Cape Verde Property

“On Monday, March 26, US Congressman Barney Frank hosted a delegation from MCA Cape Verde which presented to Congress the progress to date on its MCA compact.” Click here for the full story.

Cape Verde Islands – a “Tropical Paradise”
Not only are the Cape Verde Islands regarded as the hottest holiday hot spot for 2007, they’re also set to become one of the most lucrative investment areas this year. Every year there are more and more property developments springing up as investment opportunities soar.

These paradise islands are located in the crystal clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean around 300 miles off the west coast of Africa. They’ re one of the closest tropical climes to the UK. You don’t need to go all the way to the Caribbean anymore. With temperatures between 22-27 degrees all year round the Cape Verde Islands are a fantastic alternative!

Getting here is has never been easier. You can now fly through various European airports (Paris, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Las Palmas and Gran Canaria) or direct from the UK (London Gatwick and Birmingham). It takes between five and six hours from the UK.

Sal (the “Salt” island) is one of the most popular investment areas on the archipelago at the moment. Home to an International Airport, Sal is an ideal base for island hopping.

It’s an island famous for its stunning white sand beaches and guaranteed sun, all year long. Sal’s international airport is one of the major gateways to the Cape Verde islands.

Investing in Cape Verde (What does is have to offer?) http://www.capeverde4sale.com/latest-news.asp

Apart from lucrative investment opportunities, you’ll also get excellent financial incentives (if you obtain resident status) and certain privelidges including, exemption from some taxes/fees when importing personal effects and purchasing property.

The islands are breathtaking. They’re a nature lover’s paradise, with endless white sandy beaches, colourful rhododendrons, huge fire trees and corn plants growing beneath endless clear blue skies. In the surrounding waters, dolphins, whales and turtles swim with the coral in pristine turquoise harmony.

The Cape Verde archipelago consists of ten small islands. They became independent from Portugal in 1975 and the ofiicicial language is Portuguese. The capital of the the country is Praia, located on the Island of Santiago.

Investing in Sal Island (Cape Verde)
Sal is just 30km long and 12km wide. If you choose a property here you’ll never be far from a glistening white sandy beach or crystal clear blue waters.

Santa Maria is one of the island’s most well developed tourist resort with established hotels, bars and restaurants. This southern coastal town is an ideal location if you’re looking for a shrewd investment opportunity. It’s just 25 minutes from the airport.

Investing in Santiago Island (Cape Verde)
With it’s new international airport now open, Santiago (the largest of the Leeward Islands) is an attractive investment option. More and more developments are being built on Santiago every year.

Santiago (Portuguese for “Saint James”) is home to the capital of Praia; a bustling, noisy, crowded and distinctly African town.

This tropical paradise, with its lush forests and beautiful beaches, has outstanding investment potential. Buying property here, be it a villa, apartment, off-plan or new development, is set to be a very profitable investment, especially if you get in before foreign investors push up the property prices.

Investing in Boavista Island (Cape Verde)
Boa Vista is the closest island to the African mainland. It’s a quiet, peaceful island with a flat landscape and over 50kms of white sandy beaches. It’s a haven for nature lovers and watersports fans, windsurfers in particular. Boavista is thought to have the fourth largest turtle population in the world.

Tourism is a relatively new development on Boa Vista, so expect many off-plan opportunities as the demand for property increases and more villas and apartments are built.

In 2005 a new airport (IATA airport code: RAI, Praia) was opened in the capital Praia and from November 2006 there have been direct flights from UK airports. As competition between the carriers increases lower airfares are set to follow. If you’re thinking of investing in Cape Verde but aren’t too familiar with the islands, why not take an inspection visit and enjoy a holiday at the same time.

Private investors expect that the large island of Santiago, 200 kilometres southwest of Sal, will soon be opened to charter tourism. A huge tourism infrastructure is already being built outside Praia. The capital is now surrounded by large luxury hotels and beach resorts.

Just 14 kms northeast or Praia, the small village of São Francisco, is also set to receive large numbers of charter tourists. As the Sambala tourist village facilities come on line close to the airport, more and more flights will switch from the old Sal airport.

