Jun
3
2010
For all lovers of the Greek holiday experience (which includes me) here’s a rather interesting piece from last saturday’s Indie. A little known but stunningly beautiful Aegean Island called Samos – virtually a swim to mainland Turkey, and still with unspoilt charm…
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/samos-an-island-apart-1985789.html
I first visited the Greek Islands in 1986. Kefalonia was then as Samos is now: unspoilt, charming, peaceful, rejuvenating. It’s reassuring to know it’s still possible to experience those same precious things on a Greek Island!Turns out it even has a strong historical significance, as the birthplace of the great philosopher Pythagoras (the same guy who enthralled, or bored, us in school maths lessons). Enough though – read the article!
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/samos-an-island-apart-1985789.html
As it turns out its also a great place to invest, but that’s another story…
I’m planning my trip as I write 
Graham
Jun
2
2010
Another blow to the prospect of a decent retirement in the UK for many ordinary people. Check out this report in last week’s UK national, The Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1281729/Pension-age-linked-life-expectancy-meaning-millions-work-longer.html
I’m a firm believer that as a nation we are better than this, but the only hope is to put savers back in charge of their long term future wealth and comfort. How?
May
22
2010
Property developer and hotelier Harlequin Hotels and Resorts launched a prize draw of an all expenses paid 5* week in the in Caribbean in Friday’s Daily Mail newspaper. The winner will spend a week at the forthcoming luxury resort on Buccament Bay on the rather spectacular Caribbean island of St Vincent. Yes, you’ll need to sign up with the DM online to enter, but its free to do.
Here’s the link :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1280146/Win-fabulous-inclusive-Caribbean-holiday-two.html
Great though this will be, there’s only one winner. BUT anyone investing now with HighGround in any one of Harlequin’s 5* resorts gets
the same free holiday. Yep.
The free holiday can be valued at upwards of £5000. So invest from just £18k initially to own a 5* beach property (making you a high annual income for life) and take the holiday this year. You heard it first here. I’m preparing to have my arm bitten off when this goes public over the next couple of days, but I’ll live. Ask for details now: http://www.highgroundproperty.co.uk/contact_us
May
3
2010
Telegraph Property | Saturday, February 20, 2010
Greek Building
Imagine for one moment you have been planning to buy a property in Greece. Last summer, despite the unfavourable sterling -euro exchange rate, you spent-your holiday on the Athenian Riviera or in Crete and visited a couple of estate agents to sound out the local market But the prices were too high. A villa near the sea cost more than £250,000 in Crete and up to £3.5million outside Athens. You return home empty-handed and wait.
As the crisis surrounding Greece’s public finances unfolds, you breathe a sigh of relief that you didn’t make an irrational, Retsina-fuelled purchase. Property development companies in Greece are collapsing and insolvency among builders is at a 10-year high. The residential housing market has come to a virtual standstill. You start searching the internet for a villa to rent in August. Surely now is the time to buy your Greek second home?
Not so fast… The Greek second home market has been largely resistant to the global and national economic crisis. “In all the turmoil that has embroiled; Greece in the past couple of months, real estate prices have remained stubbornly high,” says Duncan Higgins of Caxton FX. “Since January 2009 prices have come down by just five per cent.”
It is too soon for the effect of the public finance crisis on the property market to be felt. “It’s going to be hard for some time,” says Robert Key of Cluttons in Athens. “But I don’t think prices will crash, the only falls we will see now will be for those who have a cashflow problem and have to sell.”
Buyers are as nervous about Greece as any other overseas market. Second-home owners looking to sell up this spring will struggle. But, according to George Eliades of Quintessentially Estates in Athens, your property’s value will increase in the long run. “After we have been stripped naked in front of the world, we will be more structured and values will go up.”
Greece’s second-home market was just taking off when the crisis hit in 2007, so there isn’t the oversupply of properties as seen in Spain or Bulgaria. Most of the proposed large-scale second-home projects have been shelved. “Developments in Greece are small; usually about three to 10 houses. There are so many blockers and this protects the natural environment,” says Key. But this has also protected house values. “Prices haven’t dropped dramatically because of a lack of development,:’ says Piers Williams of Aylesford.
Likewise, there has not been reduction in the rental prices of villas. According to hoIidaylettings.co.uk, in the past 30 days, Greece has had the 10th most enquiries per property in Europe. According to Williams, people will keep buying in Greece, whatever is happening in the economy. “There’s nowhere in the world like the Greek islands and beach-front property is nowhere near as expensive as ill France. The market might be quiet for a couple of years, but you won’t be making an unsafe investment.”
Let us not forget Britain was similarly volatile situation a year ago. “Greece is effectively six months to a year behind Britain. We went into the crisis later and will come out of it later,” says Key. “I’m from Norfolk and my family house has fallen more in value than my home in Athens.”
Armed with this knowledge, should you proceed with your plans to buy in Greece? “If you regard it as a five-year investment, you won’t go wrong,” Key says.
Apr
11
2010
We are delighted to tell you we now have full details on the opening of the most exciting new resort in the Caribbean.
The Rt Hon Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent & The Grenadines, will be present on both days to talk about this wonderful island and the Government’s support for our stunning new resort. Also present will be several Government Ministers and Caribbean High Commissioners for St Vincent & The Grenadines, Barbados, St Lucia and the Dominican Republic, the islands where Harlequin will be opening their other resorts during the next few years.
