Marina developments can mean mega revenues these days with a new breed of investor looking for a prominent spot to dock. But where’s the smart money heading? Laura Henderson reports
They say that if you need to ask the price of a boat, then a life on the ocean waves is probably not your bag. But as the super-yacht industry boasts record international sales and marinas begin to rival golf resorts, the serious players are grabbing a slice of the best waterfront action.
“The luxury market for yachts is booming,” comments Engel and Völkers yachting broker Ben Ridge. “The number of individuals with assets of more than £20m has grown by almost 50% in the last three years and a good many of those are not just investing in a super-yacht, they’re also buying a waterfront pad with a dock to showcase their floating assets.”
According to Matthew Fox of Pure International, it’s not all about millionaires on their gin palaces, there are plenty of people tying up their pleasure boats and enjoying the scenery: “While demand for homes with pontoons or access to marina berths is rising, supply is also restrained by growing restrictions on development of canal-side residential estates and waterfront marinas. This is adding greater scarcity value to this type of property, so if you’re fortunate enough to find a dockside home you like, stick with it. Growing demand and constrained supply make for a nice little nest egg.”
With moorings in Mallorca rising in value between 7% and 10% a year, and growing numbers of privately owned vessels using the island as a permanent base, the local authorities are working hard to maintain this Balearic idyll’s exclusive maritime market. Property, unlike in mainland Spain, has followed a similar upbeat pattern; waterfront stock rising by 8% on average in 2007, with a similar forecast for 2008.
“The island has made a successful transition from the high-rise grip of the 60s and 70s to more mature, responsible residential tourism in recent years,” says property consultant Michael Pott.“That includes marina development, with the government quietly and systematically upgrading boating amenities and associated leisure facilities to cater to a more discerning residential clientele.”
Fastest growing super-yacht marinas on the south coast, due to their superb facilities and proximity to Palma centre, are Real Club Náutico de Palma and Club de Mar; with smaller more intimate alternatives such as Puerto Andratx and Portixol catering more to leisure tourism.
Inaugurated in 1986 and regarded as the island’s most fashionable marina address, gleaming Puerto Portals, just 10km from Palma, sports 670 moorings from 8m to 80m, together with charter facilities and dry dockage, with a glitzy strip of designer boutiques and trendy eateries within walking distance of the pier.
Stylish apartments overlooking the moorings and Bay of Palma Nova fetch in the region of €220,000; three-bedroom townhouses in Portal Nous village centre fetching €400,000. The most luxurious villas are found around Costa d’en Blanes, starting at around €1m for a three-bedroom villa with sea views. Typically Spanish Property is marketing a three-bedroom luxury apartment just a short distance from the marina for €750,000. One of just seven residences in a gated community with landscaped gardens, pool and private underground parking, the property features marble flooring, two designer bathrooms and a Jacuzzi suite.
On the east coast, set around a string of picturesque coves in the municipal district of Santanyí, the picturesque resort of Cala d’Or is well heeled, although you wouldn’t feel out of place in your flip flops. A little over an hour’s drive from Palma, the resort’s state-of-the-art marina (Cala Llonga) has moorings for 565 vessels.
Many of the surrounding hotels and apartments are designed to blend in with the traditional sea-faring landscape, giving the resort a villagey feel, although a growing number of front-line renovation projects are underway catering to demand from younger buy-to-let investors. One of several turnkey offerings from Escapes2 is a stylish one-bedroom apartment for €200,000. Recently refurbished to a high standard, the property sports two outside terraces, one of which directly overlooks the marina, a galley kitchen, contemporary bathroom and open-plan living room. All you need is the boat.
Portugal
Blessed with over 200km of superb sailing coastline and one of the best charter areas in Europe, Portugal’s gilt-edged Algarve region has built up a serious leisure-and-pleasure reputation over the years, not only for its fantastic golf courses, but also as host of several prestigious international sailing regattas, including the Algarve International Sailing Tournament, held every spring in the millionaire’s marina of Vilamoura.
Shoring up the current marina portfolio, Parque Expo, the company responsible for revamping Lisbon’s north-east waterfront into Nation’s Park, is transforming the front line east of Faro around Ria Formosa Natural Park into a glittering luxury marina complex to accommodate larger yachts and small cruise liners.
“The city [Faro] has been seen as a poor relation to Lisbon in the past,” says Connie Vitto of Quadrant Overseas Property, “the latter having benefited from the first tranche of regeneration funding from the EU. Now that is all set to change.”
Early-bird investors looking for a bargain are in good company, with footballing celebrities José Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly house-hunting in the area. “Land prices in the immediate vicinity of the marina are already reflecting future development,” adds Vitto. “A 1,000m2 plot selling for €50,000 five years ago is now double the value.”
One of the first front-line residential projects to get underway is Marina Village. Situated in the Moorish village of Olhão on the fringes of Ria Formosa and just 12km from Faro airport, phase one will comprise 387 contemporary-style apartments with high-spec kitchens, wooden floors and spacious balconies. Residents will have the option of leasing a berth at the new marina, with the full complement of on-site facilities, including a five-star spa, rooftop swimming pool, and boat shuttle to the surrounding Ria Formosa islands. One-bedrooom apartments with Quadrant Overseas Property start from €205,000, rising to €240,000 for three bedrooms.
The former fishing village turned boating mecca of Cascais, a see-and-be-seen alternative close to the Portuguese capital, has become the weekend escape for Lisbon’s well heeled; the town’s reputation supported by the price tags in its boutiques and the number of stars on its hotel signs. Property next to the town’s 650-berth marina, which opened in 1999, understandably commands a premium. “The town has a vocation for staging major international sailing events, such as the ISAF Sailing World Championship,” says Paul Houston of Lucas Fox. “Now there’s a quay for mega-yachts and additional moorings, which will only strengthen the resort’s second-home appeal.”
