There are transactions that unfold like a waltz — elegant, predictable, three-four time. And then there are transactions that unfold like an international custody dispute conducted by correspondence, across five time zones, with August in the middle. This is the second kind. It was September. Our expert in Italy was on holiday in Turkey for a cousin’s wedding. She was seated by the swimming pool — not out of leisure, but because that was where the wifi was least hostile — w

I’d come to Lake Como for three days. Not to holiday, not to sightsee. To walk the shores with our local expert, scout properties, and understand a market from the inside. By the time I left, I was convinced: Lake Como is the most underrated trophy asset destination in Europe.

Cap Ferret - France. We should say from the outset that no one was harmed in the making of this transaction. Although one bicycle did suffer considerably, and a notary’s patience was tested beyond what most professional qualifications prepare you for. The whole thing began, as the best things often do, through an introduction. One of our partners, a rather distinguished agency specialising in luxury villa rentals across Europe, put us in touch with Patrick.

Ibiza - Dann and Laura are Canadian. One day, Dann decided to surprise his sweetheart and dropped to one knee during a spontaneous holiday in Ibiza. Wedding celebrated, honeymoon consummated, the nostalgia of this paradise grabbed them by the gut. They decided to leave everything behind and settle for good on the White Island.

Acquiring a prestige property in Europe is never a matter of chance. It is a strategic decision, often international in scope, requiring capital, vision and timing. From one city to another, market dynamics vary. Scarcity, however, never lies. Here is the disciplined approach to investing intelligently.