Haute Residence continued its "Chat with Haute Residence Leaders" series with an exclusive one on one conversation featuring Vasco Borges: CEO of luxury private villa resort Beach Enclave.

He was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Borges’ illustrious career from CFO of Grace Bay Resorts, Project Director for Water Cay Development, and his eventual ascendancy in luxury real estate as the CEO of Beach Enclave.

Vasco N F Borges has over 20 years of experience in luxury branding, real estate development, and hospitality. As the CEO of Beach Enclave, Borges raised funding, designed, developed, and is presently managing three private villa resorts. Founded in 2013, Beach Enclave is redefining Caribbean beachfront living by offering the privacy and seclusion of your own home with all resort amenities. Borges’ accolades include Best Caribbean development in 2017 by the International Property Awards, #1 Resort in Turks and Caicos by TripAdvisor, and highest average daily rate in Turks and Caicos.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Borges.

Seth Semilof: Tell us a little about how you went from college, growing up in Portugal, to the Caribbean.

Vasco Borges: It was absolutely by happenstance. I had done a more traditional career of economics, then I joined this consulting company called McKinsey. When you are a consultant, you get exposed to a lot of industries. There were a few options on the table. One of them was to join a restaurant group in Singapore and the other one was an opportunity to come to the Caribbean to work. I had never been to the Caribbean before, but they promised me a beachfront bedroom in a five star resort, so I came here. It was a vibrant place and I absolutely loved both the real estate and the hospitality component. That is why the idea of building something where people are going to leave with lifestyle experiences, but also hospitality was really, really exciting.

SS: I would love to learn how you came up with the game plan or strategy because you came out and built three different luxury villas. What transpired into that?

VB: At the time, if you wanted to own real estate in Turks and Caicos or the majority of the Caribbean islands, you could either on a condominium or a standalone home. I could not figure out why we could not combine both. You have the great things of a resort, which is all the amenities or services taking care for you, and combine that with the privacy of your home. You really just go in and it is ready for you. I could not convince my employer to do it at the time, so I decided to go in on my own.

SS: What makes Turks and Caicos so amazing? You have not chosen to go to any other Caribbean islands, just mainly stuck to Turks and Caicos.

VB: An amazing combination of things. It has an amazing infrastructure. It has US dollar, UK law, and above all, beautiful beaches. You can have breakfast in New York and lunch on the beach. It is very unusual to get, but we have very low-density development, a fantastic legal setup, and quality people. We are 22 miles outside of Manhattan, so Wall Street is a big part of our market. We are also seeing people coming in droves from New York to New Jersey to the suburbs. We are seeing tremendous movement in Westfield because interest rates are historically low, so it is a win-win.

SS: Where do you see the next 12 months specifically for Turks and Caicos?

VB: We have seen an amazing amount of money coming in and a lot of interest in our homes. We presold all the homes, even before acquiring the land. There is a lot of demand there, particularly for the high-end products. I think that will continue, but also, what you see in some of these locations is this new way with investment that is helping us build more amenities. An expansion of the ecosystem around us helps as that you really need people to come into the islands. Our purpose is continuing to grow because people want everything to be as easy as possible. We are putting together all these protocols and trying to make the experience top, top, top notch for our client.

SS: Where do you see your company in the next five to 10 years as you are expanding the brand?

VB: We are very happy with this location. Being on the best beach, we have some amazing homes coming our way. Maybe we will do something else here, but I think our next wave of growth once we have solidified and built our roster, the team is to go and expand abroad. I think what we have done here can be done in pretty much any location where you have wealth coming in, interest in real estate, and interest in a good lifestyle experience.

For more information, please contact Vasco Borges at 1-866-580-1675 or visit www.beachenclave.com.

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 7: Vasco Borges appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Christie’s International Real Estate - Seattle

People who used to travel the world and stay in beautiful homes to get away from their busy lives are now thinking about second homes because, in unpredictable times like these, travel just isn’t an option. “Absolutely, the incidence of second home buying will go up,” says Dan Conn, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate.

According to Harris Poll’s April 28, 2020 report, 43 percent of urban dwellers and 26 percent of suburbanites have recently browsed real estate websites for homes/apartments to rent or buy. The coronavirus pandemic has people thinking about how they want to live, according to Conn. With more opportunity to work remotely, properties in rural areas or acreage properties within a short drive from urban centers have become attractive options as they provide a sense of separation or distance.

Photo Credit: Christie’s International Real Estate - Seattle

“Inquiries about vineyards, acreage estates and off-the-grid properties have increased significantly over the last two months,” says Kendra Ratcliff, COO of Washington’s Christie’s International Real Estate - Seattle. “Our clients are re-evaluating their lives and realizing that working from home is not only possible but preferable.”

This dramatic shift in interest is being seen on a global level. “Our brokers throughout the world, from Portugal to Antigua to Amsterdam and Monaco, are receiving more and more interest in properties that promote a more self-sustaining lifestyle,” continues Ratcliff. “Washington has an incredible array of locations where one can find luxury properties. The Pacific Northwest is truly appealing to our clients because of the area’s natural beauty and outstanding real estate options that range from secluded island properties in the Puget Sound to ranches in Eastern Washington, vineyards in the Walla Walla, Columbia and Yakima Valleys and mountain-top getaways near Mt. Rainier or the breathtaking Okanogan in Washington and British Columbia, Canada.”

