http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/ Ocean Villas Group specialise in luxury overseas ocean view property. We have a superb and extensive portfolio of luxury property, available in breathtaking locations throughout the world, including new property, resale property and land. http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/ http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/images/OceanVillasGroupLogo-r9.gif Ocean Villas Group - Lifestyle and Investment Property Worldwide. Copyright 2010 - Ocean Villas Group Pte. Ltd. en-us http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=447 Real estate mogul Donald Trump has sold his property at the Los Angeles Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes for a reported US$7.5 million. Trump first put the mansion on the market in early 2010 for US$12 million. But it failed to attract any buyers. The Apprentice star finally accepted an offer this month from a shipping director, US$4.5 million below his asking price. The five bedroom, nine bathroom, palatial home was designed by architect Luis de Moraes of Envirotechno Architecture. The impressive property sits on a plot of 1,022m2. Its U-shaped design means almost every room has views of either the Pacific Ocean or the golf course. The new owner will be able to indulge in some of Donald Trump’s personal luxuries such as the infinity edge swimming pool, games room and floor to ceiling glass wine cellar. There’s even a 93m2 gourmet kitchen with twin Sub-Zero refrigerators and a copper-hooded Wolf range. The property also features a full size bar and marble flooring throughout. Trump bought the three hundred acre site for the Los Angeles Trump National Golf Club in 2002 for US$27 million. It was his first foray into real estate investment on the West Coast of the USA. The property was built as a private residence for his family within the golf club’s grounds. At first the Rancho Palos Verdes locals welcomed Trump’s investment. But relations soon turned sour after he reportedly asked for a local highway to be renamed to Trump National Drive. Now the local council have rejected planning permission for an additional twenty homes to be built on the site as landslides have been a problem in the past. This has led Trump to file a US$100 million law suit which alleges that the town council is forcing him to spend “millions of dollars on unnecessary, repetitive, unreasonable and unlawful geologic surveys”. Lawyers for Rancho Palos Verdes have responded by saying they will defend the accusations “vigorously”. The case continues. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=447 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=444 Celebrity New York fashion designer Vera Wang has splashed out US$9.2 million on a Steve Hermann designed property in Coldwater Canyon, Beverley Hills, Los Angeles. Hermann bought the 408m2 house in June 2008 for US$5 million. He spent the next two years completely redesigning and renovating the 1967 built property at a cost of US$3 million. Two new bedrooms were added. The ceilings were raised to a height of 3.6 metres. The original swimming pool was removed and replaced with a sunken, infinity-edge pool and Jacuzzi. And a tiered, thirty seat movie theatre was built. “It was a mid-century modern [property] with good bones, but it hadn't been touched in decades,” Hermann commented. The house has been dubbed “The Glass Mansion” because it features floor to ceiling glass walls to creating a feeling of open space. In fact, from the rear entrance it is possible to see right through the property and take in the view of the Los Angeles basin below. Hermann, who renovates homes for A-list celebrities, put the property back on the market in March 2011, with an asking price of US$10.9 million. Vera Wang is one of America’s best known fashion designers. She is of Chinese descent but was born and raised in New York City. Her parents are from Shanghai, China and migrated to the USA in the 1940s. Originally trained as a figure skater, Wang competed in the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships but failed to make the U.S. Olympic Team. Wang started her fashion career in 1972 as designer for Vogue where she spent the next sixteen years. She then worked with Ralph Lauren for two years, before opening her own design studio at the Carlyle Hotel, New York in 1990. The designer has since made wedding gowns for Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Victoria Beckham. Wang’s dresses have also been featured in US television shows ‘Sex in the City’ and ‘The West Wing’. In 2010 Wang was presented with the Leadership in the Arts Award by Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Association, for her contribution to costume and fashion design. She has now expanded her brand to include handbags, perfume, jewellery, eyewear, shoes and house-wares. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=444 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=443 Burt Reynolds was once one of Hollywood’s highest paid and well-known actors. But now, at the age of seventy five, the “Deliverance” star faces losing his Florida home as his debts continue to grow. On the 1st September 2011 Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation filed a foreclosure lawsuit in Martin County against the “Smokey and the Bandit” star. The suit claims that mortgage payments have not been paid on his 1,115 m2 property in Hobe Sound, Florida since 1st September 2010. "The Plaintiff [Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation] must be paid US$1,193,808 in principal on the mortgage note and mortgage, together with interest from August 1st 2010 and all costs and reasonable attorney's fees," noted the writ. Reynolds and his former wife Loni Anderson signed up for a US$1.5 million mortgage on the five bedroom property in May 1994. The mortgage was due to be paid off in 2019. In 2009 a local US newspaper reported that Reynolds had put the five bedroom, waterfront property, which he nicknamed “Valhalla”, on the market for US$8.9 million. Although it boasts a swimming pool, a gym, a wine room, a hair salon, seven bathrooms, a boat dock and a helipad, the property failed to sell. Reynolds blamed the US economy and the property market crash as the main reasons. But a recent assessment, carried out by Merrill Lynch, valued the property at just US$2.4 million. However, the actor is hoping to get back on track and is staying positive amid allegations surrounding his current finances. "I am as surprised as everyone. I thought my career and my life could not be going better. To all of the people who have had such faith in me and stuck by me through thick and thin, thank you. I know it is not the end of the world. There are a hell of a lot of other people worse off than I am, and my heart goes out to them. I will do like I've always done, keep my head up high and continue to move on down the road" Reynolds said in a recent interview with ABC News. Recently Reynolds began filming a new made-for-television movie “Reel Love” starring country singer LeAnn Rimes and Shawn Robert in Toronto, Canada. The straight to television film is due to premiere on US channel Country Music Television (CMT) later this month. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=443 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=442 The Annual Construction Cost Comparison Report by EC Harris Research has revealed that countries throughout the Asia Pacific region have significantly lower building costs than their counterparts in The West, despite experiencing substantial economic growth. Now in its seventh year, the report compares building costs per square metre in fifty six countries worldwide against construction costs in the South of England. India and Sri Lanka have the lowest construction costs in the Asia Pacific region; 70% less than in the UK.  China comes in next with building costs 55% lower than those in Britain. And despite property prices booming in Hong Kong and Singapore over the last year, the two islands maintained their costs at 2010 levels; around 10% below those in the UK. Currently Japan has the highest costs in the Asia Pacific region; 24% higher than in England.  However, the report was completed before the March Tsunami which would obviously have had a profound effect on the results as the country rebuilds. Construction costs for Thailand were low when compared to Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore; ranking 35% lower than the UK. And the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam were amongst the cheapest in the region; averaging 54% below English costs. Looking forward, Simon Rawlinson, Head of Strategic Research and Insight at EC Harris in London opined: “Growth in Asia will be broadly based; markets in Europe and the USA will underperform in comparison.” During the last eighteen months, prices for construction materials such as steel, copper and oil have been close to their all-time highs. This has pushed up building costs globally. However, recent signs indicate that the prices of basic materials have largely stabilised. Oil has already fallen 10% from its peak price and experts believe that this will lead to price drops in many different materials throughout 2012 and 2013. “It is evident that as the economies in the Asia Pacific region continue to grow and their European peers struggle to recover, the region is becoming more and more attractive to property investors. Lower costs and a propensity for growth equals much higher potential returns than alternatives in Europe and the USA. “Whilst prime locations such as London and New York remain in high demand, we have already seen a significant number of mid-level investors moving their money out of Europe and the USA into emerging South East Asian economies.” commented Adam Smith, Market Analyst for Ocean Villas Group in Singapore. EC Harris is an international consultancy based in London, UK.  Founded in 1911 the company provides services in strategic planning including asset and investment risk management to a wide range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, oil, gas, chemicals, property, public transportation and utilities. The company has offices in the United Kingdom, China, India, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Czech Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa and Georgia in the USA. