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A Taste of Beautiful RealtyHive Developments

Although buying international properties comes with a number of benefits, it can also be extremely difficult finding the right one for you. There are so many variables that go into purchasing a property in general but even more so when you’re buying abroad. The simplest to purchase properties abroad is to purchase a unit in a real estate development. International developments also offer amenities that other properties don’t have such as gated communities/security, concierge services, social spaces, and so much more! Want to learn more about real estate developments and whether or not its the right choice for you? Click here!

1. Estepona, Spain

This is a stunning residential development located in a privileged area of Spain. A number of amenities nearby such as golf courses, shopping centers, and much more. This development offers 187 one, two, three or four bedroom properties distributed amongst three different residential spaces. All residences are just minutes from the beautiful sandy beach!

2. Hua Hin District, Thailand

This gorgeous villa boasts 165 sqm of living and dining space! The unique “H” layout of this home makes it just as functional as it is stunning! My personal favorite feature of this home is the upper terrace that boast stunning views of the surrounding mountains. If mountains aren’t your thing the home also includes a 36 sqm private swimming pool. So thats pretty cool.

3. Long Bay Village, Anguilla

This development is the newest beachfront resort in Anguilla. There is much excitement around this new luxury boutique resort as it lies on one of the world’s most beautiful white sand beaches! This beautiful waterfront resort offer 15 professionally-managed 1-3 bedroom condominiums! Each residence includes an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the sea along with a hot/cold tub!

4. Bonita Springs, FL

Seaglass at Bonita Bay is committed to providing a relaxing yet luxurious waterfront living environment. Seaglass combines lovely coastal interior design with jaw dropping panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico! Resort offers amazing amenities such as steam/massage rooms, state-of-the-art fitness center, theatre room, resort style pool, and so much more! You will never be bored in this Bonita Bay beauty!

5. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This development property is located in Playacar Phase II which is one of the most exclusive gated communities in Mexico. Mara Playacar is surrounded by 18 hole golf courses, restaurants, shopping centers, and is only 2 blocks from the best beach in the Riviera Maya! The luxury amenities and stunning ocean views will make you never want to leave. And since Mara playacar has everything you could ever want or need… you never have to.

6. Roches Noires, Mauritius

5 years ago this large estate was made on the north east coast. Since then it has metamorphosed into a tight knit and lively community! This development is offers luxury residences on a golf course right by the sea. These gorgeous residences also offer stunning natural surroundings, a safe neighborhood, convenience, and a sense of community.

7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This luxurious apartment project located in a once-in-a-lifetime location that overlooks 150,000,000 gorgeous blooming flowers. Each apartment is designed to offer uninterrupted views of Miracle Garden & Butterfly Garden. This development is particularly perfect for lovers of the architectural designs of the Roman era, an inspiration for the design of this real estate project.

8. Paradise Island, Bahamas

Situated on Nassau Harbour, Bahamas in between an Ocean Club and One&Only Resort, This beautiful development combines amazing location with stellar views! This gorgeous piece of waterfront real estate has a never ending list of amenities including a large pool, fitness center, concierge services, underground parking, 24hr gated security, and a marina! Residences are filled with natural light, luxury, and premium appliances!

9. Chicago, IL

74-story tower designed by Helmut Jahn, an internationally-renowned architect. Located in the windy city this development was made for urban connoisseurs and city dwellers! The floor to ceiling windows provide unobstructed views of the city, Lake Michigan, and Grant Park! This development also offers some amazing and luxurious amenities! This development just all around screams luxury and lavish living!

10. Sosua, Dominican Republic

This beautiful development offers private villas ranging from 2-5 bedrooms and starting just $199,900! With an amazing location just minutes from beautiful beaches, shopping, and restaurants and a number of luxury amenities, you’ll never run out of things to do! Property owners can play mini-golf, tennis, bocce ball, and shuffleboard. A waterpark, gym, and BBQ will be opening soon and there is A perimeter walking trail that surrounds the development. Finally there is beautiful communal grounds and a waterfall for owners to enjoy!

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11. British Virgin Islands

Surrounded by the stunning turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, this development is a visual representation of what “luxurious living” means. Experience the finest of private island living while staying at on of Oil Nut Bays exclusive luxury villas! The development has a number of amenities including a private staff, seaplane, helicopter, or boat, a kids hangout space with movies, video games, and arts & crafts along with much more!

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Best Islands of the Rich and Famous

Skoripos, Greece

Owned By: Ekaterina Rybolovleva
Purchased: Estimated $150-190 Million in 2013

Once was a barren land, the original owner, Aristotle Onasis, brought in many species of trees and even the sand from other Greek islands to create this paradise where he and Jackie liked to visit and were married. It’s alleged that Madonna, Bill Gates, and Giorgio Armani were interested in purchasing the island from Athina Onassis Roussel, Granddaughter and only living heir of Aristotle Onasis, before it was purchased by Rybolovlev who allegedly intended to use the island for business and pleasure.

