Hot Property: Buck Island, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean

It's an interesting thing about islands - some are uninhabitable, others superpowers; some breed only exotic bird populations, others house royalty. And then there are a handful of freehold, private and fully developed and staffed ones - such as Buck Island, which combines verdant cliffs, white-sand beaches, coral reefs, yacht parking and famous former visitors, and which can be yours to own.
This 43-acre island lies in the middle of the fishing paradise that is the Sir Francis Drake Channel, protected in the lee of the Caribbean's Tortola island, a mere 300 metres away. The property, listed by Vladi Private Islands, can be enjoyed by every kind of holiday-maker and homeowner - from beach bum and adventure freak to leisure seeker and culture vulture.
The island has three hills with vivid 360-degree views and level house sites. Beach facilities include a clubhouse and sports hut, swimming and snorkeling, barbecue pit and boats to take you to Tortola. The dramatic cliff-top residence is a dramatic blend of luxury and minimalism, in that it's open to the ocean from every end. Designed to create a "village" effect, the house has a number of separate buildings including a two-storey master bedroom cottage, five guest-bedroom suites and one self-contained, one-bedroom apartment.
Cooper and Ginger, the two king-sized suites in the main house come with open-air showers and sitting areas with stunning backdrops. The top level of the house has a tower leading to the theatre room with a wrap-around balcony, a 14-seater dining room and expansive kitchen. Four half baths, a dinette area, a library and computer room, a pantry and spa room make up the rest of the living space. Should you fancy a night out in nearby Tortola or to explore the stone ruins of a 19th-century copper mine on Virgin Gorda, a three-bedroom house over a 1.4-acre area is included in this property's mainland base.
Buying a house that's surrounded by water on all sides does, however, require some extra legwork - for instance, it's important that you visit the property several times before signing the dotted line, not only to see the development possibilities but also to appreciate whether the environs, people, flora and fauna of the area suit your lifestyle. While freehold islands, such as this one, are allowed to have non-native owners, it's best to hire a lawyer to sort through the paperwork. Some looking into the deposit deal you're getting (10 per cent is usual for island properties) and a study of insurance policies, and you're good to enjoy your own slice of tropical paradise.
pmunyal@thenational.ae