Madeira Real Estate Blog

At the end of March, Palheiro Real Estate attended two events in London linked to the residential tourism market in Portugal.

The first of these was the 6th Annual Property Conference, organised by the UK Portuguese Chamber of Commerce.    Held at the new Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel, the conference brought together key figures in the Portuguese leisure property market.   Delegates heard from a number of distinguished speakers on topics ranging from the outlook for the Portuguese economy; Portugal as a residential tourism destination; how Portugal’s residential tourism developers are responding to changed market conditions; real estate regulation in Portugal and the placement of residential property into UK investment structures.

The Moderator for the second half of the conference was Jonathan Fletcher Blandy, President of the real estate, hotel and golf operations at the Palheiro Estate in Madeira.

The conference was followed by A Place in the Sun overseas property show held at Earls Court.   Palheiro Real Estate was one of eight companies which combined to form the Portuguese Pavilion, organised under the auspices of the UK Portuguese Chamber.   The Portuguese stand stood out in the national colours and attracted considerable attention over the 3-days of the show.    The presenters of A Place in the Sun TV programme  - Amanda Lamb, Jasmine Harmen and Jonnie Irwin - were present at the show and took part in a number of seminars giving general advice on buying property overseas.

At the end of the 3-day show, the general opinion of those taking part was that attendance and enquiry levels indicated a return to a healthier market, particularly in the more traditional and better established locations.   Under the heading `Lifestyle Buyers Get Serious´, an article published by the Overseas Property Professional organization on 31 March commented that “A Place in the Sun in London this year offered a seemingly busier crowd and a more positive atmosphere than at the 2009 show.  Many exhibitors reporting an increase in leads.”

Jasmine Harman, presenter of A Place in the Sun TV programme visits the Portuguese Pavilion at A Place in the Sun show in London on 28 March – pictured here with Roger Still of Palheiro Real Estate.

Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the UK Portuguese Chamber of Commerce with Roger Still of Palheiro Estate on the Portuguese Pavilion at A Place in the Sun show, in London on 28 March.   Note the beautiful orchids, which were specially delivered to the show from the Palheiro Estate, Madeira Island.

Christina Hippisley and Luis Delgado of the UK Portuguese Chamber of Commerce visit the Palheiro Estate display at the Portuguese Pavilion; 28 March.

With the onset of the credit crunch, fractional ownership of holiday homes has been increasing in popularity as a more affordable and practical way of owning a home abroad.

Portugal has long been a leading fractional freehold destination and Madeira provides a great option for fractional purchasers, as highlighted in an article in the Daily Mail last week.

The journalist Xanthe Whittaker states that fractional ownership allows “for holiday homes, once the exclusive domain of the ultra-rich, to become available to people with considerably smaller bank accounts.”

Palheiro Village is given as an example of one such luxury location that offers value for money. The article highlights though that fractional is often attractive to people who could afford to own a whole property outright, but “would rather part-own than make the financial commitment of full-freehold ownership.”

For the full article, click on this link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

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‘Navega Bem - Web Design‘ is a highly reputable web design and development company based on the sub-tropical island of Madeira,  535 miles (861 km) from Lisbon - Portugal.

Frequent visitors to our garden isle are well aware that Madeira is a children’s paradise…and the rest of the world is waking up to this fact too! Homes Overseas, the UK’s leading property website, features Palheiro Estate in an article about the delights available for children on Madeira.

The story starts by stating that “Thanks to the appealing climate and increasing range of year-round outdoor activities, property in Madeira and the island itself has been expanding its appeal to families in recent years.” It goes on to list some of the great opportunities for children, including the water and land sports, festivals that “are a highlight for families” and attractions that can be visited.

Read all about it here: HomeOverseas

Coast magazine, the UK’s premier magazine celebrating the best of coastal living, includes Madeira as great place to own a home. It states that “there is a great choice for homebuyers” on the island, and the Palheiro Estate is recommended.

