A real estate renaissance is underway in the Maldives, with private island resort developments in particular proving to be a popular choice amongst international investors.
The Maldives is enjoying something of a real estate renaissance, with reports filtering through to Private Island News that an unnamed Russian investor has taken over the lease of a high-end private island resort, paying an estimated USD 65 million for the island’s remaining 40 year lease period balance.
Whilst a series of bureaucratic formalities still stand in the way of the official transfer of ownership, Private Island News understands that the deal has already very much been sealed, with the only question marks remaining over the purchase pertaining to the resort’s management team.
Increased investment and interest
The sale of this mystery Maldives resort island comes just months after further successful deals to take over Herathera Island in the Addu Atoll and Manafaru in the Haa Alif Atoll and forms part of a more general spirit of investment which spreads from the country’s resort islands right through to its impressive infrastructure – soon set to be expanded up on in the form of the five new airport developments as announced by the Maldivian government at the end of 2013.
No doubt keen to take advantage of this fresh wave of interest in the ever popular holiday destination, a further private island resort development was this week added to Vladi Private Islands’ impressive portfolio, bringing the number of known Maldives resort islands currently available on the market up to four.
Off-Market Islands Also Available
Yet whilst these four islands are already very much available in the public sphere, it is thought that there could actually be even more Maldives private island resorts up for sale – albeit on a strictly off-market basis. As our insider at international island broker Vladi Private Islands explained, many of the region’s higher-profile island resorts choose not to officially announce or advertise their sale, preferring to working directly with brokers until an investor is found.
According to our island resort insider, the decision to work on an off-market basis until an official transition of ownership has benefits for buyers, brokers and holiday-goers alike. “As well as minimizing disruption and worry for those guests already booked into the resort, the decision to work under the conditions of a non-disclosure agreement adds further allure to the island itself, giving purchasers the feeling they’ve stumbled across a real gem.”
“Whether an island resort business or a personal private island hideaway – if you’re serious about an investment of this magnitude, it’s always worth enquiring about the availability of any off-market opportunities,” our source added. “As the old saying goes: if you don’t ask, you don’t get!”