Lana’i, Hawaii

Owned By: Larry Ellison, Co-Founder of Oracle
Purchased: 98% share of the island for alleged $300 million in 2012 (The state owns the remaining 2%)

Lana’i, also known as Pineapple Island, is the sixth largest Hawaiian island located 9 miles from Maui. Ellison bought his ownership stake indirectly from David Murdoch, owner Dole foods–known for their pineapple and banana production. Ellison has already made improvement to the island including an estimated $450 million rennovation to his Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay.

Necker Island, The British Virgin Islands

Owned by: Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Empire Mogul
Purchased: $180,000 in 1979

Branson first fell in love with the island in the 1970s, shortly after creating Virgin Records, the first of the Virgin empire. While the island was listed for $6 million, Branson offered what he could at the time–$100,000. The selling agent nearly laughed at him. Yet, a year later he came back after no other buyers had displayed interest and agreed to sell to Branson for $180,000 with a contingency that Branson would create a resort on the island within four years.

Little Halls Pond Cay, The Bahamas

Owned by: Johnny Depp, American Actor
Purchased: Reportedly paid $3.6 million in 2004

Located in the Exuma chain in the southern part of the Bahamas, Depp bought this island after falling in love with the lush green and turquoise waters while filming on location for Pirates of the Caribbean. Little Halls Pond Cay has 6 natural beaches, which Depp named after his family and idols.

Musha Cay, The Bahamas

Owned by: David Copperfield, American Illusionist
Purchased: Reportedly $50 million in 2006

Another celebrity island in the Exumas area, Copperfield is said to have spent 5 years and an additional $40 million to complete what he has called “the most magical vacation destination in the world.” Copperfield also purchased 10 additional islands in the area for an undisclosed amount to serve as a privacy shield and complete what is now known as the Islands of Copperfield Bay. This paradise can be rented with rates starting at $39,000 per night.

Mago Island, Fiji

Owned by: Mel Gibson, Actor
Purchased: Bought for $15 million in 2005

This island is one of the largest private islands in the south Pacific Ocean at 5,400 acres (just over 8 square miles). This island, once a cotton plantation, sugar cane plantation/mill, and copra (coconut) plantation at various points in history, remains fairly undeveloped with a dirt airstrip and a few buildings from its past.

Blackadore Caye, Belize

Owned by: Leonardo DiCaprio, Actor
Purchased: Reportedly bought for $1.5 Million in 2005, the 68 resort villas and 48 private houses are rumored to be valued at $5-15 Million each

DiCaprio, an environmental activist, has carefully considered the ecological impact of building on his island, while still incorporating the luxurious qualities you would expect from one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. In fact, the entire development is being designed to meet the Living Building Challenge– the world’s most stringent and progressive green building system, and is expected to launch in 2018.

Goat Cay, The Bahamas

Owned by: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Country Singers
Purchased: Purchased for an unknown amount around 2006. Currently for sale for $4.8 Million.

This celebrity power couple has their 17 acre island located in the Little Exumas chain for sale. Purchased in 2006, the island has a large residence and smaller, workers accommodations.

Bonds Cay, The Bahamas

Owned by: Shakira, Singer/Roger Waters, Pink Floyd frontman, Alejandro Sanz, singer
Purchased: Reported $16 million in 2011.
The trio purchased this island with an existing hotel property. The intention of the ownership trio is to create a semi-permanent homes and artists’ retreat.

Want to join the ranks of the ultra-rich and powerful by owning your own island? Here are some to check out:

Baliceaux Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Price: Starting bid: $24.95 Million, Listing Price: $29.95 Million

This undeveloped gem spans 320 acres and is perfect for someone looking to create their own visionary fiefdom. This island is just a ten minute boat ride from the up-and-coming Bequia and slightly longer to celeb-favorite Mustique. Learn more about Baliceaux here.

Isle a Quatre, St. Vincent and The Grenadines

Price: Starting bid: $47.5 million, Listing Price: $54 Million

This island spans 376 acres and is located only 5 miles from celebrity hotspot, Mustique. The island’s position also means that the weather is nearly perfect year-round. Additionally, the island sits outside of the hurricane belt, making storm damage much less likely than for its neighbors. See more about Isle a Quatre here.

Deer Caye, Belize

Price: List price: $10.5 million

This 603 acre island is perfect for someone looking to develop an eco-resort or home. The island is nicely elevated, yet has many several small coves along it’s 9 miles of sea frontage. Located one mile from Ambergris Caye and close to Leonardo DiCaprio’s private island, this property is conveniently located to San Pedro, Belize City, and even Chetumal, Mexico. Want learn more about Deer Caye? Click here.

