Looking to climb a few rungs on the luxury property ladder? In 2018, the international real estate market lit up with exceptional, one-of-a-kind properties that were straight up #housegoals. Whether you’ve got your sights set on a contemporary beach-front villa or a period country estate, these are the finest properties to have hit the global housing market over the past 12 months.

Located on the sea-front of Elounda, on the beautiful island of Crete, this captivating three-storey mansion is true paradise in the heart of the Mediterranean.

READ MORE: Breathtaking beach homes you won't believe

Covering 632 square metres, this gorgeous five-bedroom villa offers incredible landscaped grounds, an outdoor swimming pool and endless ocean vistas.

The impressive home comes with an even more impressive price tag of €3.8 million ($4.3m)! For sale with Savills, this luxe villa would make the most perfect holiday home.

Yet somehow the steep price tag seems worth it, especially when you consider that the property boasts its own private beach in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea.

Tap into old-world glamour in fashionable Toronto with this stunning French-style mansion that ticks all the luxury boxes. With a grand drive and entrance, you can welcome guests like royalty on the steps of your very own palace.

No expense has been spared on the interior, either. As you walk through the house you'll spot marble, opulent plasterwork and grand touches such as the opulent cornicing and wrought ironwork on the bannisters and balustrades.

This huge house covers 12,050 square foot with five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a wine cellar, games room and over 4,000 square feet of living space on the basement level. Although recently built in the last 30 years, details like these arched windows give the impression of a grand stately home.

The luxury finishes extend to the kitchens and bathrooms, where marble rules. Beyond the breakfast area you can look over the grounds, where you'll find a hidden garden, gazebo and tennis court.

The master bedroom suite sits on the upper floor and is lavishly furnished with a trio of swagged windows matching the soft furnishings and calm neutral palette. The gleaming floor is made of quarter-sawn oak flooring.

As palatial as homes get, this incredible Grade II-listed Georgian property is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in sought-after Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Currently for sale with Savills for a spectacular £11.2 million ($14.4m), the Georgian estate features 11 bedrooms and three worker's houses. Dating back to the 1700's, the property was constructed from Flemish bond red brick and Bath stone, making for a dramatic external aesthetic.

With its windows overlooking the landscape of the Thames Valley, the period property features an exquisite 18th-century interior, with ornate alcoves, high ceilings, Georgian sash windows and bespoke chandeliers.

Outside, you'll find formal gardens designed in the style of Gertrude Jekyll. Covering over 1,300 square metres, the property boasts an incredible outdoor infinity pool with a decadent pool – now that's what we call inspirational!

READ MORE: Homes with stunning swimming pools

Taking the concept of a beach house to new heights, this stunning property on Natai Beach fuses organic architecture with contemporary Thai design. Glimpsed to the top left of this picture you can see the pointed roof that's meant to symbolise the traditional prayer-like greeting. Included in the price are three luxury villas and one penthouse suite.

A host of top designers have contributed to the unique decor in all of the villas, resulting in a fantastical scheme that'll make you forget all your worries in an instant.

Every villa comes complete with its own spa and rooms for a complement of concierge staff. Of course, there's a beautiful swimming pool too if you don't fancy bathing in salt water and plenty of chill out areas dotted around on the terraces that surround the villas.

Every bedroom and living space is completely different, taking elements of Thai design and putting a modern luxe twist on it, like this traditionally low seating upholstered in rich blue velvet. We can easily imagine whiling away a few hours in here!

With views like this you could be on your own private island, though the property is only 25 minutes from the nearest airport. This area of Thailand is now known as 'The Hamptons of Phuket', and there are planned developments for more ultra-exclusive properties in the area.

Located in majestic Henbury Park in Cheshire, England, this grand country estate boasts no less than four individual properties, all built in the 20th Century.

As large as it is impressive, this esteemed estate was listed with Jackson-Stops via OnTheMarket.com for approximately £20 million ($25.7m) and was recently snapped up. The new owners will benefit from extensive grounds and a historic greenhouse complete with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Perhaps the estate's most spectacular building, Henbury Hall is a splendid example of 20th-century English architecture and features a boot room, butler’s pantries, great hall, wine cellar and a library. Totally one-of-a-kind, this historic Hall lies within a prestigious garden, covering almost 140 acres of the estate. From inside, the property offers incredible uninterrupted views over the estate's exclusive grounds.

The extensive property also includes a charming Grade II-listed residence, a large four-bedroom family home, mature parkland, agricultural land, several woodlands and a polo field, as well as ornamental and walled gardens, tennis courts, an ice house and a gothic folly. What more could you need?