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=442 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=441 The daughter of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, Jade Jagger, has put her Spanish property up for sale. The seventeenth century farmhouse is located on the North West Coast of the Balearic Island of Ibiza near the village of Sant Joan de Labritja. Dubbed by Jagger as her own “private paradise”, the Spanish property sits on top of a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. And from its secluded location it’s hard to imagine that it is only thirty minutes away from Ibiza’s famous club scene. But that is one of the reason’s Jade bought the 500 year old farmhouse. Inside, the centre-piece of the en-suite master bedroom is a giant Japanese bathtub. Artwork by Andy Warhol (her God father) and Guy Bourdin hangs on the walls. Outside, guest accommodation is provided in individual white tepees scattered throughout the grounds. A private swimming pool with a bar and canopied daybeds completes the picture. Once the property is sold, Jagger will divide her time between her beach house in Goa, Southern India and the North West London penthouse she shares with boyfriend, DJ Dan Williams. Jade Jagger is the daughter of Mick Jagger and his first wife, Bianca Perez Morena de Macias. Bianca met the Rolling Stone after a concert in September 1970, France. Less than a year later Bianca fell pregnant with Jade and the couple married at a ceremony in Saint Tropez Town Hall on May 12th 1971. But only eight years later Bianca filed for divorce on grounds of adultery due to Jagger’s affair with American supermodel Jerry Hall. In 1996, aged 24, Jade launched her designer jewellery and fashion label, Jade Inc. Four years later she was hired by high-end British jewellers Garrard & Co. as their creative director. She left the position in 2006. More recently, Jade launched her music and lifestyle label, Jezebel. She is currently working with French designer Phillip Starck on Lodha Fiorenza, a 452 apartment development in Mumbai, India. The luxury, four tower complex is due to be completed in 2013. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=441 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=439 Madrid, Spain: The Spanish Government has cut value added tax on new property in Spain by 50 per cent with immediate effect. The reduction in VAT (Spanish - IVA) from eight per cent four per cent on new build Spanish properties came into force on August 19th and will continue until the end of the year. Announcing the decision Jose Blanco, Minister of Development for Spain, said he hoped the new measures will "revive the construction sector" and "contribute to create employment in the sector most affected by the recession”. The move comes at a time when the Spanish real estate market is close to rock bottom. Prices are down to around 2005 levels and many banks are offering one hundred per cent mortgages in an effort to attract buyers. The VAT reduction will mean a saving of up to 8,000 Euros (US$ 11,500) on a 200,000 Euro (US$ 288,420) property. Some Spanish property developers are going even further, pledging, "No VAT at all" until the end of the year - reducing VAT payments on new property transactions effectively to zero. The real estate and construction industry in Spain reacted positively to the news: "This should provide a much needed lift for the Spanish property industry, which has been grappling with massive over-supply in certain areas. Although prime locations such as Marbella, Malaga and Majorca have seen strong demand from northern European buyers and an increase in sales volume over the past twelve months, in many less desirable areas the market continues to struggle. "Buyers should see this as a positive step by the Spanish Government to get the property market moving again. We have already seen a significant increase in enquiries for Spanish property and we anticipate strong sales over the coming months as buyers hurry to complete on purchases before the end of the year. “It remains to be seen just how much impact the tax cut will have in less popular areas. However, buyers who have been considering taking the plunge in more popular locations will likely look on this as an opportunity to get an even better deal on their investment.” commented Adam Smith, market analyst for Ocean Villas Group. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=439 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=435 London, UK: Properties at the much anticipated The Glebe in Chelsea, London have finally been released for sale. Industry experts say The Glebe will rival the Candy brother’s £1.25 billion (US$2 billion) One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge for sheer luxury in the UK capital. One Hyde Park is currently the most expensive place to live in London, with a single apartment recently selling for over £40 million (US$65 million). The £300 million (US$490 million) project in Chelsea will consist of six apartments with ceilings up to five metres high, a two floor penthouse with a roof terrace and two detached villas. Every property will have its own swimming pool, a games room and will be served by a private elevator. The Glebe has a pretty unique location too; a one acre plot close to the River Thames and a one minute walk to Chelsea’s fashionable Kings Road. "It is very different…it is so rare that you get an acre in Chelsea. It is a rarity" commented Aref Lahham, a spokesman for the developers. The Glebe was initially granted planning permission by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 2009. It was designed by renowned architect Sir Norman Foster, one of Britain’s most prolific architects. Foster’s previous work includes; Hong Kong International Airport; the Reichstag restoration in Berlin; and the Swiss Reinsurance UK company headquarters in London. In 2007 Foster collaborated with French designer Philippe Starck and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson on the Virgin Galactic terminal building in the New Mexico desert. It has been suggested that all the properties at The Glebe could be bought by a super rich family, who may want to live together but in their own homes. Prices are on application only but are rumoured to be between £25 million (US$40.6 million) and £35 million (US$56.9 million) for the detached villas. The two storey penthouse is expected to sell for around £35 million (US$56.9 million). Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=435 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=433   Answer: They own homes on Koh Samui in Thailand. The Beckham’s villa cost over 200,000,000 Baht (US$6,675,600) to build. Here's a photo... Why did they choose Samui? Maybe because it’s quieter than Phuket? Perhaps for the unspoilt beaches? Or because beachfront land is easier to find? Whatever their reasons, if you fancy Posh and Becks as your neighbours - you have lots to choose from. If you want privacy - take a look at these... They are hidden in the rainforest a few metres above Laem Yai Beach. These villas are part of the Four Seasons resort - so the service is top-notch. You even get your own private chef, butler and maids. But there are only a few left for sale. Prices start at US$3,355,610. http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=730 Whatever you want, whenever you want it... That is what W Retreat and Residences promise their owners. These villas are fully managed by ‘W’ (don’t worry that’s the resort operator not the ex-president). You get access to private chefs, butlers, a concierge and chauffeurs. And these are the only villas on Samui where you get sunrise AND sunset views. Three bed villas start at US$2,345,765 - including furniture. http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=750 This place is just around the corner from Posh and Becks... And it comes with 270 degree ocean views and two kitchens. Why two kitchens? One is for show. The other is in a separate room, for your chef. Let’s face it - you don't want to put up with cooking smells and kitchen noise when you're relaxing. You can have the Beckhams as your neighbours for US$1,991,126. http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=1248 On a clear day you can almost see Cambodia from here... Sorry. I’m exaggerating. But you can see the East Coast of Samui and Koh Phangan. This villa is in one of the best 5-star resorts on Samui. And you won't need to lift a finger when you stay. You can order room service, a massage in your villa - even your own fireworks display! But if you like it - be quick - it's the only one for sale at the resort. The price is US$1,850,000. http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=1165 You can't get closer to the beach than this... The Balinese-style villa has steps directly onto the sands at Bophut. You can even moor your boat just off-shore in the high season. The price for your own piece of beachfront is US$1,161,490. http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=1257 The good news is, recently it's got a lot easier to get to Samui. You can now fly direct from Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and most of Thailand. So if you’d like to know more about these properties drop me a line. And if they don't suit your lifestyle or your budget you can find lots more here: http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property.asp?country=3&cname=thailand You can also get lots of interesting info about Koh Samui in my book... ‘The Definitive Guide to buying property in Thailand' If you still haven't got your Free copy you can get yours here. Best, Rebecca Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=433 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=432 Jerry Seinfeld, the star and co-creator of hit US television show ‘Seinfeld’, has put his Colorado estate on the property market for US$18.25 million. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains and described as “an evolving series of Western ranch structures”, the twenty six acre property boasts eleven bedrooms and fourteen bathrooms. After he bought the estate, Seinfeld ordered a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion of the property. It now has a separate guest house, a hot tub, a steam shower and a four car heated garage. A large patio at the rear overlooks Sunshine and Wilson Peaks, which were made famous in the Coors Brewing Company television advertisements. The area is no stranger to celebrities as the nearby town and ski resort of Telluride is popular with the rich and famous. Other high profile property owners in the locale include billionaire fashion designer Ralph Lauren and Hollywood couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Jerry Seinfeld rose to fame during the 1990’s when he starred in the comedy series ‘Seinfeld’. Co-written by Larry David, the show aired on NBC between July 1989 and May 1998. It ran for nine seasons and one hundred and eighty episodes. The show is set in a fictional apartment block in Manhattan and features Seinfeld’s friends; George Costanza (Jason Alexander); ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus); and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). The show was so successful that the final episode was watched by over seventy six million viewers. This made it the third most watched finale in television history after M.A.S.H and Cheers. According to Forbes magazine, Seinfeld’s earnings from the show in 2004 were US$267 million, making him the highest earning celebrity that year. The comedy received numerous awards including; the Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Comedy Series’ in 1993; the Golden Globe Award for ‘Best TV Series Comedy’ in 1994; and the Screen Actors Guild Award for ‘Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series’ in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Due to its high viewing figures, the show became the first TV series to command over US$1 million a minute for advertising. The show still generates revenue through syndication and DVD sales. Seinfeld has been repeatedly offered as much as US$5 million per episode to film a tenth series but he has always refused. More recently Seinfeld co-wrote the computer animated film ‘Bee Movie’. Jerry also provides the voice for the lead character, Barry B. Benson, alongside Renee Zellweger, John Goodman and Chris Rock. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=432 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=430 Petra Ecclestone, the daughter of F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone, has bought the Los Angeles home of Amercian film and television producer, Aaron Spelling. The twenty two year old fashion designer paid a reported US$85 million for the US property. Spelling bought the house from singer and actor Bing Crosby in 1983. The ‘Starsky and Hutch’ producer then demolished Crosby’s home and built his 5,300m2 mansion in its place. The property, known as The Manor, is located in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles and is the largest single family home in California. The Manor is set on six acres of land and has a total of fourteen bedrooms and twenty seven bathrooms. The property boasts a bowling alley, a gym, a movie theatre and parking space for one hundred cars. Outside, there is a tennis court, a koi pond and a heated swimming pool complete with a pool house, a kitchen and a bar. The mansion also has several rooms dedicated to specific activities such as; a wrapping room; a silverware storage room; a flower cutting room; and a beauty salon. There is even a ‘Prince Charles Room’ where the heir to the UK throne once spent the night. The service wing has five staff bedrooms along with two butler’s suites. Aaron’s wife, Candy Spelling, put the property on the market with an initial asking price of US$150 million in 2009; three years after the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ producers death. This made it the most expensive residential listing in the USA. Although Petra bought the estate at a discount, she is rumoured to have borrowed US$82.4 million from her mother, Salvica. Bernie Ecclestone and Salvica divorced in 2009. Their divorce settlement left Salvica with an estimated fortune of US$1 billion. However, this is not Petra’s first big money property purchase with parental assistance. At the end last year her father bought her a US$91 million, six-storey Grade II listed property in Chelsea, London. Petra is set to marry her finance James Stunt in August. Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/property-news-detail.asp?NewsID=430 http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=457 Price reduced from 17,000,000 Baht This luxury villa is located on a hillside just a few minutes from Patong beach, shopping and night life. The villa is less than one year old and has an attractive modern design. The property comprises two bedrooms and three bathrooms, kitchen, living and dining areas along with many additional extras including a Jacuzzi in the master bathroom. To the rear of the property is a landscaped garden with a private swimming pool of 30m2 and additional decking area. The villas is sold fully furnished including quality furniture imported from Europe and a modern white kitchen with marble worktop.   Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.oceanvillasgroup.com/propertydetail.asp?PropertyID=457