“We flew to Malaga, Spain and had a nice larger rental car waiting. My son-in-law drove. He & I worked together before I retired 10 years ago and then as now he knew how to get around without getting lost. We called Mercedes [Local Concierge], our local connection, and she was there waiting when we arrived at Villa Dorado. It is a beautiful Villa with lots of room and we felt like royalty during the 2 weeks there. Mercedes was great and helped us with what questions we had. We had four great meals prepared for us by Rosa at the Villa and we ate out several times in Sotogrande.

All the food and items we asked for were there when we arrived. Also, Mercedes showed us how everything worked in the Villa which made it easy to be comfortable. There were five of us, myself and my wife of 49 years and our daughter, her husband and our 15 year old grandson. I spent a lot of time with our grandson and got to know him much better. We went to Gibraltar, Marbella, Granada and lots of beaches but what I enjoyed the best was being around the Villa and the pool!!

The maid service was great and the other maintenance people took care of the grounds and pool before we even got up in the morning.

The weather was great, warm but not too hot with nice breezes all the time. We also watched movies and my family played lots of games and cards. I could even watch Fox cable news and the Wi Fi internet was as fast as at home.

We all talked about this vacation and we all agreed that this was our best vacation because we could relax when we wanted to and we were together a lot. Catherine and Charlotte, the UK connections, were on top of everything to make things perfect for the two weeks.

I think I am the only member that lives in the United States. [Most of our Members are in Europe and Asia, but we have a few in the US] We have already booked New York for four days in September this year. I am sure this will be great also. We enjoy visiting New York and seeing the shows and just walking around. The New York property is on the 53rd floor with windows from ceiling to floor in a corner unit. We can’t wait to see it.

In summary, I had been looking for real estate out of the United States for investments. Hideaways Club gave me the best way to invest with up to 100 properties all over the world with dream vacations all over the world to boot. I feel this is one of the better investments that I have made as it has already gone up in value since I joined.

Before I retired 10 years ago I ran a Financial Planning and Investment Management Company so I think I know value when I see it. Keep up the great work!!”

With day sorties to the coast as well as Pisa, San Gimignano and Florence within easy reach and variety of wonderful restaurants on your doorstep, the location is perfect.

This is just one of 28 properties offered to the 120 members of The Hideaways Club. Launched four years ago the scheme is proving a winning formula for those wanting a choice of five-star plus holiday villas to enjoy with the family as well as a financial investment…

To read the full article please click here.

The villa is impressive in its architecture with the fourth bedroom being accommodated in the feature tower and all of the bedrooms being positioned to take full advantage of the magnificent views.      

The external area is ideal for the “outdoor living” for which Ibiza is famous; the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst enjoying the Mediterranean sun. 

Villa la Solana is just one of the 47 properties available to Members of The Hideaways Club.

To enquire about membership please request an information pack here or email us on info@thehideawaysclub.com.

It’s set up as an investment fund, so that you own a part of each property (which can be sold at a later date) in conjunction with a club, to which you pay an annual fee. With a  ratio of one property to every six members, the club ensure that availability remains high, and many houses can accommodate friends, too. It is an entirely different concept from owning a single second home, and with so much of the world to call your own, it appeals to inquisitive souls like me, who don’t want to go back to the same place again and again.

Mark Hedges

Please click here to view the full article

With 47 properties across Europe, South Africa, Mauritius, Asia, America, Mexico and the Caribbean Members of the Club have access to properties within close proximity to some of the world’s best golf courses all year round.

Our Concierge service is ideal for golfers wanting to concentrate on their game and not on the hassles of booking tee times and worrying about restaurant reservations. 

The Hideaways Club Concierge team will:

• Recommend the best golf courses for you to play in the local area. 
• Book your tee times in advance of your trip making sure you secure the best tee times available.
• Organise a private chef to cater for your group or make restaurant recommendations and reservations at your request.
• Stock the villa with your selection of drinks and groceries saving you the trip to the supermarket.
• Book your car hire (and make sure it’s big enough for all the golf clubs!) or organise a driver for your stay.

The Lifestyle membership provides year-round access to golfing resorts around the world at only 66% of the cost of a Premium membership.  Contact The Hideaways Club for more information: 

Tel:  +44 (0) 207 824 9940
Email:  info@thehideawaysclub.com

Here are just some of our properties most popular with golfers:

Europe

Algarve, Portugal – Quinta Algarvia and Villa Palmeira both have five bedrooms each and are located in the premier golfing region of the Algarve close to the courses of San Lorenzo, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Pinheiros Altos.  

Sotogrande, Spain – Villa Dorada is a grand Spanish villa in the elegant resort of Sotogrande.  There are no fewer than five top-class golf courses nearby, including Valderrama, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup and the 1998 World Golf Championship.

Majorca, Spain – On the island of Majorca, the Hideaways villas La Pleta and Gran Vista are both minutes away from some of the island’s excellent golf courses.  With 300 days of sunshine a year, Majorca provides a great European winter-golf option. 

