Recession? What recession? Lucas Fox’s Head of Business Development explains the boom
Interview : Dan Prince
This month in Ibiza the 7th IMS takes place, a gathering of the world’s leading music industry, DJs and artists at what is becoming one of the most important events on the dance music calendar. This year IMS moves to the brand new 493 room Hard Rock Hotel – a multi million pound complex that comes complete with what is claimed “the most expensive restaurant in the world” with prices starting at £1500 per person. The Hard Rock situated near to Ushuaia on Playa d’en Bossa is the latest addition to the island’s new crop of 4 and 5 star luxury hotels,…a beach location that is being tipped as having the potential to be one of the best urban beaches in the world, thanks to it’s white sand, turquoise waters and a steadily growing selection of cool hip beach bars set in an area that has an ambitious redevelopment plan designed to attract the more ‘upmarket customer’ – a new championship golf course, shopping arcades and more hotels are all in the pipeline. Whilst mainland Spain is enduring a terrible time, Ibiza’s house prices are holding up better than the rest of Spain and more investment is arriving via countries from all over the world. Resorts such as Bossa will have a long term impact on the local property market where housing is fundamentally scarce, the smart money will go “long” on Ibiza and the Playa d’en Bossa area in particular. Agents reported strong sales in January and February, the type of activity unheard of in recent years. Here, DMCWORLD checks in with Jason Ham from Lucas Fox, one of the biggest independent real estate agents in Europe who in the coming weeks will be launching their brand new ‘LFStyle’ luxury lifestyle magazine that comes complete with the ‘LFStyle In Ibiza Vol. 1’ album…
Jason welcome to DMCWORLD! You are one of the new breed of people settling on the island bringing with you your knowledge and expertise alongside a real love and passion for Ibiza. Cast your mind back to your first trip to the white isle, was it love at first sight?
“Hi Dan, it was absolutely love at first sight. I think it was 15 years ago this August that we took the plunge and booked a holiday to Ibiza, expecting lager louts and football shirts…and instead found the most amazing island on the planet. We stayed at the infamous Pikes Hotel just outside San Antonio, rented a car to explore the island, and I was reduced to tears walking into ‘We Love…Sundays’ at Space for the first time – as we made our way into the old open terrace at midday ‘Strings of Life’ kicked in! How could you NOT fall in love with the place?!”
How did the whole relocating your family and working for Lucas Fox happen, people dream about moving here but not many are brave enough to follow it through…
“I had the dream to move here right from that first trip and tried a couple of business ventures that didn´t take off (one of them with my brother, that a year earlier could have made us millionaires – but that´s another story), but when it did happen, it happened really fast. It took me and my wife a grand total of around 30 minutes to decide and I gave up my life as a partner in a law firm in London to go for it. Three months later we rocked up on the island with a 4 year old, a baby, and a fluffy cat called Erick (named by my wife after Mr. Morillo of course, which she managed to tell him once at the bar in Space – he kindly pretended to be amused).”
Lucas Fox is often cited as Spain’s leading independent luxury real estate company. In your opinion, what is the secret of the company’s success?
“It´s quite simple really : the two co-owners and co-founders Alex and Stijn are very good at picking young (me being the exception to this!) dynamic, multilingual staff from around the world who work hard, and enjoy their jobs and their lives to the max. They find roles to fit good people, rather than finding people for specific jobs. The company has expanded so fast (10 offices now in Spain including Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella, Valencia, Majorca and Sevilla) but the average age remains around 26 and the work/play ethic remains. The staff parties are legendary. Oh and 90% of the staff are female – I really hate my job…”
As mentioned above, Ibiza is currently in the middle of a boom property and investment wise. Why are houses retaining and increasing their value whilst everywhere else in Spain is in the middle of a massive crash?
“Ibiza is in a unique bubble – and is a worldwide brand in it´s own right. Building is now heavily restricted and the island is only 47km long by 35km wide, so demand is always outstripping supply. Also, over the last 5-10 years in addition to the island always being famous for it´s hedonism and hosting the best nights and parties in the world, it is now also the world´s top destination for the rich and famous, the glamorous, the football elite, and anyone else who wants to be seen and heard. In short, the whole world seems to want to be here in the Summer.”
Can you give us an insight into the current market on the island? Where are the majority of your clients from?
