A luxury property or a superyacht?

Luxury house for sale or luxury boat for sale? 

THE ARGUMENT FOR THE LUXURY HOUSE

** READ THE ARGUMENT FOR THE BOAT AND SEARCH BOATS FOR SALE AT YBW.COM

It seems there's an age old argument between couples about whether to buy a prestige property or a serious yacht. Wealthy couples will most likely have both eventually but which to buy first?

Classically the male of the species is more likely to hanker after a big toy - a superyacht which proves size really does matter, whereas it's well documented that wives prefer to enjoy the benefits of an exclusive private home including its airy reception rooms, stunning views, huge pool and gardens groaning with fruit trees just minutes from the shops in Cap Ferrat without having to arrange getting to shore. In fact superyachts take an awful of a lot of arranging - who's going to take it from its winter berth in the Caribbean back to the Balearics for summertime? Staff and fuel costs are prohibitive, even for the super-rich, not to mention that when you actually arrive you have to have booked a mooring deep enough to berth (and try getting hold of one of those in Villefranche in August), pay for it and then pray for the good weather - is there anything more depressing than a flat gray day in the south of France, stuck on the sea as it teems with those annoying jellyfish?

At least when you own a property in your favourite place, near your friends and the bars down by the marina (where you've parked your smart little motor boat) its within walking distance of Hermes; and if the weather does decide to take a turn for the worse you don't run the risk of making your friends seasick - you can just curl up in your private cinema or lay the fire a month early. When your house is the destination you can arrive at the drop of a hat, and not worry about whether your accommodation is going to come along later. And last but not least, when you buy a property in places like the British Virgin Islands, or the Cote d'Azur you're making an investment. Superyachts drop in price from the day of purchase but houses in desirable destinations rise in value, and if you buy somewhere similar to the properties we've suggested in the course of this article, you're on your way to making the money to have both a house and a boat - the best of both worlds.

Just two luxury properties for sale on www.countrylife.co.uk:

Caribbean

Buck Island will set you back a cool $50m

Buck Island is a perfect James Bond lair in the sailing Mecca of the British Virgin Islands just a few minutes by boat from the main island of Tortola. It comprises 43 acres of tropical beauty surrounded by picturesque ocean views and an estate house which would be the envy of any budding Goldfinger.

South of France

€46m for this incredible house in the South of France

This 90 medroom French chateau for sale near Villefranche on the Cote D'Azur means you're just minutes away from the sea, but will rarely want to leave the house with its helicopter landing pad, enormous swimming pool and priceless views out over the sparkling sea - all from the comfort of dry land.

Alternatively over at YBW.com you can trawl through some of the world's finest superyachts and boats for sale to see what tickles your fancy.

** READ WHY YOU SHOULD BUY A LUXURY YACHT OVER AT YBW.com

Try the latest offering from Sunseeker - a 37 metre yacht which comes in at just under £10m.