An informative introduction gives the historical background to the development of the luxury real-estate market. It describes the ways in which international hotspots emerge, and profiles some of the most memorable personalities on the scene, from Prince Alfonso zu Hohenlohe, the founding father of the luxurious resort town of Marbella, to entrepreneurial figures like Andre Balazs and Ian Schrager.

An invaluable property guide spells out the dos and don’ts of investing in luxury property for those who can and for those who like to dream: what to look for and what to avoid; the different types of property on offer—castle, mansion, villa; how to buy in the different international markets, and what to pay; and the basics one needs to know about the most important luxury markets worldwide.

Complete with a foreword by Donald J.Trump and an afterword by Henriette von Bohlen und Halbach, this book reveals how a luxury property is an expression of personality and taste, a considerable financial asset, and the most telling status symbol of them all. Alexander V. G. Kraft is Chief Executive of Sotheby’s International Realty France. He lives in Monaco.