Philippa Kaur

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    in Vacation Homes

    Americans Are Flocking to Italian Wine Country to Buy Their Second Homes

    Having a second home sounds nice. Having a second home in one of Italy’s famed wine regions sounds even nicer.

    Many Americans would seem to agree with that statement. Those looking to buy second homes are flocking to Piedmont, the home of Barolo, according to The Wall Street Journal. Diletta Giorgolo Spinola, the head of residential sales at Italy Sotheby’s International Realty, estimates that the number of Americans asking about the area had jumped about 50 percent at her agency over the past two years alone.

    Along with its reputation in the wine world, Piedmont was instrumental in the creation of the slow-food movement, and it’s a major area for the hunting and buying of white truffles. That makes it an especially appealing area to buyers with a strong interest in food and drink.

    Some are even intrigued by the idea of having their own vineyard. Luca Stroppiana of Langhe Real Estate told the WSJ that vineyards are the new must-have for second-home buyers. He helped facilitate the sale of a $510,000 farmhouse with one to an American couple mainly living in Milan. “We like to drink wine,” said Bryony Bechtold, who bought the property with her husband. “And now we will learn all about the different grapes and how making wine works.”

    At Langhe Property, Americans are actually the No. 1 demographic, beating out the British. And an architect in the area told The Wall Street Journal that Americans are now the majority of her foreign customers. It doesn’t hurt that the US dollar is quite strong, and that the pandemic has allowed for flexibility as to where people can live and work.

    While enjoying the Italian countryside for a few weeks or months at a time does sound great, the Journal didn’t note how locals feel about the influx of out-of-towners. That’s been an issue in other international locales, like Mexico City, where residents became fed up with American tourists and remote workers earlier this year.

    Still, the possibility of animus isn’t turning off the Piedmont-curious. A couple from Kansas who have been visiting Italy for 50 years are gearing up to move the region next year—and even more home buyers seem likely to join them. More

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    Better Than a Hotel? You Can Now Buy Shares in Multiple Homes Around Europe to Travel in Comfort

    Mélie and Nico Dunod spent years helping clients acquire and renovate vacation homes throughout Europe. Traveling between France, Spain and Italy, they realized how limiting owning one home can be, especially with so many beautiful destinations to discover. This mindset inspired August Collection, a co-ownership model that allows you to own the equivalent of 1/21 of five homes in five different destinations in Europe.

    Founded in 2018, August was built on the idea that the average owner spends just 35 days in their vacation homes per year, and the home sits empty for roughly 11 months.

    Chamonix is a popular year-round destination for outdoor lovers.

    August

    “The more we assisted clients with finding their dream homes, we realized that owning a single holiday home outright in Europe was very limiting, wasteful and full of dichotomies,” says Mélie. “Similarly, no one wants to spend such significant amounts of money on a property they will use for only a few weeks a year, yet they want a home they will be proud of and that is at least as comfortable as their primary residence. We created a model where you own not one but multiple homes in Europe’s best locations, homes all renovated to the highest standards where every single detail is thought through, and for a fraction of the price of buying one home.”

    The homes are designed to exacting standards.

    August

    August has a variety of collections, including the Premium, Signature and Pied à Terre Collections, that offer varying home sizes and destinations for 1/21 ownership. There are also single-family homes with 1/8 ownership offerings. A new line is typically launched yearly; for example, buying into this year’s Premium Collection (the largest property option with four or five bedrooms) gives you access to abodes in the French Alps, French Riviera, Mallorca, Tuscany and the English Countryside for $630,000 (€600,000). The Signature Collection usually offers the same destinations for a smaller home at a lower price. There’s also the Pied à Terre Collection with residences in Cannes, Barcelona, Paris and Rome.  

    Unlike timeshares, you can sell your shares of the homes on the traditional real-estate market and transact its shares like you would any other home. If you want to sell, August can handle sourcing another buyer to purchase your piece of the pie. Also unlike a timeshare, you’ll have real title ownership with appreciation of value. Each home is 100 percent owned by you and your fellow landowners, not August; however the company will manage every aspect of the home, from maintenance to dealing with local taxes and laws to designing the new properties.

    A home in Barcelona.