Up until recently, to get to the Cape Verde Islands from the UK you’d have to take up to three separate flights and the whole journey could take you up to 14 hours including waiting for connecting flights.

Now you can take direct flights from Amsterdam, Paris or Lisbon in around 8 hours and from the UK in under 6 hours.

There are flights to Sal Island from Lisbon every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday into Santiago.

Amsterdam is the interchange point each Thursday and from Paris you can reach Sal every Monday.

New routes from the UK
Since November 2006 there have been direct flights to Praia, Santiago from Birmingham. This summer (2007) a second direct route to Cape Verde is to be launched.

The flights will go direct from London Gatwick to the island of Boa Vista once a week. It will take around 6 hours and cost around £377 including all taxes, fees and charges.

Alternatively, you can still fly though major European cities like Paris, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Las Palmas and Gran Canaria. America is already linked by flights out of Boston, New York, Houston and Atlanta. These European and American flights land on the island of Sal.

There will be more and more flights between Praia and the UK over the next year or so. Soon, we might even see direct flights from Stansted, Leeds and Bristol.

The new Praia airport has made a huge difference to Cape Verde travel. It can handle bulk carriers like the Airbus 320 and Boeing 757 and 737 making it attractive to budget airlines, meaning cheaper flights for you!

The climate, beautiful scenery and wonderful beaches make Cape Verde one of the top tourist destinations for 2007. If you’re thinking of buying here, book an inspection visit and come and see for yourself!

Up to date flight information can be found at http://www.teletickettravel.com and www.tacv.cv

New development property can be found throughout the Cape Verde Archipelago, in Ponte Preta (Sal Island), in particular. Cape Verde is widely regarded as the hottest new investment area in 2007.

The Cape Verde Islands
Cape Verde is located 400 miles from the west coast of Africa. It’s made up of ten islands and eight islets. The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. But most Cape Verdeans speak the national language, Crioulo.

Cape Verde has a warm, dry climate, with average annual temperatures that range from 68 °F (20 °C) to 77 °F (25 °C). It’s rarely too hot in summer or too cold in winter.

Cape Verde is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and stunning deserted beaches with crystal clear warm waters.

Each of the islands has it’s own distinct character – from the lush and lively Santiago to the sandy and salty Sal, and from the volcanic Sao Nicolau to the diving paradise of Boa Vista.

The government here are preparing for a huge increase in tourism on the islands and are expanding the infrastructure accordingly. They need to accommodate the increasing number of visitors attracted to this unusual but very beautiful destination.

New Developments on Cape Verde
Some of the finest new developments on the archipelago can be found in Ponta Preta, Sal.

Capeverde4sale.com are offering a selection 1 and 2 bedroom apartments as well as stunning detached villas, front-line to the beach in the Santa Maria area (Ponta Preta, Sal). Santa Maria’s unspoilt sandy beaches are the best on the island. From here it’s just a ten-minute taxi drive to the airport.

These apartments are the highest of quality with surrounding large-style pools and all only a few metres from the beach. There are a total of 392 low-rise apartments spread over 3 phases. Starting prices are as low as €103,600 and they are expected to sell fast!

Villas start at €280,500. For this price you’ll get an exclusive luxury detached villas, front-line onto the beach with the highest of specifications – 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, marble floors, air conditioning and your own private swimming pool.

Buyers Guide
Two of the most lucrative investment options are off plan and buy to let.

Off Plan
Off plan buying is ideal as you get your home now when the price is at it’s lowest. With off plan, the property price is fixed up front and for an average capital outlay of 30 per cent at the launch stage of an off plan development, you can spread payments over 18 to 24 months. The advantage of this is that you only need a small mortgage and will also enjoy substantial savings on interest.

When the development is finished you can either sell before taking the title deeds or rent it out on a short or long term basis.

Buy to let
In buy to let situation, you buy a property and rent it out as soon as possible. Ideally the rent should cover the cost of your mortgage and if you’ve planned it well, you might even have some money left over.