A home to really get your heart rate thumping, this unbelievably lavish ocean-front villa lies on the dazzling Caribbean island of Barbados. 

READ MORE: These paradise islands cost less than a city apartment

The newly constructed property covers an area of over 1,200 square metres and features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and two gorgeous reception rooms, all offering spectacular views over the crystalline North Atlantic Ocean.

Inside the deluxe villa is a tranquil oasis, beautifully designed by renowned local architect Larry Warren. Traditional beach themes blend with luxurious, contemporary furnishings, while an open-plan layout draws the outside in. What's more, the home is surrounded by an unbelievable coastline, complete with a living reef and neighbourhood turtles.

A remarkable home deserves a remarkable price tag and Savills recently put the villa on the market for an eye-watering $28 million (£22m)! That seems reasonable, right?

Described by Christie’s International Real Estate as the “best penthouse ever offered in Australia, if not the world”, this enthralling top-floor apartment overlooks the towering skyscrapers of Sydney’s central business district.

As elegant as it is inspirational, this sky-high penthouse is the only residential unit inside the prestigious ANZ Tower. Its unique and contemporary aesthetic covers 2,400 square metres and is laid out over three immaculate floors.

In 2017, the apartment was crowned the world's finest residence at the International Design and Architecture Awards – and with four incredible marble bathrooms and entire walls of glass offering unparalleled harbour views, we can understand why!

READ MORE: Perfect penthouses for living the high life

If the interior wasn't enough, this enviable property boasts a glamorous rooftop swimming pool, 24-hour security and a private lift, revealing exactly how the other half really live! The price of this impeccable pad is equally as jaw-dropping as the home itself, listed at AUD$66 million (£36 million)!

Located in world-renowned Soho, Lower Manhattan, this immaculate penthouse condo was recently sold by Corcoran for the incredible sum of $65 million (£50m).

With six spacious bedrooms, the top-floor pad covers almost 750 square metres and offers a faultless interior with high ceilings, plenty of windows and private staff quarters.

Designed by AML Architecture and Roman and Williams, the property took four years to complete and boasts a metallic, custom-made interior created from premium natural materials sourced from around the world.

Located inside a landmarked cast-iron condo dating back to 1873, the lucky owner of this appealing home benefits from a 24-hour doorman and a bathroom made entirely from marble.

The property’s most spectacular features, however, are the two private entertaining terraces, each paved in Cenia Gray granite. While one boasts an enviable Jacuzzi and solarium, the other is ideal for small gatherings, with a roaring wood-burning fireplace. Plus, both offer incredible panoramic city vistas!

READ MORE: Alfresco style ideas for outdoor entertaining

Listed by Christie’s International Real Estate as an “exceptional private mansion”, this stunning home offers unbelievable views of Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower.

Located in the seventh borough of central Paris, this contemporary townhouse offers almost 10,000 square feet of internal space, which, following a thorough renovation, is truly flawless.

Inside you’ll find four gorgeous bedrooms, a superb reception room and several dressing rooms. In the property’s basement you'll also find a luxurious private spa, complete with a swimming pool, gym and Turkish bath.

Yet it's the property's prime location and stunning vistas that make it so entirely captivating. If you're head over heels, be warned that you'd need an overflowing bank account to purchase this luxurious city mansion. Although the price is only available upon request, similar properties in this area have sold for around €8 million (£7m).

An iconic piece of international real estate, the Darlington Mansion was once named the American Versailles. An architectural masterpiece, the property is located in New Jersey, just 25 miles from the centre of dazzling New York City.

Built in 1907, the home has undergone several renovations to bring it up to its currently majestic status. The property features 58 immaculate rooms, one of which is home to a beautiful spa, fitted with a lap pool, steam room and sauna.

Designed by James Brrite, the home is positioned over three floors and features incredible period rooms with hand-carved woodwork. As well as idyllic views of the nearby Ramapo Mountains, the property also offers a wine cellar, cigar room, beauty salon, cinema, tennis courts and over 12 acres of gardens.

The level of luxury in this historic mansion is almost impossible to imagine. The 30-foot ceilings in the great hall accommodate the only 1906 Aeolian Player pipe organ in the US and the library has a 15-foot-high ceiling mural by James Wall Finn, whose other works include the Payne Whitney Mansion and the New York Public Library!

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this incredible building has an undisclosed price tag, although the amount is likely to be as impressive as the property itself.

READ MORE: Homes for sale with an amazing history