The French and Swiss Alps – Chalet Soleil in Chamonix, France and Chalet Lune and Chalet Etoile in Nendaz, Switzerland are the locations of The Hideaways Club’s mountain chalets in the Alps.  During the summer these locations become ideal golfing locations with warm sunshine and cool mountain breezes.  Both locations provide easy access to the many golf clubs in the region. 

Asia

Bali, Indonesia – The Hideaways Club’s dramatic Balinese villa, Asmara, is only 15 minutes away from the World Travel Awards’ Best Golf Course in Asia, located at the Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort.  There are another three superb golf courses set within the lush tropical vegetation of the region and overlooking the Indian Ocean nearby. 

 Phuket, Thailand – Villa Layan in Phuket is only twenty minutes away from the Blue Canyon Country Club famous for being the course where Tiger Woods staged “one of the most outstanding comebacks championship golf has ever witnessed.”  Members of The Hideaways Club also have access to the Banyan Tree Private Collection’s two bedroom villa on the Banyan Tree Phuket resort, home of the Laguna Phuket Golf Club (voted Top Ten for Best Golf Resort in Asia, Best Clubhouse in Asia and Best Golf Course in Thailand by readers of Asian Golf Monthly magazine.) 

Africa and Mauritius

Marrakech, Morocco – There are three superb courses in Marrakech, all accessible from the Club’s two villas; Dar Lain and Dar Hasnaa.  The golf courses are all located in delightful settings, surrounded by palm groves and with views of the majestic snow-capped Atlas Mountains.

South Africa – Villa Steenberg is located on the Steenberg golf and wine estate, thirty minutes from Cape Town, and is rated as one of the top three courses to visit in South Africa.  Villa Arabella is one hour from Cape Town and situated on the Arabella golf estate, ranked as the number one golf course in the Western Cape.  

Mauritius – Stargazer and Hibiscus are the Club’s two beautiful villas in Mauritius with access to a private pathway leading to the excellent Heritage le Telfair golf course.   Set between the ocean and the mountains, this challenging course provides wonderful views throughout. 

USA, Mexico and the Caribbean

Naples, Florida, USA – Members of The Hideaways Club have access to Equity Estates’ four bedroom residence in Naples, southwest Florida.  Naples has more golf courses per capita than any other area in the world and has hosted many major national and professional tournaments over the past few decades – the perfect golf destination.   

Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA – Equity Estates’ five bedroom beach house is located on Hilton Head island, voted by readers of Golf Digest as number 10 on its list of the world’s best golf resorts.  The area has spectacular oceanfront courses, challenging riverside courses and courses designed by some of the PGA Tour’s most noted players. 

Los Cabos, Mexico –Equity Estates has a four bedroom beachside property in the area of Los Cabos which has become one of North America’s hottest golf destinations.  Los Cabos has no fewer than six championship golf courses to choose from.

HONG KONG – Jetting off to one of a choice of 100 multimillion-dollar properties sounds like the lifestyle of someone on one of Forbes’ rich lists. However, Mike Balfour, the founder of the world’s largest gym chain, Fitness First, aims to make the billionaire lifestyle more affordable. With Fitness First’s revenue hitting a billion a year (”Not bad for one squash club in Bournemouth”) Balfour’s sights are now set firmly on bringing his new venture, The Hideaways Club, to the Asian market.

The Hideaways Club is an international property investment fund that offers investors the chance to buy into a portfolio of luxury properties around the world. The club was launched in 2007 by Mike Balfour and cofounders Stephen Wise (a former Bain & Co. consultant and entrepreneur) and Helmut Schön (a former corporate financier with Merrill Lynch and UBS ( UBS -news - people)).

There are currently 50 properties in their portfolio, which will grow to 100 over the next few years–with between 10 and 15 added each year. For an initial investment of approximately $184,500 to $367,500 (plus $10,000 to $20,255 annual cost contribution) members will have access to villas with an average value of between $1.8 million and $2.5 million for 4 to 6 weeks a year. The total value of the property portfolio is currently in excess of $50 million.

All properties have a minimum of four bedrooms; a concierge service is included; and all villas are decked out with the latest mod-cons, including flat-screen plasma TVs, integrated Ipod systems, broadband Internet and Nintendo ( NTDOY.PK -news - people ) Wiis. Current locations include the south of France, South Africa, Mauritius, Bali, Phuket, Ibiza, Morocco, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Switzerland.

Membership, capped at 600, is exclusive. There are currently over 170 members worldwide, with 20 based in Asia.

Not to be confused with a time-share, Balfour believes the Hideaways Club can reinvent second-home ownership–without the hassle.

Balfour talks to Forbes about why “Asia is it,” why he put his personal wealth on the line to set up Fitness First, and why he thinks getting fired is good for your career.