Getting to Cape Verde
In summer 2007 (within the next few months) a second direct route from Cape Verde is to be launched.

The flights will go direct from London Gatwick to the island of Boa Vista once a week. It will take around 6 hours and cost around £377 including all taxes, fees and charges.

Alternatively, you can go through the major European cities of Paris, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Las Palmas and Gran Canaria.

Cape Verde real estate is one of the most lucrative investment areas in 2007.

With residential property prices in Spain rising only 8.5 percent in the second quarter of 2006, compared to 14 percent in the same quarter of 2005, many investors are looking further south of the Canary Islands. Cape Verde now has numerous off plan and new development
opportunities, particularly in Ponta Preta on the island of Sal.

The Cape Verde Islands
Cape Verde (meaning Green Cape) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 640 kilometres west of Dakar, Senegal, on the African mainland.

It’s an African country that consists of 10 main islands and 5 tiny islands (Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, Ilheu Branco, Ilheu Raso, São Nicolau, Sal and Boa Vista, Maio, São Tiago, Fogo and Brava). The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. But most Cape Verdeans speak the national language, Crioulo.

It’s a stunningly beautiful archipelago with many stark contrasts. The islands have amazing tropical beaches – vast endless stretches of white sands, surrounded by impressive mountain peaks. You can practice all types of water sports here. It’s like a little taste of the Caribbean.
The islands all have their own unique character with each of them showing a cultural face as striking and varied as the geography of the archipelago itself.

Cape Verde is located in the subtropical zone. Average temperatures range from a cosy 24°C in January and February to a sizzling 29°C in September. The average annual rainfall for Cape Verde is 68.4 mm.

The Islands are fast becoming a top wave sports destination. Along with excellent surfing conditions, Cape Verde has beautiful sandy beaches, a perfect year round climate and restaurants, cafes and boutiques within a few minutes stroll. There’s no need to go all the way to Hawaii or Australia anymore.

With a year round warm climate, amazing beaches, hospitable people and a stable environment, this sleepy hide away offers an opportunity like no other to cut yourself off from the real world. The Cape Verde Islands are certainly shaping up to be the holiday hotspot of the year – the “New Canary Islands”.

Why invest in Cape Verde?
With the Spanish market becoming oversaturated and overpriced, the next obvious move for investors and homebuyers is to head further south. Cape Verde is the nearest tropical island destination for Western Europe and has very low property prices. Combine this with year-round sunshine, fantastic fishing and great water sports you get one of the most up and coming investment areas on the planet.

Getting here is easy. It’s just a 5½ hour journey from the UK and as interest in the archipelago increases steadily more and more direct flights are being planned. You can already fly directly from major European cities like Paris, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Las Palmas and Gran Canaria.

The Cape Verdean Government is setting up a tourism infrastructure that will avoid the overbuilding and mass tourist boom that has plagued many other tourist destinations around the globe.

Property for sale in Cape Verde
Montaña Roja are one of the most well established real estate agents on the Cape Verde and have helped many homebuyers and investors find their dream homes or ideal investment. Being both a developer and real estate agency (without intermediaries), Montaña Roja can provide some of the most competitive prices on the market.

At the moment they’re offering one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments for a little as £71.280 (€103.600) in their exclusive Ponta Preta development on the island of Sal.

The AIP Group has an extensive range of new developments throughout most of the Cape Verde islands, ranging from front line villas and apartments to townhouses and private beachfront villas. Below is an overview of selected current developments. See their web site for full listings – http://www.homesofcapeverde.com/

Creola Sands
Site Location: Boavista
Project Type: Luxury apartments
Availability: 1,2,3 beds
Mortgages: Up to 50% loan to value
Prices from: €140,000

Murdeira Beach
Site Location: Sal
Project Type: Sophisticated Development
Availability: 1, 2, 3, 4
Completion: September 2010
Mortgages: Yes up to 80%
Prices from: €140,000

