Celebrity Life

According to island property broker, Farhad Vladi, few people can withstand the longing for their own private piece of land in the midst of vast oceans or an idyllic lake, far from the confinement of the rest of the world.
And he should know. For 40 years, Vladi has been the go-to deal-maker for movie stars, football heroes, tycoons and other well-heeled clients in search of their water-bound paradise, either permanent or temporary. He can even help them sell when they tire – or are forced to retire – from the castaway crew. Over the years, Vladi has sold more 2,650 islands.

[caption id="attachment_206807" align="alignnone" width="1643"] Pumpkin Key, Florida; Vladi Private Islands[/caption]

The quote above is taken from the opening lines of the Vladi Private Islands’ website, which is dedicated to this specialist corner of the realty sector. The Hamburg-based company also has offices in alifax, anada, and Wellington, New Zealand – both locations are close to significant numbers of desirable island properties.
There are several other companies that specialise in obinson rusoe getaways, notably Toronto- headquartered Private Islands Online, whose gorgeously illustrated catalogues are a sheer joy to browse. International auction houses hristie’s and otheby’s also have less extensive island sites with useful information and stunning pictures.
Acquiring an island, especially in a foreign country, is not for the faint- hearted, but fortunately the digital domains of reputable brokers provide extensive, well-written information on necessary legal, financial and common-sense considerations, which inevitably differ vastly from one country to the next.
Vladi has even devised a 12-point list of crucial factors to consider, which he says enables clients to “enter transactions with their eyes wide open”. The emphasis, he says, is on habitable private islands.

[caption id="attachment_206806" align="alignnone" width="1749"] Lataro Island, Vanuatu[/caption]

Each factor is worth two points, for a maximum of points. f the score comes to less than 18 (66 percent), Vladi doesn’t recommend proceeding. If they total 12 points or less, then the property won’t even be listed on the ladi site. Briefly summarised, the most important factors are:

ONLY CONSIDER UNENCUMBERED FREEHOLD TITLE

This is one criterion where there’s no compromise, Vladi says. As the buyer, you should insist on receiving an unencumbered freehold title for the entire island against the purchase price, though sometimes the existence of a small property – such as a lighthouse – held by a third party can be acceptable. Freehold means that you own the property 100 percent.
Leasehold means that somebody else owns it, and you only have the right to use it for specific purposes and for a specific time. Moreover, you can’t insure your island against expropriation, as you don’t own it.

THERE MUST BE MEDICAL SERVICES WITHIN A 90-MINUTE RADIUS OF THE ISLAND

You should not consider buying an island from which a hospital, clinic or medical-service station cannot be reached within 90 minutes, or, even more preferable, one hour.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Buyers often underestimate the consequences of mosquitoes and sand flies. n some areas, mosquitoes need to be sprayed with chemicals, which is not good if you are allergic to the sprays. ome islands, like many in Australia, are home to highly venomous snakes. However, as only about four people die from snakebite each year Down Under, anywhere within 24 hours of a hospital is acceptably safe. Plants can present their own dangers some are toxic and others can cause allergic reactions. And yes, falling coconuts can be deadly.

[caption id="attachment_206808" align="alignnone" width="1736"] Kaulbach Island, Nova Scotia, Canada[/caption]

FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE SUBJECT TO THREE POSSIBLY LEGAL SYSTEMS:

Free market: foreign investments can be made in the country without restrictions. One can sell and buy as much as one wishes. This applies to the nited tates, anada, ermany, rance and reat Britain, to name a few. Free markets pose little concern for reselling, but investors should consult a local chartered accountant on tax issues.
Restricted market: foreigners can buy only with a government sanction, such as providing jobs. There are two groups of countries with restricted markets. For example, witerland, ew ealand and Australia have their own local market where foreigner sellers can expect to receive market prices for the property. Other countries, such as Tahiti, renada and the eychelles, require government permits for selling the property. If these are denied, sellers are often restricted to the lower prices offered by local markets.
Foreigners banned from buying: in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and others in the Asia-Pacific region, foreigners are not permitted to buy freehold land, including islands. In such countries, people are better off renting an island for their holidays and awaiting government policy to change in their favour before making an acquisition.

