UK & Overseas Property News

By the seaside

The Emerald Heights freehold properties in the lush serenity of southern Mauritius, has set a benchmark of quality in one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world.

Emerald Heights, Mauritius

First phase releases introduced exclusively in the UK by international agent, Erna Low Property, includes over 30 sumptuous one, two and three bedroom apartments with shared pools; two, three and four bedroom detached villas with private gardens and waterfall pools set within an abundance of tropical landscaping.

Designed and constructed to international specifications, these exceptional properties feature hardwood flooring; spacious, open-plan living accommodation; stunning architectural features such as the octagonal entrance atrium and staircase in villa properties; Villeroy & Boch bathroom suites; modern fitted kitchens with island units; air conditioning, satellite TV, broadband connection and 24-hour security.

Properties at Emerald Heights are affordable with apartments starting from Euros 275,000, and villas from Euros 895,000 inclusive of furniture package, taxes and fees. Situated on the edge of the stunning Black River Gorges National Park in the Mont Blanc valley, the Emerald Heights community is served by the Trapiche Centre which is richly appointed with boutiques, themed bars and restaurants, gourmet deli and quality food store. The Centre also offers a professionally equipped gym, treatment rooms for massage and therapy, and many leisure and relaxation opportunities.

Owners of properties at Emerald Heights have unlimited access to the 5-star facilities of the private Emerald Lagoon Beach Club only 10km away by private shuttle service. Ownership also qualifies for privilege membership of the world-renowned Mauritius Gymkhana Club, an exceptional 18-hole international course, while the 18-hole, par 72 championship course at Chateau du Golf at Bel Ombre is only 12km away by shuttle.

Access to Mauritius is easy with direct flights from 38 international cities. Emerald Heights, being the closest property development to the Island’s airport, is approximately 40 minutes transfer from Mauritius International Airport. For more information, contact Francois Marchand, Sales and Project Manager, Erna Low Property. Francois.marchand@ernalowproperty.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 7590 1624

‘Try before you buy’ new homes in Manchester

In a housing market fraught with insecurities which has left those wanting to move on feeling trapped, homebuyers in Manchester are taking advantage of a new initiative – ‘Try Before you Buy’ – that lets tenants build up a deposit through their rent money whilst testing out their potential new pad. The pilot scheme, available at ISIS Waterside Regeneration development Islington Wharf, is winning over increasing numbers of prospective buyers and this month secured its first purchase for one tenant after four months’ rental, having agreed the purchase price at the outset.

Hollie Reynolds, sales and customer care manager at ISIS commented: “We are very pleased at customers’ response to the scheme. ‘Try Before you Buy’ works because it taps into two of our clients main concerns – saving a deposit and uncertainty about property values in the current market. You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it and we believe the same approach should be applied when buying a home.”

First to convert from tenant to owner is Simon Tonkinson 40, a record and CD distributor who moved to Islington Wharf in January. Increasingly frustrated at paying ‘dead money’ on rent, Simon decided to purchase after viewing dozens of places.

He commented: “There is no other scheme like this. It has enabled me to live close to the city centre which I hadn’t really considered to be an affordable possibility. I fell for Islington Wharf as I can enjoy the benefits of city centre living which includes a pleasant four minute walk to work along the canal, and I am always recommending it to friends so I hope they follow my lead soon.”

slington Wharf has over 40 apartment variations ranging from one bed apartments to a four bed family duplex, many with private gardens and also a communal garden – a modern village green – in an area that already has in place a new health centre ready to support a new community. Future plans for the area include a new school, children’s play area, crèche, shops and work recently began on site for a new Metrolink connection at Islington Wharf, due to open in 2011. www.islingtonwharf.co.uk.co.uk, or call 08701 622522

Safe as houses

Despite the gloomy economic environment of the last year and the retrenchment of the overseas property market, Spain has managed to retain its allure for Britons seeking a home in the sun. However, for the property industry in Spain to take off once again there are a number of ‘boulders on the runway’ that have to be removed, a challenge which is now being taken up by an alliance of Taylor Woodrow de España and international accreditation specialists, Safe Buying Experience.