With a view of the coast like this, we’re not surprised by their choice!

Article by by LAURA LATHAM - Easy Jet Inflight

WE MOVED TO…
MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

When home is a grand 19th-century estate on a semi-tropical island, what more do you need?

YEAR-ROUND SUNSHINE, stunning coastal views and an active, outdoor lifestyle may sound too good to be true, but the Still family will tell you how wrong you are. They moved to Madeira two years ago and love it so much they’ve set down roots as deep as the ancient trees in the island’s famous forests.

“I never expected to end up in Madeira,” says Roger, 57, who lives with wife Lizzie, 49, and 10-year-old daughter Lara in a villa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. “But it’s a beautiful island with so much to do. It’s a wonderful place to live.”

Roger’s career in international sales had already taken the Stills across the world, from the Caribbean to central Europe and Portugal, when he was offered a job working for the illustrious Blandy family in Madeira.

One of the most important names on the island, the Blandys made their fortune in the 1800s, by exporting Madeira wine. Palheiro, the family’s 19th-century estate, is famous for its boutique hotel, golf course and botanical gardens - and the development where the Stills’ home is located. “Palheiro is a stunning location,” says Lizzie. “There is a certain amount of kudos to saying we live there. People are always very impressed.”

Madeira is a highly cosmopolitan environment, which gives Lara the chance to mix with a range of nationalities at school. “It was difficult when I first moved here,” she says. “But I soon got used to it, and now have a lot of friends from Madeira, Germany, Spain and Holland. We hardly ever watch TV, but we never get bored, because there are so many other things to do.”

Roger and Lizzie feel Madeira allows Lara a diverse, outdoor lifestyle she wouldn’t find elsewhere. She’s currently taking golf and riding lessons, plays tennis and goes on hikes with her father and the family spaniel, Archie, along Madeira’s famous levadas (aqueducts). These narrow paths follow the watercourses that flow from the mountains and are picturesque, but can be precarious. “Walking levadas is fun but sometimes it can be scary,” says Lara, “Archie fell in last time, so I don’t think he likes it much.”

Living on such a far-flung outpost doesn’t make the family feel isolated. “Europe is only three hours away, so we can get off the island whenever we need a change of scenery,” explains Lizzie. “Plus, we have the internet like everyone else, so we can communicate with friends and family and, of course, do our shopping online.” She laughs: “Roger’s heart sinks whenever a delivery arrives - he knows I’ve been busy with the credit cards.”

Lizzie also feels the family benefits from a simpler, as well as a better, quality of life. “It’s a safe environment. Children here don’t grow up as fast and aren’t exposed to a competitive or materialistic culture.” She admits, though, that Madeira may not suit everyone, and advises prospective residents to visit several times or rent for a few months first.

ROGER ALSO CLAIMS the island is losing its “blue rinse” reputation, thanks to younger families who have moved there. Even their eldest daughter, Charlotte, 21, who lives in the UK and used to prefer holidaying in Ibiza, is happy to visit with her friends. They now find enough clubs and bars on the island to keep them happy.

The family’s only quibble might be that the year-round good weather has made them soft. “Madeirans are so used to warmth they think anything below 15°C is freezing, and last winter was quite cold,” says Roger. “We’re one of the few families in the area who have central heating, so we were the envy of all our friends.”

For now, at least, the family have no plans to leave and are constantly thrilled with Madeira’s unexpected pleasures. “The other day, we saw a school of dolphins playing just offshore,” says Roger. “It’s those experiences that lifts the spirits and makes us realise that, after two years, we’ve barely scratched the island’s surface.”

Country Life features Palheiro Village in a feature about fractional freehold property in the special International edition of this premium magazine. A large picture of a villa features on the first page of the article, under a headline stating “Where fractions add up”.

The writer, Cheryl Markosky, notes that “many top-end house builders, including Palheiro Village on the Blandy Estate on the island of Madeira, is looking at The Registry Collection” and details the scheme and what’s on offer.