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Santiago Property, Santa MartaVila Jardins do Oceano, a project near historic Cidade Velha.A British Virgin Islands company formed by Nick Carter-Brown a former finance director of Sambala who lives near Bath is putting up this development in the south of Santiago. It will be to the west of Cidade Velha, the charming little historic village and fortress 20km west of Praia. This means that it has been subject to special planning enquiries because of the historic nature of the site as the first European settlement in the tropics. Its Portuguese name Vila Jardins do Oceano means Gardens town on the ocean. So presumably there is a planting programme and the soil looks more capable of supporting plants than on many other developments. It is a more compact site than others on Santiago with no more than 50 individual villas planned. Each proposes a private swimming pool and a terrace or verandah with a pergola. They will plant grass between the buildings and the soil looks as though it might support lawns. Plots of 430 sqm are larger than many in the Cape Verdes. Its precise position is between the main road Sao Joao Baptista (St John the Baptist) and the cliff top at Santa Marta, according to its plan. This is a gentle slope that would give many of the villas fine views over the sea to the south. Prices are high at from £210,000 to £230,000 but mortgage finance is available for up to 90% of contract value - a first for the Cape Verdes. A bank guarantee from the Cape Verdean bank BCA is available for a small charge, which lodges funds in an escrow account which is still unusual in Cape Verdes.This provides some security to off-plan buyers. It has outline planning permission from the Camara in Ribiera Grande. Building work has commenced on site and the first villa may be ready during 2009. Generally Santiago property has proved slower to catch on than in Sal. But the company is hoping to improve one of the local beaches by importing white sand to spread over the surface. R from London who has kindly provided the photographs including furniture and appliances from the show villa imported from England is hoping to let his villa "Completion is promised for October. What do you think the rental market will be like? We have bought into Vila Jardins do Oceano never seen it mentioned e- presumably as it's small and one of the few with relatively few problems. We're looking to rent out but are not sure of the market potential."L from Shropshire has bought at Vila Jardins do Oceano and at Sambala"I have actually purchased 2 in Santiago. 1 for rental investment on Sambala and 1 on a smaller development Vila Jardins for personal use. Buying on Santiago meant I could get 2 for the price of one as I found Sal was really expensive. I do love the beaches on Sal, but found Tarrafal beach in Santiago equally as nice and far less busy." |