What sort of home can you purchase with a budget of USD10 million around the globe?

In the age of rapid globalisation, buying luxury real estate abroad is becoming more lucrative than ever, with bespoke properties in unique destinations offering promises of investment benefits, often not found domestically.

An old saying goes that the grass is always greener on the other side and the saying may be even more true when it comes to investing in luxury real estate around the world. Whether investing in luxury properties as seasonal resort destinations, home-away-from-home respites or properties for other people to enjoy, understanding the selling features of each property is important to get the best tangible and intangible returns on an investment. The features that characterise a luxury property differ from locale to locale, with high-end buyers requiring more and more from their investments.

A price tag alone does not define a property as a worthy investment; a property has to be unique and exclusive, with access to luxury activities and unique features for which buyers would be willing to pay a premium.

When buying luxury real estate, buyers, inevitably, are also buying a lifestyle. Whether a buyer’s preference is a rural retreat, an urban enclave, or a tropical haven, we offer a look at six global destinations that unveil unique luxury assets and distinct benefits suitable for different lifestyles.

Geneva, Switzerland
5 bedroom villa, USD8.8 million
Tel: +44 20 7861 1109
www.knightfrank.com

A home to the most billionaires in Switzerland, Geneva has been a base to some of the world’s most distinguished businesses in trading, shipping and finance. With a population hovering around a half-million, the city’s name resonates abroad for more than its economical and political stability, with its unparalleled quality of life and a reputation for being one of Europe’s most scenic and cosmopolitan cities. Surrounded by two mountain chains, the Alps and the Jura, and positioned next to Lake Leman, Geneva has no lack of natural beauty that stuns, even during wintertime. A gateway to the Alps, the European headquarters for the United Nations and a national heritage site, the city beacons with its unique charisma that attracts new residents looking for an exceptional quality of life every year.

One of Geneva’s most prized communes, Collogne-Bellerive, delivers the best of the city and the scenery around it by offering elegant and understated living between town and country. Among the properties in the commune is a spacious residence standing on a 33,000 sq. ft. picturesque plot of land, ideal for lovers of nature with its large garden, several terraces and a heated swimming pool for relaxation in the sun or under the stars. “While the Cologny hillside offers the views, this area is swiftly becoming a target for many international families due to the ease of access to Geneva, the flat topology allowing for larger and more usable gardens and houses with direct access to the lake”, says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Partner at Knight Frank.

Hong Kong
7 bedroom mansion, USD8.8 million
Tel: +203 253 0441
www.christiesrealestate.com

A city of extremes in many ways, Hong Kong is an international business hub and a world-class city with a distinct East meets West vibe. While dominated by skyscrapers, an outdoor escape to a beach or a mountain is always a short drive away, making the city attractive to seasoned urban dwellers and families alike. From the Mid-Levels with the always buzzing SoHo and Lan Kwai Fong, to the beach life in Repulse Bay and Stanley, to Jardine’s Lookout offering spectacular views over Happy Valley, the city reveals almost infinite possibilities with its changing landscape fit to suit any lifestyle.

One of the popular neighbourhoods for expatriate families, Pokfulam, situated on the southwestern side of Hong Kong Island, combines a pleasant environment with convenient location to central Hong Kong, all the while providing sweeping vistas of the South China Sea. In a tranquil location in Pokfulam, known for its luxury residences and open views of quaint green hills, verdant woods and the sea, charming low-rise townhouses offer a respite from the busy Hong Kong city life. Among the property offerings, the esteemed Mount Davis Village development provides townhouses with a split-level living and dining areas, floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping terraces, with the development’s location enjoying easy access to upscale malls, restaurants and prestigious schools, including University of
Hong Kong.

Greenwich, Connecticut
7 bedroom mansion, USD9.5 million
Tel: +203 253 0441
www.christiesrealestate.com

7-bedroom Georgian mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut

Known as “the richest town per capita in the world” in the 1920s, Greenwich, Connecticut still lives up to its aristocratic reputation of yesteryear by attracting some of America’s biggest hedge fund tycoons, corporate executives, actors and sports personalities. While decisively pastoral, Greenwich is easily accessible via a short commute from New York City, making the suburban town an in-demand locale for residents working in the Big Apple. The town’s architecture, indicative of its stately past, unveils a picturesque landscape of mid-country Georgian mansions situated on secluded and beautifully landscaped plots of land, offering a bucolic connection to nature in a close proximity to fine dining spots, exclusive shopping and some of the best private and public schools in the country.