Forbes: At which demographic are you aiming the Hideaways Club?

Mike Balfour: Our clientele can be classified twofold. There’s the successful, high-earning guy–45 years of age, wife and three kids. We’ve got a lot of those. They are successful and don’t want the hassle of overseas ownership. Then we have the older people in their late 50s and their 60s, who are using it more like a family asset. They’re more flexible about when they use the property, which is more or less on European school holidays. I classify myself in this category–I use it as a family asset. I give a week away occasionally. This is a product that you can’t rent or buy, so when you give it away to somebody it’s very valuable as it’s something they can’t get into.

Why your focus on Asia?

Asia does have a wealthy clientele. Asia is big news; let’s face it–Asia is it. Asia is the world at the moment. Asia is booming, everyone will be in Asia and we have to be a part of it. We have offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. The second reason is that it is a brilliant place to buy holiday homes. It’s just a natural place for us to come. Eventually we want to move to Australia. It’s almost exactly the same expansion formula I used for health clubs. Europe first, then Asia and then Australia.

It may seem like a high-net-worth investment initially but when it comes to property prices you can’t buy much in Hong Kong for $370,000, so from a property aspect it’s not that much money. Some of our members share a membership with a friend. We do have members who buy together, which cuts down the membership fee quite considerably. So you don’t have to be multimillionaire to join the club.

We expect the membership in Asia to expand quite quickly. We think that Asian membership will account for 30% to 40% of the total membership base. It’s very significant.

You took Fitness First from one club in the U.K. to the biggest fitness chain in the world–are you good at spotting trends?

Someone once described me as being able to sniff a deal from 10,000 miles away. I don’t know if that’s right or not. I think a lot of it is common sense. It’s about making your money go further. Trying to make $1 equal $10. Maybe it’s my Scottish upbringing or my accountancy background, but you put the two together …

That’s what we did with Fitness First. The emphasis was on affordable, quality clubs. So what we did was cut out the more expensive aspects of the club. Those facilities we did keep we made sure were as good as those in five-star clubs, but cut out squash courts, tennis courts, restaurants and swimming pools to make it more affordable.

With the Hideaways Club it’s the same thing–second homes are expensive, so how can we get better value? Our average home is just over $2 million; our top membership price is around $370,000. For $370,000 you get the property investment in a better, bigger and safer portfolio and instead of one house you are able to use 100 villas. Now that to me is making $1 worth $100. Do you know how wealthy you’d have to be to own 100 fully staffed villas across the world? You’re now living like a billionaire for a lot less money.

That’s what I think I’m good at: spotting new ideas and new ways of doing something. If you actually get under the skin of it it’s not that complicated–it’s just that we got there first.

Do you think you might be at a disadvantage of being the first mover? Are there many competitors entering the market?

We have first-mover advantage. There will be more people moving to market. Before the recession there were quite a few people who tried to copy us but the recession locked them out. The reason being that it’s quite a difficult project to get off the ground. You can’t start with one villa and persuade people to invest on the promise you will buy something else. You have to buy the villas ahead of time to show the people what they’re buying into. It’s a lot easier to sell the concept when you’ve got 10 rather than 5; now that we’ve got access to 50 villas worldwide, it’s easier to sell than when you have far fewer.

The unique thing about our fund is that it’s an equity-based fund–we turned everything on its head. There are some bigger clubs around than us–they’re American-based, but they’re all usage funds so you don’t get the security of ownership. We turned it completely around so our members own the properties and get the upside of property growth.

Also, our concierge has relationships with the managers of all the nearby restaurants. The service you are going to get is going to be very good because locals will know you’re from the Hideaways. We provide a high level of service that you can’t replicate if you hire out your own villa. Yes, you’ve got the investment side; yes, you’ve got the lower-cost side; but you also have a very high service element from being a member of the club. It just works.

Where did the original capital come from?

It came from the founders and Investec Bank, which still owns 14% of the business. It’s a bank I’ve known for many years and I’ve got a great relationship with them. But things have changed. Today you would be unlikely to get any bank to do what they did with us three years ago. Timing is everything.

Are you worried to think you might be considered a time-share?

It’s quite natural to think we are a time-share because we are about sharing and it’s about time. But our fund is equity-based; our members hold the freehold. It’s very transparent. Time-share was always a bit of a con. Time-share took a property of, say, $500,000, divided up the weeks and sold it to you for $1,200,000. It was never an investment. Our members own the properties, they have the security of investment and it turns the old business model around.

Secondly, most of them never give you the freehold; they gave you the usage and the time, so it became an even worse investment–a time investment. But a lot of people had a lot of fun out of time-shares so I mustn’t knock it completely. But it was sold as an investment, even though it wasn’t.

What are your plans for Hideaways in the future?

