Homes in Malta

Malta has gone through something of a metamorphosis in recent years. This beautiful Mediterranean island, midway between Sicily and the North African coast, has much to offer investors and is being discovered as a destination of choice for businesses, particularly those in IT services, financial and insurance sectors.

“Malta is no longer a location that is out of sight of investors, especially those who operate back office operations, e-gaming, financial services and others”, says Benjamin Muscat, CEO at Midi plc in Malta. “There’s a growing interest from these kinds of businesses. People come because they are attracted by a well-educated, predominantly English-speaking population, and also by the easy, safe and warm environment that Malta provides to a potential investor establishing a base here.

“The pharmaceutical sector, for example, is still doing very well on the island. We have created a particular niche with complementary manufacturing investments that are undertaken to support even larger investments. This is another important sector that is doing well.

The superb penthouse pool

“Malta’s economy has suffered like others as a result of the global recession. Nevertheless, in many ways, we’ve not been hit as hard as many other countries and the negligible increase in the unemployed is a clear testimony in this respect. Malta has been sheltered to a degree from the collapse of the financial services and banking sector and therefore escaped the worst.”

Concluded Muscat, “While we have not been spared the doom and gloom and the downturn in terms of real economy, at least we were not hit too hard, no doubt because of the very rigorous regulatory regimes that we have in Malta and the prudent approach taken by local financial institutions over the years.”

A hospitable population

Malta has much to offer businesses looking to relocate. The island’s international airport enjoys excellent connections with all major European capitals and many large cities making it easily accessible. Due to the size of the island, most places can be reached by road from the airport within an hour at most.

For those choosing to own a home or set up business in Malta there are many advantages; superb weather, fascinating history and culture, beautiful clean sea and beaches, a hospitable population and a very favourable tax regime.

The view from the Clubhouse

Malta also benefits from a very stable and secure real estate market that is in some ways protected by the limits imposed by its actual size as the smallest EU state. Foremost among the new real estate projects on the island is the €450 million Midi Project which includes the new mixed use development at Tigne Point situated on the north-east coast of the island.

Many amenities

These stylish waterfront homes are beautifully appointed, offering owners extensive views of Malta’s capital Valletta, a landscaped, car-free central Piazza or the sparkling Mediterranean. Almost totally ‘pedestrianised’, with all roads and car parking spaces situated underground, Tigne Point’s many amenities include a residents’ clubhouse and fitness centre, a shoreline pool and the island’s latest retail centre, The Point, a shopping destination anchored by UK retail giants Debenhams. This is a secure and gated exclusive environment set in landscaped gardens surrounded on three sides by the sea.

Tigne Point is only 20 minutes from the airport or a short boat ride from the capital. The whole project comprises luxury apartments and penthouses, state-of-the art-offices, retail, sports and leisure facilities all within a 30-acre car free environment.

T10 is the latest release with prices for two bedroom apartments starting from £360,000 and stunning, open plan penthouses, each with a private infinity swimming pool, from £1,333,000

Information on Tigne Point is available at www.tignepoint.com or by calling: +356 2065 5510

Midi PLC: €450 million, 44-hectare development is Malta’s most ambitious property regeneration project. More information can be found at www.midimalta.com

Malta
www.travelsupermarket provides readers with the best ways to get to the island:
There is one airport in Malta (Malta International Airport) served by a variety of carriers from the UK on non-stop flights.  These operate year round and are up to daily depending on airline and time of the year.  Frequencies are greater during the summer period:
Easyjet from Gatwick, Newcastle and Manchester

• Ryanair from Luton, Bristol, Leeds/Bradford and Edinburgh
• Air Malta from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow
• Bmibaby.co.uk from East Midlands
• Charters also operate from many UK airports with tour operators such as Thomson.co.uk and flythomascook.com, mainly in the summer months of May to October.

Flight times to these airports are just over three hours.
Prices are from as little as £35 return when sales on are with carriers such as Ryanair.  Average fares are around £80-£150.

See www.travelsupermarket.com

All services are economy only except for Air Malta, which also offers a business product called Club Class.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.