As vacation travel has dipped during the pandemic, the rich and famous of the world have started flexing that financial muscle and the market for private islands has warmed up.
Recently an island off the coast of Ireland was sold for $6.3M million, with three beaches, seven houses and a large and thriving resident wildlife reserve and here’s the kicker the anonymous buyer made the purchase ONLINE. The undisclosed buyer never visited the island, saw it on video conferencing and finalized the deal without once seeing it in person.
Horse island, 157 acres of rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean just southwest of the Irish mainland was sold after WhatsApp negotiations!
The island offers a rugged green landscape, a main house with 6 bedroom multiple guest and help lodging, beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean from most accommodations.
This island was briefly inhabited for almost a century when a small copper mine operated here during the mid 19th to mid 20th century, with a small population of a around a 150 people. It lost all its inhabitants around the 1960s. It know boasts a private pier for ferries and super yachts, a helipad, tennis courts, a gym and a “shipwreck” play house for the kids
The self sufficient little island also has its own utilities and private roads.
“Horse Island is a unique trophy asset; sourcing the land and getting the sale over the line during COVID-19 has been a challenge, so naturally we are delighted with this result,” Thomas Balashev, the founder and CEO of Montague Real Estate, said in a statement.
“It highlights a trend that is becoming more apparent as the impact of COVID-19 is felt and people look to purchase property or land in remote locations,” added Alex Robinson of real estate agent Knight Frank, which was involved in the sale.