Property News: The holiday island of Malta
Malta is not just a holiday island as such but a real place to live, set up home and stay
Englishman David Perry found the island of Malta the perfect solution for himself and his family when considering relocating after their home in Tokyo was affected by the Tsunami. David Perry and his wife Noriko, plus their two children David Noriko and Julia Maria chose Malta and have set up home at the award winning Tigne Point on the north-east coast of the island.
This is his story. “Our arrival in Malta is an interesting saga. We were happily living in a chaotic, densely populated part of central Tokyo when an Act of God, commonly referred to as The Great Tsunami, literally washed us out of house and home. In short we had to relocate, and fast. My wife, who is Japanese, set several criteria: firstly, we had to move to a country that either had Japanese as its major language, or English. As there are no other countries that have Japanese as their national language we were left with a choice of 64 English-speaking countries. I had my own criteria: a place with good weather, good schooling, safe for children, low crime. The options started diminishing fast. Hawaii looked appealing but obtaining residence in the USA is pretty impossible, so are the costs of Hawaii (the most expensive state out of all 51). Then my wife, browsing a Japanese travel blog, came across a place that was described in Japanese as the Hawaii of the Mediterranean. On closer examination it turned out to be Malta! We decided immediately. It met all our criteria – even better than Hawaii due to its rich history and culture. Not a holiday island as such but a real place to live, set up home and stay. Deciding where to live on the island we consulted many local friends. One said, “think of a Monopoly board” and choose the best place on it.
In Maltese terms that is Tigne’ Point, a marvelous development right by the sea but also in a part of the island that has a lot of great activities, services and schools. It has been the perfect choice. Tigne’ Point is not only a place to live but a delightful lifestyle; plenty of shops and restaurants, excellent swimming, nearby yacht marina, like-minded international neighbours and overall a very friendly atmosphere.”
Malta is situated between Europe and Africa, just 60 miles south of Sicily, and almost equidistant from the west and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Spread over three islands and measuring some 316 square kilometers, Malta is also the smallest EU member state.
With a daily average of six hours of sunshine in mid winter and average temperatures of around 12C (54 F) in winter and 31C (88 F) in the summer, Malta’s mild and temperate climate has made it a popular destination with overseas property buyers for decades. With frequent flights to the UK, and indeed all across Europe and the Middle East, it is perfectly located for living, commuting for long weekend breaks and conducting international business.
Steeped in history the island enjoys a vibrant 21st century economy and a stable political backdrop. It boasts an excellent infrastructure, quality schools, hospitals and hotels and amongst the lowest crime rates in the EU.
Malta has also attracted multinationals to its shores due to attractive fiscal conditions, a well educated and relatively inexpensive workforce and the fact that English, along with Maltese, is an official language.
Set in a prime location on the north-east coast of the island, directly opposite the capital Valletta across the azure blue Creek, the latest phase of Tigne Point properties has proved enormously popular.
Homes are finished to the highest caliber, commensurate with Tigne Point’s international award-winning development status. Owners can enjoy efficient HVAC centralized heating, cooling and ventilation systems services, smart lighting, access control and fire detection systems and all the lifestyle benefits on living in this mixed-use development.
To find out more, contact Tigne Point 00356 2065 5510
www.tignepoint.com