It may be difficult to find ways and means to keep all rooms in your property in Malta cool during a typically hot summer of Malta – when temperatures soar.  Most properties in Malta suffer the heat terribly and keeping a home fresh in peak summer can be exceptionally hard. Keeping out the sun may be an easier thing to do than trying to keep the house fresh by spending a great deal of money to run air conditioning systems around the clock.

There are several ways of blocking the sun and its heat. Here are some ideas:

Changing patterns – the patterns (more…)

So you need to find some office space to rent in Malta? The local papers and Malta real estate websites will probably find you several options to consider, but there are a number of things you must think of before committing yourself to renting office space.

Location – think of all aspects on the issue of location. How far is the office from your home? Will you and your team need to travel a long distance to get there every day? Is the location ideal for your clients? Is the location ideal for your business’ or professions’ reputation? Is it as central as you need it to be? Is it too central, or too isolated?



If you are in doubt, travel to and from the aspired-for office at different times of the day and on different days of the week so that you will gauge all these elements. (more…)

Not every room within a property in Malta comes blessed with abundant natural light. Practically every piece of real estate in Malta has one – that light-eluding space that causes you to switch on the light bulbs even in broad daylight. This article is not about choosing lighting for a dim room but rather on how to lighten up the room naturally during the day before it gets dark. There are a number of practical and sometimes simple measures which can be adopted to make a world of difference to your dim spaces. You may be able to make some of the more radical changes suggested or perhaps adopt a few of the ideas that are less complicated to fulfil. Read on….

First things first – your dim room/space hopefully has a window. Check out the size of the window in comparison to the rest of the room. If the window looks out onto a narrow shaft, check to see if there is enough space to get the window slightly enlarged to allow more light to stream in. An architect or builder may be able to tell you if this enlargement is possible and safe to accomplish. If you do opt for a larger window, be sure to choose a window frame tha (more…)

So you’ve been thinking of buying a property in Malta? And you’re kind of eyeing the local papers and making a note of all the properties with a Sale notice attached to their front window? Whilst you can traipse around and do it solo, there is a lot to be said for getting an Malta real estate agent on board to help you in the hunt. First things first – get a seriousagency and make sure you feel you can communicate with the agent assigned to you.

The agency fee is paid by the seller so the buyer incurs no costs. However you should never take advantage of the estate agent for the simple reason that you may end up the loser if you go it alone or ignore precious advice.

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Some of the most exhilarating rooms are especially important visually because they are decorated around a central theme. The theme becomes the characteristic by which this room is identified and may become the be-all and end-all of the room’s very existence.

But it takes some talent to actually know where the characteristic turns into becoming overwhelming and when to stop rubbing it in. Take colour. Some people decide their living room is going to be centred around red. So they go…. red settee, red curtains, red statement wall, red figurines, red painting – all you see is red. Typically this will be your red room, but the theme has now turned into exaggeration and seeing red (more…)

No it’s not a feature about weddings. If you follow the latest in interior trends, you will realise that mixing the old with the new is what the current inclination is all about. Grandma’s old table is actually something to vie for as it may add that certain ‘wow’ factor to your room. But how daring can one be when it comes to mixing old and new furniture and furnishings in any given room? I meet up with interior designer Vera Sant Fournier to ask her advice….

“Placing two distinctly different styles in the same ambience is all about creating a very delicate balance so that no piece is fighting for attention and no style must feel like it wants to dominate the scenario. You must plan ahead very carefully and decide whether it s (more…)

Two is two’s company….. three’s a crowd. They also say that once you have three of the same, you can already start boasting a collection. It might be three books by the same author, just as likely as three still life paintings. When you’re doing up your home, you have to take into consideration your collections, whether they are still in their initial phases of growth or whether they are fully-fledged collections that make other collectors drool from their eyes.

 What constitutes a collection?   (more…)

So you have just bought a new apartment in Malta and whilst it’s got the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms, it does not actually boast of grand open-air space. In fact that small back terrace seems rather cramped, bare and miserable. You’re luckier than your neighbour, next floor up, whose only open-air access is a minimalist balcony, just one-foot deep. So you feel blessed in that respect. (more…)

This is the second of a series of interviews that provide a close-up of some of the most prominent luxury properties in Malta currently listed with RE/MAX Malta.

Portomaso, the standard-setting project at St. Julian’s in Malta, was wholly conceived and developed by Tumas Group. It is today considered to be the Island’s most exclusive residential, leisure and business address having won, amongst others, the Gold Award in the Best Marina Development Category and Silver Award in the Luxury Development Category in the 2005 International Property Awards, the “Oscars” on the International development world.