Photo Credit: Christie’s International Real Estate - Seattle

Sacrificing luxury for location is no longer a concern as remote properties in the luxury category are far from the rustic cabin in the woods of yesteryear. “While you may be miles from the nearest grocery store, these rural estates have the same or better amenities as their urban counterparts,” Ratcliff explains. Helipads, pools, hiking trails, equestrian grounds, gardens, and vineyards are but a few of the exterior features you might find. While gourmet kitchens, “smart home” technology, athletic courts, wine cellars, gyms, and saunas are often found inside these highly sought-after homes.

High-end rural properties in the Pacific Northwest are not new, but this shift in the luxury real estate market has created a new demand for them that is sure to stay. “I think [second home buying] will be a secular shift in the market. That won’t change,” concluded Conn.

Photo Credit: Christie’s International Real Estate - Seattle

“Those looking to distance themselves physically, whether it is a primary residence or vacation home, will never have to compromise location for luxury,” Ratcliff assures. “We have incredible properties in all corners of Washington that fit the needs of our high-wealth clients.”

For more information about rural luxury properties throughout Oregon and Washington, please contact Kendra Ratcliff at 503-330-6677 or kendraratcliff@christiesrealestateseattle.com.

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Photo Credit: YachtLife

As the first worldwide mobile app for chartering a yacht, YachtLife features brokers that can tailor nothing short of the best sea experience on one of the high-quality vessels in their fleets.

With the desire of urban living being stronger than ever, we partnered with YachtLife to add a unique, great benefit to living at Reach and Rise Residences and connects our residents with the outdoors, which is what Miami is all about,” said Maile Aguila, senior vice president of residential sales for Swire Properties Inc. “Our penthouse buyers see the value of living at Brickell City Centre and understand that there is nothing else on the market where you are in the middle of the city’s action and can have yachting, dining and entertainment right at your fingertips, as well as incredible floor plans, ultimate privacy, elite services and sweeping views of the water and city skyline.”

Membership in the app is perfect for those who enjoy the pleasures of the sea and charter yachts on multiple occasions throughout the year. As members of YachtLife, the owners of one of the 14 penthouses at Reach and Rise get special pricing on all yacht charters, as well as offers on products and services of the app's luxury brand and hospitality partners.

In addition to Miami, the luxury yacht company has ties with brokers around the world, including Southern California, The Hamptons, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., The Bahamas, Mexico, Saint Martin, Ibiza, Mallorca, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, France, Italy, Turkey, Dubai, Thailand and more.

Photo Credit: Swire Properties

Penthouse owners also enjoy the full-scale amenities available for Reach and Rise residents.

For more on Reach and Rise, visit http://www.residencesbrickellcitycentre.com/

The post Brickell City Centre Penthouse Buyers Get One-Year YachtLife Membership appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Lisbon, Portugal

Top of everyone’s list in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s not the fact that Madonna has settled there while her son attends the famed Benfica soccer academy. It’s because since the financial crash of 2008 when Spain and Portugal teetered on the brink of collapse, Lisbon has become one of the most affordable capitals in Western Europe. Teeming with historical property, government grants to renovate and a vibrant tech start-up scene, prices rose by 4.9 percent on the year to November 2017,  according to Global Property Guide. Prices have now risen to roughly $475/per square foot.

“This latest demographic wave of international investors very much want to live in Lisbon,” Ricardo Sousa, CEO of Century 21 in Portugal told Forbes. “The French were the ones who originally used to get on the plane to spend weekends in Lisbon but now demand is becoming more and more diversified and the profile is shifting. Investors with half-a-million euros or above are looking at the city center and its historical heart, as well as the Expo area, which is very popular with Asian investors and there is a lot of land.”

Northern Europeans looking for luxury digs have also flocked, drawing comparisons with Miami in the Guardian while ringing the alarm bells of gentrification.

Côte d’Azur, France

France’s Côte d’Azur has always been known for upscale luxury. The sort of place James Bond would join an international arms dealer on his yacht. A new report by Savills shows that the hot spot on the French Riviera continues to be a prime destination for the global wealthy to park their cash. A high inventory of luxury property allows buyers room to negotiate, often with a  10 to 30 percent discount. It’s not cheap — about $2,867 to $3,440 per square foot.

“The region offers a desirable lifestyle but also the benefits of city living with high-end retail, restaurants and a full social calendar,” said Alex Balkin, head of Savills French Riviera in their 2018 report on the Mediterranean region “This makes it appealing to a new wave of young, globally-mobile high-net-worth individuals looking for high specification homes that are ready to move into.”

Algarve, Portugal

When it comes to resident expats, the Algarve has 100,000 of them. It’s affordable, sunny and surrounded by 100 miles of shimmering Atlantic coastline and striking cliff-top vistas. Oh, and did I mention it’s cheap — around $450 per square foot. Don’t expect it to stay that way.

Istanbul, Turkey

With half of Istanbul’s population under 30, this is a vibrant, growing economy at the cross-roads of Europe and Asia. House prices are cheap and cash is flooding in as older buildings are being renovated or replaced with sparkling new apartments. With real estate at around $320 per square foot, it’s a great time to ride the Istanbul property wave.

Barcelona, Spain

The Catalan crisis seems over and Barcelona house prices are once again galloping off into the sunset. According to the property price index published in early December by the Spanish Statistical Institute (INE), Catalonia prices are rising at 10 percent — the second highest rate on record for the region and close to the over inflated numbers pre-2008 crash. Expect to pay many millions of dollars to live in luxury. Driving the price hikes is tourism, with many investors buying homes to let, Airbnb-style, as short term rentals to visitors. This, in turn, is increasing house prices for locals. It’s a gorgeous city with scenic views, a world famous soccer team and prices to match.

The post 5 Sun Drenched European Cities Experiencing A Luxury Property Boom appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.