Why the smart money is investing in sustainable properties
Five star Greek spa resort Halcyon Hills was given a substantial write-up in Property Wire Confidential's most recent issue, commending the various eco-initiatives that the resort's architects plan to implement... (more)

Come and see us at A Place in the Sun Live! –
FREE TICKETS!
Barrasford & Bird Worldwide will once again be exhibiting at A Place in the Sun Live, the UK’s biggest overseas property exhibition which takes place at NEC Birmingham on 30th September to 2nd October 2011. (more)

Greek island gems - Daily Express
The luxury beachfront resort of Halcyon Hills on the Greek island of Samos provides an opportunity for self-invested personal pension (SIPP) investors.
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Interest in Greek property soars, with Samos stealing the limelight
According to Rightmove Overseas, the Dodecanese island group, which includes Rhodes and Samos, has attracted a 50% increase in searches month on month.
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Good news for Brits owning property in France
Controversial proposals that would have seen around 180,000 British expats pay an additional tax on their property in France have been scrapped by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The Daily Telegraph reports that even though the French parliament approved...
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French Ryder Cup win boosts prospects for golf property
When it comes to great golfing holiday destinations, Spain has traditionally held the top position in Europe, but with last month's announcement of Paris pipping Madrid at the post to secure the 2018 Ryder Cup, it appears the tide may be turning in favour of France.
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Worldwide specialist of high-end resorts
He may have only just turned 40, but he’s already worked with over 2,500 properties around the world. Amongst them, Château de la Cazine in Noth is a building which he hopes to transform into a high end resort. Has Château de la Cazine found its saviour in Robin Barrasford?
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Choose French Rental Property to Avoid 20% Tax
A proposed 20% tax on French property, due to be implemented in Jan 2012, can be avoided by non-French residents if purchasing leaseback or rental properties...
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North Devon Tourism Hotspot Westward Ho! Secures ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Opportunity
The Annual Atlantic Watersports Games, which could attract 60,000 visitors and secure 14 million into the local economy, has confirmed Westward Ho! as one of the locations the games will be held this July. The event will not only boost local business...
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Over Three Hundred Dignitaries Impressed at Halcyon Hills Launch Presentation
Managing Director Robin Barrasford recently travelled to Samos to present Halcyon Hills to an enthusiastic audience of over 300 local dignitaries including the island’s Mayor, business professionals...
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Eighth Blue Flag in a Row for Devon Beach!
10th May 2011 - BBC News
A Devon beach has been awarded its eighth blue flag award in a row. Westward Ho! in north Devon has also received a Quality Coast Award for 2011, for the standard of the resort.
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Green Parks Construction in Full Swing
5th May 2011
Now is an exciting time at Green Parks resort in the tourism hotspot of Westward Ho!, North Devon with building having commenced and construction now fully underway.
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Luxury Château Suites Now Available to Purchase
14th April 2011
Developers of the luxurious five star Château de la Cazine resort in the beautiful region of Limoges, France are offering sumptuous suites for sale in the majestic resort château for the first time...
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Interest in Overseas Property Soars
28th March 2011
Interest in overseas property soars according to one of the UK’s leading property portals, Rightmove.co.uk, with France being one of the most searched for destinations of choice...
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Sumptous and Elegant, and that's just the furniture!
23rd February 2011
Sumptuous and elegant, the luxurious furniture pack has just been released for the five star resort of Château de la Cazine near La Souterraine, France. Château de la Cazine is set within 90 hectares of stunning countryside...
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Château de la Cazine Hits the TV Primetime
14th February 2011
Château de la Cazine, the magnificent five star luxury resort near La Souterraine, France, was recently featured on French TV channel France 3 (second largest French TV channel) and the local press La Montagne....
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The siren call of Samos
12th February 2011 - The Australian
SOCRATES gives us a stunning view. In the 40 minutes it takes to fly from Athens, our philosophically named plane skims so low over the jigsaw of Aegean islands that we can see their scribbled goat tracks...
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Robin Barrasford in love with La Cazine
February 2011 - La Montagne
The English investor who has already stayed at the château today plans to bring back her glory.
New owner of Château de la Cazine, Robin Barrasford, explains his plans, timescale and financing of the project...(more)

First phase of French château luxury development goes on sale
February 2011 - fly-2let.co.uk
Overseas property investors are being given an opportunity to get in early at a new development planned for an elegant château in the Limousin region of France...
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Developer Robin Barrasford Signs For Purchase of French château
January 2011 - pr-inside.com
As snow drifted to the ground in France’s picture perfect region of Limousin, British developer
Robin Barrasford signed for the purchase of one of the area’s most elegant and notorious châteaus...
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British Agent Hosts Interior Designers at Château de la Cazine, France
January 2011
With their recent acquisition of a delightful château in the wonderfully rural Limoges region of France, UK based overseas property agents Barrasford & Bird Worldwide hosted various architects, resort designers and solicitors poised to implement the grand Five Star Château de la Cazine Resort & Spa plan over the next two years... (more)

The Early Bird
November 2010 - French Property News
The release of 26 apartments in the grounds of a stunning château at pre-release prices is the ideal opportunity for early birds to catch the worm and bag themselves a bargain in the process. Situated near La Souterraine in Limousin, this first phase of an extensive renovation and new-build project offers buyers the opportunity purchase off-plan... (more)

Most popular destinations in Greece
November 2010 - ana-mpa.gr
Samos and Halkidiki are among the five most popular tourist destinations in Greece, according to the results of an on-line vote for tourist prizes. Following a vote held through the website of Helexpo's exhibition agency, the five most popular seaside Greek destinations for 2010 are Samos, Crete, Lefkada, Santorini and Halkidiki.

Sell-off that Never was as Holiday Homes Hit Record
15 August 2010 - The Mail on Sunday
The greatest capital gains sell-off never happened, beyond some City tycoons offloading shares. Indeed, the reverse appears to be happening. Low interest rates, excellent summer weather and straitened times encouraging holidays at home have all combined to produce a surge in Britain's holiday home market. Knight Frank reports the strongest ... (more)

Developer Robin Barrasford meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
Robin Barrasford, Managing Director of Barrasford & Bird Worldwide, met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Greece, Mr Theodoros Pangalos, and the Samos MP. The meeting, conducted on the 14th July, presented an opportunity for the Deputy Prime Minister and Robin Barrasford to discuss the success of Halcyon Hills to date and the predicted influx of business expected to boost the islands already flourishing tourism market.

New Homes in Greece Sell Like Hotcakes
Saturday, 6 July 2010 - A Place in the Sun
There is just one villa remaining at Halcyon Hills, a resort property development in Samos, Greece, thanks to high demand for homes on the Greek island. The remaining 'Type C' one-bedroom villa occupies a central location on the luxury five star resort & spa just a few minutes walk from the beach. The property, which commands an asking price of £289,000, features a double bedroom... (more)

Pythagoras Gets Hollywood Treatment on Samos
New film set to raise the profile of holiday hotspot, Samos.

The 150% Buy-back guarantee, our most popular offer to date, will end on August 1st!
Due to the huge success of this superb offer, the deadline for all purchasers who want to benefit from the 150% buy-back deal has been brought forward to 1st August 2010. Robin Barrasford, Managing Director of the UK based sales agent, Barrasford and Bird Worldwide, comments, “The guaranteed buy-back has been even more successful than we’d initially planned for. It’s exactly what buyers are looking for..." (more)

Lonely Planet names Greece 'One of the 10 Hottest Countries this year'
Lonely Planet has released its newest edition of Best in Travel, naming Greece as one of the ten hottest countries for this year. Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ - but Greece truly does, says Lonely Planet. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clamouring for more.

The Aegean island of Samos has aquamarine waters and ancient sites but its real charm is that it has a life of its own that remains untarnished by mass tourism.
Saturday, 29 May 2010 - The Independent
The Aegean island of Samos has aquamarine waters and ancient sites but its real charm is that it has a life of its own that remains untarnished by mass tourism. The search for authenticity that little place you discovered where they are genuinely pleased to see you and which retains its original... (more)

Greece to Upgrade Sites in Bid to Lure More Tourists, Minister Tells FTD
By Brian Parkin - May 31, 2010
Greece’s government plans to spend as much as 520 million euros to upgrade tourist sites and hotels as it struggles to compete with Turkey and Egypt, the Financial Times Deutschland reported. The cash, split in origin from a European Union fund and government money, will be used to modernize building facilities.Tourism contributes about a fifth of Greece’s economic growth, the FTD said.

