I recently went through my notes and came across some comments I wrote at the tail end of 2008. One read: ‘Goal for 2009 – Keep your head above water’ well we didn’t drown and what a white water adventure it was.

Not only have we managed to ‘ride the wave’ in a volatile market place, maintaining a high level of sales this year, we have also been able to increase our selection of properties including a sublime portfolio of superior homes in the French Alps.

Early in 2010 we are launching an outstanding portfolio of exceptional properties in prime locations across Italy, including the Italian Riviera which extends from the border with France and the French Riviera near Ventimiglia to Capo Corvo, which marks the eastern end of the Gulf of Liguria of La Spezia and is close to the border with Tuscany, where we will have a large portfolio of exclusive residences for sale. (more…)

We are proud to announce the launch of a new portfolio of luxury ski chalets and apartments offering the very highest standards of luxury in the elite locations of Courchevel, Megève, Mèribel and Val d’Isère in the French Alps.

So confident are we of the high level of interest in owning a home in the finest skiing locations, we have given a seasonal feel to our web site to accommodate our unique portfolio of spectacular properties.

Courchevel 1850 is a glamorous resort renowned for its designer shops and 5 star hotels, sensational highlife and some of the world’s leading restaurants including Bergerie and Cap Horn. The resort attracts some of the biggest names from the world of business, as well as International A list celebrities, many of whom fly in on their private jets into the high altitude Altiport that sits above the resort.

Mèribel is located in the middle of the Trois Vallées (Three Valleys); the sun drenched valley benefits from North and South facing slopes. Luxury ski chalets in the centre are built in a traditional style using local wood, slate and stone.

Megève is a cosmopolitan ski resort with 17th century church and a centre which is closed to traffic for several hours a day. Apres Ski entertainment includes casino, clubs and live shows. This is a social centre of international status.

Val d’Isère is one of the most popular French ski resorts for those looking to buy luxury mountain properties. There is an eclectic mix of original stone homes and newer wooden residences. There is fantastic skiing including the Olympic downhill course and glacier skiing. Val d’Isère is renowned for its Apres Ski together with a range of exclusive restaurants and for the party goers, some amazing nightclubs and bars.

Click here to view our new portfolio of chalets and apartments in the French Alps

Unique Living are delighted to announce that we have now increased our Portfolio at Aphrodite Hills to over 100 re-sale homes and off plan residences. We are extremely proud of our affiliation with this flagship development in Paphos, Cyprus.

With the market at the development now becoming more ‘established’ with less people being incentivised to buy off plan, Aphrodite Hills is now finding a new market place changing from the investor, to those seeking a lifestyle which is incomparable on a development of this scale in Cyprus. The development includes:

- Inter Continental Aphrodite Hills, 5 star hotel with 3 destination restaurants, children’s and teenage clubs.
- 18-hole championship golf course with luxurious Club House and pro-shop.
- The Retreat at Aphrodite Hills, a superb spa with signature Thermae Experience and Hammam Ritual.
- The Aphrodite Hills Tennis Academy.
- The Cove and The Beach Club.
- Extensive children and teenager facilities and clubs.
- Equestrian Centre
- The Village Square containing shops, informal restaurants and pub plus occasional local market.

We have also recently launched a micro-site dedicated to Aphrodite Hills; however our whole portfolio of properties can be found on our main website.

We are also delighted to announce the launch of our website dedicated to the new Limassol Marina, an exclusive waterfront development designed by a world-renowned team of architects and engineers. Created out of man-made islands, it combines elegant real estate, a state-of-the-art marina and a lifestyle uniquely shaped by ‘living on the sea.’

Over the last few weeks we have seen the Pound showing signs of starting the long road to recovery, back to levels that UK clients feel comfortable to start investing again in overseas property. Many of our UK based clients this year have asked us to notify them when things begin to recover; well things are improving… it is strange how the media always enjoy to convey bad news but when some positive signs from the economy are noted it tends to be limited in column inches.

Our currency exchange partners HIFX this week stated that “the £/€ had broken through the key resistance level of 1.1575, and this will open the door for potential moves back towards the 1.20 level in the coming trading sessions!”

Well what does that mean for the bigger “property picture” putting it simply – not only are our UK based investors going to get properties that have fallen price wise, significantly since October 2008 (up to 30-40% in some circumstances), but also they are going to be able to transfer the Pound at a far more acceptable level – which means even further savings!

We are finding that many clients who simply could not afford to buy over the last few years when the market reached its peak are successfully securing bargains, as they realize that now is the time to buy if they are ever going to fulfill their dream.

We have experienced a very busy April and May and while offers are down compared to the same time last year, those who are getting accepted are motivated buyers with the understanding that “yes” their property may devalue ‘a touch’ more but the long term picture is far more rosy, with the inevitable signs that demand will eventually outweigh supply again in the hot spots such as the French Riviera, Ibiza, the Algarve and the Costa del Sol; Places that are well established, offer a great deal and are perennial favourites. Those properties that are left on the market when it does eventually bottom out, will inevitably not be the pick of the crop. For the astute, now is the time to seriously start looking whilst there are still some amazing bargains waiting to be snapped up.

I can finally say that we are travelling down that proverbial tunnel and we are finally starting to see the light at the end getting bigger…. we are not there yet, but I do think that if you want to buy a property overseas, now is the time to start thinking about taking that leap.

The current world property market place is creating “Fantasists”

“We are all aware that the world’s property market is having a very difficult time but what a lot of people are probably not aware of is the number of “fantasists” it produces”, says Serge Cowan, MD, Unique Living, specialist in high end overseas property around the world.
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Being the end of the year I felt this was an excellent opportunity to write about something a bit more light hearted. We are all aware that the world’s property market is currently experiencing an unusually difficult time, but what a lot of people are probably not aware of is the number of “fantasists” this current climate is introducing to the global markets.

Property prices have reduced significantly and there are numerous opportunities to purchase exceptional properties at realistic prices. (more…)

This month to further enhance Unique Living’s status on an international stage we are delighted to announce the launch of Unique Living Cyprus www.uniquelivingcyprus.com. Our aim is to offer a ‘unique’ approach to Cyprus Real Estate - simply the ‘best of the best’ in terms of properties, location, design, architecture, construction and finish. I hope you will agree that we are beginning to build an impressive portfolio and we look forward to helping our customers looking to purchase in Cyprus. Please do visit the website, we always appreciate our clients feedback on such initiatives. (more…)

The most exciting news in this calendar month is the announcement that Unique Living has won the rights to internationally promote the New Limassol Marina in Cyprus.

The development is simply outstanding and likely to catapult Limassol into one of the most exclusive and sort after resort Marinas in the Mediterranean. Limassol is going places; property prices are rising and some hot spots are seeing properties fetching several million Euros. The famous “Tourist Area” in Limassol is slowly being phased out for more chic restaurants and bars, but the hub of all the activity is around the old medieval castle, which will be integrated into the new Marina, rumoured to include (more…)

Firstly I would like to welcome you personally to the first issue of our blog. This has been timed in line with the launch of our new website. As one of the leading International Real Estate companies based here in the United Kingdom we would like to think we are well positioned as a company to offer you the finest portfolio of properties in the locations we operate and the best advice available when purchasing a home away from home. Please do bookmark our website to keep up to date on the latest residential property availability in the finest locations around the world. Unique Living specialise in lifestyle properties and the vast majority of homes in our portfolio are re-sales. We also have recently been instructed to sell some of the finest and unique new developments in the world. (more…)