With a hallmark motto that promises to ‘set standards’ the Tumas Group has forged ahead in the creation of further lifestyle developments of the highest standard – from the award winning Portomaso Marina Development to the tranquil out-of-town  seaside Tas-Sellum Residence in the north or Ta’ Monita Residence in the south. The common denominators in the three projects are:

 a)      Setting standards;

b)      Position, position, position;

c)       All three are the best in the respective areas. 

The seafront Portomaso project comprises of 420 luxury apartments, the 5 star-deluxe Hilton Malta, recently extended to a 406 room hotel, a yacht marina, a 23-storey business tower, a major conference venue, an underground car park, restaurants and a shopping mall. These components have been integrated into a superbly landscaped coastal area of around 128,000 square meters resulting in a tranquil haven in a busy central area.

A limited selection of one and three bedroom apartments are still available for sale. Limited office space is also available in the Portomaso Business Tower. 

The Tas-Sellum Residence, a sister project to Portomaso, is an architectural gem comprising clusters of luxury apartments built on a steep hillside which graduates gracefully to the seashore.

The project is designed in three phases totalling some 130 villa apartments planned in 11 clusters set in an approximately 17,000 square meters area of landscaped grounds and gardens.

This tranquil, commanding position is complimented by outstanding features which include superb views of Mellieha bay, low density development, sensitive landscaping, totally car free zone (all vehicle circulation is underground), individual underlying lock up garages and 3 communal swimming pools, easy access to the foreshore and proximity to sandy beaches.

Construction is now complete and 90% of the apartments have been handed over.

A number of apartments are still available.

Ta’ Monita Residence, a new lifestyle standard –setting development in Marsascala was launched earlier this year and registered an unqualified success with sales exceeding projections.

In the same way that Portomaso set standards for the St. Julian’s area and Tas-Sellum Residence set new standards for the north, Ta’ Monita is expected to have a similar positive impact on Marsascala.

Ta’ Monita Residence covers an area of over 16,000 square meters and its redevelopment shall result in apartment ranging from studio flats to 3 bedroom apartments and penthouse. The facilities include a swimming pool, a piazza and underground parking with most flats having seaviews.

Low building density, lavish and sensitive landscaping and unusually attractive elevations shall go long way in upgrading the locality.

All three developments are in low building density, lavish and sensitive landscaping, and unusually attractive elevations shall go a long way in upgrading the locality. Stuio flats, two and three bedroom apartments are available. Completion is scheduled for 2011.

But how has the recession hit the Malta luxury property in Malta business? Mr Tabone, Sales & Marketing Director says,“ Our properties tend to be at the top end of the market and although demand has decreased,  prices in our developments have not been affected. In fact in Portomaso prices continue to increase and block 31 which is now under construction has sold very well with 72 out of 85 apartments sold.  We aim at both the local and foreign market and particularly clientele which are looking for principal homes rather than holiday residences. The trend is for people to downsize and particularly in the case of local clients these tend to be moving from houses to apartments once their children have grown up. Then again where foreigners are concerned, a notable feature of our complexes is that they are all SPECIAL DESIGNATED AREAS which means that foreigners buying in them require no Government permit, can let out their property, can buy in the name of a company or trust etc. This gives our properties added value as when a foreigner buys outside Special Designated Areas there are restrictions.”

Written by Marika Azzopardi

Marika Azzopardi is a freelance writer and journalist. A frequent contributor to national English language papers and magazines, she writes about a bevy of topics including art, people and life in general. She is also the author of children’s books and short stories, delving into adult fiction from time to time.

Malta and Gozo streetscapes present a very particular scenario to the new visitor who has never before experienced the islands’ character and lifestyle. The similarities and diversities from street to street are very obvious, yet they are sometimes so subtle that they become hard to pin down. It all boils down to tradition, practicality and a way of life that accentuates island living, Mediterranean temperaments and lots more besides.

Take doorways of Malta Property. Keen photography enthusiasts will find food for inspiration here. The older doors can be pokey little affairs that lead into decades-old Houses of Character in Malta, just as they could become huge and imposing prima donna affairs equipped with gigantic brass knockers, shoe mud scrapers, dainty bell-pulls and fronted by complexly decorated wrought iron gates. One particularity linked closely to the country’s religious ties is the proliferation of holy niches, religious figurines and Christian emblems that are usually embedded next to the house name or door number and very often also lit up with a miniature lantern. House names of real estate in Malta can be quite entertaining – ranging from that of the village patron saint, to the name of the Australian city from where the family repatriated, to bizarre combinations created out of the owners’ names. And then there is the ‘hasira’, very often placed right in front of the main door – a kind of curtain made of spliced bamboo reeds that is used to keep the sun out and retain the cool ambience indoors. 