Paradise Beach
Site Location: Santa Maria, Sal
Project Type : Luxury Apartments & Villas
Availability : 1 & 2 Apts & 3 bed villas
Completion : Summer 2008
Mortgages : Yes up to 80%
Prices from : €120,000

Vila Jardins Do Oceano™
Site Location : Santiago – Cidade Velha
Project Type : Private Beachfront Villas
Availability : 2 & 3 bedrooms
Completion :October 2008
Mortgages : Up to 50% loan to value
Prices from : €232,000

Verde Cara
Site Location :Mindelo, Sao Vicente
Project Type : Beachfront Apartments
Availability : 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms
Completion : 2008
Mortgages : Yes up to 80%
Prices from : Awaiting Details

Leme Bedje
Site Location :Tarrafal, Sao Nicolau
Project Type : Exclusive beach homes
Availability : 1,2 and 3 bedrooms
Completion : December 2008
Mortgages : Yes up to 80%
Prices from : €85,000

View more new developments for sale

AIP, the first pioneers on the Canary Islands have moved further south to the exotic Cape Verde Islands.

Over the past 25 years, AIP Group has grown into one of the biggest real estate companies on the Canary and Cape Verde Islands. They’ve developed a reputation for having standards of product and service unmatched by any other agent in this Atlantic region.

Over the last six months, AIP have pushed further into the emerging property markets on the islands of Sal, Santiago and Boa Vista in order to meet the increasing demand for investments here.

AIP have recently launched their new brand “Homes of Cape Verde” (http://www.homesofcapeverde.com/), and has already greatly influenced the island’s lucrative property market.

At the moment Cape Verde property is in big demand.
This is one of the biggest investment areas with UK and Irish nationals, after the Canary Islands. Cape Verde has fantastic potential, both as an investment area and also as a place to live. AIP can help you find real estate on Cape Verde at a fraction of what you’d pay in Spain.

New developments and off-plan purchases are often the most lucrative investments in these new emerging markets.

With three decades of experience selling homes across the islands, clients can rest assured that they’re in safe hands, before during and after the purchase process.

Through their long-standing and privileged relationships with most of the premier constructors in the area, AIP they can offer you a wide range of opportunities at the best possible prices.

AIP has gone from strength to strength and as the company’s managing director, Lawrence Howard explains, “We can promise every house buyer who comes through our door that we will definitely be here in another three, five and ten years”.

AIP are at the cutting age of property sales on Cape Verde. They’re continually adapting their strategies for this rapidly growing market.

AIP now has one of the most comprehensive portfolios of property on Cape Verde. They have everything from off-plan property investments and villas to prime-location condominiums and front line apartments.

Two of their new developments include Dunas Beach and Sabi Sands.

Dunas Beach, located on the beautiful island of Sal, is comprised of a range of top quality front line villas and apartments, starting from just €82,500. Completion date is September 2010 and mortgages are available up to 80%.

Sabi Sands, located on Boa Vista, offers a range of frontline apartments townhouses and villas with 2 & 3 bedrooms, starting at €85,935. Completion date is September 2010 and mortgages are available up to 50% loan to value.

Property investors have long relied on AIP’s keen eye and business acumen to secure their healthy financial future. This trend seems set to continue…

Xclusive Properties have been selling property and offering financial management solutions on the Cape Verde Islands for over 10 years.

Their in-depth knowledge of Cape Verde puts them in an excellent position to give clients the comprehensive and professional advice they need right throughout the whole purchase process.

Cape Verde is an emerging property market with tremendous investment potential. High returns are almost guaranteed.

One of the reasons it’s so lucrative is because it’s still so young. A lot of land is being developed at the same time pushing property prices to their current low.

Property values are set to increase dramatically. Channel 4’s TV programe, (A Place in the Sun), has recently named Cape Verde as “one of the top twenty places for property investment in the world”.

Xclusive Properties understand that all successful investment is about making the right decisions. What’s paramount to them is providing clients with honest and professional information on which to base their decisions. Once they know what they want, Xclusive Properties will their utmost to find the most suitable property for their clients.

