“Many fully furnished residences come with all the bells and whistles of a high-end resort, from fresh flowers to an on-demand masseuse, maybe even private chefs and chauffeurs,” White says.

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“So when buying into these projects, there’s the exclusivity factor, along with quality management, privacy, security and knowing that your investment is well cared for, even during the off-season.”

Jeff Woolson, managing director of CBRE’s Golf & Resort Group, defines private residential properties with resort-style amenities as “second-home communities”. Master-planned, such projects might include a golf course or a marina, and like holiday resorts, are typically found in prime beach or mountain locations.

They’re hot property once again, courtesy of the pandemic, Woolson says – but their appeal has varied over the years.

Pre-2008, Woolson explains, owning one of these homes was quite the trend. Buyers were willing to pay not only an initial premium, but the ongoing costs of services, amenities upkeep, and golf or social club membership on top.

“When the global financial crisis hit, they fell out of favour,” he says. “A lot of people sold their second homes, and it was almost impossible to sell [empty] lots.”

After a lean period of almost a decade, demand was trickling back just as Covid-19 hit. Developers of these projects feared another setback, but the opposite has happened.

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Recent big-ticket transactions made by CBRE include the US$185 million sale of Kukui’ula, a 404-hectare (1,000-acre) master-planned resort community in Hawaii with golf course, two clubhouses, spa, fitness centre and multiple restaurants, as well as an impressive upcountry organic farm and recreational lake.

Old Bahama Bay, a boutique residential resort in the Bahamas with a private airport, a 63-ship marina, golf course and numerous “build-ready” housing lots, has recently gone under contract for US$35 million.

“We haven’t seen anything like the explosion that’s occurred since the market peak in 2006,” says Woolson. “Right now, it’s crazy – not only in pricing, but how quickly they’re selling.”

One might expect to find many of this sort of residential resort on the long-popular holiday isle of Bali, but Dominique Gallmann, founder of Exotiq Property, says that’s not the case.

“While the residential-only resort model has been applied successfully all over Phuket, Bali has not attracted large developers with the required financial backing to launch such developments,” he explains.

“Another partial reason is the difficulty in finding reasonably large plots in desired locations like Seminyak or Canggu. One would have to move away quite a bit to find something like a hectare or more, and that’s still not big by international standards.”

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“That said, we are working on a residential/investment development on Nusa Penida by a French developer. It should come on the market soon and will be offered as leasehold.”

Suggesting market demand is there, Gallmann said phase one of a rare, four-star residential resort in Ubud quickly sold out, with phase two now under construction.

It’s a different story in Vietnam, where major international players like Hongkong Land and Singapore’s CapitaLand and Keppel Land are joining reputable local developers, such as Vingroup, Novaland, Masterise and BIM Land, in developing lavish, amenity-laden residential projects as part of an overall real estate boom.

“Pretty much every A and B grade residential apartment development these days has resort-style amenities,” says Troy Griffiths, deputy managing director at Savills Ho Chi Minh City in the country’s south.

“We manage around 100 A and B grade buildings – many others we manage are C, or commercial use – and all have wonderful amenities: multiple recreation and fitness running tracks, extensive pools, children’s entertainment, and so on. It’s just the nature of the modern-day competition – you have to include these to stand out to purchasers.”

Heritage West Lake, a luxurious, amenity-rich apartment complex being developed by Singapore’s CapitaLand, is one example of the new style of living in Vietnam.

From the project’s location in Tay Ho, Hanoi, all flats enjoy scenic views of West Lake and the city, and management by The Ascott Limited. In addition to a fitness centre, swimming pool, restaurants, a supermarket and coffee shops, high-end services available to residents include reception, 24/7 cameras and security, car booking, laundry and spa treatments.

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In a prime location in the central district of Da Nang, Filmore Da Nang is a rare development beside the scenic Han River. Upon completion (estimated for the second quarter of 2024) residents will enjoy convenient connections to the airport, CBD and famous tourist destinations, luxurious design and a raft of amenities including a swimming pool, lounges, rooftop gym, kids’ playground and library. Dual key, duplex and penthouse units are available.

Buying guide

What you can buy for around US$522,000:

A 36-year leasehold on a luxury resort villa in Seminyak, Bali. Part of a gated estate promising privacy, tranquillity and security, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home is one of only 22 uniquely designed villas located on the estate. Every room has its own private garden and access to the pool deck. Bathrooms with indoor bathtubs and outdoor showers are surrounded by tropical vegetation. In addition to a private pool and open-air jacuzzi, the villa’s shared amenities include reception, a restaurant, cafe, in-house spa and security.

What you can buy for around US$663,000:

14 Clarence Court, Sandhurst, a four-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury home in a master-planned resort community in Melbourne, Australia. Recreational facilities provided for residents include two Peter Thomson-designed championship golf courses, health club with gymnasium, 25-metre indoor heated pool, tennis courts, clubhouse with cafe, bar and restaurant, and personal concierge service. The estate has 50km of walking tracks, parks and gardens, with monitored alarm systems in every home.