What property types in Gozo do you have on your books?

At Frank Salt Real Estate we deal with all types of properties, from small holiday apartments to large villas and farmhouses with gardens and pools. At present there is a good supply of very well finished apartments and houses with pools which are being sold furnished and ready to move into. These are sound investments as some of them are ideal for letting as holiday homes or for long lets.

Gozo is ideal for a quiet holiday, even for the Maltese – is there a healthy interest in holiday homes from Maltese clients?

Gozo has always been a holiday place for both Maltese and foreigners, especially the British. Most opt to buy an apartment with a view or by the sea to have as a base in Gozo for when they come over. Others buy a house of character with a pool both as a holiday home for themselves or as an investment to rent for short holiday lets.

Gozo is also popular with ex-pats who want to retire there – what are the ideal properties for such clients?

Ex-pats tend to go for houses of character especially if they are retiring in Gozo as they have more privacy and much more outside space. Lately, since we have new developments, they are also buying apartments with views and communal pools. This is convenient for them as new apartments tend to be maintenance free. This is attractive especially for elderly couples who don’t have any assistance.

Does Gozo also cater for high-end clients, in terms of property available?

Nowadays, we have beautiful and top-quality finished properties in Gozo. The new developments are luxuriously finished for this clientele in mind. Apartments are spacious, well finished and command the best views on the island. Houses of character are equally available in the high-end market. Some of the larger properties are very well located, enjoy lovely views and grounds, and have been converted to high standards. These unique and charming houses of character are still very appealing to most foreign clients. After 25 years in this business, I get all excited to see yet another large old house, converted or unconverted, for the first time – they are part of our heritage and should be preserved as such.

Do Gozo properties also carry an investment potential?

Property in Gozo has always kept its value and for years there has been a constant appreciation in property prices. However, in the last couple of years, Gozo property, especially property owned by foreigners, has been affected by the world recession. As a result, property prices have remained static and in some cases there has been a slight drop. In fact, some buyers were lucky and managed to get properties at a very good price. The sales were slower these last four years but we are seeing an increase in sales – if things keep improving, I think that by next year property prices will start going up again.

Property in Gozo is always a good investment. There is a limit on the availability of good properties, especially old authentic houses, and the attraction for Gozo has not diminished at all. If anything, Gozo is now looking nicer and cleaner and a huge number of visitors return year after year and eventually buy a base here.