Then there are the windows. Now in a country that has been through such a lot historically speaking, it is not surprising to see windows that have a Moorish slant, others that seem to pop out of a Spanish hacienda and still others that emulate those very English bay windows. A general rule- the older the piece of real estate in Malta is, the smaller the windows. One can virtually trace the island’s history just by observing the architectural nuances. For instance – observe the balconies. The closed wooden framed balconies are a traditional characteristic harking back to the very ancient ‘muxrabija’ or peep box of Middle Eastern origins. Naturally the large balconies are now a far cry from the small peep boxes but the concept is very much the same.

Open balconies are good excuses to utilise as makeshift green areas with pots of plants and flowering species to beautify a façade. This perhaps harks also back to the age-old tradition of placing a flowering geranium in a pot on a windowsill visible from the street to announce that the house has a daughter of marriageable age and available for proposals. Now the flora has changed somewhat and whilst geraniums remain strong Mediterranean favourites preferred for their colourful hardiness, the wide variety of plants makes for a very diverse mix and match of natural embellishment. 

Modernity has slowly seeped in to influence architecture as well and encourage change. Even balconies, front doors, and windows have moved on with the times and at times one will be faced with a façade that encompasses a number of characteristics as diverse as all the different influences that they echo. Yet the total look remains surprisingly one of homogeneity and interest.

Buildings are now becoming higher and apartment blocks are the order of the day. Yet even the Maltese know full well that nothing beats a typical Maltese house of character or townhouse for uniqueness in design, key features and a homely feel and look to a house. Whatever the style, age and character of a building, the strong favourite characteristic remains good old globigerina limestone which is that milky cream stone that is the be-all and end-all of Maltese constructions. Whilst man-made concrete bricks have stepped in to replace limestone, the soft indigenous stone had kept its stead and is still quarried in different parts of the islands and appreciated for its flexible characteristics. 

Written by Marika Azzopardi

Marika Azzopardi is a freelance writer and journalist. A frequent contributor to national English language papers and magazines, she writes about a bevy of topics including art, people and life in general. She is also the author of children’s books and short stories, delving into adult fiction from time to time.

When you first walked into your new Malta property, you were faced with a bare paved back yard. It could have been a bare terrace, or a bare patio. Whatever sort of outdoor space your piece of real estate in Malta could boast of, was very outdoor but also very bare. Glum predicament, and although the Malta real estate agent tooted about it and its potential, now that you’ve bought it, you still have to find a way of arousing that potential. If you don’t exactly have green fingers, then you will need some practical advise on the easy way around getting it revamped.

First consider how large your given space is. Then determine what you want to do in it. If its small size fluctuates somewhere between that of a spare bedroom and a bathroom, then you are probably just hoping for enough elbow space in which to stretch out and gasp in some fresh air. But don’t lose heart – even the pokiest outdoor space can be totally transformed if you only put your mind to it.

1. Clear up the space from any rubbish in the corners and take stock of the character of the place. Does it have high walls all around? Does it have a balcony which overlooks a lovely sight or one which overlooks more brick and mortar? Does it lead anywhere else?
2. Is the outdoor space very sunny, semi-shaded or very shaded? This will determine the kind of plants you will need to include when you start off your greening list.
3. Decide on a colour scheme. You might fancy terracotta walls or whitewash, or a primary colour like blue. You might decide to have some sort of mosaic detail on one wall or perhaps just leave the walls in natural stone and decorate with the greenery. One of the most exciting walls I have seen was a whitewashed backyard wall carrying an impressive collection of terracotta sun plaques.
4. For those who are faced with four bare walls, the good news is that bare walls are excellent for climbing plants. These can be helped in their climbing by the addition of pretty wooden or plastic trellises that can be easily attached to the wall. If you seek the advice at a reliable nursery, you will be able to get a fast-growing plant which potentially also produces flowers, such as the white stephanotis. Using this plant against a terracotta coloured wall is great for visual impact.
5. Choose succulents such as the Paddle Plant or the Sempervivum for sunny areas. These grow so easily in Mediterranean Malta. If you manage to get cuttings of varied succulents from the neighbours, just leave each cutting sitting on a ledge to dry in the sun, and once the cut-off stem has dried out completely, plant in the soil and water sparingly. You can plant multiple cuttings in one trough or large round pot, to eventually get a lovely crowded effect. Succulents grow with minimal care and thrive best in sunny places which offer just some dose of shade during the day.
6. Get hold of geraniums. Geraniums, both regal and not, will grow brilliantly and thrive where there is sun. Don’t try to plant them in shady places – they will just wilt away.
7. For shadier places choose simple things like the Asparagus Fern, Flowering Begonias, Spider Plants or Umbrella Grass. The latter loves having its tootsies immersed in water.
8. Choosing pots that complement your idea of a haven. If you’re after a modern look – choose elegant stream-lined shapes and bold colours. If you’re after a more country-fairy look, choose natural terracotta and rounder shapes. For the classical look try porcelain pot holders. Always put saucers beneath the pots as Maltese summers are very dry and water must be conserved as long as possible. Once the rain starts, turn the saucer upside down and put the pot on it like a pedestal.