Xclusive Properties also specialize in secluded parts of the islands that are out of the mainstream developments.

There’s no “hard sell” approach with Xclusive Properties. They work very closely with clients in order to learn about their specific needs and expectations – to find out exactly what kind of investment they want on Cape Verde, and how best to achieve it.

The more they get to know your needs, wants and expectations the easier it is for them to determine whether the islands can offer you the sort of investment you are looking for.

At Xclusive Properties, they’ll do everything to make sure your property hunting is as stress and hassle free as possible. After all, buying property abroad on an exotic paradise island should be exciting and enjoyable as well as very financially rewarding.

Xclusive Properties have been selling property and offering financial management solutions on the Cape Verde Islands for over 10 years.

Their in-depth knowledge of Cape Verde puts them in an excellent position to give clients the comprehensive and professional advice they need right throughout the whole purchase process.

Cape Verde is an emerging property market with tremendous investment potential. High returns are almost guaranteed.

One of the reasons it’s so lucrative is because it’s still so young. A lot of land is being developed at the same time pushing property prices to their current low.

Property values are set to increase dramatically. Channel 4’s TV programe, (A Place in the Sun), has recently named Cape Verde as “one of the top twenty places for property investment in the world”.

Xclusive Properties understand that all successful investment is about making the right decisions. What’s paramount to them is providing clients with honest and professional information on which to base their decisions. Once they know what they want, Xclusive Properties will their utmost to find the most suitable property for their clients.

Xclusive Properties also specialize in secluded parts of the islands that are out of the mainstream developments.

There’s no “hard sell” approach with Xclusive Properties. They work very closely with clients in order to learn about their specific needs and expectations – to find out exactly what kind of investment they want on Cape Verde, and how best to achieve it.

The more they get to know your needs, wants and expectations the easier it is for them to determine whether the islands can offer you the sort of investment you are looking for.

At Xclusive Properties, they’ll do everything to make sure your property hunting is as stress and hassle free as possible. After all, buying property abroad on an exotic paradise island should be exciting and enjoyable as well as very financially rewarding.

Known as the “the Island of Flowers”, Brava is the smallest of the populated Cape Verde Islands. It lies at the southwestern end of the group, with Fogo rising dramatically ten miles to the east. The two large islands north of Brava are uninhabited.

It’s the wettest and greenest of the Cape Verde Islands, with an abundance of lush green vegetation. It has an extremely varied terrain of towering peaks and deep valleys. Mountain valleys dominate the south, east and the west of the island, while the north has only a few valleys. Lobelia, hibiscus, bougainvillae and jasmine can be found throughout the island.

Brava is a natural paradise, considered by many to be the most attractive of the Cape Verde Islands.

It’s not just for nature lovers though – Brava is beginning to attract tourists, homebuyers and property investors from all over Northern Europe. So expect you can many off-plan opportunities as the demand for property increases and more villas and apartments are built.

Brava has a pleasant climate with temperatures ranging from 16 to 25 deg °C. Enveloped in a near-permanent mist, it’s more humid and much greener than the other Cape Verde Islands.

It’s not exactly the place to go to for a “fun in the sun” type holiday. Brava is quite unique. It doesn’t offer water sports or other beach activities and is therefore less frequented by tourists.

There are five villages on the island, all of which lie north of the mountaintop. The island’s main town is Vila Nova Sintra, which is located at an altitude of 500m. It’s a pretty town with many flower filled gardens. Brava only has one beach – Faja d’Agua which is made of volcanic sand.

The main port on the island (Furna) is located around three kms from Vila de Nova Sintra. It’s a busy port that gets packed at ferry arrivals and departures.

First settled in the 1540s, Brava now has schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium, churches, and a square (praça) including one in honour of the famous musician Eugene Tavares. Agriculture and fishing have traditionally been the principal activities on the island. Long ago, the main industry was whaling but nowadays it’s more agricultural.

Although volcanic in origin, Brava has no documented historical eruptions. In 1982 it was severely damaged by Tropical Storm “Beryl”.