Deer Caye Adjacent, Belize

Price: List Price: $6.75 Million

This 500 acre island lays in very close proximity to the previously listed island with all the same great features. With two main areas populated by coconut trees, this island has plenty of room for extensive residential or resort updates, including room for a golf course, private airstrip, and more! See more of this beautiful spot here.

Royal Relaxation: The Perfect Wedding Present for Harry and Meghan

January 12, 2018/0 Comments/in Around the World, Just for Fun /by Tristin Zeman

Unless you’ve been on a media blackout for the past few months, you probably know there’s a royal wedding coming soon!

The Prince of Wales has announced the royal engagement of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle. pic.twitter.com/rtlAnFCWTf

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 27, 2017

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, Prince Henry of Wales aka Prince Harry is getting hitched! While details about the royal wedding are slowly leaking out (it’ll be on May 19, 2018, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, in case your invitation gets lost in the mail!), there are still many unknowns.

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Dec 21, 2017 at 3:59am PST

As per royal tradition, Prince Harry will receive a new title upon marriage, most likely Duke of Sussex, as one of the gifts her majesty the Queen bestows upon her grandson, but what about the other guests? This wedding will be filled with the who’s who of the rich and powerful global elite, so this begs the question, what do you get someone who has everything? If you thought it was hard to shop for the people in your life, imagine picking an appropriate gift for a prince! Since it’s a pretty safe bet that Harry and Meghan don’t need a blender or new place settings for their nuptials, after all, they already have a palace, we do have a suggestion for anyone looking for a standout gift for the new Mr. and Mrs.

Whats the protocol for royal gift-giving?

There isn’t one, really.

When Queen Elizabeth II was married in 1936 she was gifted mostly expensive jewelry and precious materials. Former President and Mrs. Reagan gifted Prince Charles and Lady Diana an ornately engraved Steuben glass bowl and Boehm porcelain centerpiece, showing that unlike most dealings with the royal family, there isn’t really a protocol to follow when it comes to wedding gifts. In more recent history, for their 2011 wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate asked their guests to donate to a charitable gift fund (which raised $1.7 million for 26 different charities!) but also received items such as a painting, shoes, and a Land Rover. So what could a guest who wants to stand out bring to Harry and Meghan’s wedding celebration?

What would be the right gift for Meghan and Harry?

First, it’s important to look for something they’d actually enjoy. When taking that into account, it’s easy to notice that this couple loves to travel.

On New Year’s Eve 2017, the couple flew to Monaco, a small principality on the Mediterranean that was once the home to Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly known as actress Grace Kelly. Monte Carlo, the coastal capital city, is a prime party spot for the rich and famous during this time of year. The couple has also taken trips to Norway, Jamaica, and Botswana and are allegedly planning to visit the US, Australia, and Lesotho in 2018. During their Norway and Jamaican trips, the couple stayed in Tromvik and Montego Bay respectively, both coastal cities, indicating they love a beach vacation.

With this in mind, a gift having to do with travel and the beach sounds like a great start.

What about a place with a royal history?

Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s only sibling, and Harry’s great aunt has a storied history of her time in Mustique, her favorite place to be, where she went to get away from the harsh public eye, something Harry knows all too well.

Prince William and his wife Kate spent their honeymoon in Seychelles because of its gorgeous beaches, clear waters, and luxurious and secluded hotels, although the couple is known to love Mustique as well. The pair has vacationed there many times including while Kate was pregnant with their first child Prince George and after the birth of their second child, Princess Charlotte, when they were joined by Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, as well as her siblings.

So they love to travel, like beaches, and the family has history on Mustique, a villa seems like a great idea, right?

There’s actually a precedence for Mustique properties being given to royals. Purchased by Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner in 1957, Tennant gifted Princess Margaret with one of the most secluded, best-situated parcels on the island where she built her home so this would be a similar gesture. The home she built was her escape for 30 years and was passed on to her son who sold it in 1998.

But Harry and Meghan aren’t your typical royals. They’ve broken royal protocol before and it’s expected that their wedding will be no different, from deviating from the traditional fruitcake wedding flavor (they’re going with banana cake) to having Meghan’s mother walk her down the aisle, this couple likes to do things a little differently.

This is why the perfect wedding present for these lovebirds would be their own private island, near the favored Mustique. Currently, there are two possible islands for sale that would make a perfect place for the couple to create their own holiday paradise, Baliceaux and Isle à Quatre, both also part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The proximity to Mustique (about 4 miles for Baliceaux and 6 miles for Isle à Quatre) means that they would only be a short boat ride away from the glitz and glam, but would be able to enjoy absolute privacy once they returned to their island.