Those looking for a ready-to-move-into designer pad can take their pick from the current portfolio of €1m+ front-line stock.
Lucas Fox is selling a stunning Bauhaus-inspired three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse apartment with a 150m2 roof terrace overlooking the Bay of Cascais, on the market for €641,000. Kitted out with the latest smart-home essentials from electric shutters to a video entry system, the property also boasts a ‘floating’ stairwell leading up to the roof level and those panoramic harbour views.
FR Ambitions portuaires
Alors que l’industrie des grands yachts atteint des records de vente au niveau international et que les marinas commencent à rivaliser avec les terrains de golf, les acteurs de premier plan tentent d’emporter une part de ce business juteux, dont l’action se déroule à front de mer.
Portugal
La région de l’Algarve au Portugal s’est bâti une solide réputation de ‘loisirs et plaisirs’ non seulement pour ses championnats organisés sur les greens, mais également comme hôte de plusieurs régates prestigieuses de voile, au niveau international. Parque Expo, la société qui a déjà redonné vie au front de mer au nord est de Lisbonne, dans le Parc des Nations, a en gestation le littoral à l’est de Faro autour de la Réserve Naturelle de Ria Formosa, conçu comme un luxueux complexe de marina. “Les prix du terrain reflètent déjà les développements futurs,” explique Connie Vito de Quadrant Overseas Property, “une parcelle de 1 000m² qui se vendait €50 000 il y a cinq ans, en vaut aujourd’hui le double.”
Mallorca
Avec des mouillages dans le grand parc des eaux méditerranéennes de Mallorca, dont la valeur augmente chaque année de 7% à 10%, et un nombre croissant de bateaux privés utilisant l’île comme une base permanente, les autorités locales placent tous leurs efforts dans le maintien de ce marché maritime exclusif et idyllique des Baléares. Les marinas qui bougent le plus vite en termes de capacités d’accueil des grands bateaux sur la côte sud sont Real Club Nautico et Club de Mar. On trouve aussi des alternatives plus intimes comme Puerto Andratx et Portixol plus adaptées au tourisme de plaisance. Inaugurée en 1986 et considérée comme la marina la plus in de l’île, Puerto Portals abrite 670 emplacements, ainsi qu’une rangée étincelante de boutiques de stylistes et des restaurants dernier cri. Des appartements de standing surplombent les quais et la Baie de Palma Nova, ils sont vendus aux alentours de €220 000. Les villas les plus luxueuses se trouvent autour de la Costa d’en Blanes, à partir d’environ €1m. Nichée autour d’un alignement de baies pittoresques dans le district municipal de Santanyi, la magnifique station balnéaire de Cala d’Or, sur la côte est de Mallorca est souvent décrite comme huppée, et toutefois vous ne vous sentiriez pas déplacé dans vos tongs. Parmi les offres clés en main d’Escapes2 se trouve un appartement de caractère, une chambre, pour seulement €200 000.
NL Ambitieuze havenprojecten
De verkoop van superjachten zit wereldwijd in de lift en jachthavens steken stilaan de golfresorts naar de kroon. Serieuze spelers investeren dan ook in waterpret.
Portugal
De Algarve in Portugal heeft een stevige reputatie als vakantie- en recreatiebestemming. Niet alleen vanwege de keuze aan professionele golfterreinen, maar ook omdat er verschillende prestigieuze internationale zeilregatta’s plaatsvinden. Parque Expo, het bedrijf dat de noordelijke kustzone van Lissabon omtoverde tot het Park der Naties, plant een project om de kustlijn ten oosten van Faro rond het Ria Formosa-natuurpark om te vormen tot een luxueus havencomplex. “De grondprijzen weerspiegelen dat toekomstige project al”, verklaart Connie Vito van Quadrant Overseas Property. “Een stuk grond van 1000 m², dat je vijf jaar geleden voor € 50.000 kon kopen, is nu al het dubbele waard.”
Mallorca
De ligplaatsen in het mediterrane paradijs Mallorca stijgen elk jaar met zo’n 7 % à 10 % in waarde. Steeds meer privéjachten gebruiken het eiland als permanente uitvalsbasis. De lokale overheden doen er alles aan om de exclusieve maritieme markt van dit Baleaarse eiland te handhaven. De snelst evoluerende jachthavens voor superjachten aan de zuidkust zijn Real Club Nautico en Club de Mar, terwijl kleinere, maar intiemere alternatieven zoals Puerto Andratx en Portixol zich meer richten op het recreatieve toerisme. Het in 1986 geopende Puerto Portals is een van de hipste jachthavens van het eiland. Het telt 670 ligplaatsen en een glitterwaaier van designerboetieks en trendy restaurants. Voor stijlvolle appartementen met zicht op de jachthaven en de baai van Palma Nova betaal je zo’n € 220.000. Luxevilla’s vind je rond Costa d’en Blanes vanaf € 1 miljoen. Aan de oostkust van Mallorca in het district Santanyi strekt het charmante vakantieoord Cala d’Or zich uit rond een reeks pittoreske kreken. Hoewel luxe er troef schijnt te zijn, misstaan ook je teenslippers er niet. Een van de vele instapklare aanbiedingen van Escapes2 is een stijlvol appartement met 1 slaapkamer voor € 200.000.
Images Alamy, Corbis
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