[caption id="attachment_206810" align="alignnone" width="1839"] Ideally, islands should be easily reachable by boat[/caption]

ACCESS

Reaching the island in all seasons and all weather is as important as being able to leave the island. heck whether the island has a natural anchorage or a small protected bay where a boat can be moored, and preferably where a path from the bay to the house can be built. Don’t consider islands subject to rough seas where no anchorage is possible (even if only for a few days each year).

[caption id="attachment_206809" align="alignnone" width="1719"] Kaulbach Island, Nova Scotia, Canada[/caption]

INFRASTRUCTURE

Your island should offer fresh water, a legal sewage system, and electricity, telephone and internet (you could perhaps do without telephone and internet, even power, but not water!).
If there’s no water and the groundwater table has sunk too deep, then a desalination system will be required (and cost up to US$50,000). Islands with their own water supply fall into a much more valuable category.

BUILDING PERMITS

Islands are in two types: developed with existing homes and undeveloped. Buyers should ask if homes were built legally and if a building permit is available to inspect. Where there’s been no building, buyers should find out whether permits are available. We strongly advise that they consult professionals, such as architects and surveyors.

THE PERFECT VILLIAN'S ISLAND

Given Vladi’s long and broad-ranging experience in island-hunting, we asked him only half in jest if he’d ever visited one that would be perfect for James Bond or a supervillian. Without pausing he suggested Dark Island, located just inside the New York State side of the St Lawrence River that forms the border with Canada. The sprawling and imposing granite othic-revival castle was built in the early 1900s by the Frederick Gilbert Bourne, the fifth president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. The eccentric Bourne had tunnels and passageways built into the walls from where, it’s said, he could eavesdrop on his dinner guests after excusing himself from the table. Today, Singer Castle is a popular tourist destination.

The post What to Consider Before Buying an Island of Your Own appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of Dolce & Gabbana are selling more than fashion these days. The duo's Sicilian seafront villa is now up for sale for the eye-popping price of HK$57.1 million (US$7.3 million). The electric and bold glamour of the iconic Italian brand is seen throughout this luxurious property; located on the island of Stromboli, it sits spectacularly on a cliff overlooking the blue expanse of the Mediterranean Sea and a 3,000-foot-high, oft-erupting volcano.

[caption id="attachment_157031" align="alignnone" width="962"] Photo credit: Lionel Luxury Real Estate[/caption]

The villa, which has been owned by the partners since the mid-1990s, was once the setting for lavish parties hosting several A-list celebrities, including Madonna and Naomi Campbell. Surprisingly, it's deceptively modest with a rustic vibe from its whitewashed façade and straight lines.

Surrounded by expansive terraces and lush gardens and trees, the property invites you to bask in the tropical beauty of its environs. The interior, however, is where the creative aesthetics of Dolce & Gabbana make a dazzling statement. According to Lionel Luxury Real Estate, who is responsible for this listing, the villa “has been renovated according to the style and taste of the two designers, who have furnished it with the same love and passion that they put into designing their clothes.”

[gallery ids="157033,157037,157036,157034,157035"]

Comprising three traditional Aeolian cottages that have been merged into a single entity, the 5,383-square-foot house has seven suites and nine bathrooms. Each suite boasts a colour theme, from sunshine yellow and turquoise blue to candy pink and neon green. Adding to the mesmerising impact of these shades are furnishings that include “unique pieces and fabrics from the fashion house combined with local handmade pieces, colourful hand-painted majolica tiles and lace curtains creating a unique aesthetic,” as described by the agency.

The living and dining areas are equally imaginative, featuring ornate chandeliers that form the central piece of wildly colourful rooms with walls that are adorned with an eclectic selection of art and numerous gold-painted antique cherubs.
Perhaps appropriately, this highly evocative space was used as the setting for a 2015 Dolce & Gabbana commercial starring Colin Farrell, for one of their fragrances.

And while there’s been much speculation behind the duo’s decision to sell this amazing property, nothing has come to the fore. One can only wonder if their losses as a result of the controversy surrounding their misguided China-based campaigns last year have anything to do with it.

In the meantime, interested buyers can look forward to sitting on the villa’s vast terrace, sipping on a fruity beverage, as the soft sea breeze of weaves through the swaying trees.

The post Dolce & Gabbana’s Luxury Sicilian Villa Can Be Yours for HK$57.1 Million appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.