Harlequin’s Ambassador
Andy Townsend, ex-Chelsea and Republic of Ireland player, will be compering the weekend and will provide an update on the Harlequin Sports Academy.
Ex-Liverpool footballer, David Fairclough, and other Liverpool personnel will also be on hand to talk about the Liverpool Football Club Soccer Schools, the first of which will be opening at Buccament Bay Resort in July.
Pat Cash will be talking about the Pat Cash Tennis Academies, the first of which will be opening at Buccament Bay Resort in July, as well as the new Pat Cash Tennis Hotels that Harlequin are planning to build at the Buccament Bay Resort, Las Canas and The Marquis Estate.
Harlequin Performing Arts Academy. We are proud to announce that stars from the West End and Broadway will be performing in a new music and dance extravaganza, Bringing the Best of Broadway to the Caribbean, on each day at 4pm. This is a show not to be missed! Performers will include Michael McCarthy, West End and Broadway star, famous for his performances of Javert in Les Miserables and Paul Morrissey, who has recently finished performing in Phantom of the Opera in the West End.
Harlequin Hotels & Resort’s Hotel Management Team.Gary Sims will be introducing members of Harlequin’s Senior Management Team whose experiences in five star resorts around the world will be key in delivering the quality and high standards at Buccament Bay Resort. The team’s management experience encompasses Le Touessrok in Mauritius, the Beverley Hills Hilton in Hollywood, the Waldorf Astoria in New York, the Starwood Group which owns hotels such as the Westin, W Hotels, Sheraton and St Regis, and Nikki Beach. This demonstrates the strength and depth of experience of the management team that is in place to help guarantee the success of Harlequin’s resorts in the Caribbean.
Interior Design
Harlequin have been travelling the world designing and commissioning furniture and fittings exclusively for the interiors of the accommodation and restaurants at Buccament Bay Resort. At Wembley Harlequin will be re-creating the interior of one of the villas to display the furniture so that you can see the high standard and quality of the furnishings that are being manufactured to achieve a truly five star resort.
Restaurants
Harlequin have worked with the team from Trader Vic’s to design six new restaurant concepts to ensure that guests at the resorts will have a variety of cuisines and dining experiences during their stay. Members of the team from Trader Vic’s will be joining us for the weekend to talk about these exciting new concepts and will have table settings, menus and uniforms for the staff available for you to see. We will also be serving the famous Trader Vic’s’ Mai Tai cocktails!
Spa
Harlequin’s unique spa resort, Alaia, will be designed and operated by ESPA and will include the Alaia Spa as well as 50 spa villas in an exclusive, private environment. ESPA is the world’s leading spa company and has created award-winning spas across the globe, including the Mandarin Oriental and Bulgari. ESPA will be present during the weekend to show you some of their treatments and products.
Launch Site
Harlequin have created a website which will be updated regularly leading up to the event with news of what will be taking place during the weekend, special offers and opportunities for you to take advantage of. www.buccamentbay.co.uk/launch
Holidays
We hope that you will take the opportunity to visit Buccament Bay Resort in the coming months. During the weekend there will be special offers to entice you to book your holiday, including a minimum of 50% discount. For everyone who joins us at Wembley there will be a free raffle, drawn at the end of Sunday, 25th April, for a holiday for two people (terms and conditions apply) up to the value of £2,000.
Investing in a Harlequin property
If you book a holiday at Buccament Bay Resort during the event and, in the future, you decide to invest in a property at one of Harlequin’s resorts, Harlequin will refund the cost of your holiday (terms and conditions apply).
RSVP
Following the launch of Harlequin Hotels & Resorts at The Grove last year, many people mentioned that they wished they had brought along family and friends to see the stunning resorts that Harlequin is creating and the fantastic investment opportunities available. This event at Wembley provides the perfect opportunity for you to bring guests so they can fully appreciate and understand the concept of Harlequin’s resorts.
Places are strictly limited for this event so to ensure that we are able to cater for everyone we would recommend you book your places as soon as possible by e-mailing rsvp@highgroundproperty.co.uk.
If you are bringing guests along, Harlequin & Wembley Stadium request that you please also state their name, email address and contact number to ensure smooth access to the venue.
We will then email you and your guests the programme for the weekend, including all timings.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Apr
11
2010
Interestingly, the Sunday Times reports, “Property has pipped equities to the title of most popular asset class among the world’s wealthiest individuals, according to a report published last week. The survey by Knight Frank of Citi Private Bank’s international high-net-worth clients — those with assets worth more than $10 million (£6.6 million) — showed that the bulk of their portfolios (33 per cent) were invested in property. Equities account for the next-biggest chunk — 24 per cent — followed by cash and bonds, at 17 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
The results indicate that even more money could be flooding into bricks and mortar this year — 71 per cent of respondents said they believed that 2010 was a good time to buy, compared with 68 per cent who think that equities are a good purchase. compared with 41 per cent invested in commercial property, 5 per cent in agricultural and 4 per cent in funds.”
Mar
31
2010
Emerging Market Update: We believe that Cape Verde’s time has finally come. Check out the stunning Dunas Beach Resort, a rare opportunity to invest in a genuine 5 star luxury resort (run by Sol Melia – the largest resort hotelier in the world). Investment here is looking at very significant growth potential and a seriously good long term income. See http://www.highgroundproperty.co.uk/properties/capeverde/dunas.php