Owning a second home in a paradise location has always sounded like an attractive investment in terms of lifestyle. It’s a popular ambition expressed by successful people. That said, the reality for many such investors is a scenario which involves their dream property standing empty for most of the year. Factor in too the logistics of maintaining that property plus general running costs and your slice of paradise can come with a year-round price that can become hard to bear.

Imagine now, a stunning second home, which is not only well managed throughout the year by one of the world’s most renowned property management groups, but where you can also participate in a healthy share of the proceeds by renting it out when you are not there. Your second home has now become a true investment, with returns that include capital gains, a guaranteed income and free five-star accommodation for your vacations. In other words - investment plus service and lifestyle! Indeed, in the words of Richard McCandless, Director of mc2, specialists in the development of luxury managed property, “Luxury is pointless without peace of mind”.

Headquartered on the idyllic island of Bali, and with established offices in Bangkok, Hong Kong and most recently Singapore, mc2 was founded in 2001. Strategically partnered with AAA Venture Fund, over the last seven years, the company has developed an impressive portfolio of successful resort delivery, which includes some of the island’s most fabled properties including Jempinis Villas, the adjacent Cahaya Mentari, Alu Bali and Sesari Bali. The company is also behind the fantastically located cliff-top resort named Outrigger Panorama Bali Resort & Spa, due to open in 2010 and offering investors and guests alike, 176 luxuriously appointment studios and one, two and three-bedroom condominiums, the majority with large private pools. The resort also offers a range of five-star facilities which includes an extensive waterscape complex, numerous bar and dining options, gymnasium, flood-lit tennis and boules courts, SEGA salon, cinema, adventure playground, spa and tai chi garden designed to keep the whole family entertained.

Alongside McCandless at the helm of the organisation is Grant McArthur, Managing Director. Together, they have over 45 years of business experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge and understanding, assisting clients in maximising their investment potential and lifestyle pleasure. A qualified accountant, McArthur has been in the luxury hotels and property market for over 25 years. Prior to establishing mc2, he was the founder and owner of Kupu Kupu Barong in Ubud, was a major shareholder in the Cambridge Hotel Group and prior to that a director of SEAS Group. He is responsible for land acquisition, government liaison, design development and resort management at mc2.

McCandless, a member of the Chartered Institute of Banking and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, is the concept, packaging and design leader for the company, as well as the driving force behind sales and marketing. He was previously Regional Director at advertising powerhouse Foote, Cone and Belding in Asia Pacific, responsible for bringing many international brands to the region. Prior to moving to Asia, he was Group Chief Executive of Publicis Financial, Europe’s largest financial marketing consultancy.

“In the run up to the millennium I was beginning to feel that I had spent the last four years on a plane. I was heading to Bali for a six-day sailing trip and a friend’s wedding and for the first time in years finally had the time to evaluate my life. Suffice to say that I resigned on 2nd January 2000, relocated to Bali and have never looked back”, says McCandless.

“I became involved in a business managing high end property in Bali. Renting a house had become a popular choice for visitors to the island and it was a much cheaper option than staying in an upscale hotel. However, having built up a small collection of private houses, we saw a real gap in the market. On an island which is often referred to as the Island of the Gods, investors in property were literally at the mercy of the gods when it came to management. We knew from our earlier experiences that we had to attract professional operators with established 5-star names and therefore we needed to grow our projects to get them interested in managing them”, he adds.

As mc2 began to develop its portfolio from private houses to its first development of seven villas, the company started to successfully attract interest from companies interested in managing them. The second project consisted of 16 private villas, attracting more interest, and it was a logical progression for the company to expand into the development of resorts.

Fast forward to 2007 and leading Hawaiian-based hotel and resort operator Outrigger announced plans to manage a brand new luxury resort condominium property in Bali, to be called the Outrigger Panorama Bali Resort & Spa. The US$66million development, located in the south of the island on a stunning cliff-top location set amidst dense rainforest and overlooking views of the Indian Ocean in every direction, was conceived and developed by mc2 and is the result of a uniquely Asian collaboration between the company, Hong Kong-based architects Original Vision and Singapore-based Plum Design. Neighbouring properties include some of the island’s most prestigious resorts, including the newly opened BVLGARI Resort and other properties operated by Alila, Angsana and Banyan Tree. The luxury resort area of Nusa Dua, famed for shopping and sports, is just a short ride away.

“Leading luxury resort brands, such as Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, BVLGARI, Banyan Tree and St Regis, have already identified Bali’s Bukit Peninsula as the new Riviera of the Southern Hemisphere”, said McCandless.

“The development will allow people to purchase an overseas property with total confidence. Bali is already a proven international destination and the Bukit Peninsula is the emerging location of luxury and lifestyle on the island. Couple this with competitive pricing, direct title ownership and world-class management and it is easy to see why buying a condominium at this resort is such a complete ownership proposition.”

mc2 developments, which are all based on their own unique package of investment, service and lifestyle, will soon include Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, offering additional choice for investors looking to buy their own luxury South-East Asian property in total confidence. Investors are given an attractive guaranteed return of six per cent on the first three years of operation whilst the resort becomes established in the marketplace; the luxury of 28 days use of their apartment per annum; the security of direct-title ownership and world-class management. Past the three-year guaranteed return owners will continue to receive a healthy return on their investment, forecast to be in the range of eight to ten per cent net per annum. Interestingly, all investors receive a proportional share of generated income of the resort, regardless of the occupancy rate for their individual apartment.

But as McCandless points out, there are real possibilities for capital appreciation too. “Land prices in Southern Bali have been rising dramatically over the past 15 years. Whilst the island is large, the location of the airport means that only quite a small percentage of coastline falls within a one-hour drive and this is what the market demands. Almost all this coastline has been, or is in the process of being developed so investors buying now will be securing the last primary transactions direct from the developer. I think it is clear to see that as primary supply dries up, a secondary market will flourish and owners in branded properties with a strong financial track-record will see the values of their properties rocket” he said.

With a clearly defined payment schedule and detailed furnishing and accessory specifications for every property, nothing in the mc2 business model is left to chance, offering investors total peace of mind every step of the way.

“I am proud that Original Vision have been entrusted to design Outrigger Panorama Bali Resort & Spa”, stated principal of Original Vision,
Adrian McCarroll.

“Conceived as a fully integrated residential resort, the options offer a full range from studio apartments all the way to three-bedroom penthouses. Every property is spacious, with high ceilings and large terraces, designed for tropical living and offering so much more than a hotel room. Tie these accommodations together with extensive facilities, landscaped gardens and the expert management of Outrigger and the result is arguably the new direction for the 21st century resort”.