Invest in These: 4 Waterfront Villas
We revisit here four magnificent landed properties with either direct access to the waterfront or a commanding view of it.
We’ve been talking up quite a number of destinations over the course of the year where waterfront living presents both a great lifestyle option and a credible investment prospect. From a Philippe Starck project in Boracay to the entire Royal Phuket Marina itself, the options are overwhelming and seem to suit every kind of investment goal. To help us all focus a little, we revisit here four magnificent landed properties with either direct access to the waterfront or a commanding view of it.
Ocean Drive Bungalow, Sentosa Cove, Singapore
A properly rare option here, the Ocean Drive Bungalow offers both the leisurely island lifestyle and organized pace of a developed nation. Unlike most Sentosa Cove projects, this one actually does have both a combined seaview and Singapore city skyline view. The bungalow is done up after the Balinese style. The Sentosa Cove area is the only place in Singapore where foreigners can independently purchase landed property.
MontAzure Private Estate, Phuket, Thailand
Phuket has always been on the radar of people seeking second homes or just looking for a good investment. The MontAzure Private Estate might be just the ticket here. It is a self-contained development with its own shopping, wellness, security and retirement facilities. There are only 13 private estates (in the first phase) so conflict with the neighbors won’t be an issue. Oh yes, the view is of Kamala Bay so you can immediately tell that tourists won’t be nearby. Take note though of Thailand’s restrictions on foreigners owning land.
Kayu Villas, Lombok, Indonesia
Lombok requires more research than the other options on the list. Located west of Bali, it isn’t quite on the global tourism superhighway and that is perhaps part of the charm. Property prices certainly reflect an influx of demand, with prices increasing some 300% in the period from 2011 to 2015 (the international airport was completed in 2011 but that might be coincidental). What we looked at was the Selong Selo residences called Kayu Villas, of which there are only eight. While Indonesia has recently allowed foreign ownership of landed property, there are strong limitations in place that developers will have to explain carefully.
Anamaya Samui, Koh Samui, Thailand
These villas captivated us the moment we saw the renderings. Lead designer Misha Povstaniuk of architects A-MDM really did a bang-up job here, if strong design is a major factor in your decision-making process. There are actually five types of villas on offer, in 11 different configurations. The smallest start at 3,000 sqf, topping out at 26,759sqf. The view is of the Gulf of Thailand, where the island of Koh Samui is located. The entire Anamaya Samui project is self-contained and owners have access to 5-star hotel amenities. Once again, take note of Thailand’s restrictions on foreigners owning land.
These properties were all originally covered in Palace magazine.