I believe very strongly that this is the future–a real alternative to second-home ownership. It’s the sort of thing we want to do in other areas as well. These are property funds and we want to create funds of different levels in the marketplace. We could do funds where the average price of the villas is $6 million or much lower at $1 million. We could do a fund that focuses on African properties or Asian properties. There are lots of different areas this could be cut or sliced.

I honestly see this as an alternative to second-home ownership. All of us aspire to earn second homes–but the older you get, the more properties you’ve had and frankly you realize they’re a lot of hassle and a pain in the backside. Everything goes wrong. With this there is no need to own an overseas property unless you want to spend months abroad

Where do you make your money on this?

It’s a very transparent business. We make our money in three areas. There are two companies, the property company (owned by the members) and the operations company (owned by us). When you join the club, 10% goes into the operations company, the balance into the property company. You then pay 14,000 British pounds to operate the villas. Our job is to make the margin on operations cost. If you want to leave, we make a 5% commission on the sale of your share and we also make a 20% carried interest on any profit you make on your share. What that does is align us directly with the member. The better the properties we buy, at better prices, means that we and our members are more likely to make money.

Was starting Fitness First a financial risk?

Yes, it was a total risk. I was in what I called the “comfort zone.” I was working for a wealthy Arab, kids in private school, driving a nice Jaguar, flying first class, staying in nice hotels and having a good life. But I had this desire to start my own business, and although I was living that good life I wasn’t making any substantial capital. It’s difficult to describe–I was living in five-star restaurants all week, then coming home and having a pizza out with my wife. There was a big difference between personal money and company money.

I found an industry that I could relate to in the health club industry, and at the age of 42 I was fired because my boss found out I had bought a squash club. I had to take the children out of private school; I had to sell the house; I had to move into small rented accommodation; and I had to give out personal guarantees to the bank. But if you believe in your idea enough you should be able to put everything on the line if you want to go into business. Which is what I did. If it hadn’t worked I would have been completely wiped out.

How did you take being fired? Have you ever had any failures in your life?

Failures, no; changes of plan, yes. I don’t see changes of plan as failure but I can’t cope with being second. There’s only one pleasure and that’s coming first. Coming second is a very miserable experience.

I’ve been fired six times in my life. I’m a great believer in being fired, as each time you’re fired it’s a new opportunity. I was given an honorary doctorate from Bournemouth University and had to make a speech to 500 students receiving their degrees and 1,500 parents and friends in the audience. As I was the main speaker, I decided I had to give a controversial but meaningful address, so my speech was all about the comfort zone. I said, “If you are still employed in the same job in five years’ time, do yourself a favor and get fired.” There was an awful lot of shuffling around from the audience. But I meant it from the heart. If you want to get on in life, you have to keep moving up and changing jobs.

Is there anything else we should know?

I’ve been in the club business for 25 years and I want to bring value for money and make money go further. We’re only on this planet once–and the more things we can do, the more value we can get, the more we can stretch the limited amount of money we’ve got, the better.

[To view full article please click here]

For more information about this exclusive lifestyle investment and the opportunity to become a UAE Founder Member, please get in touch on:
 
Email: uaeinfo@thehideawaysclub.com
Tel: +44 (0) 207 824 9940

Villa Palmeria is situated on the exclusive Dunas Douradas resort on the glorious Algarve coastline. The villa is a 5 minute stroll from the beach and the surrounding resort provides a vast array of exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy.

The villa has five spacious bedrooms and five bathrooms, an open plan living area, private pool and outdoor terrace with barbecue.

Villa Palmeria is just one of the 45 properties available to Members of The Hideaways Club.

To enquire about membership please request an information pack here or email us on info@thehideawaysclub.com.

Members of The Hideaways Club currently enjoy use of 25 properties across Europe, Africa, Mauritius and Malaysian Borneo; as Chairman and Co-Founder Mike Balfour explains, “We offer the opportunity to buy a share in a growing portfolio that gives access – without the hassle of holiday-home ownership – to all our properties for the price of a two-bedroom flat in Benidorm.” Entry to the Club starts at £122,500 (plus an annual cost contribution of £7,000), which gives two to three weeks use a year, rising to £235,000 (plus £14,000 ACC) for four to six weeks. Members can leave the fund after three years and, in addition to entry cost, benefit from 80% of the capital upside between share entry and exit value. The portfolio, which has seen a composite growth of over 15% since 2007, comprises luxury family properties (with four or more bedrooms) in locations that offer a choice of year-round activities from golfing to skiing and beach holidays – plus the services of a personal concierge service that ensures a ‘want for nothing’ experience at each destination.

Hideaways (020 7824 9940), which has recently formed exchange partnerships with Banyan Tree Private Collection and Equity Estates, has sold 130 memberships to day, and will ultimately acquire 100 properties for a maximum 600 members.

[Tatler, GQ, Vogue, House & Garden - Property Section]

May 2010

While timeshare continues to have a battered reputation, the prospect of investing in property abroad but still being able to choose a different destination to visit every holiday does still have a huge appeal.

