With many international headlines covering the next moon landing and trips to Mars, it all sounds out of this world - an opportunity many are ready to welcome given the state of affairs on earth.
Fortunately, there is another option a lot more like home, though closer to paradise that you ever imagined. Mauritius - the tropical Indian Ocean island compared to heaven by renowned author Mark Twain.
In contrast to the unsettling pandemic figures seen around the world, this piece of paradise has managed to side-step the spread through an initial lockdown and contact tracing from the outset, followed by stringent, 'not negotiable' 2 week quarantine rules imposed on any visitors to the island. Residents and visitors willing to accept the terms of entry have enjoyed the freedom of carrying on their daily lives without fear of contracting the virus! A COVID safe zone being a rare privilege in these times!
Having relied heavily on the tourism industry, the restrictions have had a massive impact on many industries reliant on the constant flow of visitors. In contrast however, the appeal of this free lifestyle has attracted property investors in droves in the past year.
Global property leaders, RE/MAX LLC awarded the license for the island to RE/MAX 24 Mauritius just over 3 years ago. With the government having relaxed the minimum investment required to obtain permanent residency from USD 500 000 to MUR 375 000 almost a year ago, sales have kept the dynamic team exceedingly busy with enquiries and sales from across the world.
Over and above the buyers looking for permanent residency, there is a massive increase in retirees heading for the 5 star island. An initial investment of USD 1 500, followed by annual transfers of USD 18 000 secures a 10 year renewable permit for over 50's. This has improved the rental market, as well as the entry level property purchases from MUR 6 000 000.
For those who can work remotely, a Premium Travel Visa was recently launched, aimed at non-citizens who intend to stay in Mauritius for a maximum period of one year as a tourist, retiree or a professional. With opportunities to those looking for a beautiful and balanced lifestyle having opened up further, RE/MAX 24 Mauritius developed an App that can be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play Stores. It provides a wealth of information covering everything from the obvious property portal to permits, children's education, bringing your pets, and travel to the island. The relocation team will assist you with any aspect of the process.
If you're looking for somewhere peaceful to lay your hat and soothe your soul, unless you're keen on the average Mars temperature of -63 degrees, and a prohibitive travel time of seven months, Mauritius is an excellent option!
