The Private Islands Blog » Island Advice

Private Island Sales Going Strong

The Islomaniac® — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:35:53 +0000

: Chris Krolow, CEO Private Islands Inc.

It is an exciting time in the private island world. With a large number of new islands for sale coming onto the market and changes in foreign ownership laws in some island regions of the world, 2012 is sure to be a record breaking year for island sales.

Private Islands Inc. CEO, Chris Krolow recently reported that his company is marketing more than a dozen new European private islands for sale. Krolow said there are currently 3 islands under contract and the Private Island’s network of brokers have reported an increasing number of sales across the board.

Krolow confirmed that the private island market is improving using the example of a rare Italian private island that came off the market last week, “We attempted to sell the very same island a number of years ago and only received a few serious inquiries. We are proud to report that after only a few months of a more direct marketing approach, we have completed the sale of this unique European island.”

Krolow is especially excited about this exclusive sale, “not only because of the multi-million dollar price tag, but because it proves that our new and evolving marketing strategies are working.”

Luxury Living Magazine Partners with Private Islands Magazine

The Islomaniac® — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 05:48:16 +0000

Everyone knows that luxury living is synonmous with private islands. Therefore it comes as no surprise that two of the worlds leading luxury lifestyle magazines have joined forces to promote their high-end brands. In a joint press release they note that this strategic partnership brings together the best for affluent consumers looking to live the good life in paradise and sellers and owners across the globe. Private Islands Magazine’s catalog of exclusive island listings and information will now be available to Luxury Living International’s readers online at www.luxurylivingint.com.

“We are very excited about working with Luxury Living International, it’s such a natural fit for us. LLI is a wonderful platform to distribute private island information outside of our own publication Private Islands Magazine,” added Chris Krolow, CEO and principle of Private Islands Inc. “This partnership strongly supports our goal of providing engaging luxury real estate information for our adventurous and affluent readership.”

To read the full press release visit prweb

How Much Should You Expect to Pay for a Private Island

The Islomaniac® — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:13:30 +0000

In their popular online column Vanity Fair recently answered a readers question about how much one should expect to pay for a private island. Answering the question, journalist Peter Newcomb noted that

Five years ago, Mel Gibson bought a spectacular 5,400-acre island in Fiji’s northern Lau chain for $10 million—a steal at $1,800 an acre.

Generally, tropical islands fetch more than those in temperate climates, as do islands with quick access to civilization. Another factor: the stability of the local government. An islet off the coast of Nicaragua is currently selling for $144,000 an acre, while a 45-acre beauty in the British Virgin Islands is listed at more than $1 million.

Although generally speaking this is a pretty accurate summary. However when purchasing a private island their are and endless number of criteria that one should look at. In addition to climate and local government one should also look at development opportunities and laws, size of the island, access to resources such as fresh water, access to the mainland, whether the property is freehold or lease hold, commute time to island and of course investment potential. The importance of any one of these factors varies from person to person which is why it is important to have a private island expert available to assist you in the purchase process.

For more information on owning, selling and renting a private island visit the resources section at private islands online.

Islands as Investments

The Islomaniac® — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:58:55 +0000

Islands are not just playgrounds for the rich and famous, or retreats for traffic weary urbanites. Like all property islands have tremendous investment potential, and although they are subject to market fluctuations just like mainland properties, the limited number of properties means they are more likely to retain their value during periods of economic depression. To read more about islands as investment property visit Stock Market Review’s article “Land investment: Buying and Selling Land for a Profit.”

The Island Market is Back

The Islomaniac® — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:46:47 +0000

With the global economic crisis nearing its end the island market is showing signs of life. Recently I have noticed a flood of new properties coming on the market. What is astounding about this boom in the island market is the islands are all highly marketable and desirable. Over the next week or so I am going to be featuring a wide variety of new islands on the market, from the affordable to the affordable only for the very rich. So stay tuned and as always to check out the world’s biggest selection of Private Islands for Sale visit Private Islands Online.

A New Future for Governor’s Island

The Islomaniac® — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:13:15 +0000

Situated between Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Governor’s Island is one of the most well situated islands anywhere in the world. However, for much of it’s 400 year history the 172-acre island has been outside of the mental map of New York City. The primary explanation for this is that for much of it’s history it has been used as a private outpost for government, military and Coast Guard installations.

However, new delvelopment is bringing new life to the island, transforming it into an ideal urban oasis for New Yorkers. The new island will draw on the manmade topography of lower Manhattan as a starting point. The southern tip of the island will be transformed into an artificial landscape with occupiable mountains constructed of reclaimed materials from existing Governors Island buildings. Complementary wood bicycles will be available to ply the winding paths between the hills as well as access the adjacent tidal basin, a 10,000 seat amphitheater, and the perimeter promenade with is unique views of New York City and surrounding landmarks.

