Palheiro Estate publish their new Real Estate flyer in English, Russian and Portuguese.

“Located on a prime hilltop site overlooking Funchal, the capital of Madeira, the 130 hectare Palheiro Estate has grown from an early 19th century hunting lodge and summer retreat for nobility into a sophisticated resort destination.
•  Spectacular 18-hole Palheiro Golf course, complemented by a golf academy  and clubhouse with bar, restaurant and terrace offering panoramic views of the harbour and Funchal city
•  5-star country house hotel, Casa Velha do Palheiro, a member of Relais &  Châteaux, offers 37 luxurious rooms, a haute cuisine restaurant, library and  terrace overlooking the Palheiro Gardens
•  Palheiro Spa boasts a hydro pool, treatment rooms, gym, sauna and steam room
•  Palheiro Gardens, famous for the diversity of trees and plants from around the world
•  Motor yacht Balancal, moored in Funchal marina,  available for dolphin and whale-watching or deep-sea fishing”

For more information and to receive a brochure via email contact www.palheiroestate.com

Fractional freehold has been gaining in popularity in recent years, and the Palheiro Village scheme is proving to be a great example of how buying a portion of a property can work.

Golf and property journalist Peter Swain explores the concept of fractional freehold in an article in today’s Daily Express (UK) newspaper. After giving some tips for buyers, he mentions three “good value” schemes, one of which is Palheiro Village that he writes “works well”.

Peter highlights some of the fantastic characteristics of the resort, stating that “semi-tropical gardens and a boutique hotel complement the spectacular Palheiro golf course.” The clubhouse’s “brilliant cooking” and “superb view”, plus the “world-class” marlin fishing nearby are also noted.

Fractional freehold at Palheiro has been praised a number of times, and was awarded silver for Best Fractional Ownership Scheme 2008 the prestigious Homes Overseas Awards.

You can get more details about this method of buying at: http://www.palheiroestate.com/lang-en/property/fractional-freehold.html

Thanks to the appealing climate and increasing range of year-round outdoor activities, Madeira has been expanding its appeal to families in recent years.

Roger Still, who lives on Madeira with his wife Lizzie and daughter Lara, says:  “When we moved here 18 months ago, we weren’t sure how Lara would settle – but we’ve all acclimated very quickly thanks to the huge range of activities available year round.   Opportunities here for families are terrific.

“Lara particularly enjoys the Saturday morning girl’s golf lessons held at the Palheiro Golf Course. They are very popular, with around 20 girls attending each week.”

The long coastline provides a range of water sports including surfing, fishing, sailing and snorkelling.  Dolphin spotting boat trips are another great day out.

The lush interior has a winding network of levadas for walking explorations of the islands flora and fauna.  Mountain biking is another popular activity.

The annual festivals are a highlight for families, particularly the fireworks displays on New Year’s Eve and during the Atlantic Festival in June.

During the Festival of the Flower in April, thousands of children gather to place a flower at the Municipal Square to make up the floral “Wall of Hope” (Muro da Esperança).  This festival also offers classical concerts and live folk music.

A deer park, an ecological park, a farmyard zoo (Prazeres), the Story Centre and the Santana theme park with a mix of Madeiran history, tradition and culture, are sure to keep children of all ages entertained for hours.

For families interested in a longer stay, the two international schools – the British School of Madeira and International School of Madeira – compliment a range of state primary and secondary schools.

Palheiro Village, overlooking the capital city of Funchal, provides the prefect place to explore the delights of Madeira. Or, to take in the sweeping views of the ocean and relax at the pool bar while the children enjoy swimming in the Village Forum pool.

Both long and short stays are possible – with villas and apartments available to rent or buy.

A family sized three-bedroom villa, with well designed indoor/outdoor flow to terraces overlooking the ocean, is available for €690,000.

Fully furnished villas are available to rent from €1,450 per week, providing the perfect family holiday for all ages.

For more information, please contact Palheiro Village on + 351 291 794 015 or visit:  www.palheiroestate.com

Read about Palheiro Estate in an article that was printed in yesterday’s Sunday Times -  The article is about the merits of buying a villa within a resort, and it is stated that “in a beautiful spot on the island of Madeira is the 200-year-old Palheiro Estate”. Owners David and Elizabeth Vine are quoted and a picture of the Palheiro Forum is used to illustrate the piece.