“Our clients are mostly Northern European, such as the ever present British, German, Swedish, and a big, big Dutch contingent (which I blame Armin for). But we also have clients from the Middle East, Russia, South America and now are seeing sudden and increasing interest from the Far East and America. All of this will continue to keep the pendulum swinging…”
In your opinion, what are the top 5 reasons to live on Ibiza?
“The summer is incredible – the energy, the noise…and the fact you are living in a place where people come with the main intention of having a great time means everyone generally walks around with a big smile on their face.
The winter, as a resident here, is even better – quiet roads, beaches virtually to yourself, 300 days of sunshine, and catching up with friends.
The people – everyone you meet here has a fantastic story behind them, both the local Ibicencos and the expats, and they are the most eclectic bunch of people you can probably meet anywhere in the world on such a small piece of land.
The weather – until you live here, you cannot explain the effect it has on your psyche to wake up virtually every day to clear blue skies, and the catching the sun sparkling on the sea out of the corner of your eye on the way to work.
Being able to have lunch with Dan Prince, especially when he pays…..
In the coming weeks, Lucas Fox will be launching the inaugural edition of “LFStyle”, the company’s new luxury lifestyle magazine. Can you give us a sneak peek of what to expect…
“No! Oh OK then.it is going to be completely different to any other property magazine you have seen so far. We noticed that people picked up those free property magazines, flicked through them, then left them behind as they are pretty dull to be honest, unless you are actually looking to buy. Therefore we wanted a magazine that people would actually pick up and read, carry home, find some interesting info, and want to actually keep. Even it´s size, look and feel are different. And it will be coming out bi-annually, with the first ones being distributed with a CD – “LFStyle In Ibiza, Vol I” , for those still of the CD persuasion!”
Link to the magazine : http://issuu.com/lucas_fox/docs/lfstyle_issue_01
Can you tell us a little about the album project? What inspired “LFStyle In Ibiza, Vol I”, and what made you approach DMCWorld for the collaboration?
“See Question 1 above – even now I still play the free Pikes Sunset CD that was in our room when we first stayed in Tony Pikes’ hotel, and every single tune conjures up memories and emotions from that trip as if it was yesterday. We all know how important music is in attaching events in our memories, especially when you are on holiday, even more so when you are in Ibiza. I just wanted to try and capture for people in our CD, a similar reaction to the one I had back in the day.”
Is the mix available to hear on line?
“Yes, it is now available via Soundcloud on our Lucas Fox Soundcloud page, via this link… https://soundcloud.com/lucasfoxinternational/lfstyle-in-ibiza-vol-1
Do you see a bright future for the island, will the economy continue to flourish?
“As long as it does not go too far the other way and alienate the people that make Ibiza the fun and riotous place it is known and loved for, then we should be fine – we don´t need another St. Tropez.”
If you don’t love music then Ibiza is not the place for you. What clubs would we find you at on a rare night off on the island…?
“I have been a Househead since Farley Jackmaster Funk and Marshall Jefferson back in the Chicago House days of the late 80´s and early 90´s, and I´m pleased to see House music is making a comeback after years of bleeps and squeeks and EDM. But I have to say the best times and the best memories I have always had clubbing on the island have been at ‘We Love…’at Space on Sundays and the old Defected nights at Pacha. Plus numerous openings and closings at Amnesia and DC10 that I´d like to remember but can´t. My favourite night of all though that has become legend was a psychedelic trance night called ‘Tribe of Frogs’ at Las Dalias Hippy Market in the north of the island – awesome.”
Where did you earn your clubbing stripes back in the UK back in the day?
“Errr….everywhere (cough) – Turnmills, Ministry, The Velvet Room (when Carl Cox was playing on a Thursday evening to 150 people), Hanover Grand (Malibu Stacey), Passion in Coalville, Fabric etc. and so on…”
What are your thoughts on the new Hard Rock Hotel opening up alongside Ushuaia…is Playa d’en Bossa on it’s way to become the new South Beach?
“I think it´s great, it is going to cater for everyone from families, to clubbers to stars and the super rich. The more options there are out there for people the better. And it looks AMAZING.”
Where are some of the next up and coming areas people reading this should be looking at on the island if they want to get on the Ibiza property ladder?
“Go ‘long’ on San Antonio. Very long!”
And finally, what is the 1 club day/night you are not going to miss this summer?
“There are two actually – The IMS Finale parties on top of Dalt Vila on May 22/23 and Dave Lubin´s Mental Genius party at Sankeys – that guy really plays from the heart, plus he´s a South London boy so nuff said.”