Far from the lower end of the Costa timeshare market are the property investment clubs which cater for the rich; those lucky enough to want to spend a sizeable chunk of the year on holiday, in guaranteed luxury surroundings.

The Hideaways Club is the latest international property investment fund, offering members the opportunity to invest in and enjoy a portfolio of luxury villas and chalets throughout Europe, Africa, Mauritius and the Far East.

Tim Henman (a property entrepreneur now is has left behind his professional tennis career) is a member of Hideaways and professes to love what’s on offer. To be fair, it isn’t difficult to see the attractions.

Launched in early 2007 by an international group of entrepreneurs and investors, the Club currently has 127 members and 27 solely owned properties. It’s hoped to grow it to 600 members and 100 properties, to give a ratio of 6 members per property to ensure availability. The idea is that although different membership levels will entitle members to different lengths of stay, the basic entry fee is an investment in the value of the whole portfolio, so you will part-own 100 properties worldwide, as well a have the use of them.

From the current 27, the company is forging alliances with similar clubs and building its portfolio rapidly; this year it teamed-up with US-based Equity Estates, the largest residence fund in North America, which allows members to access 11 properties in the US, Caribbean and Hawaii.

In addition to that the club has also just formed an alliance with banyan Tree Private Collection, which opens door to nine properties in Thailand, Bali, China and the Seychelles as well as luxury villas and apartments in Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Japan.

All the Hideaways Club properties are chosen for location, with both desirability and accessibility for members taken into account. Club properties are primarily detached with an average value of around €1.5 to €2 million. Each home has an average floor space of larger than 250 square meters with a minimum of four to five bedrooms, three bathrooms, private gardens and swimming pools where appropriate. The portfolio also includes ski chalets and the next stage will include city apartments. All properties have impressive audio visual and media specifications that include plasma flat screen TV, film library, integrated iPod system, broadband internet and top of the range kitchens and equipment. In addition, each property if fully equipped for families with children with a range of toys, play areas and DVDs.

In order to join the club, members purchase a share in The Property Holding Company, with the entry cost varying according to the membership chosen. Members then pay an annual fee which covers the Hideaways Club concierge service, which organize the bookings of the properties and deal with all aspects of maintenance including repairs, pool and garden upkeep, local taxes, concierge and daily mail service.

The concierge service is an important part of the Hideaways experience. Concierges maintain the properties and handle reservations in the UK, and supply detailed information to guests on every location before they go, where to eat, what to see, the nearest beaches, the best ski runs, golf courses, concerts. Once there the local concierge arranges airport transfers, provide a starter grocery box and can organise additional services such as personal chefs, security, wine tasting, yoga sessions or chauffeurs. The concierge can also set up golf, skiing, spa treatments, childcare and tickets for local cultural events, much as good hotel would.

Of course, for all this luxury, the price asked is considerable. There are three types of membership available: Premium members pay an entry fee of £235,000 and an ACC (annual contribution cost) of £14,000 per annum which allows them to enjoy four to six weeks per annum at the properties. Lifestyle members pay an entry fee of £160,000 and an ACC of £9,333 which gives them two to three weeks per annum.

However, compared to owning a property outright, particularly the type of property in the portfolio, the costs are low. Members are effectively paying the sixth of the price of a villa when buying a share and paying a sixth of the operation costs as well.

They can leave the scheme after three years and, in addition to their entry cost, will benefit from 80 per cent of any capital growth between share entry and share exit value. The company does not offer a guarantee of such growth, but currently, two-and-a-half years after opening, share are 24 per cent more than the launch price.

But such figures are, so far, academic. Since its inception no one has asked to leave the club. Such investment deals may be an upscale version of buying a holiday cottage with another family and sharing the costs, but schemes such as the Hideaways Club do seem to be filling a niche which lets those rich enough enjoy their investments.

Click here to view the full article.

With bonuses back, better job security and low interest rates, however, the damage to pockets and egos is healing. Many investors are actively looking for nuggets of property gold and will be following Warren Buffett’s rule for buying: “Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful”.

Here, 10 property industry insiders reveal how they would spend £100,000, if they had it. Where in the world and into what kind of property would they invest for the best likely return?

[...]

Stuart Pearce is former chief executive of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority. He has a portfolio of properties in different parts of the world.
One option would be to invest in The Hideaways Club [a luxury property investment fund]. This allows you to have access to various properties during the year but you also have part ownership of them. As they’re located all over the world, your risk is diversified. Another area that would be interesting to think about is the Middle East: both Bahrain and Qatar are relatively untapped, strategically important markets. Lots of firms are setting up operations there now and that growing workforce needs to be housed.

To read the full article please click here.

Equity Estates are a very similar club to The Hideaways Club with an equity-based membership and a similar Member-to-property ratio. 