The estate is compared to some of the most exclusive developments around the world, including the new Club Med Mauritius and the Four Seasons in Seychelles, highlighting the quality and wide appeal of the resort.

Blooms are everywhere at the Palheiro Gardens…something that’s not been missed by Jet Away magazine, the inflight magazine of Jet2.com. The island’s reputation as a “floating garden” is highlighted in a small article, along with the annual flower festival and Palheiro’s impressive gardens. The piece suggests that “property buyers should also be celebrating as Madeira continues to be tipped as a great investment opportunity.” We have to agree…

Article by Tara Loader Wilkinson - www.wealth-bulletin.com

Madeira, the Portuguese island best known for its rich flora and fauna and as the birthplace of world footballer of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo, may soon be making a name for itself as a tax haven.

Entrepreneurs in the UK who are threatening to quit the country as a result of the latest tax changes targeting wealthy business owners are considering Madeira as a destination, alongside more predictable off shore centres such as Switzerland and the Channel Islands.

As well as a balmy climate, the island boasts an attractive 3% corporation tax and a double tax treaty between Portugal and the UK. Trevor Nicholson, a director at HSBC private bank, says: “The impracticality of moving countries is not justifiable for many of the UK’s wealthy. Instead, we’re getting a growing number of queries about the possibility of basing a small part of the business in Maderia, where there is no tax on dividends and personal and corporation tax is low.”

Madeira’s regime applies to new companies licensed and established in its International Business Centre to 2020. Companies also get exemption from withholding taxes on the distribution of dividends, royalties and interest payments.

Nicholson says owners of hedge funds and property companies are particularly interested in Madeira’s tax benefits.

High-profile hedge fund manager Crispin Odey and private equity boss Guy Hands recently added their voices to the chorus of wealthy business people threatening to leave the UK.

Diana Wildman has written a glowing article about Palheiro Village in today’s Daily Express newspaper, after visiting the island in April. She notes that the Madeira retains its “Edwardian gentility” and it “attracts a comfortably-off clientele, may of whom feel their long-term future may lie there”.

Palheiro Village and all its facilities are described very positively, with the “stunning views over the Atlantic, Funchal and the famous Reid’s Hotel” highlighted.

Two owners at Palheiro Village, David and Elizabeth Vine, are pictured and quoted saying that “Palheiro Village is absolutely first-class. It has been set up so you have total service – there isn’t anything else like it on the island.”

Palheiro Golf gets a rave review from experienced golf writer, Peter Swain, following his trip here in  October . Described as “the spectacular and challenging 6,656-yard Palheiro course”, Peter goes on to say that “the elevated tees, generous fairways and receptive greens are fun” to play. He was evidently taken by the course and its surroundings, as he remarks that “this must be the best walk on the island” and the “scenery is stunning”.

Other aspects of Palheiro Estate have worked their charms on Peter, and he enthuses about the “superb cooking” and the “ritzy hillside development” of Palheiro Village.

You can read his full account here.

One of the most colourful traditional events organised in Madeira, the Flower Festival sees many activities and celebrations take place around the capital of Funchal.

Flower displays, parades and the construction of a ‘Wall of Hope’ in the Municipal Square ‘Praça do Município’ bring extra colour to the capital.

Exotic and flowering plants from all around the world can also be seen at the Palheiro Gardens including more than 600 varieties of camellias dating back to 1810, recognised as one of the most historic collections of camellias in the world.

The Palheiro Estate gardens were established in 1801 by João Esmeraldo, the first Count of Carvalhal, and have been cultivated since then by the Blandy family for five generations.

The Blandy’s have developed Palheiro Village, a collection of 79 villas and apartments set in their own landscaped gardens.

Located on the naturally tiered southern side of the Palheiro Estate, owners have access to the estate’s facilities including the Palheiro Gardens as well as the 18-hole Palheiro Golf Course and Village Forum with a pool, pool bar and reception.

Property prices:
Property prices start from €325,000 (UK£295,600) for a one-bedroom apartment. Three-bedroom villas start at €690,000 (UK£627,590).

Fractional freehold is also offered, with three months use per year in perpetuity of a one-bedroom apartment available from €120,000 (UK£109,145).

How to get there:
Direct flights run from 13 airports in the UK to Funchal – Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle.

Contact:
Palheiro Real Estate, (+351 291 794 015; www.palheiroestate.com)

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Excerpt from ‘Country Life‘  03 April 2009