One of the most scenic routes on the island is from Furna to Vila de Nova Sintra. Here you’ll see some truly spectacular mountain scenery – a photographer’s paradise.

Some of the most interesting place to visit include; Faja d’Agua and Sorno; Nova Sintra; Mato Grande; Vinagre; Porto da Furna; Nossa Senhora Do Monte; Cachaco; and Mt. Fontainhas

Brava is the only inhabited island in Cape Verde without an active airport, so to get here you have to take a ferry from neighbouring Fogo.

Investors are just beginning to realise the potential of each individual Cape Verde Island.

With a growing trend towards ecotourism, Brava is set to represent significant investment opportunities in the future. Properties on Brava will no doubt increase in value as the other Cape Verde islands become more and more saturated. Now could be the best time to start looking at long-term options.

Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Boa Vista (meaning “good view”) is the easternmost of the Cape Verde Islands and the third largest after Santo Antao and Santiago.

Covering an area of 620m2, it’s 31km long and 29km wide. It has the smallest population of all the inhabited Cape Verde Islands.

Boa Vista is well known for marine turtles, traditional music, sand dunes and amazing beaches.

It’s a sunbathers paradise. Being the closest island to the African continent, it has endless unspoilt beaches. It’s also a Mecca for water sports fans. Boa Vista has excellent conditions for sailing, diving, surfing, fishing and sea canoeing.

With a perfect climate and some of the most beautiful beaches on the archipelago, Chave beach and Curralinho beach in particular, it’s no wonder people are now choosing to invest here.

Tourism is a relatively new development on Boa Vista, so expect many off-plan opportunities as the demand for property increases and more villas and apartments are built.

Santa Monica is one of the most spectacular beaches on the whole of the island chain. It’s a five kilometre stretch of dazzling white sand with crystal clear turquoise waters and a gentle rolling surf. Completely unspoilt, it remains an idyllic virgin seascape.

Boa Vista’s interior is fascinating. It’s like a surreal lunar landscape – a mixture of barren rust coloured volcanic rock alongside a leafy green palm filled oasis.

Most of Boa Vista is flat. The highest point is Monte Estancia, which elevates to 287m. Other mountains include Santo Antonio and Monte Negro.

Boa Vista’s climate is heavily influenced by the hot dry winds from the Sahara. Parts of the landscape are made up of desert sand dunes.

Most visitors to the island stay in the capital city of Sal Rei (meaning salt king) – a relaxed sleepy town with a lively nightlife.

During the evenings you’ll see locals outside chatting, playing games and walking in the balmy evening sun, before getting ready for the evening festivities, which go on well into the early hours. On most weekends there’s a local band blasting out Cape Verde rhythms on the main square.

Wildlife on Boa Vista
Boa Vista has a diverse range of wildlife – you’re likely to encounter the occasional lizard, monkey, and wild goat, along with various types of birds. Breeding humpback whales are frequently seen around Boa Vista and Sal. If you’re lucky, you might get to witness sea turtles nesting…

This region holds some of the world’s most important feeding and nesting sites, many of which, are unfortunately under threat.

Every year on Boa Vista the International University Campus for studies and conservation of marine turtles organises field camps where these beautiful creatures are observed and helped.

Most of the study takes places between June and October on the east coast beaches at night.

Getting here
The nearest international airport is on Sal Island. To get here you need to take an air taxi, which only takes around 15 minuets. Sal Rei has a ferry port and also the island’s only airport – on the north west side of the Boa Vista. Once on the island it’s possible to see most of it by self-drive car. You can also hire the services of a local guide.

Buying property on Boa Vista
Before making this step, it’s important that you; do all your research; decide on a realistic budget; carefully choose the right location; visit in person; and find a lawyer. Also, is it a primary or secondary concern? (if you’re buying just to rent it out, it should normally be close to beaches, nightlife etc.).

At the moment there are numerous English-speaking real estate agents on Cape Verde. They can help with you with all these concerns and give you advise on the latest new developments, apartments and villas.

 Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog