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Many might suspect it won’t be going to Argentina, where many of those things have already come to pass, but never mind. The purple prose then gives way to some listings of Patagonian property: ‘St Martin de los Andes, 7,300 square foot house, 1.5 million US dollars…’.
With large stretches of former tropical paradise now out of bounds, thanks to the long tentacles of al-Qa’eda, just where these days do you head for a quiet life? There is always Iceland, uninvaded since the Vikings and awash with natural geothermal springs in the event of a surge in oil prices. The climate, however, is not kind to Americans used to pottering around in Bermuda shorts. Finland, which since being freed from its status as a potential Cold War battleground, now lies in a corner of the world where virtually nothing seems to go on, has warmer summers, and country houses there can be had for $120,000. Fine, perhaps, if you can stand darkness from the middle of November to the end of January.
Property is cheap on St Helena, though thanks to the island’s remarkable geography – it is a rapidly eroding volcanic plug rising out of the mid-Atlantic – there is no harbour for your private yacht or airstrip for your private jet. The only other way to get there is by ship from Britain, which drops anchor offshore every three months. It is easier to land a boat at Tristan da Cunha, an island so remote that it is where St Helenians go when they feel world-weary, though the weather is not nearly as good. To jump oceans for a minute, it is hard to imagine Pitcairn Island being caught up in a world war, but then again the entire community is under threat of extinction, with between ten and 20 of the island’s men soon to be brought to trial in New Zealand on sex-abuse charges. The island’s population is only 50.
Americans have been making a lot of inquiries in New Zealand in recent months. The Offshore Real Estate Quarterly lists an organic farm at Coromandel Ranges on the North Island for $1,097,500: ‘The property would suit someone looking for a safe and peaceful haven far from terrorism and war which threatens much of the world, while also working to preserve a stunningly beautiful valley.’ Then again, if you are really worried about security, it doesn’t help that New Zealand’s response to the terrorist threat was to decommission its air combat force and reduce its navy to three frigates, which would seem to leave the country pretty well impotent in the event of an invasion from the Galapagos Islands – or angry Pitcairners, for that matter.
Americans abroad have long been renowned for their demand for luxury and their short temper when the shaving socket turns out not to be compatible with their razor. But such is the quest to escape the global terrorist threat, they seem to have lowered their expectations of comfort considerably. In the winter issue of Offshore Real Estate Quarterly: ‘Global Nomadic Housing for Expatriates – Living in a Shipping Container Part 2’.
Worried Americans, it quickly becomes apparent, are not all that fussy about where they live, just so long as it is not on the standard itinerary of American tour companies. Panama is praised by the Offshore Real Estate Quarterly for its clear air. There is property for sale in Nicaragua, Belize, even Grenada; if they consider these havens of safety and security, American house-hunters must have somewhat short memories. Or for those in search of a bit of peace and quiet from attorneys, there is always the joy of a condo in downtown Havana. ‘Cuba takes a very dim view of stalkers and private detectives,’ assures the Offshore Real Estate Quarterly. ‘In Havana you could live on a small boat and you would certainly not have to worry about being deported unless you were wanted for a very violent crime of international repute.’
If Cuba, why not take the ultimate contrarian investment of all: real estate in Baghdad? Those who bought property in London during the second world war certainly didn’t do themselves any harm. Over at www.villa-vacation.com, Hisham Al-Shaikhly is awaiting your call about his property in the suburbs of the Iraqi capital. To let: ‘Beautiful modern four-bedroom, two-living-room house in the prestigious town of Al-jamia. Safe town, full security guard unit attached. Modern furniture and close to most embassies. All historic areas are within 30-minute drives, so much to see. You should be willing to take the adventure. The American dollar can go very far, take advantage and enjoy.’
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