Report: Wealthy continue to pay top dollar for trophy properties

There are more billionaires worldwide now than before the 2008 financial crisis and 55 percent more millionaires than in 2000, the report said.

This is particularly true for buyers from countries where local economic uncertainty encourages the rich to park their cash in international cities least affected by the global downturn. In seven of the 10 cities studied, more than 30 percent of the luxury homebuyers were from other countries.

Beautiful Oceanfront Resort Property at The Regent Palms - LISTED: $1,340,000USD "SOLD"

Regency International Estates just closed on a stunning 3 bedroom - 3 1/2 bathroom Oceanview vacation property at one of the Turks and Caicos Islands premier properties, The Regent Palms.

The 72-suite Regent Palms resort in Providenciales; Turks and Caicos, is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets. Located just steps away from the flawless white sands and sparkling sapphire waters of the Grace Bay Beach – ranked as among the most beautiful in the world - the luxury resort offers maximum pampering and indulgence. Boundless ocean views from stylishly-appointed properties ensure peace and tranquility while world-class amenities; including a 25,000 square foot spa and state-of-the-art infinity pool, promise rest and relaxation. A well-equipped Fitness Centre, together with water sports and tennis cater for more active guests.

Take a look at all available properties here:

The Turks and Caicos Islands Ultimate Luxury Home.

Watch the show here:

Did you know that there are more than 12,000 private islands in the world? Get away from it all – we're escaping the pressures of everyday life and finding secluded paradise with Private Islands.

Regency International Estates recently invited the crew from WealthTV to come to the Turks and Caicos Islands and shoot the amazing Emerald Cay for its popular Private Island show. It took an entire week to shoot the property, along with second episod featuring all of the TCI's exclusive Private Islands.

Once the show aired it received one of the highest ratings the network has ever received, a true testiment to this one-of-a-kind estates

WealthTV is a 24/7 high definition cable television network devoted to taking viewers on a journey of how wealth is achieved, used and enjoyed. With engaging programming that connects with a high profile audience, WealthTV has broad appeal across age and income demographics while holding a special appeal to the highest income households.  WealthTV is distributed by cable and satellite service providers around the globe.

As for Emerald Cay itself its the result of six years of construction combining pristine natural beauty with state-of-the-art luxury to provide the ultimate tropical hideaway. Accessed via a remote controlled swing bridgeand a Turkish marble driveway, this private island retreat on approximately two acres sits surrounded by turquoise water and white powder beaches.

This estate is without a doubt the most impressive property in the Turks and Caicos Islands, if not the entire Caribbean, and is unparalleled with its million-dollar rooms. A breathtaking rotunda sets the tone foranarray of dazzling living spaces including the three story great room with 45-foot-high cypress ceilings; a three-story library; a sumptuous custom designed master bedroom pavilion; and an award-winning hometheater. This amazing locale also boasts a swing bridge, a tennis court, an 8,000 bottle wine cellar, 10 bedrooms, 11 baths, and approximately 27,000 square feet of living space. 

Watch the show here:

Momentum Continues

The Turks and Caicos continues to gain momentum through the Second Quarter of 2012, something that emerged in 2011, strengthening through Q1 of this year.

We have also seen several substantial sales of tourism/hotel related properties, lending itself to future new development for the TCI.

As Robert Greenwood, Broker and Owner of Regency International Estates, the exclusive affiliates of Christie's International Real Estate says, " We can see that there is significant movement in higher level properties, therefore an increase in confidence and a desire by significant investors to enter the TCI".

Along with new development, there has been significant movement toward the handful of projects that fell foul of the economic downturn, being revitalized and ultimately completed.

Robert also noted, " This is the perfect time for buyers to pull the trigger in the TCI, we are off the bottom and moving in the right direction, a major indicator for any investor. However, we are by no means at the top, with luxury properties offered at reduced prices. If you ever regretted not buying before, then this is the time !".

View State of the Market Report here:

Whats fun to do in the Turks and Caicos Islands ?

Thought I would start doing a series of posts based on this question as I have been asked it so many times.

I have a feeling that some folks just don't get what we have to offer in the turks and Caicos Islands !!! Time to spotlight the Monaco of the Caribbean.

This was taken just offshore from Grace Bay Beach, voted one of worlds best beaches, looks like it could be fun... Actualy, I know its fun

Take a look at the amazing lifestyle we enjoy in The Turks and Caicos Islands.

