spectacular properties currently available for sale in the world – a lavish penthouse with spectacular views, a luxury ski chalet in the Alps or an exquisite villa facing a glorious beach and much more. Whatever your idea of luxury living may be, you will find a selection of properties which embodies it, right here.

Don’t miss this issue’s Piece de Resistance – a cutting-edge, contemporary villa in Mallorca. This villa boasts an amazing modern, sculptural look.

There is a rare opportunity to acquire an ultra-luxurious ski chalet in legendary Megève. The penthouse at W South Beach is one of America’s most amazing penthouses available for sale and there are simply not enough superlatives to describe Asia’s most glamorous beachfront estate which is featured in this issue.

Property features in this issue are ‘Cayman Islands – The Investment Argument” and ‘”Buying a French Leaseback Property”.

Food & Travel Insider Kang Leong to open his address book to some of his best-loved places in one of his favourite cities in the world, London. Another travel inspired feature is a top 10 list of amazing hotel pools in Thailand. In the food section, there is a feature about salt, where you can discover some of the better-known and the more unusual salts from around the world. And it is hard to resist the delicious recipes in the Kitchen Confidential feature. Two exceptional Chefs share some of their recipes; Vivek Singh of The Cinnamon Club, London and Marco Moreira of Tocqueville, New York.

In this issue there is also a section with the editor’s recent discoveries of global style, design and good living.

Read the entire luxury real estate magazine at www.theaddressmagazine.com

For a FREE subscription, sign up at www.theaddressmagazine.com/subscribe/

Formentor – home to Mallorca’s most glamorous and exclusive properties

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Mallorca

The renowned beauty of the Balearic island of Mallorca is nowhere more apparent than at the peninsula of Formentor, a protected haven of pine forests, bedazzling coves, white sandy beaches, sparkling waters, and tranquility.

The Peninsula of Formentor is located at the very extreme north corner of Mallorca. The area epitomises glamour, exclusivity and luxury lifestyle and is fast attracting the eyes of the global discerning buyers as an alternative to the French Riviera.

When the poet Miquel i Llobera, who owned the Cap de Formentor peninsula, died in 1922, it was divided into lots and sold. The Hotel Formentor, the original luxury hotel in Mallorca, was built in 1929 by Adam Diehl, an Argentine art-lover and playboy, to house his purchase of art. The hotel boasts a celebrity guest list, which in the past has included Plácido Domingo, Elisabeth Taylor, Michael Douglas, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier. Almost all the political and cultural history of the 20th century has passed through its gardens.

The scenery is jaw-droppingly spectacular with steep cliffs which reach 400 metres in some places. The Formentor Peninsula definitely has some of the most striking views of the Mediterranean coastline on Mallorca. The Northeast of Mallorca offers an attractive international flair, beautiful mountains, fantastic beaches, several protected Nature Reserves and a famous golf course close to Canyamel, which as been built without much interference in the natural environment. The course which is considered as very difficult is surrounded by palm trees, almond trees and fig trees.

The exclusive enclave, where real estate demand outstrips supply, is hosting only a handful of luxury properties for sale. Already, Lorenzo Fluxa, the founder of Mallorca´s most successful fashion export, Camper, has built a house there and one of Spain´s wealthiest businessmen also owns a villa.

Formentor is one of the few pristine paradises left in the Mediterranean. If you are looking for some of Europe’s most exlusive and private properties, Formentor is the place to be.

View Mallorca properties for sale on International Luxury Real Estate.

Ibiza property – a shining star

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Ibiza

Ibiza is a compact, beautiful island that continues to attract international and cosmopolitan property buyers. The combination of a mild climate, wonderful beaches and countryside, a traditional Mediterranean lifestyle together with its world renowned social and music scene has converted this island into one of the most fashionable locations to own a second home.

The island attracts more discerning visitors including film stars, artists, writers and musicians all drawn by Ibiza’s natural beauty, the laid back attitude of the Ibicenans and of course the style and splendour of the island’s capital, Ibiza Town.

All along Ibiza’s rugged coast are tiny inlets, sandy coves and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches backed by craggy cliffs and often almost devoid of other people.

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Restored French Château development in Languedoc, South of France soon to be launched

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Chateau de la Redorte

Château de la Redorte, a historic French chateau, is situated in the wine district of Minervois in Languedoc. A select number of luxury village homes and apartments will be built adjacent to the magnificently restored 18th century Château, offering the best of both worlds, an authentic, historical home with all modern luxury facilities.

Authenticity and heritage, traditional materials and craftsmanship are the guiding principles in the conversion of the historic Languedoc property skillfully mixed with contemporary designs.

The luxury Languedoc properties for sale offer buyers a fully managed luxury home in France with guaranteed rental income. The resulting low cost of ownership and excellent potential for capital appreciation in one of Europe’s strongest and most stable economies makes the Château an attractive medium to long term property investment opportunity.

The village offers good local restaurants and bars, a supermarket and banks, the Canal du Midi, with its canal-side bistros is only a stroll away and great Mediterranean beaches are less than 30 minutes away.

The climate is perfect Mediterranean with more than 300 days of sunshine and the location is excellent with Carcassonne airport 30minutes from the chateau and an additional 5 airports serving the area – Beziers (45 minutes), Perpignan (60 minutes), Toulouse and Montpellier (90 minutes) and Barcelona (2 hours). The village of La Redorte has excellent motorway and high speed rail links to Béziers and Narbonne.

More info on Chateau de la Redorte and the opportunity to pre-register your interest in this Languedoc property for sale at Great Properties France.

Magnificent Savoie Chateau – Reduced from €3.7 million to €1.9 million

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Chateau in Savoie

This is an extraordinary historic Savoie property in Lac Bourget, France. The prestigious chateau enjoys a superb position only minutes from the village, 20 minutes from the ski slopes and one hour from Geneva.

Built in the 12th century, the Savoie property has been transformed into a sumptuous home. No expense has been spared or detail overlooked in order to create the finest possible living environment.

The luxury French chateau offers 800m² of living space over seven floors, connected by a lift. Each floor is dedicated to a specific use such as living space, leisure and relaxation space with Jacuzzi and sauna. The gourmet kitchen is everyone’s dream.

There is an impressive 7,800m² French garden, set on a hill, with breathtaking panoramas.

This is a rare opportunity to experience the grandeur of living in a luxury French castle.

More details on the Savoie chateau property at Signature Residences Worldwide.