These are the 2 bedroom villas on this exclusive development of just 40 properties. Each has two bathrooms, one being en-suite, generous sized open plan living area and comprehensively fitted kitchen. The internal floor area is a generous 142m2 and particular features of these beautifully designed villas are the extensive areas of terracing, including large roof terraces complete with pergola, providing a further 64m2. Each property has its own private fresh water swimming pool and the good sized plots are from 384m2 to 433m2. A unique offer is available for a limited period. Just twelve villas, due for delivery in April 2010, can be bought fully furnished and equipped, with a hotel backed rental guarantee of 5% for 3 years and a guaranteed buy-back. Owners will then have the option to buy one of only 20 villas on a new iconic world class resort, with marina and hotels, on a world famous beach on Boa Vista Island, with a further rental guarantee.

This exclusive, award winning development occupies a 3.5 hectare front line site on the sheltered South coast of Santiago island. The old Portuguese fort and impressive Riberia Grande provide an attractive back-drop to the modern villa homes. At about just 30 minutes from the new international airport and less than 10 minutes from the planned golf resort, the location is unique. All the properties are guaranteed to have ocean views.

The fully furnished villas come with impressive specifications, understood to be the highest villa specifications in Cape Verde. White goods, cooker and extractor fan are included and kitchens come fully fitted by renowned specialists Moores. There are Vitra bathroom porcelain tiles, air conditioning, fire door, telephone and TV points and windows are UPVC double glazed tilt and turn with treated tropical mix. There is a 5 year build guarantee on every villa.

The developer is understood to be the only one in the entire country using ICF (Insulated Concrete Formwork) in its villa construction. This has been featured twice on the ‘Grand Designs’ television programme, when it has demonstrated its real value for home owners.

The developer is confident that these villas are, not only better built than others in Cape Verde, but cheaper to run, with running costs as little as a third of traditionally built homes. Electrical and water specifications are to UK standards. Damp proof courses are incorporated and the excellent insulation qualities ensure cool interiors and better acoustic insulation, whilst contributing to the lower running costs.

Owners and their tenants will benefit from a whole range of on site facilities not normally associated with such a small, but exclusive, development. Of special interest is the only community infinity pool in the country, with an area of 220m². The amenities will comprise:

• Large infinity swimming pool

• Floodlit tennis court

• Gymnasium

• Children’s play area

• Scuba diving platform into the ocean

• Restaurant and bar

• Two shops including grocery store

• Conference room to seat 100

• Beautiful tropical landscaped parkland

Additional features of the site are:

• Metal Halide street lighting

• Entrance CCTV

• Site security provision

• Water treatment plant

• Emergency electrical generators

• ?Fire prevention

• Internet, cable, TV & telephone site connection

These luxury villas on this exclusive development are delivered fully furnished, including fully fitted kitchen and white goods, to the highest UK specifications. With low maintenance, fresh water swimming pools and energy efficient design throughout the home, the resort should ensure the best retention of rental yields in the country.

Mortgage Finance & Purchase Process

In principle, mortgages of up to 70% of the purchase price are available through the developer, subject to status and the usual proof of income. Alternatively, please refer to Purchaser Services on this website should you wish to obtain mortgage assistance through one of the leading UK brokers.

Please contact Investabroad Properties for details of the purchase process, individual prices, details of the rental guarantee arrangements and all other aspects of buying and owning a villa.

The Hotel Arrangement & Rental Guarantee

The developer has joined forces with the Perola Hotel in Praia, considered to be the best business hotel in the country, to add quality to the bed stock of Santiago. The association delivers value for money for discerning visitors as this villa development has already been earmarked as the place to relax for business visitors to Cape Verde.

With every three and four star hotel running at 90% occupancy and the track record of the Perola Hotel management, the villas are in an enviable position, being finished properties with an existing rental demand. The hotel arrangement will be enhanced by the rapid and reliable free city shuttle service providing ease of access from the site to the heart of Praia.

This arrangement is important, as it adds considerable weight to the developer’s guaranteed rental return of 5%, fixed for an initial term of 3 years. That guarantee is supported by the agreement of the hotel to utilise the capacity which the development provides. With limited supply and increasing demand, on an island where hotels are already at about 90% occupancy, such an arrangement should bring considerable peace of mind to the investors on this project.

The developer is the first in Cape Verde to have negotiated an exclusive agreement with a hotelier in this way.

Legal and Planning

The developer has “gone the extra mile” in terms of legal security and the project has been approved by no less than nine separate Government Ministers.

All the properties have secured maritime concession, which means that the company can legally build closer to the shore line than on any other development.

All bureaucratic issues are resolved expeditiously to facilitate a quick turn-around in planning and allowing construction to commence promptly

The developer was also the first and is believed to remain the only non Cape Verdean company to have achieved bank bonding in respect of a residential development.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a small archipelago of ten islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located off the coast of Africa and is generally considered to be the tourist destination of the future – and an extremely exciting investment opportunity today. Beautiful beaches and stunning scenery combine with year-long sunshine to produce an unrivalled tropical paradise.