Amanyara, managed by acclaimed Amanresorts, combines Caribbean beauty with utmost convenience. Barely over 3 hours flight from New York and under 1.5 hours form Miami, it provides a getaway for discriminating travelers. Amanyara embraces its secluded beachside setting with a contemporary design that echoes the nuances of the tropics: soaring ceilings, dramatic rooflines, secluded sun decks, inviting pools and tranquil ponds that reflect the dramatic architecture.

Owning an Amanyara Villa is like having your personal private resort — yet on a more intimate scale.

Villas are staffed with a dedicated Villa butler and a chef, both expertly trained by Amanresorts. The Villa staff is supported by the full resort team in the desire to make every day exceptional for owners and guests. The comprehensive service and maintenance of the Villa is managed by the Amanyara Villa team for each owner, including the optional Villa rental program.

Owners have full access to all resort amenities and facilities including the tennis center with three pros, fitness center, daily snorkeling trips, library, screening room, spa and yoga, restaurants, bar and the Nature and Discovery Center for adults and children.

The Villa:

The Villas are placed on 1.25 to 1.8 acres of lush landscape framed by an intimate pond. Comprised of an array of three to four individual bedroom pavilions, an office, a kitchen and staff pavilion as well as a generous dining and living pavilion, it is a unique home extending across over 10,000 sq ft of living space under roof. The private black-volcanic-rock, infinity-edged pool as well as the outdoor bathroom courtyards emphasize the serenity of the Amanyara lifestyle.

Visit our amazing Amanyara Property on Christies International Real Estate

Amanyara Villa Tour

Long Bay Beach

Caribbean Elegance Awaits.

Conjuring feelings of Caribbean cool and Tropical elegance through the legacy of an iconic master.

Christies International Real Estate

Exquisite craftsmanship, attention to detail, a taste of adventure and an amazing sense of texture create this 6000 square foot highly stylized architectural masterpiece that is The Shore Clubs new Estate Villa on Long Bay. Adorned as if a quintessential Barbadian Estate from a bygone era, it is the purest distillation of Caribbean chic.
Subtle arches deliver classical symmetry while Coral Stone Doric Colonnades, open balconies and decoratively terraced walkways clad in tropical foliage add charm, authenticity, depth and a sense of mood, securely rooted in a tropical, oceanfront lifestyle.

Enter a truly bespoke and exclusive resort residence, perfectly designed to offer unsurpassed views, tranquility, and the ultimate in privacy, all sweeping across 820 feet of pristine beach and azure waters.

The villas have been designed by creating strong lines and a magically defined connection between the villa, tropical landscape and ocean settings. Subtle proscenium arches act as focal points, capturing majestic views and framing scenic vistas, creating splendid botanical and turquoise ocean backdrops against which your life inside is played out, melting divisions between interior and exterior spaces, engaging your imagination in completing the scene, as if adding a final brush stroke to a timeless masterpiece.

In a world were every gaze settles upon a natural masterpiece, the true measure of design is to frame its splendor from the inside out, toward the theatre of nature, or from outside in, exposing an elegance of design, as if one was melting into the other…

As carefully crafted as its cool Caribbean architecture is the human element offered at The Shore Club. Truly subtle and understated, you will enjoy a lifestyle made easy with a personal butler. Welcoming you home, easing you into a state of relaxation from the moment you arrive.

The villa will enjoy all amenities of the Shore Club including the award-winning Hartling Group as Management Company for leasing as an option, concierge, reception, spa, retail boutique, fine dining, the grand colonnade pool and oceanfront pool and bar areas.

For further Details on the Shore Club please visit Christies International Real Estate 

The Real Estate market in the Turks and Caicos is like no other… so many factors contribute to the “Value” of our islands real estate, most of which are well outside of what many would ever consider when buying a property in their own hometown. In the beginning they are continually banging away on their calculators in a futile effort to compare a property they may have seen in the Bahamas, Florida, or even worse, back home.

Quality of life is not measured by the “Price per square foot” formula it doesn’t exactly translate to “value per square foot”.

On every showing, with every client, I share the same statement, and do the same exact thing. If you can imagine standing on a beautiful balcony, I direct their gaze through the palm trees and out onto the powder soft white sandy beach, and turquoise waters beyond the infinity pools and say:

“You know, you can buy four walls, marble tiled floors, and cascading bathroom fixtures anywhere in the world, but that,” (pointing to the ocean) “that you can’t get just buy anywhere”. 