Adapt garden furniture according to your space. A hammock can be hung from two sturdy hooks on either side of the yard; a small round garden table and a couple of chairs; a wooden bench in one corner. Try wind chimes, plaques, festoons, hanging flowering pot plants and coloured cushions to make the transformation complete. 

Redesigning or nuturing your backyard/terrace will not only benefit your well being but will also add to the value of your Malta property, especially if it is flourishing during the time that you are selling your property in Malta.  A buyer would definately appreciate what they see and won’t get a bad impression if your were to leave it bare.

Marika Azzopardi is a freelance writer and journalist. A frequent contributor to national English language papers and magazines, she writes about a bevy of topics including art, people and life in general. She is also the author of children’s books and short stories, delving into adult fiction from time to time.

This is the first of a series of interviews that will provide a close-up of some of the most prominent luxury properties currently listed with RE/MAX Malta.

 James Vassallo, Sales & Marketing Director of Tigne´ Point properties shares some insight about the kind of luxury properties they have placed on the market.

“The apartments at Tigné Point have been designed to offer a variety of different layouts and sizes and planned to capture light on this south facing peninsula. The foreshore designs exploit the stunning views of Valletta, of Sliema Creek or of the open sea, whilst the high rise apartments are planned to enjoy the tranquility of the serene car-free courtyards and gardens situated between the blocks. An extensive use of glass allows the living spaces to be bathed in natural light while double glazing preserves tranquility and has insulating qualities.

Crowning the eastern tip of the peninsula and situated directly on the waterfront, the latest block at Tigne´ Point, T10 completes the South phase of the development and is witness not only to the ever-changing hues of sky, sea and stone but to Malta’s main yachting playground. Some residences enjoy the captivating views of the magnificent Valletta skyline and Grand Harbour entrance or of the foreshore, whilst others overlook an open, landscaped courtyard or the beautifully restored 18^th century Fort Tigné.

 With interior finishes styled and selected by renowned designer Pippa Toledo, T10 also incorporates a centralised heating and cooling (HVAC) plant which scores very highly in terms of energy efficiency. This is run by SIS ltd, the joint venture between MIDI and Siemens SpA (SIS), which also provides for a sophisticated telephony and internet infrastructure based on fibre-optic technology.

 These apartments were very well received, so much so that the bulk of these properties have now been sold with only a handful still up for grabs.”

 Recession, slow sales… how has the recent period of time effected sales of your properties, if at all?

“With very few of the stock launched to the market to date still for sale, we have managed to retain our prices and still achieve a reasonable and steady stream of sales notwithstanding the adverse Malta property market conditions. When compared to a lot of other Mediterranean destinations Malta seems to have held its own quite well with the higher segment of the market outperforming much of the rest. It has not been easy – and we are not through it yet of course – but so far our ‘steady-as-she-goes’ approach has paid off and we have continued to sell our properties throughout 2009. Hopefully things will take a turn for the better by mid – end 2010.”

 What is the most difficult part of selling a luxury property in Malta, especially a luxury apartment like the ones you are promoting, especially considering that there are others presently on the market which are competing for the same category?

“A lot of boxes need to be ticked before you get a client to part with some 1 or 2 Million Euro for their dream home.  Buyers in this bracket tend to be very discerning, have a pretty good idea of what they want and are able to make an accurate comparative analysis of their options – which of course, at these rates, include properties both in Malta and abroad. The first thing you find yourself doing is selling Malta which, to be honest, is not that difficult – especially if you are able to take the client out to experience the islands’ many and varied charms.  There are many hurdles to surpass of course, including the usual brigade of ‘experts’ who will shower your potential buyer with a hundred reasons not to  proceed with the purchase, even though they have never actually seen the property ! Still the fact that we have now sold 250 of the 260 apartments that were put on the market in the project to date proves that we must be doing something right.”