    Pete Helme Photography

    August also has a point-based booking system that lets you equitably choose the weeks you’d like to spend in the homes. Bookings are released in three batches, with super-peak weeks being the first batch. You can plan a year in advance or book spontaneous trips if your points allow. While in the summer months, destinations such as the South of France are the most popular, August aims to combine buyers who might be interested in the homes at different times of the year. You can also purchase multiple shares in one collection—up to four—to increase the amount of time you’re spending in each location. There’s also a monthly fee that covers utilities and cleaning. 

    There are multiple collections to choose from.

    August

    The Dunods have more than 30 years of real estate and interior-design experience. When they purchase a home, each is planned to exacting standards with a high-end slant to ensure the best product offering. In terms of destinations, the duo choose locations based on proximity to international airports, year-round offerings and places that have strong and stable real-estate markets and luxury home offerings. 

    “When you rent, you need to plan in advance: How many bedrooms do I need, do I want to invite guests? This often leads to people holidaying less,” Mélie says. “With August, families have guaranteed homes that they want to go to, and the common feedback is people spend many more holidays together and the kids are eager to join.” More

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    These Luxe Rain Forest Villa Rentals in Costa Rica Offer Bonkers Views of a Volcano

    Ever wanted to vacation in a rain forest? This new villa-rental service in Costa Rica can help you out.

    Arenal Hills, a vacation-home development company, recently unveiled its brand-new rental program for those looking to enjoy their time off in a private luxury abode. Located in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, the property is primed to let you relax in the great outdoors, with lush greenery spreading across 123 acres. The gated community will include 146 homes divided into two- and three-bedroom villas with 24/7 security. The tropical vacation homes were all designed and built by Jorge Chinchilla; the famed architect took cues from the natural surroundings—including views of the nearby Arenal Volcano—and incorporated them into the interior design, using natural wood floors, bamboo accents, fine marble harvested from the Peruvian mountains and a neutral color palette. 

    The 2,800-square-foot two-bedroom villa is a single story, while the 4,800-square-foot three-bedroom home spans two floors. All the homes have their own private waterfall hot tub pool in the garden that will make you feel lost in paradise. There’s also an on-site concierge to take care of all your needs. And, to make getting around the community a breeze, each home has a personal golf cart that you can use to hit all the activities on offer.

    Bedroom.

    Arenal Hill Homes

    Those amenities, which you can visit without leaving the property, include a multipurpose room where you can partake in complimentary yoga and other fitness classes. Next year, the private enclave plans to add a 33,000-gallon infinity-edge pool with a swim-up bar and a kids’ pool, a restaurant and a premier lounge called Club Cabana. The development also hopes to introduce a second luxe relaxation spot—Club Vida—and another dining option by 2024. If you happen enjoy horseback riding, you’re in luck, as Arenal Hills will be breaking ground on an equestrian center in 2025. 

    Exterior shot.

    Arenal Hill Homes

    “We are thrilled to kick off Arenal Hills’ new rental program as Costa Rica enters its high tourist season,” Gerald Baum, CEO of Costa Rica Land Capital Partners and sole owner of Arenal Hills, said in a statement. “Through our new program, renters will not only stay in luxurious, fully furnished villas immersed in a magical paradise but can also enjoy the variety of exclusive amenities offered only to Arenal Hills residents.”

    There are currently eight homes available for reservations through Airbnb, with another 100 slated to open in the near future. 

    Rates for homes start at $400 per night. More

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    Pacaso Teams Up With Surf Air for a Luxe New Rideshare Service

    First, Pacaso made purchasing a second home easier through its tech-enabled real estate co-ownership model. Now it hopes to make owners travel to these second homes more efficient through its new partnership with regional semi-private regional aviation company Surf Air and Alto, which offers elevated on-demand ridesharing. 

    Pacaso, founded by dotloop founder Austin Allison and former Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff, purchases luxury homes and sells ⅛ to ½ ownership through a wholly managed LLC co-ownership model. This means that you—alongside others—can enjoy the benefits of a multi-million-dollar home without paying the full price, and Pacaso has professional property management, a smart scheduling system and even handles the finance and billing to make your co-ownership experience fairly seamless. They operate homes in several markets including Florida, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming, as well as several cities in Spain. 

    Pacaso has homes in more than 35 markets.

