Mauritius: the Island experience - featuring Alessandro Masselli

Known for its exceptional beaches with pristine white sands and gorgeous blue waters, Mauritius is a little slice of island heaven located about 600km east of Madagascar. Because of its unique and picturesque setting, Mauritius is hailed as one of the top tourist destinations and has become an extremely attractive location for affluent homeowners seeking the comforts of island living.

Boasting exceptional weather conditions, warm and friendly people, stunning cuisine, and a low crime rate, Mauritius offers the type of lifestyle that is perfect for growing families, in terms of security and outdoor activities.

South Africans and Mauritius

The Island's property market share has attracted investments from all over the world - and from South Africans in particular. The increase in international interest is partly due to the relaxing of laws that relate to purchasing property on the Island. The Mauritian government has subsequently reported an increase in investors from South Africa.

The global focus on Mauritius isn't only due to the spectacular coastal property on offer but also because of the added value of being able to receive permanent residence. A non-citizen is eligible for a residence permit upon the purchase of a villa under the PDS scheme when s/he has invested more than 6 million ZAR.

The Island nation has no capital gains, dividends, or inheritance tax and has adopted a universal tax rate of 15%. This means that homeowners have the opportunity to rent out their property, become tax residents of the country, and enjoy the unrestricted movement/repatriation of funds or profits raised from either selling or renting. 

Mauritius is the perfect option for those looking to make the Island their permanent home.

Agent Q&A - Alessandro Masselli

To understand the lifestyle that Mauritius has to offer, one needs to speak to an expert. Hamilton's Alessandro Masselli provides first-hand knowledge of the Island's most attractive and well-kept secrets:

Q: When exploring this tranquil island, what are the sorts of homes one can expect?

A: Mauritius has hosted foreigners as tourists for years. Hotels have therefore always been designed with foreigners in mind - to make them feel at ease, and at home. This has led to an architectural ethos of internationalism, with designs that appeal to foreign tastes. At the same time, there is a well-established design approach of using materials available on the island. Natural timber and volcanic rock feature, and open-air, outside-living is a given. 

Q: Let's explore prices, what are the trends? (speak to areas and property size)

A: Apart from South Africans, Mauritius has visitors predominantly from France and the United Kingdom; thus it has - by virtue of its investors - gained an international value. While prices may sometimes seem out of proportion in comparison to the South African market, investments perform better than most capital growth markets. Entry-level apartments - around R6 million are rare, but available. Generally, a 3-bed, ground floor apartment starts at R8 million and penthouses with sea views can easily go to R30 million.

Q: What is it about Mauritius that is drawing more and more interest from South African residents?

A: Five things: Proximity, Culture, Lifestyle, Currency, Language.
The dynamics around each of these factors here in Mauritius appeal to South Africans.

Q: Let's talk about immigration. What is the process and how can one become a citizen of Mauritius?

A: In a word: difficult. Citizenship is viewed as a privilege and is only granted at the Prime Minister's discretion. Prerequisites include five years of living in Mauritius, and various clearances.

Q: In terms of lifestyle, what does Mauritius offer its residents?

A: There is an outlet for every interest in Mauritius. On land, sports enthusiasts have an impressive range of world-class golf courses to choose from; there's tennis, cycling, horse-riding, archery, hiking.... 

On sea, every water sport imaginable happens year-round. (Le Morne is regarded as one of the best kitesurfing sites.) 

It's possible to take art courses tutored by internationally renowned artists, and Mauritius now boasts the impressive Caudan Arts Centre, a venue for theatre, music and dance.  

If all that sounds too energetic, there's been a surge of new coffee shops opening, towards establishing a Mauritian café culture - so, plenty of spaces and places for expat camaraderie here, and to bring like-minded people together in ways that enhance friendships and social networks. 

Q: What are the nearby healthcare facilities like?

Mauritius has a solid health system which is founded on the WHO Health System Framework. Healthcare services consist of a government-led and funded public sector, and a thriving private sector with state-of-the-art medical facilities and highly qualified personnel, Mauritius has positioned itself to cater for both domestic and international patients, so over the years the number of private institutions have doubled and Mauritius is starting to be viewed as a competitive high-tech medical hub. 

Q: What are some of the highlights of living in Mauritius?

A: Sun, sea, safety and good weather all year-round. It's small enough to feel like a village, and just big enough not to get tired of it. 

Q: What advice would you give to people looking to purchase property in Mauritius?

A: Go with a quality agency that has a well-established reputation.

Q: What effect has Covid had on people living and buying property here?

A: Mauritius continued to build throughout the pandemic. Cooks became bricklayers and tour-guides worked in hardware. Covid has been very tough on the hospitality industry, but property gained momentum. Sales dropped, but the prices of property rose steadily even while we all battled to understand the implications of covid when it first manifested. 

Q: What are your favourite aspects of Mauritius, personally?

A: I value being carefree and safe, simultaneously: e.g. leaving the keys in the ignition of my car or boat. There's a great sense of community, and socialising is friendly and relaxed. We plan our activities according to the wind: kiting with friends when it's blowing, boating and hiking when it isn't. My wife and I have a deep appreciation for the courtesy, and mutual respect that is prevalent amongst the diverse people here.  

Read our previous article here: https://www.hamiltons.co.za/news/2022-bespoke-gardens-a-beginners-guide/  

Contact Hamiltons Property Portfolio for all your buying or selling requirements:

Johannesburg (Head Office): 011 463 0155

Cape Town: 021 418-0328 

Garden Route: 044 050 3295

Eastern Cape: 076 927 7787

Mauritius: +230 5723 0369

Or email to reception@hamiltons.co.za