Property: Home from home

Acquisition is the name of the game at the International Property Show, which opens this week. Steve Emmett reports

"THE DESIRE of conquest is certainly most natural and common amongst men," wrote Niccolo Machiavelli in the early years of the 16th century. Then, the most popular way of getting your hands on a piece of foreign real estate was still to burn, pillage and rape. Acquisition today is a rather more civilised affair.

Swap your horns and axe for lounge suit and chequebook, for the seventh International Property Show opens at London's Cumberland Hotel on 13 February. This event is fast earning itself a reputation as the quality venue for buyers and sellers of overseas property. Whether your interest lies in a coastal home with sea and sun, a country home with vineyards or a mountain retreat, Ian Dougall, the show's organiser, promises that you'll find something amongst the 50 or so exhibitors he has brought together.

The show is a far cry from the jam-packed, prepacked exhibition halls that have previously deterred so many serious buyers from mingling with the "carrier bag brigade" at larger venues. Visitors will find agents and developers offering every conceivable type of property in locations that include Spain, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, France, Austria and Florida.

As you would expect, the usual British favourites will be well represented amongst the stands, with several firms offering villas and apartments along the Costas Blanca and del Sol. But there's more to see than coastal ribbon development. David Scott International has attended shows at The Cumberland since 1981. Mr Scott's own holiday home is at Nerja, a charming village east of Malaga where the Costa del Sol becomes the Costa Tropicana. After months of research, DSI has instructions on country properties in prime locations suitable for conversion.

Riogordo is a disused olive mill with adjacent cottages set in more than an acre of land high on a hillside overlooking La Cueva river, just 40km from Malaga. There is a lot of work needed but with a price tag of just pounds 34,000 it is well worth looking at.

Not long ago, the western Algarve was barely talked about. After two years of vigorous marketing the Vigia Group has put it firmly on the map. In 1993 Vigia took over the half-built project of Parque da Floresta, an ambitious scheme located on a rural hilltop close to the boundaries of the Costa Vicentina Nature Reserve. Parque da Floresta comes under the strict building legislation of Protal, a development plan introduced by the Portuguese government to control construction on the Algarve. Andrew Burridge, the marketing manager, is keen to point out that Vigia works closely with conservationists to ensure the development complements the surroundings. Seventy-three golf village houses and 89 villas have already been built, with a further 30 golf village houses and 40 villas to be released over the next two years. According to Mr Burridge, 85 per cent of current buyers are British.

A home in Italy may bring to mind Summer's Lease, John Mortimer's novel, with its images of the Tuscan hillside and rustic farmhouses. And that is certainly available. But there is more to Italy than that. Lio Grando is a part of Cavallino Island that faces Venice and has a much-envied location between the Lagoon and the Adriatic. Over the last few years Lio Grando has been developed as an exclusive port, with large natural areas preserved for future generations. Brian A French & Associates is now offering apartments - and commercial premises - just a 10-minute walk from the beach. Although the location is quiet, all the life of Venice and Jesolo are close at hand and, for the sporting, the sailing is excellent with the many islands of the Lagoon waiting to be explored.

The Greek market has long been considered to have a lot of potential and, for the first time, there will be a varied display of property from Halkidiki to the Peloponnese and Crete. Although still on the drawing board, Metaxata Villas in Cephalonia will be taking pre-launch requests for information.

The Spanish island of Majorca has always been a favourite with the British, and has found a way to cope with both the lower and upper ends of the market. Bendinat is using the property show to launch the latest phase of luxury properties at Ses Oliveres, designed by Francois Sperry, of Port Grimaud fame. All apartments will have magnificent views over the 18-hole Royal Bendinat Golf Course, whose honorary president is Juan Carlos, the King of Spain.

At present, sterling's strength against the other major currencies provides a real opportunity for those ready and able to purchase a property now. Serious forecasters are suggesting that other currencies will regain strength as the year progresses and monetary union forces up other European interest rates.

In addition to property, visitors to the show can also glean information from international lawyers, mortgage brokers and removal firms, and pick up one or two specialist publications.

q The International Property Show takes place at the Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch, London on 13, 14 and 15 February 1997. Admission is free. For further iInformation call 0171 735 8184.