PropertyProperty Articles

Advertorial: Bear Grylls' luxury life in Phuket

Adventurer and TV personality Bear Grylls is buying a Club Penthouse at Kata Rocks (www.katarocks.com), Phuket’s newest and most exciting oceanfront development. From the spacious luxury of his 460 square meter Club Penthouse, Bear can leave the freezing mountain tops behind and enjoy the finer side of life.

The man who bought Britain

Safi Qurashi is the shopkeeper’s son from South London who bought Britain - an island shaped like the U.K. off the coast of Dubai. Words Anna Gizowska

Safi Qurashi is fast becoming as rich and famous as the celebrities he meets. He’s bumped into Beckham, Brad Pitt and George Clooney, rubbed shoulders with royalty, watched Lionel Richie eat lunch and listened to Enrique Iglesias sing. He sees Jim Davidson and Chris Eubanks every day. Not by choice - they live near his office.

Come sail away

With long summers and just over 1,800 miles of stunning coastline between them, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia are top contenders for some of the best value for money and long-term security in Europe, says Amy Grace

Italy rarely disappoints and if landing your own pad for revelling in la dolce vita is your aim but you want a property with a secure exit strategy and the potential for a good return, look no further. Sicily and Sardinia are the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and both are popular holiday destinations for Italians, meaning that they offer robust domestic markets.

It couldn't be better

It's one of the safest and most exciting cities in Latin America and offers great value for money - no wonder Panama City is ranked among the world's top destinations, says Amy Grace.

City pads rarely come with the kind of package this capital city offers – a rich, historic centre, superb Caribbean beaches, rugged mountain ranges and tropical rainforests. It has the lot – and no earthquakes or hurricanes; something no other Central American country can claim. It’s also one of the safest and most stable destinations in Latin America and, thanks to its warm climate and cheap cost of living, it appeals to young bankers and baby-boomers alike.

Sunshine after the storm

Florida has seen some hard times, with falling property prices and foreclosures. But now it’s at the bottom of the market cycle, is it time to take a second look at the Sunshine State, asks Roderick Easdale

Florida has long been popular as a second-home destination, but with the collapse in house prices, many people’s American Dream looked to be turning into a nightmare. So, should potential housebuyers stay clear of the Sunshine State, or does the current turbulence in the financial and housing markets offer the careful investor a good medium- and long-term opportunity?