Greek Villas Remain Resilient to Global Troubles
Telegraph Property, February 20, 2010
Imagine for one moment you have been planning to buy a property in Greece. Last summer, you spent-your holiday on the Athenian Riviera or in Crete and visited a couple of estate agents to sound out the local market, but the prices were too high. A villa near the sea cost more than £250,000 in Crete and up to £3.5million outside Athens. (more)

Holidaying in Turkey is more costly than visiting Greece or Spain
The Telegraph, 20 Feb 2010
According to the Post Office Holiday Costs Barometer forecast for 2010, Turkey has become 44 per cent more expensive for British holidaymakers since this time last year and is now a more costly destination than Spain or Greece. You can find anything you want in Turkey, from trekking, rafting, canoeing and riding to golf, beaches, hidden coves, opulent resorts or boutique hotels.

Bulgaria Sweeps Russian 'Homes Overseas' Awards
Three Bulgarian resort complexes have won awards at the first ever Russian International Competition for Best Vacation Properties.A total of 250 property projects from various foreign destinations participated in the competition with 18 making the final cut. The mountain complex Grand Manastira in the Bulgaria's ski resort Pamporovo was awarded golds while the vacation village Orange County Beach & SPA Resort in Bulgaria's seaside town of Shkorpilovtsi received silver. (more)

Prefecture of Samos signs Agreement with World Centre of Excellence for Destinations
The World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED) announced this week the signing of an important agreement with the Prefecture of Samos, Greece.  The mission of the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED) is to contribute to guiding destinations around the world toward excellence and Samos is the first destination to be signed in Greece. The CED’s foremost priority is the design and the implementation of the System of Measures for Excellence in Destinations...(more)

Our appetite for a place in the sun has not diminished...
Daily Express, Oct. 14th, 2009
Nestling in a sheltered bay on the South-eastern tip of the island, Halcyon Hills will offer buyers frontline properties with sea views as well as the facilities and services of a five-star hotel. A 35-berth marina is to be built to cater for the popular Greek islands flotilla holidaymaker market. The resort will also be part of the worldwide RCI Group.Prices start at £22,000 and fractional.... (more)

Barrasford and Bird Organise Summer Festival in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance
This fantastic charity event saw the popular Steely Eyed Missile Men and up and coming band Willie & The Bandits play to a crowd of almost 200 people, raising almost £1,000 for the Air Ambulance. Robin Barrasford commented, "Although as a business we focus on international property, supporting local charities is incredibly important for us. We wanted to give something back to our local Air Ambulance, a charity that runs on donations alone. I'd like to thank everyone who supported this event."

'Fractional' holiday homes are the affordable way forward if you seek the high life
Daily Mail, 23rd Oct. 2009
The luxury holiday market might not be feeling the pinch as much as some sectors, but no one's pretending all those sun loungers around the pools of exclusive villas are occupied. On the plus side, shared ownership schemes are popping up in elite destinations from St Lucia to the Maldives as developers worldwide look for new ways to sell luxury properties in a deflated market... (more)

Samos Mayor Impressed with Progress at Halcyon Hills

Samos Mayor, Filippos Petrouskas, recently met with Halcyon Hills developers to review updated architectural plans and progress at the site. Impressed with the completed flythrough and the new plans, Mr Petrouskas reiterated the importance of Halcyon Hills and its significant presence on the island of Samos.Halcyon Hills is a uniquely luxurious spa resort on the south eastern coast...
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Lee Mears – A pad that’s too good to pass on
A Place in the Sun Magazine, June 2009
Having already bought in Barbados and the Bahamas, England rugby player Lee Mears has now bagged a place on the Greek paradise island, Samos. "My wife and I have holidayed quite a bit in the Greek Islands. We’ve had some fantastic holidays in Polis, Crete, Corfu and so on. Samos is very appealing I think because it’s an up-and-coming island, it’s very picturesque. Our property is..."(more)