One of the key reasons why Cape Verde has become such a sought after destination in which to invest is its favourable all year round tropical climate, without extremes of humidity, heat or cold and with extremely low levels of rainfall. It is largely this climate and the absence of hurricanes which have resulted in Cape Verde being compared so favourably with the Caribbean, particularly as there are no jet-lag problems.

The focus on infrastructure, development of roads, ports and airports is the right investment at the right time. This is symbolised by the Praia ring road, safely linking Cidade Velha, where the development is situated, to the new international airport and by the Port of Praia expansion.

Having gained its independence from Portugal in 1975, Cape Verde is a liberal free market democracy and has been since 1992. It continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and has been very successful in all areas of macro finance, as demonstrated by its succession to the World Trade Organisation.

The country has a fixed exchange rate to the Euro, in place since 1992 (at a rate of 110.265 Cape Verdean Escudos to 1 Euro). All in all, the Cape Verde economy is growing sustainably, a fact recognised by the International Monetary Fund as recently as the 3rdOctober 2008.

To summarise what makes Cape Verde a good investment:

• Stable democracy

• Growing economy

• Voted No. 1 destination by Expedia

• Fantastic all year round climate

• Pristine scenery

• Increasing flights to UK and Europe

As international airports open up, direct flights from the UK increase. Direct flights from the UK are just one year old and the number of flights has trebled in a period of six months since then, whilst ticket prices have tumbled. The frequency of inter-island flights has increased and costs have reduced as competition has increased.

To place Cape Verde in context, last year two hundred thousand tourists visited the islands, a 25% increase on the previous year. The airports of the Canary Islands, an hour’s flight to the North, catered for over thirty million passengers in the same period. When tourist numbers to Cape Verde equal just a 10% market share of the Canaries, tourists in Cape Verde will equal 1.5million visitors annually.

Santiago

Santiago is the largest island of Cape Verde, with an area of 991 km². Located between the islands of Maio (40 km west) and Fogo (50 km east), it is home to the country’s capital – Praia – and to the newest of the islands’ four airports, Praia International Airport, bringing it within six hours flying time of the UK.

The island is home to half the nation’s population, having doubled its numbers since independence in 1975 and is its most important agricultural centre. The principal agricultural products are corn, sugar cane, bananas, coffee and mangoes, whilst the other main industries are tourism and fishing, plus a small amount of manufacturing.

Santiago is also Cape Verde’s tropical island. It is mountainous, although slightly flatter in the South East and, as can be seen on this website, it offers the most dramatic scenery, more than on any of the other islands. The island’s interior has a wetter climate, contrasting with the dryer one on the South and South West coast where the development is situated.

The island blends bustling markets and lively music festivals with its breathtaking mountain vistas and secret beach hideaways, creating the perfect tourist destination.

Cidade Velha

This wonderfully located town 0n the South coast of Santiago is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and was the country’s capital until 1770, when the capital was moved to Praia, some 15 km away.

Cape Verde was discovered and colonised by the Portuguese in the mid 15th century and Cidade Velha, which was originally called Ribeira Grande until its name was changed in the 18th century to avoid confusion with another town, was the first European colonial settlement in the Tropics. Some of the meticulously planned original design of the town is still intact, from a royal fortress to two towering churches and a 16th century town square, whilst the old cobbled walkways and stone cottages make their contribution to the overall charm and character.

Cidade Velha is believed to have the oldest colonial church in the world, built in 1495, whilst the fort was constructed in 1590 to defend the Portuguese colony from attacks by the French and English. However, it was sacked by French pirates in 1712.

Within a few years of its founding, the settlement became an important port for trading slaves and, at one time, the town was considered to be the second richest city in the Portuguese realm as a result of trans-continental slavery. The port was also a stopping place for two great navigators – Vasco da Gamma in 1497, on his way to India and Christopher Columbus in 1498, while on his third voyage to the Americas.

Today, Cidade Velha is an Atlantic shipping stop and important centre for Creole culture. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first in Cape Verde, having received this distinction in June 2009. The historic town is less than 30 minutes from the international airport, but away from the flight path and is a major centre for scuba diving and marine life.

The town and its beach are only some five minutes walk from the villa development, bringing a whole range of amenities, including shops, five restaurants, bars and commercial facilities, within easy walking distance. The town is also to benefit from an investment of 10 million euros to improve its infrastructure, although nothing will be done to undermine its dramatic setting of the Ribeira Grande canyon.

Important Notice

No description or information given, whether on this website, written or verbal, about the development or its facilities, the apartments or their plans, specifications or values, may be relied upon as a statement or representation of fact. The developer reserves the right to amend the plans and specifications as necessary and without notice. Nothing on this website, nor anything within any printed material provided, constitutes or forms part of any contract. Purchase prices may be subject to variation due to fluctuating exchange rates and are subject to alteration without notice.

The computer generated images which, together with photographs, illustrate this feature are intended to provide an impression of the development and its properties and may not be a true representation of the finished project, its facilities or the designs of the properties. Their accuracy is not guaranteed and they have no contractual value.

Disclaimer

Property reference 36114_36114_CVS_VJ_2B. Details provided and maintained by INVEST ABROAD PROPERTIES, Birmingham. Countrylife.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of these details.