A poster child for a quintessential Greenwich home, an award winning estate in the Sabine Farm Association in Greenwich embraces the charm of the town with a Georgian aesthetic that brings focus to architectural details and materials. With spacious amenities that include a dramatic two-storey family room, a three-car garage, exercise room, wine cellar and an expansive 430 sq. ft. outdoor terrace overlooking the rear garden and pool, the property offers a mix of indoor and outdoor luxuries to a buyer with a penchant for semi-rural luxury living.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
4 bedroom hillside villa, USD9.7 million
Tel: +55 21 3138 6000
www.christiesrealestate.com

4-bedroom hillside villa in Sao Conrado, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

With Brazil rising as one of the emerging economies in the world, Rio de Janeiro has been reaping the benefits of the economic growth by transforming into one of the premiere travel destinations in South America. With the help of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city has been flourishing with new construction projects and renovations of old historical buildings and palaces. Upscale neighbourhoods like Leblon and Ipanema continue to allure with their offerings, like luxury boutiques and fine dining restaurants, while the culture, history and beauty of the city uphold Rio’s mythical charm as the destination for indulgence in every way.

In the prestigious neighbourhood of São Conrado, residential properties draw interest with spectacular views to the ocean, the surrounding mountains and the islands beyond. One particular São Conrado property, while open to nature, is ideally positioned within Rio and its energetic pulse. The property benefits from plenty of space with two open verandas, internal and external gardens, a terrace and an infinity pool deck to take in all the beauty of nature. Says Frederico Judice Araujo of Judice & Araujo Imoveis, affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, “Located between Barra da Tijuca and Leblon, São Conrado is famous for the beach, which is good for surfing and body boarding, its golf course and hang gliding, while also offering sophisticated residential buildings, nightclubs and elegant restaurants”.

Phuket, Thailand
4 to 8 bedroom villa, USD9.8 million
Tel: +66 89 625 7878
www.avadinahills.com

Phuket has long been a well-known holiday island for international crowds looking for an exotic getaway during the holiday season. Among the more exclusive destinations and far from the crowds, Phuket’s less explored but far more refined locales demand a discerning consideration for property investment. Offering celebrity-chef restaurants, deluxe beach bars, designer boutiques and other cosmopolitan diversions, the island has raised the bar for luxury living in the recent years, with some of the best beachfront views in Asia and, quite possibly, the world.
Overlooking the bay of Bangtao on the West coast of Phuket, the luxurious development of Avadina Hills offers some of Phuket’s best villas, set in the lush green surroundings for maximum privacy. With the development designed by architectural firm Sakakura Associates and renowned landscape architect James Hyatt, each villa has been masterminded to maximise the views to Layan Beach and the surrounding private gardens. A true escape from the ordinary, Avadina Hills is a retreat of natural indulgence, secluded and exclusive, with the finest that Phuket has to offer located conveniently nearby.

Tangier, Morocco
5 bedroom coastline architect villa, USD10.7 million
Tel: +212 66155 0905
www.christiesrealestate.com

Holding some of Morocco’s most interesting history, the charming town of Tangier traces its roots back to the Roman and Byzantine Empires, with the French, Spanish, British, Italian and Portuguese forces subsequently laying claims to the area at various times in history and making it a truly international zone. Overlooking Cape Trafalgar, Tangier is a showcase city, with a dramatic corniche and a marina at the base of the city built by the king of Morocco in hopes to turn Tangier into a second Monaco. With old and new architecture mixing together gracefully and a laid-back small coastal town charm, Tangier is an expat heaven, shrouded in rich history
and culture.

Among the properties on the Tangier coastline, Villa Putman stretches our budget at USD 10.7 million, but is an exquisite and fortuitous find that maximises the views to the sea with its six levels and expansive outdoor spaces. Designed by the renowned interior designer Andrée Putman, famous for her work for Yves Saint Laurent and Thierry Mugler, this luxury villa offers a flowing floor plan and features like a jacuzzi and infinity pool.

Words by Olga Romaniuk.

From: Palace #18.

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