This privacy is important to the royal family who learned just how far a paparazzi’s telephoto lens can see when Kate was unknowingly photographed sunbathing topless from nearly 1km (2.2 miles) away. It was thought that the photographer who captured those images was on a public road and using an extremely powerful lens, both completely legal and hard to avoid. The elevation of both of these islands would make it impossible for a photographer to get a shot from the water and enacting a no-fly zone like Mustique has, would mean that there would be no privacy concerns. Prince Harry, who had his own naked photo scandal in 2012, would be pleased to know that he and his new wife would be free to roam as they like on their island. And what better wedding gift than tropical freedom?

After considering all the above, if you’ve got an invite to the nuptials and a couple extra million dollars laying around, Baliceaux or Isle à Quatre seems like they would be the perfect gift for the new Duke and Duchess.

outdoor pools pool paradise jamaica cayman islands tropical st barths barts martin maarten

Poolside Paradise: Dreaming of a White (Sand) Christmas

December 21, 2017/0 Comments/in Around the World, Just for Fun /by Tristin Zeman

While winter technically begins on December 21, with the winter solstice, most of us in the northern hemisphere have been feeling pretty frigid for the last few weeks. We’ve seen the days get shorter, the temperatures get colder, and we’re already ready to trade eggnog for Piña Coladas. While escaping to the beautiful beaches of Montego Bay, Jamaica or Tulum, Mexico sounds like the ideal getaway this time of year, an impromptu trip to a poolside paradise just isn’t in the cards for most of us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream…

So kick back, relax, and imagine yourself poolside as you check out these gorgeous residential oases. Bonus: If you’re in the market for your own slice of paradise, all these properties are currently for sale!

French atmosphere with outstanding turquoise waters.

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Located in the French West Indies, St. Barthélemy, captures guests’ hearts with its chic French atmosphere and outstanding turquoise waters. Furthermore, this lush heated pool designed with a small cascade was landscaped to feel like a hidden getaway, while the infinity-edge pool overlooks the Caribbean Sea. Also, the counter-current system allows for water aerobics and exercises making this the ultimate in fitness with a view!

Rentals in St. Barts:

Luxury villa with Harbour view in heart Gustavia

Central Palm St Jean

Bungalow Hansen 1 – Colombier

Appart neuf & moderne Résidence Camaruche, StBarth

Silent waters in Montego Bay, Jamaica

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Located in the private, gated community of Great River, this villa named Silent Waters in Montego Bay, Jamaica has two infinity-edge swimming pools. The main pool is Olympic sized with fantastic views of the Caribbean below. Additionally, the pool of the Owner’s Villa features a wrap-around pool with direct swim-out access from the bedroom or bathroom. Also, this villa can accommodate up to 20 guests, and includes a private tennis court, 12 buildings, and a private helicopter pad! Most importantly, this home is a favorite for celebrity getaways and destination weddings!

Rentals in Montego Bay, Jamaica:

Grand palladium lady Hamilton Jamaica

Lorenton Hideaway Luxury Suite #1

Beautiful Korall Revet

Lovely Rustic Villa with Secluded Beach (Rm 1)

Fewer beaches and more mountains in this getaway!

sunken patio pool area paradise valley az swim

If your idea of the perfect getaway involves fewer beaches and more mountains, this Paradise Valley home has what you’re looking for! With multiple cascades, a sunken lounging area, and fantastic views of the nearby mountains, this pool is a desert-lovers dream. Therefore, if you enjoy a more mountainous vacation, this home is perfect for you! The negative-edge spa is perfect for those December nights when temperatures average a chilly 44°F at night!

Rentals in Paradise Valley, Arizona:

Paradise Valley detached guest house.

Scottsdale– Near TPC & Talking Stick! 153

Modern 2BR near Old Town (#8) by WanderJaunt

Luxury 2-bed estate – Camelback Mtn VIEW + HOT TUB

Gorgeous poolside views in the Caribbean

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This gorgeous poolside view is found on a Caribbean island, amicably divided into French (Saint Martin) and Dutch (Sint Maarten) sides for the best of both worlds. Located on the French half of the island, this phenomenal pool features a cliffside jacuzzi, a poolside bar, and overlooks the cerulean water below. Additionally, with its unobtrusive landscaping, all focus is on the incredible view and built-in loungers. Making this the perfect place for sipping local favorite Guavaberry Coladas!

Rentals in the Caribbean:

Luxurious paradise for unforgettable vacations.

Casa Maya @ Hilltop

Tropical Oasis Pool Cottage

Villa Pierre: Lifetime Memories