The ‘boulders’ which are holding back the Spanish property market include a lack of trust surrounding the legal title of any property following the well publicised land grab scares, the notional increase in prices resulting from changes in the exchange rate, the fear of substandard construction work, and the lack of available finance.

Taylor Woodrow de Españas’ Calpesol development in Costa Blanca

As the only major UK house builder operating in Spain, Taylor Woodrow de España, has a head start over other developers in being able to begin to address the challenges and show that Spain still offers fantastic opportunities for those seeking to buy property abroad. As a UK company committed to the high quality of workmanship in the building of its homes, Taylor Woodrow de España can offer its customers peace of mind that anything they buy will be built to an exacting standard.

In order to allay the fears generated through the extensive coverage of Britons who had lost their holiday homes through the so called ‘land grab’ policies of some of Spain’s regional legislators, Taylor Woodrow de España have teamed up with Safe Buying Experience (SBE). SBE offers an independent accreditation service to developers in Spain and Portugal effectively guaranteeing that every Taylor Woodrow de España property has the correct legal title, conforms to planning and building regulations and that buyers are not burdened with a poor or unenforceable contract after handing over a reservation deposit.

The founders of SBE come from a long and distinguished background of law, management and financial services. They recognise that, in an increasingly sophisticated market, buyers seek upfront reassurance that their dream home is everything they believe it to be. Every Taylor Woodrow property in Spain now comes with full SBE accreditation.

The developer currently has a range of Safe Buying Experience endorsed quality homes available in Mallorca, the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, starting from 173,531€. For further information on Taylor Woodrow de España and the developments available please call 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwoodrow.es/ If you want further information regarding the Safe Buying Experience accreditation scheme please visit http://www.safebuyingexperience.com/

Hotels for sale

Jerez real estate agents, Mercers, have two city centre residences on their books which will allow you to do just that. The first is for those who like to work smart and is ready to go whilst the second is for those who like to work hard and is ready for renovation. Both have enough period flair and exquisite detailing to satisfy even the late ‘King of Hoteliers and Hotelier of Kings’.

A gorgeous hallway in Jerez

Easy to reach, for nationals and northern Europeans alike, Jerez’s modernized International Airport is set to serve four million passengers each year by 2012 and crucially will have its own AVE (bullet train) station connecting it to Spain’s major cities. Would-be hoteliers have little to fear, Jerez has earned its place on Spain’s cultural tourism map.

In order to hit the (cobbled) ground running, Mercer’s recommends a ten-bedroom, turn of the 20th century guest house set in a charming narrow street in the heart of town. Only one minute from Jerez’s central shopping district, Calle Larga, this Parisian-style boutique hotel has been welcoming paying guests for a number of years.

Excellent value for money considering the city-centre location, the ten bedrooms and six bathrooms are arranged over three floors while there is a shady courtyard patio at ground floor level. The recently reduced price now stands at 599,000 euros, down from 850,000 euros. (Quote ref: Jer 113) The kind of renovation project that Michelangelo would’ve liked to have got stuck into is a vintage family home dating back to 1858 and the belle of Mercer’s books

One step across the threshold and the typically Andalucian courtyard with its grandiose main staircase, pillars, arches, beveling, cornicing, coving and Frank Lloyd-Wright inspired stained glass will already have the imagination running wild. Inside, many of the rooms have Arab-esque stucco detailing, intricate tiling as well as the most incredible hand-painted ceilings with frescoes of countryside landscapes. Counting at least seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, two kitchens and six iron-railed balconies, this precious part of Jerez’s history is built over 847m² to include a private rooftop terrace with potential penthouse suite. A rear garden and garage complete the scene for an idyllic city centre destination hotel.

Although technically priceless, this gem has been reduced from 1,000,000 euros to a give-away 850,000 euros. (Quote ref Jer 137) Contact Mercers on 00 34 956 329 572, UK local rate 0845 017 7805, email jerez@spanishproperty.co.uk or visit www.spanishproperty.co.uk.