The new properties are located in New York City; Naples, Florida; Watersound, Florida; Hilton Head, South Carolina; La Jolla, California; Telluride, Colorado; Deer Valley, Utah; Maui, Hawaii; Los Cabos, Mexico; Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean; and Florence, Italy.

Members of The Hideaways Club now have the choice of 45 properties across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Mauritius, America, Mexico and the Caribbean. 

Contact us for more information about membership of The Hideaways Club.

The Banyan Tree Private Collection (BTPC) is Asia’s first global destination club and currently owns premium villas within Banyan Tree resorts in Phuket, Thailand; Bintan and Bali, Indonesia; Ringha, China and Seychelles, as well as stand-alone private villas and luxury apartments in Tuscany, Italy; Grasse, France; London, United Kingdom; and Kyoto, Japan. 

BTPC is managed by the Banyan Tree group who are a leading international operator in the boutique resort, residences and spa industry.  To date, the Banyan Tree Group manages and/or has ownership interests in over 20 luxury resorts and hotels, over 60 spas, and in excess of 60 retail galleries, as well as two golf courses.

BTPC allows exclusive use of their properties to their members and now also to members of The Hideaways Club, terms and conditions apply.

Members of The Hideaways Club now have the choice of 45 properties across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Mauritius, America, Mexico and the Caribbean. 

Contact us for more information about membership of The Hideaways Club.

Launched in 2007, The Hideaways Club is a leading international property investment fund whose members can invest in and enjoy superb villas and chalets throughout Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. The current portfolio ranges from ski chalets in the Alps to villas in the south of France, and recently added properties in Bali and Phuket. A personal concierge service at each property takes care of the hassles, hidden expenses and financial pitfalls usually associated with sole ownership. Sounds good: a unique investment opportunity and a wide ranger of holiday options.

http://www.expatliving.sg/article/property/rent-and-buy/buying-abroad

If it’s good enough for Britain’s former number one tennis player, Tim Henman, then it could be good enough for you. Henman has recently become ambassador for The Hideaways Club, a fractional ownership club with a range of sumptuous properties around the world. Currently there are 25 – in Europe, Africa, Mauritius and South-East Asia.

The idea is the brainchild of Stephen Wise, Helmut Schon and Mike Balfour – all family men who, after years of holidays in hotels and villas, had become disillusioned with the service they received and lack of quality available. Four years ago, they came up with this idea of offering top quality destinations, which members could buy into and not only enjoy holidays around the world but also see growth in their investment.

The idea was to target high net worth individuals and create a private residence club. There are currently 100 members varying in age from the late 20’s to sixties and including families with young children, older ones with teenagers, empty nesters and a few singletons. Nationalities are mainly U.K. based and European.

Rachel and Clive Beagles bought their membership to the club last June. Since then they’ve been to a ski chalet in Switzerland, a villa in Majorca and Quinta Algarvia, just outside the Quinta do Lago estate on the Algarve. “Out of all three, the Portuguese villa is definitely my favourite” says Rachel, who has two young boys of four and six years old. “It’s a stunning property, very well located and decorated to a very high standard. It’s also huge. We just went as a family, but it seemed a shame not to fill it up as it has five large double bedrooms, lovely gardens and a heated pool”. The property, which lies behind secure electronic gates, also has a  gym with treadmill, cross trainer and exercise bike, a steam room and outdoor hot tub in the corner of the terrace and is set in mature gardens with a Japanese pond, terrace with barbecue.

The Beagles used the concierge there to book Clive two rounds of golf at different courses, organise a woman to come round to the house to give Rachel a facial, find a babysitter, book a restaurant and when they somehow managed to lock the garage from the inside, organise someone to come round within an hour to sort it out.

“She also hired bicycles for us, which were there when we arrived and taken away after we had left. It is wonderful having an absolute hassle free holiday and I was also impressed that it didn’t feel as the company was marking up the services we used” says Rachel. “What is also great about Hideaways is that you do feel that they listen to their members and react to their suggestions. It’s so much easier than owning a home abroad and with the boys growing up, we can alter where we go as their needs change”.

Another couple who are members of the club are Maxine and David Kappler, who was CEO of Cadbury Schweppes, but retired five years ago. He is now chairman of Premier Foods. The couple bought their membership last summer, have been to five different locations already and loved all the properties they have been in. The Kapplers also vote the Algarvian villa the best so far. “It was absolutely wonderful. It is in such a wonderful location and I think their finest property” says Maxine.

“We did it because David has travelled the world over the years and we are used to staying in the top hotels. We wanted to be able to go somewhere for our holidays now he is semi-retired, with a five star standard, but not a hotel. With this scheme, you get a choice of where to go, but you know the standard is guaranteed”.

The Kapplers also made use the property’s concierge. “When David took a villa with his friends to play golf, the concierge laid on a dinner for them when they arrived and hired a chef for the week. I went to Portugal with my girl friends and because I prefer to cook myself, the concierge stocked up the villa with the ingredients I required” she says.

Members buy shares in The Hideaways Club, giving them a capital asset in the properties, which are all large with four to five bedrooms, heated pools, Sky, Ipod systems and within 30 minutes of a golf course.

There are three levels of membership: Premium – which costs £235,000 with annual management fees of £14,000. This allows members between four to six weeks usage a year, depending on the weeks you choose; Lifestyle – which costs £160,000 with annual management fees of £9,333 giving members four to six weeks but not in peak periods and Associate, which is basically a half share giving members two to three weeks a year for £122,500, with management fees of £7,000.

The fees cover the cost of the concierges, the running of the property, fuel and heating bills and all local taxes. There are no other charges, except for extra services they might use. Everyone has a 12 month reservation window and no-one is allowed to block book weeks for year in advance. If a member can’t take all the weeks that are available to them, they can hold over weeks for the following year.

There is also a three year lock out window, after which members can sell their share themselves, or the company will sell them, taking a 5 percent administration charge. Whichever way the share is sold, the member will receive the 80 percent of any profit taken, the company 20 percent. And for every six new members, the company will buy a new property. “As part of our commitment to providing members with the widest choice of holiday options in three continents and in view of numerous requests from members, we have decided to expand our field of operation to cover South East Asia with the purchase of three new properties in Bali, Phuket and Malaysian Borneo” says managing director, Mike Balfour.

Enough choice for any member to experience many different locations around the world, but with the knowledge that the level of service and quality of property will remain the same wherever they go.

 

The club, which buys and manages luxury villas in top holiday spots, enables members to invest in a growing portfolio of properties and at the same time, have exclusive use of those properties for vacations.

With a fund size of about US$55 million (RM195 million) currently, it owns 25 luxury villas and ski chalets across Europe, Mauritius, South Africa and now, Asia, having recently bought three villas in Phuket (Thailand), Sabah (Malaysia) and Bali (Indonesia).

The club, set up in 2007, opened offices in Singapore and Hong Kong recently to service growing interest in this novel new way of owning overseas property.

Its chairman Mike Balfour believes that it is the most efficient way to own overseas properties.

“Across the world, there are so many people who have second homes that are not used very much and remain empty most of the year and it’s just not a very efficient way of owning real estate, “So we came up with a concept that’s almost like sharing,” he told Business Times in an interview recently.

The concept is, however, different from time-share schemes in that members own a share of the entire property portfolio and benefit from any associated increase in value.

“Our proposition is perfect for those people who want to invest in overseas property but do not want to be restricted to one location, do not want to deal with all of the hassle that inevitably comes with owning overseas assets, and see benefit in sharing the costs of assets that they only use occasionally.

“A lot of people say this is really the most financially astute way of buying overseas property,” he remarked.

Balfour is the founder of Fitness First, the world’s largest chain of health clubs. He left the company in September this year, after 17 years, to pursue other interests like this.

The Hideaways Club is expected to add between 10 and 15 properties a year to its portfolio, with the ultimate goal of closing the fund at 100 properties and 600 members.

Balfour hopes to reach that target in four years, with at least a fifth of members expected to come from Asia.

The club currently has 120 members. A premium membership, which is the most expensive, goes for STG235,000 (RM1.3 million). Members also pay STG14,000 (RM78,540) a year for the upkeep and usage of the villas.

Every villa has its own local concierge, a feature that is claimed to be one of the programme’s strongest selling point.

The Hideaways Club’s Asia property director Michael Lamb said the club buys villas in only the most desired tourist destinations. He is looking to buy next in Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

Villa Layan is a stylish contemporary villa in the private enclave of the Layan Peninsular in Phuket.  The interior blends modern living with Thai-inspired design to give the property a magnificent open and light ambience. Passing through the entrance gate the villa opens up in front of you to the living area and through to the pool and sun deck in the charming gardens.

The villa is perfect for entertaining, with a large external dining area featuring a BBQ and bar and a team of full-time staff on site to look after Members and their guests. There is a 20 metre pool with surrounding sun deck in the expansive mature garden, decorated with traditional Thai statues and ornaments. Villa Layan has its own 34’ Searay Powerboat which can be enjoyed by Members and their guests.

To see more details of Villa Layan please click here.

Dar Hasnaa, a rose-pink house outside Marrakesh, is not your average second home. The pool is bigger and there’s a cook, gardener and housekeeper. Each evening, someone will turn on the garden lights and put away the cushions; in the mornings breakfast is laid out on the terrace. In fact, you don’t have to lift a finger – which is all part of the Hideaways Club ethos.

To rent a place like Dar Hasnaa would cost about £10,000 per week – and more than £2m to buy, according to Hideaways chairman Mike Balfour. But members who’ve paid the £235,000 premium membership fee, and annual service charges of £14,000, can “own” the property like this for up to six weeks a year. “It works out at £3,500 per week – a 60 per cent reduction on rental price,” Balfour explains. There are also £160,000 and £122,500 memberships for those requiring fewer weeks.

