It should be noted that buying an island is often no more complicated than purchasing a not-so-outstanding apartment in the capital. And the pleasure from such an acquisition is many times greater. On an island, you can imagine yourself not only as a shipwreck survivor but also as the king of your own state, raising a personal flag made of floral calico above the only palm tree every morning.
Buying an island is, first and foremost, associated with a warm sea, palm trees, and advertisements about "paradise enjoyment." And it is precisely such islands that are offered for sale on websites, both foreign and domestic. Russian sites, however, describe the delights of island life like no one else, but they do not disclose the price.
Thus, fellow citizens who do not speak foreign languages are offered to purchase islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and the Pacific region. For example, off the coast of friendly Croatia, four islands with an area from 5 to 185 thousand square meters are currently for sale. The cost of this island paradise is unknown, but as consolation, there is a story about the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who settled on one of the islands off the coast of present-day Croatia after voluntarily abdicating the throne. According to legend, when the Senate invited him to return to halt the decline of the empire with a firm hand, Diocletian replied: "If you knew what a beneficial climate there is here, what a beautiful area, what cabbage I grow here, you would never ask me this." This was at the beginning of the 4th century AD, and they say little has changed since then.
In the Indian Ocean, several islands for sale are offered in the Seychelles; in the Atlantic basin, islands are for sale near Honduras, the Bahamas, the Brazilian coast, near the Barrier Reef in Belize, and off the coast of Nicaragua.
The supply is equally extensive in the Pacific Ocean. Here, Fiji and the Philippines are favored. You can purchase an island with an area of as much as 12.5 thousand square meters near Japan. However, the offer specifically states that this island—Tougasaki Island—is one of the few that, by prior arrangement and agreement, can be bought and registered to a foreigner. In Japan, the purchase of islands by foreigners is restrictive. On the pleasant side for the future owner: the island has electricity and a telephone. The current owner of the island is engaged in pearl farming, and if the buyer wishes, this business can be transferred to him. So residents of Vladivostok should pay attention if the price suits them.
Foreign online resources are much more "informationally open." And this is not surprising, given the professional website promotion or portal aimed at making a profit. So, by looking at a site dedicated to selling islands in the Caribbean, you can compare the cost of an island with that of, say, capital housing. An island in the Caribbean near the coast of Belize with an area of just over 23 thousand square meters and a hundred coconut palms growing on it (they are listed in the ad as a separate competitive advantage) can be purchased for $650,000, which is quite consistent with the price of a three-room new build in a monolithic building in the capital.
An island with an area of 9.3 thousand square meters, South Saddle Caye, is offered for $300,000. Advantages include coral reefs on two sides of the island. There are also more expensive ones—an island of 326 hectares is offered for $35 million. The island has an airport with regular flights once a week, hotels, and equipped beaches.
Special mention deserves the artificial islands in the United Arab Emirates. It all started with the Palm Islands archipelago, which was quickly and successfully sold out. Following it, "The World" was built, each island of which bears the name of a country, city, or other geographical feature existing in the real world.
The islands here vary greatly in size. The average price of an island ranges from $15 to 50 million, the most expensive island was sold for $263 million. To date, about half of the 300 islands have been sold.
However, the Arabs do not intend to stop there: plans include the creation of another archipelago, "The Universe," which will be dedicated to the "wonders of the Solar System." Its islands, representing the Sun, Earth, Moon, and Milky Way, will be built around the "World" complex.
However, you can buy an island not only in resort areas. You can acquire your own piece of land surrounded by water in both Americas and Europe. For example, in Canada, according to sites that publish information about islands for sale worldwide, four islands are for sale. Two on Lake Ontario, one in Quebec, one in British Columbia. In the USA, you can buy as many as ten islands, nine of which are located in Florida and one in Texas. In Europe, island real estate is somewhat worse. In "warm" resort Europe, besides Croatia, you can look at two islands in Greece near the island of Piraeus (930 thousand square meters for €12 million) and an island of 10 thousand square meters near Attica for $20 million. For €12.5 million, you can buy an island of 602 hectares in Spain. About a dozen islands are for sale in Turkey.
In "non-resort" Europe, you can buy islands in Latvia, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
For example, in Norway, an island of 6 hectares with a cottage is offered for $3.5 million. The house, built in 1850, comes with a wine cellar, garage, and a beautiful sea view with the possibility of building a dock.
Islands in Norway are popular, as confirmed by the recent purchase of an island for himself and his family by the Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon. The royal family acquired a piece of land with a 58-meter house built in the 60s of the last century. True, without central electricity.
Nearby – in Sweden, in a suburb of Stockholm, the small island of Bergholmen with an area of 10,117 square meters and a house built in the 1930s is offered for €1.5 million. In Finland, an island with an area of 4,000 square meters with an operating restaurant can be bought for €3.7 million. The island is located three kilometers from Helsinki on the sea route to Tallinn.
Eastern Europe is not lagging behind the Scandinavians. In Latvia, 20 kilometers from Riga, for €1.3 million one can purchase an island with an area of 170,000 square meters, as stated in the advertisement 'with the possibility of organizing a business'. For business purposes, an island in Poland on Lake Śniardwy is also for sale. According to the sellers, the island with an area of 88 hectares is suitable for recreational purposes. The cost of the Polish property is $6.8 million.
So, if you are tired of your Biryulevo, you can think about acquiring a piece of land surrounded by water. The main thing is to burn all the bridges leading to the island in time.