It will be fantastic to see what this island looks like upon completion. New York is really in need of more recreational space and I think the island will do a great job in achieving this.

A Bridge Not Too Far

The Islomaniac® — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:37:33 +0000

When selecting a home for your island, one of the things that people have to consider is the topography of their island. Although modifications can be made, changing the topography of your island can be expensive and time consuming. Fortunately for those of us with hilly islands a new tpye of modular could help avoid this problem.

The bridge house floats on steel trusses that literally bridges the gap between two sloping hill sides. The house which is pictures was built in Australia for $175,000 and made use of eco friendly material including a rainwater collection system and a photovolatic system.

To see more great photos of this home visit Inhabitat.

Camp Fires on Your Island

The Islomaniac® — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:21:26 +0000

There is no better way to spend cool nights on your island than with a camp fire, cocoa, s’mores and friends and family. The perfect campfire is the center piece of any island get together, but as always safety is very important when setting up a fire pit. After all, your island wouldn’t be very enjoyable if you burnt it down! Click below to read my tips for creating a safe and enjoyable fire pit.

Enjoying a campfire on an island
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Location, location, location: It’s very important to use an open area for your fire. There shouldn’t be branches, power lines or any other debris dangling above the fire.

Clear the area: Make sure there are no boulders, rocks, branches lying around in the vicinity. The spot may seem ideal during the day, but come night time it can become a minefield to walk through.

Choose your seats: You want to figure out which direction the wind is moving and move your seats upwind of the fire. If your guests find themselves sitting downwind they may very well spend the evening breathing smoke.

Choose the size of your fire: Every time my kids visit we end up with these massive fires, and I will admit I tend to get carried away. The fact of the matter is you don’t need to have a fire that can be seen from space if you are only toasting marshmallows. Figure out what you need the fire for and how many people will be sitting around it. Using your common sense you can figure out how big your fire should be.

Dig your hole: Dig a hole about 4 inches deep and coat the bottom and sides with 1 inch of sand (if you are on your sandy beach you probably don’t need to coat). You can also use rocks as a surface for the fire instead of sand. However, the rocks will get scorched and can be unsightly. Avoid root systems, root fires can smolder underground for years!

Ring with Rocks: Outline the hole by piling rocks around the outside. Rocks provide no real safety function but they make the fire look good. Avoid using porous rocks as they have been known to explode.

Start your fire: Use dried kindling and newspapers to get your fire going. Once the fire is going, add larger blocks of wood for a longer burn.

Enjoy: bring, booze, fireworks, bad jokes, marshmallows, scary stories or whatever your friends and family enjoy. You can build the most beautiful campfire but if you aren’t having fun then what’s the point.

Say goodnight safely: Do not leave your fire unattended at night, even if it has died down. No matter how small the fire is always dowse it with copious amounts of water before turning in. This will help prevent the fire from flaring up and causing damage.

Private Islands Inc., CEO Talks About Islands

The Islomaniac® — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:17:33 +0000

Recently, Private Islands Inc., CEO Chris Krolow sat down with Fox News Business to talk about buying, selling and living on Private Islands. The interview is quite interesting and informative. I particularly like the interviewers surprise when he jokes about “starting your own country” and learns that its not that far off a concept. I wasn’t able to upload the video, but you can watch it here http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=13008067&ch=4226720&src=news

Private Island Pets

The Islomaniac® — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:32:23 +0000

Pets on islands

Private Islands are great for people, but some individuals wonder if they are suitable for pets? There are people who are concerned about whether private islands are safe for pets and whether or not they have enough space to explore. I firmly believe that private islands are ideal for dogs and other pets. Many island owners are also city dwellers therefore there pets are used to smaller spaces, thus islands of any size are a paradise for pets. It is true that some domestic pets may not be prepared to “deal” with some of the wildlife, but this has never been a problem on my island and I am guessing it isn’t for most people. Secondly, islands are ideal for pets because it prevents them from running off and getting lost. Most pets will not venture too far into the water essentially confining them to your island. In addition if you have cats you are assured that they will not venture into the water due to their water phobia, thus guaranteeing they will not get lost. Finally, bigger islands are better for pets as it gives them more space, but I find even small islands provide enough space for your family pet to explore the environment. Overall private islands are not only a paradise for people they are for pets as well. One piece of advice I would give to island owners with pets is to keep on hand a copy of the name, number and location of a local veterinarian as well as a copy of any medications or allergies in the event of an accident on your island.

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