How much does a private island cost? Less than you might think

WELT AM SONNTAG: How did you become an island broker?

Farhad Vladi: It has always been my dream, as a teenager I wanted to own an island. During my research, I discovered that the Seychelles consist of over 40 granite islands. I then drove my Volkswagen to London to meet the Seychelles High Commissioner and finalize the purchase. It didn't work out.

While waiting, I reached for the local press. For the equivalent of 50 German marks, I posted an ad that I was looking for an island. I received three offers, including one particularly interesting one from a young lawyer. He offered me the granite island of Cousine – for about a million marks. It was too much – and my dream was over, at least for a while.

But I didn't want to give up. I started looking for people who were described in the press as wealthy. I showed them maps, photos, my materials – and one of them agreed to buy it. Then he asked me, and I will never forget it, what kind of commission I wanted: 5, 4 or 3 percent. 3% was enough for me. — that is, 30 thousand. brands. The news about the deal spread and the business went on and on.

Why do people buy islands?

Because of the feeling that they control what they see. It's a really beautiful feeling. It has nothing to do with luxury. Man feels that he has only one sovereign – nature. My clients are not hermits. These are nature lovers who want to have an island to spend a longer, undisturbed vacation there.

I am a nature lover. How could I become the owner of an island?

You come to my office or we talk about your wishes. Then I ask you two key questions that I need to know the answer to. First: what are your geographical preferences? Second: what is your budget? Then I have clarity.

To start with, I would recommend renting an island. Because when you buy an island, you also buy its natural and social surroundings. Both should be tested – alone, with friends or family. If you still want to buy an island, we will find a suitable one.

How big does the budget need to be? Surely not everyone who can afford a small car can also afford an island, right?

But actually it can. I don't mean an old car that barely passes inspection. I mean a normal car, like a Volvo or another small upper middle class car. I can sell you an island for that kind of money.

And for that kind of money can you find a decent island? Is there, to put it tongue in cheek, “shoddy goods” among the islands?

NO [śmiech — red.]. We always make sure that certain criteria are met. The island must have a building permit. I wouldn't sell you an island that, for example, is a bird sanctuary. It must also be accessible, look attractive, and have trees growing on it – so a sharp rock tooth sticking out of the sea is not a private island in this sense.

You have already sold over 3,000 islands. Is there one among them that you particularly remember?

Yes, there are several of them. For example, together with Dieter “Didi” Hallervorden I looked at about 20 islands. He wanted to buy an island in the Caribbean. However, we were unable to find anything suitable. He later accompanied me on a visit to France and immediately fell in love with the island there. This symbolizes the magic of the islands, this special energy. It's like with people: some seem nice, others you can't stand from the first meeting. There is no second chance for a first impression.

On your website we read about transactions including: with Cristiano Ronaldo, Britney Spears and Johnny Depp. Is there any famous person who is particularly memorable for you?

Oh yes. There is a memory I will never forget. Nicolas Cage, a Hollywood star and Oscar winner, bought an island in the Bahamas from me. First I showed him the photos, then we flew to the Bahamas. We were accompanied by his then wife, Lisa Marie Presley. To see the island from the air, we rented a helicopter. After takeoff, I noticed that the pilot was taking a strange route. I tried to tell him this, but he didn't react at all. We had serious engine problems – the pilot was fighting for our lives and had no control over the route. Miraculously, we managed to return to the main island. After this shock, we went to a restaurant. Nicolas Cage talked about our rebirth. The next day we saw the island from a boat – and Nicolas Cage bought it. It was truly an experience that brought us closer.

It sounds like the job of an island broker is not the safest one. Are geopolitical tensions also currently affecting the private island market?

Yes, I think so. However, this does not only apply to islands. In times of crisis, people traditionally look for places to escape. It could be a house in Spain, a villa in South America or an island – just a place where they feel safe.

Are there any countries or regions where you would not sell islands?

Islands can only be purchased where the state allows it. There are many countries where purchases by foreigners are prohibited and yet they have beautiful islands – the Philippines, Indonesia. There are also countries that I avoid for image reasons and conviction. So-called “banana republics” where neither I sell nor my customers would like to buy.

Your first sale was decades ago. Do you still charge 3% today? commission?

I am an island broker, so I receive a fixed commission that varies by country. In Scotland, the broker gets 2%, in Germany up to 6%. When doing business in Ireland, Scotland or the Bahamas, I cooperate with my local friends, i.e. local intermediaries.

Each island is unique. Are islands an investment – or rather a philosophy of life?

An investment because there are few islands. I would compare it to paintings. Here, prices do not depend on the size of the work, but on its appearance. What matters is pure beauty and energy. It is the art of nature that created the islands. Unlike art, there are only three situations that bring islands to the market: death, debts forcing one to sell, and divorce, because along with the family, the property also falls apart. Islands are a long-term investment – ​​and they provide long-term enjoyment.

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The above text is a translation from German website WELT