    The company’s recent partnership with Surf Air proves just how serious they are about providing a totally seamless, efficient and turnkey experience for customers from tarmac to front door. All homeowners will receive a six-month Alto membership, which helps them lock in priority members-only times—just in time for the holidays—and save up to 30 percent on every ride and receive perks and rewards. With Surf Air, members will receive special perks when they book a seat on one of the semi-private charter flights. Surf Air has scheduled flight networks  throughout California, one of Pacaso’s biggest markets, but also throughout the US. You can either book a seat for a semi-private experience on the scheduled flights or charter a fully private flight wherever you wish in the U.S. with guaranteed availability, no blackout dates and no initiation fee. 

    Properties like this Lake Tahoe cabin are exceptionally cozy during the holiday season.

    “When our owners are heading to their Pacaso second home, we want them to have a turnkey and headache-free experience from door to door,” CEO Austin Allison tells Robb Report. “Alto and Surf Air offer elevated, easy, and dependable transportations options that allow our owners to maximize their time enjoying their second home and the local communities.” 

    Especially around the holidays when airports get quite crazy, Surf Air—as with any private aviation experience—can significantly shorten the duration of your travel time, allowing you to spend more time with loved ones. Surf Air has also committed to a greener private aviation experience by investing in electric smaller aircraft for short-haul flights. 

    Alto offers elevated ridesharing services via an app, and Pacaso owners receive special membership perks.

    “At Pacaso, we handle everything from maintenance to luxury interior design so that owners get to own and enjoy amazing real estate for a much lower cost and with none of the hassles,” Allison says. “Surf Air has a similar approach to air travel, offering a more sustainable option than competitors and an easy arrive-and-fly process that saves members time. Their convenient regional service also gives more transportation options to owners who are flying to many of the popular Pacaso destinations like Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara and the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.”

    A second home is especially valuable during the holiday season and through Pacaso’s management system, co-owners pre-set the dates they’ll be traveling when they first purchase their portion of the home so owners never have to worry about double-booking on peak weekends, like Thanksgiving or festive season.  More

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    A Private Island Francis Ford Coppola Called Home Has Hit the Market for $2.2 Million

    It’s not every day a private island makes its way onto the market. One that housed a Hollywood great is an even rarer find. Coral Caye, Francis Ford Coppola’s dreamy resort in southern Belize, has hit the market. The self-sustaining private island is set up with a main house, two rustic cottages and a dock. And the best part? It’s positioned behind the Belize Barrier Reef, so its surrounding turquoise-blue waters serve as an incredibly scenic home base for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or paddleboarding. With all these welcomed distractions, it’s hard to imagine anyone would want to give the isle. But one legendary filmmaker’s loss could be your gain—for a cool $2.2 million.

    For the past six years, the director and his family have been leasing the two-and-a-half-acre island, currently owned by Los Angeles-based lawyer Terry Tao, notes Mansion Global. Tao was said to have bought the enclave 10 years ago, which is when he put up the main house. Coppola later had the two cottages built, in addition to a large pier that stretches out over the water. Altogether, the property can host up to 10 guests. “He had everyone from his close friends to movie stars and writers to Saudi princes come to the island,” Corcoran agent Peter McLean tells the listing site. 

    A private island in Belize known as Coral Caye just listed for nearly $2.2 million

    Terry Tao/The Corcoran Group

    Coral Caye is currently part of the filmmaker-turned-hotelier’s collection of Coppola’s Hideaways. But now, you can make Coral Caye your own tropical getaway. The newest residence to hit the island has been dubbed Coral Cottage and it offers a king bed, sleeper sofa, living area, front porch and hammocks. There’s also a full bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower.

    On the other hand, the Seahorse Cottage is located near a mangrove and comprises two queen beds, two twin beds, an indoor bathroom and another outdoor shower. In terms of entertainment, turn to the Great House which has been outfitted with a full bar and sound system, plus a kitchen, dining area and game room. 

    Formerly used as a retreat by Francis Ford Coppola, the director had two cottages installed on the island to complement the main house

    Terry Tao/The Corcoran Group

    “Coral Caye has been a joyous retreat for me and my family,” Tao told Mansion Global. “The tranquil ocean and the warm sunshine were a sanctuary for us all and a deep breath of life in this fast-moving world.” To be sure, that’s an amenity far more valuable than the island’s price tag.

    Click here to see all the photos of Coral Caye.