Who are your typical clients, if such exist?

“The size of the land at Tigne Point is not very different to that of Mdina so, as you can imagine, there are many different styles and sizes of homes within the project. These range from one bed-roomed ‘loft style’ studio apartments to four bedroomed fully detached foreshore penthouses with sprawling terraces and private heated pools.  These, and everything in between, have their own markets and potential buyers. The one thing these homes have in common is the convenience factor of this unique destination and the fact that we aim to make them the best properties within their respective categories.”    

What do clients in search for a luxury property look out for today?

 “One has to remember that most of the buyers for the large seafront apartments are coming from big houses and grand villas and are used to space, light and comfortable layouts. Many of our foreshore apartments are in fact very large by Maltese standards and absolutely enormous compared to flats abroad. The south side of the development is unique in that we built only large apartments on the waterfront. The average apartment size is some 250m2 and some penthouses are 650m2. Many of these have huge terraces for entertaining, high ceilings and lots of light – in fact practically all of them are semi-detached.  We have often been told that we have built flats for people who don’t normally like flats. Over the years we have placed more emphasis on the designer elements in our internal specifications and the T10 experience to date proves that this has been very well received.”

So, for some strange reason you want to sell your property in Malta. You decide on an ideal price, you decide to call in a real estate agent in Malta and you decide to sit by your phone and wait for the viewers to come by. When they do, they give a cursory glimpse at the works, sniff twice, ask one question and head for the door. They should have been amazed. Instead they seemed downright indignant. Perhaps you should do some serious soul-searching to find out why.

Take a look around your house. Start from across the street and really look. Does your property in Malta look interesting? I mean, does it look clean, attractive, nice and homely? If the answer is a dubious ‘maybe’ or an outright ‘no’, then you know that your potentential buyers got that very same impression. Walk into the hallway. Does it smell of dead cabbage, burnt toast and smelly socks? Is the paint peeling on the walls and are the curtains hanging off odd hooks and looking slightly awry? Look at the coffee table. Does it have an ashtray full of cigarette butts, old newspapers, gnawed corners and a filthy carpet beneath? 

This doesn’t bode well. Walk on through the property. Check the first impression you get of the kitchen which is the surest giveaway of lethargic ownership and move to the bedrooms, bathroom, stairways, etc, etc. Do you really feel disheartened about it all? Does it re-confirm your gut feeling that you really need to change house? Well, this feeling is probably going to rub off on all your potential buyers so you’d better shape up and try changing things.

First impressions always influence people immensely when they are looking to buy a property in Malta or anywhere else for that matter. So start at the start and invest a little time and money in re-ordering the façade. Give it a whitewash, clean the front garden of weeds, and if it’s just potted plants you have there, make sure they look thriving. If need be, buy new ones and if you haven’t any, get them anyway to liven up the works. Wash that front door down or give the old wood some polish.  Even a shiny brass knocker makes a difference. Revamp the letter box and get a new door mat.

Indoors, air the house. Clear up the clutter, throw out old newspapers, put away dirty shoes. If you haven’t the time or energy to spring-clean, hire out a cleaning company to do the job under your supervision. The effort will be well worth the trouble.

Give those old curtains a wash and an ironing, and hang them up properly. If they are simply un-see-able, buy some cheap but new ones just to refresh the feel of the rooms. Plump up the cushions and get them new covers. Re-order the books on the shelves,

Move furniture around just to make more space.  Add a few vases of fresh flowers and use some floral incense or air freshening gadgets. Make sure all the light bulbs on the chandeliers are working – there’s nothing more dismal that a room with half the lights off.

When you know you will be having visitors, make sure bathrooms are clean and towels are nice and crisp-looking. Don’t cook pungent foods and steer away from fries, fish, onions or burnt toast. Instead cook a pie or prepare a lovely stew – anything that provides mouth-watering sensations. And then you can sit back and really expect to get good news from your real estate agent in Malta…… unless of course you fall in love with the house again and decide to keep it for keeps!

by Marika Azzopardi

Marika Azzopardi is a freelance writer and journalist. A frequent contributor to national English language papers and magazines, she writes about a bevy of topics including art, people and life in general. She is also the author of children’s books and short stories, delving into adult fiction from time to time.