Last September, our real estate agency Villa Vie was contacted by Forbes France in order to participate in its business issue “Les Entreprises à Succès”, as their exclusive partner in Mauritius. World-renowned and synonym of entrepreneurship, success and excellence, the media Forbes offers since 2016 all its news in French on its website: Forbes.fr.
As part of a segment dedicated to real estate in top destinations, our director Sophie Hardy shares the history of the agency, our vision of real estate and our desire to promote our beautiful island of Mauritius.
Watch the interview with Sophie Hardy, Director of Villa Vie, published on Forbes.fr
On this occasion, we also asked her some questions following this experience:
It was quite a surprise! Naturally, we asked ourselves: why us? And then… after a moment’s reflection, we thought why not!
It is true that Villa Vie is one of the oldest real estate agencies still active on the local market. Our 100% Mauritian family agency has managed to take its place and make a name for itself alongside the biggest international agencies.
Moreover, this interview was timely, as our agency is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
2. What was the message you wanted to convey through this interview?
I wanted to pay tribute to my mother’s work, who created Villa Vie in 1982. We specialised in holiday rentals in the north of Mauritius, with a portfolio of over 70 beachfront villas. But over the years we have built up a loyal clientele, trusted partners and a good reputation beyond the Mauritian borders.
When I joined the agency in 2012, we developed the other key sectors of real estate with year-round rentals, sales to Mauritians, and in 2016 sales to foreigners. Villa Vie is now a complete agency.
In this interview I talk about our vision of real estate, the services we offer and our desire to promote Mauritius.
3. Why address an international clientele and promote the destination?
In recent years, international demand has increased considerably. Mauritius now offers various schemes that allow non-Mauritians to acquire a freehold property and thus benefit from a residence permit.
Although the profiles are varied, our clients have a project in mind and we strive to help them live their ‘Mauritian dream’. At Villa Vie, we aim to be a ‘one-stop shop’ by offering tailor-made and long-term support: from the discovery of Mauritius during the holidays to the desire to invest and settle down.
It is also important for us to put the spotlight on Mauritius, which explains our passion for this business. It is a destination that makes you dream because of its landscapes, its warm welcome and its quality of life. It has an excellent network of French and international schools, a health system that has taken a ‘quantum leap’ in recent years, and many sporting activities such as golf, trail running, mountain biking and kitesurfing.
4. Tell us about your experience during the shooting.
It was an enriching experience on all levels because I had to go to Paris for the interview at Fouquet’s. I was nervous about what I was getting into because Forbes had not shared their questions with me. They wanted me to answer spontaneously. It went very quickly, and I chose to keep it short, spontaneous and natural.
5. How do you see the future of Villa Vie?
As Villa Vie celebrates its 40th anniversary, we want to be the benchmark for quality properties in Mauritius for local and international clients !
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