Homes of Quality

Homes of Quality, usually shortened to HOQ, is a luxury estate agency on Tower Road in Sliema, facing the seafront promenade. It is part of the Frank Salt Real Estate Group, which dates back to 1969 and is the largest real estate group in the country. HOQ itself was founded in 2002 and concentrates on premium property, from palazzos and villas to well-presented studio apartments.

For UK buyers the practical appeal is a single office that can search, negotiate, handle paperwork and look after the home afterwards. You will find the agency listed in our directory of estate agents in Malta, alongside other firms that cover sales, lettings and management.

Who HOQ is and how it works

The agency was set up to serve people wanting to buy or sell high-quality property, and its stock is shaped by quality, design, history and location rather than by size or price alone. It works from a select client database, and the majority of its business comes through discreet referrals. The branch is managed by Alex Papagiorcopulo, and Grahame Salt is the director. Senior property consultants include Josienne Degaetano, James Stagno Navarra, Michael Dimbleby and Paul Bondin.

The team supports both local and international clients. Its services run from finding the right property through to completing the paperwork, obtaining permits where they apply and liaising with the relevant government agencies. HOQ also has long-standing relationships with Malta's leading banks and with tax and legal consultants, which helps a UK buyer who needs introductions. If you want to understand the company structures and tax position around a purchase, our guide to Malta tax for UK nationals and the work of CLA Malta are useful starting points.

Buying and selling premium property

The agency searches for buyers across the whole of the Maltese islands. Its search covers apartments, penthouses, villas, townhouses, maisonettes, farmhouses and houses of character, along with plots, offices, shops, showrooms and other commercial premises. Some stock is held on a sole agency basis, and a Platinum Collection groups its most exceptional homes. Developments and designated areas for foreign buyers are also covered by the HOQ property search.

Sellers can register a property for a free, no-obligation valuation and discuss how to stage a home for the market. A managed sole agency package is offered for owners who want the agency to run the whole process. Because the island is small, areas differ sharply: the northern harbour towns of Sliema and St Julian's are lively and urban, while our guide to Valletta and the Three Cities guide show where heritage homes sit, and the quiet walled city of Mdina (see our Mdina guide) and its neighbours suit buyers after character. Searches are organised by region (north, west, south east and the harbour districts), and the office advises directly on Gozo.

Property management and after-sales

HOQ runs a property management service through the Frank Salt Real Estate Property Management Division. Property executives look after the day-to-day running of a home, supported by an in-house maintenance team. For new builds there is a snagging and handover service, and for existing homes the team makes routine visits and reports on defects. Services include mail collection, utility and insurance payments, pool and garden care, cleaning, redecoration and emergency repairs.

Owners who let a home while living abroad can have rent collected, tenants dealt with, paperwork prepared and Malta's rental rules followed. Packages are offered for tenants, for holiday homes and for long-term lets, and bespoke plans can be arranged. The management service is also available in Gozo through a separate dedicated team.

After you complete a purchase, the after-sales department can help with anything from a simple restyle to a full turnkey fit-out, for residential and commercial property alike, with progress reports and photographs along the way. Anyone planning a longer stay can pair this with our UK guide to relocating to Malta.

Moving, residency and the wider picture

The agency's website carries guides on relocating to Malta, buying property, tax incentives and residency programmes, as well as background on the climate, culture and places of interest. Its market commentary notes demand from EU-based high-net-worth buyers and from non-EU nationals choosing Malta for residence or investment. Companies and investors comparing structures may also find our overview of Malta's corporate tax structure helpful.

If you are still weighing up where to base yourself, our Gozo guide and Mellieħa guide cover quieter parts of the islands, and our guide to where to stay in Malta helps you choose an area for a viewing trip. For a base close to the agency's office, see our hotels in Sliema.

Visiting the office and getting started

The office sits directly opposite the Sliema Promenade on Tower Road, and the agency invites buyers to visit or get in touch with any property question. Tell the team whether you are buying a home, investing, selling, letting or looking for commercial space, and what budget and areas you have in mind.

To begin, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Homes of Quality, who will reply to you directly.