Why are residential resort properties booming? After Covid-19, homebuyers are looking to invest in real estate with five-star amenities in Hawaii, the Bahamas and Vietnam

Jul 22 , 2022

A luxury villa in a residential resort in Seminyak, Bali, typical of this form of property investment that is growing in popularity around the world. Photo: Exotiq Property

After Covid-19 put a halt to travel, home investors have found a new calling to get that 24/7 wanderlust fix: resort residences that imitate a luxury holiday

Old Bahama Bay comes with a private airport, marina and golf course, while in a Melbourne estate, facilities include an indoor pool, tennis courts and clubhouse

Curated experiences, room service and hotel amenities. Remember those days, pre-Covid-19, when a glorious holiday could deliver all that and more? Many look back with longing, and that pining is being credited with the rising demand for residential resort properties around the world.

A separate sector from branded residences, and not part of a commercial operation, these are homes with five-star amenities that owners do not have to share with paying guests.

Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty, has noticed this trend developing worldwide. He believes the pandemic fallout is still driving buyer behaviour, and as people seek properties that align with reshaped lifestyles, they prefer resorts that offer privacy while having enough space for the entire family.

“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.

Kukui’ula golf resort, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Photo: CBRE

“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.

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

Philip White, Sotheby’s International Realty