The club has a ratio of six members to every property, and a maximum of 600 members will be admitted. There are currently 100 members, and 25 properties. Balfour anticipates a 13 to 14 per cent annual return.

But what if you want out? Members can leave at any time but if it is within three years of joining they will be liable for a 10 per cent charge on the share price. It should take about two months to get your money back.

Click here to view full article.

These days, Tim, 34, is most likely to be found on the golf course (he plays off scratch) or at home – a large Georgian house just south of Oxford – with his wife, Lucy, and their three daughters, Rosie, six, Olivia, four, and Grace, nearly two.

 With a fortune estimated at £16m and a track record of successful property developments around Barnes in south-west London, where he and Lucy also own a town house as a London bolt-hole, he could use his spare time to seek out bargains in a falling market. But he’s not particularly interested in any of that either.

“We did some renovations and some complete demolition jobs around Barnes a few years ago. I just liked seeing what potential the property had at the beginning, then waiting till the work had been done before going back to look at it again,” says Tim of his business partnership with his agent Jan Felgate and property developer Philip Moross, whose projects included Old Essex House, a listed house once owned by the Earl of Essex, which they renovated and sold in 2005 for £3.2m, making a £2m profit.

“I still have a few investment properties in that area, but I’m not interested in buying any distressed properties, more out of idleness than anything,” he says. “Other people take a gap year after A-levels. I’m taking five years. I’m not in a rush to do anything.”

He is, however, keen to own a place abroad to enjoy with his family, hence our meeting at La Retraite, hidden away among pine forests in Provence with views stretching down to the Côte d’Azur. It is one of 21 luxurious villas worth on average £1m-£1.5m, belonging to the fractional ownership Hideaways Club.

“This is my idea of the perfect holiday home,” he says. “It’s a beautiful location, there’s no one overlooking us and the house has kept traditional features such as the old beams, but it also has great contemporary touches,” Tim says.

Investors buy a share of the portfolio, costing from £122,500 to £235,000, allowing four to six weeks’ annual usage. Service charges are up to £14,000 a year to cover everything from maintenance to a concierge service in every property.

“I didn’t want the upkeep and hassle of owning a home abroad and I also couldn’t choose just one location for a holiday home, so to have access to a portfolio this diverse, without any responsibility, is fantastic,” says Tim, whose only other overseas investment is in Philip Moross’s hotel/apartment scheme in Grindelwald in Switzerland.

“We spent every holiday at my parents’ holiday home in the Algarve, but I wouldn’t want to keep just going back there. I love Italy and the south of France, and I can ski again now, something I wasn’t allowed to do while I was a tennis player, so Lucy and I are looking forward to staying in some of Hideaways’ chalets in France or Switzerland or trying new places such as Marrakesh,” he says.

As the Hideaways Club’s “ambassador”, Henman paid full price for his share but gets a discount on the service charges. He insists he couldn’t endorse anything he didn’t believe in. “I think fractional ownership, which I knew from using NetJets as a tennis player, works well as a concept. It’s often confused with timeshare, but with timeshare you don’t own anything. With fractional ownership, you have an asset,” he says.

Pure investments have little interest to him, he says, “But this one [Hideaways] has two sides to it: the investment aspect and there’s also the lifestyle factor. And we intend to make the most of it.”

While some other fractional ownership clubs, such as Botiga, have been victims of the economic downturn, Hideaways – headed by Mike Balfour, who founded the Fitness First gyms chain – was in a position to buy a dozen properties outright before it began looking for investors, so the club was not reliant on investors’ capital to start building the portfolio. And now they are capitalising on the current economic climate.

“Hideaways have been clever in buying properties in areas where prices have fallen, as they can put in some punchy offers and get some good deals,” says Henman. “They are spending the same amount on each property as they would have done before, but investors are getting far more for their money now. The only con I can see with this is that you might not be able to use some of the properties in the better-known destinations such as Tuscany or Provence during summer as they will be busy.”

Doubters of fractional ownership might also query the exit strategy. If you only own a share in a handful of properties, how easy will that be to sell? “If this was just a way to make money, I’d have researched that thoroughly,” Tim replies. “But as I’m keen for us to enjoy properties as a family, I’m using this for what it is and haven’t given much thought to that aspect. We’ve invested in an asset that is likely to appreciate and will give us great enjoyment.”

And enjoyment is what’s foremost in Tim Henman’s mind at present. Besides his fortnight’s work as a Wimbledon commentator and about a week’s corporate work each year with his sponsors, Robinsons Barley Water and HSBC, he has no plans to take on anything more time-consuming yet.

“When I was training all the time, I didn’t know anything else and didn’t want to do anything else,” he says. “Now, doing the school run and sleeping in my own bed are simple, almost trivial things, but I love it.”

Zoe Dare Hall. Daily Telegraph 17th October 2009.

Click here to view full article.