This one-statement helps them put into perspective exactly what it is they are doing. It’s not just a new property they are looking at, but also a new lifestyle. 

However, that’s just scratching the surface. The Turks and Caicos Islands offer so much more than just a great new lifestyle; it offers an investment opportunity that is felt to be unrivalled throughout most of the Caribbean. 

With an attractive Tax Haven Status with no annual property, income, inheritance and capital gains tax, stable government, no restrictions on foreign ownership and property ownership guaranteed by the British Crown, the islands instil a level of confidence rarely found in the Caribbean.

When you roll all of this in with the TCI’s convenient and great location - just a 90 minute flight from the US mainland, a mere 3.5 hour direct flight from Canada, and the fact that it is English Speaking, with U.S. Dollar as the local currency and has a very low crime rate, these islands offer a treasure trove of benefits that add value to every property in the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

This level of understanding takes time, and is usually something we can pass onto to our clients within a reasonable showing period of a day or two. It’s at this point that they put away their calculators and see the big picture. The myriad of benefits briefly we briefly touched on is the true value of the property you will inevitably buy in the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands.

Imagine a home away from home..

Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

On a stretch of undeveloped beach front... Capturing the trade winds on the northern tip of Parrot Cay will be three newly designed Beach Houses. Based on the hotels popular beach accommodations, these offer a casual style while still incorporating all the signature details of design and comfort that continue to make the Island so desirable. The homes will be discreetly nestled in surround native plants with sandy pathways leading to powdery beaches.

Each Beach House will incorporate handmade furniture from Bali, signature natural woods including pine floors, vaulted ceilings and Italian white linens. The Beach House is offered turnkey for ease of ownership. They consist of two bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a large open living and dining area with separate kitchen.

Take a video Tour

Regency International Estate the Exclusive Affiliate of Christie's International Real Estate has just introduced a limited inventory of amazing Private Island properties to its global network.

Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos is the northern Caribbean's pre-eminent private island. It combines nature with 1000 unspoilt acres, including a mile-long powdered beach – with understated style, cosseting service and smiling staff.Here you will find an award-winning holistic spa, health-giving cuisine and beach houses with private pools. At Parrot Cay, the soul is unique with space to rediscover those forgotten rhythms of long days and easy nights.

Owning a private home at Parrot Cay is about diving into the pool each morning and feeling as if you are the first person to exist. It’s about feeling free, in the company of family and friends, and having a piece of pristine Caribbean all to yourself.Your villa fits snugly within Parrot Cay’s natural contours while maximising privacy. The views to open ocean uplift the soul while the mile-long beach is a privilege that’s rare. Enjoy all this, including the sound of silence, seeing only an occasional boat bobbing out at sea.Think of it as a place filled with sunshine and when evening falls, a sky packed with stars.

A place to want for nothing for everything is on hand.

Three-Bedroom Villas:

Each set on an acre and a half of its own private land, protected by lush, native vegetation and the rise of the dunes. They are orientated towards the sea in order to catch the breeze.These new three-bedroom villas are single-floor homes where the living space extends directly onto your extensive Brazilian hardwood deck, flowing into the infinity-edged pool and down to the powdery white beach.The highest standards of contemporary living are reflected in outdoor showers, sun-drenched living rooms and master bedroom suites with sweeping views of the turquoise ocean.

A Beach House to retreat to, to indulge in, love and savour:

Quietly contemporary and soaked in natural light, our relaxed two-bedroom beach houses available to purchase will have large decks and soul-stirring pools with direct access to the white beach that lies a few steps 
in front.Their casual, elegant design will be dominated by the neutral colours of sun-bleached oak. Living comforts will include an open living and dining area, dual master bedroom suites with private outdoor showers  and an expansive deck. You can dine inside or out; have the masseuse come to you; go fishing, diving or throw a beachfront barbecue in your foot-in-the-sand paradise.  

Parrot Cay Luxury Home Sites

Make your Parrot Cay villa your Caribbean fiefdomOur total commitment to privacy, comfort and the island’s unspoiled natural setting is what sets a home on Parrot Cay apart. The island invites a visionary to create their own ideal of perfection, with blistering white beaches to inspire the design.Landowners can be as involved with the building process as much as they like, employing their own architects or engaging our Estate Management team. On construction of the property, all landowners have access to Parrot Cay’s facilities including the award-winning COMO Shambhala Retreat