Earth in the ocean

Having your own island is prestigious, but it is unprofitable to escape from the fed civilization in different ways. The most exotic of them is to buy your own island. This path is available not only to millionaires: the costs of acquiring the island are quite comparable to the cost of a summer cottage in the near Moscow region. However, the owner of the island is an exclusively status matter. Such real estate will not bring income, and caring for it is troublesome and costly.

You can get the island in property in almost any country where they exist. Including in Russia. However, so far there is no much interest in domestic islands: on the one hand, potential islanders are afraid to get into the field of view of Rosprirodnadzor officials, on the other hand, most Russian islands are geographically located in adverse zones for living. Although on the coast of Canada, where similar climatic conditions, the sale of the islands is carried out quite successfully, and the minimum cost of land in the ocean starts at $ 100 thousand. The costs of acquiring identical real estate from American shores will cost the buyer 2-2.5 times more. According to the director of the residential real estate department of Knight Frank, Ekaterina Tane, in addition to severe climatic conditions, the Canadian islands are also affected by the fact that no other country in the world has such island potential as Canada.

In search of an earthly paradise

In total, according to the managing director of Blackwood, Marina Markarova, the islands account for about 4% of the total Russian demand for foreign real estate. Most potential owners seek to acquire geographically autonomous land in tropical latitudes. The most popular regions are French Polynesia, the coast of Australia and New Zealand, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, as well as the Central and South America. The cost of the island corresponding to the European’s ideas about earthly paradise - with sandy beaches and blue lagons - will start from $ 1 million. “There are very few free islands left in these latitudes,” Ekaterina Teyn explains the situation.

However, the cost of the island depends on a number of factors: size, location, climate. The degree of development of its infrastructure, the presence of water, electricity seriously affects the price.

The uninhabited piece of land will cost much cheaper than having any development. If you are ready to sacrifice the benefits of civilization, then your costs will amount to about 300-500 thousand dollars. However, in this case, it will be necessary to sacrifice elementary safety: non -frighty predators, unknown insects and diseases, as well as many other surprises that wildlife can present. An economically more acceptable option for exotic lovers would be the purchase of a whole island, but its parts. According to Kirsanova Realty, a plot on the beach with an area of 5.5 thousand square meters. meters will cost about 190 thousand dollars.

You can buy an island near the coast of Europe. One of the most expensive islands put up for sale is Easton Neston (England, the county of Northhamptonshire). Its cost is 50 million pounds. And off the coast of Croatia, a small island without infrastructure could recently be purchased for $ 30 thousand.

Dear pleasure

However, if you decide to become the owner of the island, you must be prepared for the fact that this risky investment and expenses can be truly limitless. Ekaterina Tayne advises before buying to take the island to make sure of its functional suitability: after all, it is quite difficult to evaluate possible investments in the future. “The costs of maintaining the island can exceed all the conceivable representations of the buyer,” she said. “After all, even if the owner does not visit the island, he is fully responsible for his ecological condition and microclimate, and must also strictly comply with local rules for the protection of the purchased object.” Much larger costs than on the "large land" will require maintenance of various engineering systems, maintenance of the water supply or the delivery of fresh water, as well as ensuring safety and medical care.

The consultant of the foreign real estate agency EstateService Christina Tuzova recalls the legal nuances that should be paid attention to when buying. For example, in many countries, the island’s sale transaction can only be made with the permission of the Ministry of Defense. There are islands on which construction is prohibited. In many Asian states, a foreigner can buy only half of the island, and the rest should belong to a citizen of the country. In many states, for example, on the islands of Fiji, there is a category of land that is not sold in property, but is acquired only on lease rights. Often, a coastal strip is entered into this category, that is, in order to become its sovereign owner after acquiring the island, it will be necessary to conclude an additional contract for lease of beaches.

06/06/2006 / Denis Pumpul, the material was published in the newspaper No. 96 dated 07.06.2006.