    Terry Tao/The Corcoran Group More

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    Coral Caye in Photos

    <!– <!– _ _ _ ____ _ _____ _ ___ | | (_) | _____ / ___|___ __| | ___ | ____| |__|__ | | | | |/ / _ | | / _ / _` |/ _ | _| | '_ / / | |___| | Coral Caye in Photos – Robb Report ad More

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    This $100 Million Private Island in the Bahamas Comes Fully Furnished and Move-In Ready

    Why own a vacation home when you can have a whole island? Those looking to really get away from it all this winter are in luck, as Little Pipe Cay, a private island in the Bahamas, has hit the market once again for $100 million. No small price, and $15 million more than the property was going for when it was first listed in 2018.

    What justifies the uptick in price? Simply put, owning an island is now more appealing than ever. Many left major cities behind for more far-flung locales last year during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that interest doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Little Pipe Cay has some geographical advantages compared to other isles too, as it’s located in the 350-island Exumas archipelago. So it’s not far from Miami, should you ever want to hop over to the city for a long weekend.

    One of the residences 

    Photo: Lifestyle Production Group

    The 40-acre island is more built out than most others on the market, too, instead of just being an undeveloped piece of land: Six of the structures come fully furnished and are move-in ready. The main residence, for instance, is 5,300 square feet and has a primary bedroom with dual bathrooms and walk-in closets. Nearby is a separate structure for entertaining, which features a dining area, a pub, a spa and a gym. There are four guest houses on the property, plus storehouses and staff quarters. The island’s current infrastructure can be credited to investor and businessman Michael Dingman, who previously owned the property, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

    A living room 

    Photo: Brett Davis

    Of course, as incredible as a property like this one is, upkeep doesn’t come cheap. Running costs total about $1.5 million, though there’s room to turn it into a money-making venture. The future owner could transform the place into a resort, similar to Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, and turn a profit.

    Homes on the island combine indoor and outdoor living 

    Photo: Brett Davis

    Or you can keep it to yourself. The area’s crystalline waters and scenic vistas are certainly worth having access to year-round.
    Fredrik Eklund and John Gomes of Douglas Elliman hold the listing. Check out more photos of the island below:

    One of the bedrooms 

    Photo: Brett Davis

    A lounge area 

    Photo: Brett Davis

    The pool 

    Photo: Lifestyle Production Group

    One of the beaches 

    Photo: Lifestyle Production Group More

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    The Lavish Lake Como Villa from ‘House of Gucci’ Is Coming to Airbnb—for One Lucky Guest

    “House of Gucci” hits theaters today, and if you want to live like Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci (played by Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, respectively), you’re in luck: One of the family homes featured in the film is now available for an overnight stay via Airbnb for $1,125—but only for one lucky booker.

    The grand Lake Como residence stars as Aldo Gucci’s home in the film. Gucci was the chairman of the fashion house from 1953 to 1986; he was the eldest son of founder Guccio Gucci. A wide shot of the home’s facade appears within the first 15 seconds of the trailer.

    The living room 

    Photo: Bruno Erhs

    Outside of the Ridley Scott drama, the mansion is known as Villa Balbiano. According to the Airbnb listing, it’s one of the largest private residences on Lake Como. It was originally built for Tolomeo Gallio, an Italian cardinal, at the end of the 16th century. Angelo Maria Durini, another cardinal, took over the property a century later and used it as a party pad where he hosted many lavish festivals and banquets.

    Many of the art and antiques found in the home were sourced from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. 

    Photo: Bruno Erhs

    Today the home is still a remarkable place to live (or to throw an over-the-top party). There are frescoes on the wall that date back to the 17th century by brothers Giovanni Battista Recchi and Giovanni Paolo Recchi, as well as ones by Agostino Silva. Many of the collectible furnishings and artworks that decorate the residence were sourced from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. 

    One of the bedrooms 

    Photo: Bruno Erhs

    The home has six suites altogether, and each was designed by revered French architect Jacques Garcia. Outside there’s a pool, plus a private pier and boathouse for those who want to spend time out on Lake Como’s picturesque waters.

    One of the bathrooms 

    Photo: Bruno Erhs

    The catch? You’ll only be able to book the place for one night. The Airbnb host is making the Italian villa available on March 30, 2022, for one guest and a plus one to spend the night in the primary suite. Bookings open on December 6 at 12 pm EST, so if you see “House of Gucci” between now and then and have your heart set on the home, best mark your calendar.

    Check out more photos of the villa below: More