Today, in Overseas Dream Home, we’ll channeling our inner billionaire…
Nothing screams “wealth” more than owning your very own private island.
Sure, you can buy fast cars, flashy watches, private jets, and grand mansions, but having your own island…well, that turns the wealth-o-meter up to another level.
Private islands also have the advantage of being, well…private. They’re the ultimate in secrecy and exclusivity.
Probably the world’s most famous private island retreat is Necker Island, owned by Branson. The British billionaire, founder of the Virgin Group, lives on the Caribbean island. It also operates as a resort. For the majority of the year, the resort on Necker Island is available only for whole-island buyouts, accommodating up to 48 adults and six children in 24 rooms at a cost of $140,000 per night. (Here’s a video about it.)
Richard Branson’s Necker Island is part of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea. Branson paid just $120,000 to buy the island in 1979.
The world’s most expensive private island is Lanai in Hawaii, owned by Larry Ellison, founder of software giant Oracle. Lanai paid $300 million for 98% of the island in 2012 (the remaining 2% is owned by the state of Hawaii). Ellison runs three hotels on the island where everything is the height of luxury (a penthouse suite will run you about $22,000 a night).
In the undeveloped islands category, the priciest is Ronde Island in Grenada, which is currently for sale (it’s actually been on the market since 2007). It’s listed at $100 million. This 2,000-acre island is surrounded by crystal-clear waters with visibility up to 100 feet and has an expansive system of quartz-crystal caves. You can see the listing here.
The thing is, though, you don’t need to have Larry Ellison or Richard Branson levels of wealth to own a private island…
I asked my team to search for private islands for sale around the world.
Now, unless you have many millions to spend, you won’t get the out-of-this-world levels of luxury and opulence that Mr. Branson has on his island. But what you will get is an island hideaway of your own…and bragging rights at parties, “Oh yeah, I own my own private island.”
Check out what my team found…
MacLellans Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Listing price: $215,000
This 15-acre island in Nova Scotia is a blank canvas, perfect for creating your own dream getaway. See the listing here.
Canada’s Nova Scotia is known for its breathtaking coastal landscapes…it’s filled with quaint fishing villages, rugged shorelines, and scenic bays. The Atlantic Ocean has a big effect on the climate here, and the area experiences warm summers and cold, snowy winters.
The region’s capital of Halifax has a lively waterfront with restaurants, cafés, and stores and the Halifax Citadel, a star-shaped fortress that gives an insight into the city’s military past. It’s a lively city, with a vibrant arts and food scene and the famous Argyle Street is where music lovers go for their fix.
Just a 20-minute drive from Halifax Airport is MacLellans Island, 15 acres in the Chezzetcook Inlet.
The island is accessible via a public wharf and boat launch. The island has hills that rise up to 15 meters above sea level, so building a home at the highest point would offer stunning views of surrounding bay. And your only neighbors on the island are a family of deer!
MacLellans Island is currently for sale for $215,000. See the full listing here.
Inis Saimer, Donegal, Ireland
Listing price: €450,000 ($502,010)
Located in ruggedly beautiful County Donegal on Ireland’s far north coast, this small island offers a tranquil lifestyle. See the listing here.
County Donegal is in the far north of Ireland. It’s renowned for its stunning natural beauty, especially the dramatic and rugged coastline. And it has some of the best beaches in Ireland, featuring long stretches of golden sand and waves that are perfect for surfing.
Irish traditions and culture are strong here. Donegal is home to Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht (a region where the Irish language is still used in everyday life). There are officially 7 Gaeltacht areas around Ireland.
In the south of Donegal, not far from the famous surf town of Bundoran, is the small village of Ballyshannon. That is where you’ll find the island of Inis Saimer. It’s an acre of land in the Erne Estuary and it comes with a three-bedroom house, originally built in the 1800s. The house is connected to the national electricity grid and the mains water supply. The house also offers views of Donegal Bay, the sand dunes of Finner, and the Erne River.
The island has a private jetty and Ballyshannon’s quay is just 100 meters upriver.
Inis Saimer is currently for sale for €450,000 ($502,010). The full listing with more information is here.
Villa Bergholmen, Finland
Listing price: €2.5 million
The waters around this Finnish island are excellent for fishing…and there’s even space to build a helipad should you need one! The listing is here.
The northern European country of Finland is probably not the first place that comes to mind when you think about owning an island. But its stunning natural beauty and famous fjords provide a tranquil backdrop for a home on the water…even if the freezing winters would be challenging.
The island of Villa Bergholmen is in the Kemiö archipelago in western Finland. The island is a 12-minute boat ride from the mainland and the Taalintehdas harbor.
Taalintehdas is a small village that was known for its ironworks in the 17th century. Today it attracts tourists who come to the area for the stunning coastal views, hiking trails, and water activities.
For bigger city amenities, Turku, the regional capital of southwestern Finland, is about 50 miles away. The oldest city in Finland, Turku is full of Old-World charm and has a thriving art, culture, and foodie scene.
Villa Bergholmen island spans a total of 9.1 acres. Of that, around 3.4 acres has already been sold to an investor and it’s the remaining 5.7 acres that are on the market. Included in the price is a main building, a boathouse with room for two boats, a guesthouse, and a sauna.
The island is famous for its clean water and excellent fishing. It also has a protected harbor that can accommodate yachts of up to 70 feet, and there’s space on the island to build a helipad.
The asking price for this island is $2.5 million and you can see the full listing here.
Motu Teta, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Listing price: €1.9 million ($2.1 million)
It doesn’t get more exotic than an island home in French Polynesia…you’ll find one there on the market right now for €1.9 million. See the listing here.
If you’re looking for a tropical private island, you need look no further than French Polynesia. An overseas territory of France, French Polynesia is made up of more than 100 islands in the South Pacific.
Rangiroa (also called Te Kokōta) is one of the largest atolls in the world and it offers exceptional snorkeling and diving and is a popular spot for swimming with dolphins, manta rays, and sharks.
Within Rangiroa is the island of Motu Teta. The island is 9.4 acres in size and it has a three-bed villa and a two-bed guest villa already on site (the villas required extensive restoration to make them habitable). This is your picture-postcard island in the South Pacific with sugar-white sand beaches and surrounded by crystal-clear azure waters.
The island is for sale for €1.9 million ($2.1 million)…see the listing here.
Saints Bay Island, Bahia, Brazil
Listing price: $1,860,500
Saints Bay Island, off the northeast coast of Brazil is the perfect island getaway and comes with a house and two beach bungalows. See the listing here.
Northeast Brazil was the first region of the country to be colonized by the Portuguese, and is best known for its stunning white-sand beaches, colonial towns, vibrant party atmosphere, and friendly people.
If you’re looking for an island that’s a bit more “turnkey,” you’ll find one here that fits the bill.
Saints Bay island is in Salvador da Bahia, on that northeast coast. This 6-acre island is about a 40-minute boat ride from the mainland and has two beautiful white-sand beaches, a pier, and two beach bungalows that are directly on the water.
The bungalows have air conditioning and a balcony. There’s also a two-bed house on the island. Both the house and bungalows run on solar energy, have generators and fresh water cisterns.
The asking price for Saint Bay Island is $1,860,500 and you can see the full listing here.
Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. If you’re interested in any of these listings you should hire an attorney and do your own due diligence. I haven’t visited these properties in person or done any due diligence on them.
P.P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Cheap Dream Home Instagram account.
