Caribbean Property - Home Sales

 
Caribbean homes for sale

Buying a house in the Caribbean you are certainly in the right place, Homesgofast.com has been promoting real estate in the Caribbean since 2004 and have thousands of listing from the majority of Caribbean Islands. So whether you looking to find cheap Caribbean real estate for sale or land for sale we offer a superb collection of properties. We have Caribbean houses, apartments, beachfront property, property with sea views, condos and land for sale direct from owners and local real estate agencies.

Find the best Caribbean properties 

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Belize British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada | Guadeloupe | Honduras| Jamaica| Martinique | Montserrat | Netherlands Antilles |Panama| Puerto Rico | St. Kitts and Nevis | St. Lucia | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago | Turks and Caicos | US Virgin Islands

Real estate agents in the Caribbean

Use our international real estate directory to make enquiries to local agencies to find foreclosures, investments and luxury homes for sale from some of the best places to buy property in the Caribbean. You will find lots of the major real estate franchise operations in the Caribbean ranging from Remax, Savills, Century 21, Coldwell Banker and Knight Frank International.

See International Real Estate Agents

Buying Barbados Property 

 

Easy access to the hot Caribbean sun, white beaches, well built properties, lively expat community, low crime rates are just some of the reasons why Barbados is one of the top places for international buyers looking to buy a home in the Caribbean. Much like many overseas property hot spots the desire to own a property in Barbados often comes from having a vacation on the Island. The West coast of the Island is popular with UK buyers.

It is still possible to find cheap real estate including land for sale in Barbados, Homesgofast.com regularly feature listings offered for quick sale from motivated owners that need to sell fast. Owning a property in Barbados would be a dream come true for many winter sun , good shops and restaurants and a friendly feel to the Island makes it one of those places for a perfect retreat. 

Flight to Barbados

From the USA, are regular flights from Charlotte, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and San Juan to Barbados’s Grantley Adams International Airport - the largest airport in the Eastern Caribbean. From Canada, fly with Air Canada from Montreal or Toronto. From the UK, Virgin Atlantic operate regular flights from London to Barbados.

Can foreigners buy property in Barbados

There are no restrictions on foreign buyers acquiring real estate in Barbados. Property can be purchased through a company which can reduce costs. All non-residents must obtain permission to purchase a property from the Barbados Exchange Control Authority.

More at Barbados Property 

Buying retirement real estate in the Caribbean

Retiring in the Caribbean can be incredibly pricey. Beachfront properties on exclusive and more popular islands such as St. Bart’s and Anguilla often go for well over a million dollars — some topping $5 million. When you add up your housing, travel costs and the premiums of island living, retiring to the Caribbean can take a toll on one’s retirement nest egg. Many people retire abroad to find a lower cost of living that’s not necessarily the case in the Caribbean. Most expats find the cost of living to be equal, if not higher, than staying home. That being said, you are getting white-sand beaches, world-class diving, beautiful weather, and island living. And, there are certainly ways to stretch a small retirement budget to live comfortably in parts of the Caribbean.

Homesgofast.com top 10 Caribbean Islands for European buyers

When it comes to buying a place of your own in the Caribbean we know that the motivation to buy property in the Caribbean varies. We see people buying for relocation, retirement, second home overseas, returning home to purely wanting a second home overseas for winter sun.

Increasingly we do see buyers looking for investment and also citizenship through investment. Having operated for many years helping to sell property from most Caribbean Islands Homesgofast.com can see specific trends that include the location of potential buyers. We have compiled our top ten Caribbean locations where most enquiries come from European buyers.

  1. Antigua and Barbuda property
  2. Barbados property
  3. Cayman Islands property
  4. Cuba property
  5. Dominican Republic property
  6. Grenada property
  7. Jamaica property
  8. St Kitts and Nevis property
  9. St Lucia property
  10. St Vincent and the Grenadines property 

Homesgofast.com top 10 Caribbean Islands for US and Canadian buyers

US and Canadians buyers not surprisingly head to the Caribbean where flight times are quicker and where the US vacation market is stronger for American and Canadian tourists. Our top 10 is based on enquiry data not actual sales.

  1. Belize
  2. Bahamas
  3. Bermuda
  4. Cayman Islands
  5. Costa Rica
  6. Honduras
  7. Panama
  8. Puerto Rico
  9. Turks and Caicos
  10. US Virgin Islands

House Prices in the Caribbean

How much you pay for land , real estate investments varies across the region, location on an island is a huge factor, proximity to airports, citizenship or visa programmes and demand are also huge factors. A good place to start to ensure that you are paying the right price is by comparing property prices on sites like Homesgofast.com, RightmoveOverseas , Zoopla Overseas, Gum Tree  International and Knight Frank International.

Another good place to learn more about Caribbean housing market trends is the GlobalProperty Guide 

 

Caribbean Islands that you may not have considered by Trip Advisor

Transferring Money To The Caribbean 

 When buying a property in the Caribbean it's essential that you plan your currency transfers and not to leave this aspect of your purchase to the last minute. In fact, a bit of planning could mean savings on your property price. By not planning a money transfer abroad you could become a victim of fluctuating currency rates. What is more the Bank you would normally rely upon could, in fact, cost you dearly in fees and speed of transfer?

Learn more about Foreign Currency Transfers when buying a property abroad

Belize popular for retirement

Northern Belize is a remote region of tropical rivers, hardwood forests, traditional farms, sleepy rural villages and breezy Caribbean seashores. This is a refreshingly off-the-radar place where residents embrace a simple, friendly, by-the-sea lifestyle. It is also the best value destination in Belize and one of the most affordable options for retirement in the Caribbean.

Property taxes are minuscule in Belize. This is a plus for those looking to save money on taxes, but it also means that municipal services are thin on the ground because there aren’t funds to support them. So, organized and private communities typically appeal to foreigners. These are places where you can enjoy a laid-back, bargain Caribbean lifestyle in Northern Belize while maintaining a North American standard of living 

More advice at USNews.com

Why Buy Property in Panama?

Panama is popular with US retirees not only because of the climate but because hospital care, modern amenities, low cost real estate prices and growing community of people make it a great place to live.It is important to first note that most of the property you will find for sale in Panama will be much more affordable than what you may be accustomed to. Panama is regularly hailed for providing First-World luxuries at Third-World costs. Panama City is a modern metropolis where you will easily find all of the amenities and comforts you need. Nevertheless, the country’s economy is still developing, and prices are relatively inexpensive across the board. In other words, you will be able to find stunning properties for sale in Panama that you may not be able to find or afford elsewhere.

Can Foreigners Own Land in Panama?

There are no restrictions on ownership of property by foreigners, except that article 121 of the Panamanian Tax Code says that foreign persons, or Panamanian corporations with foreign ownership, cannot purchase property located less than ten kilometers from the frontiers, nor on islands under the jurisdiction of Panama. Foreigners may engage in commerce or industry without limitations. Panama encourages long-term foreign investment and offers a retiree incentive program, the Pensionado program, which is not necessarily age-related and whose benefits are considerable such as tax exemptions and big discounts on utilities and basic services.  

How are properties bought and sold in Panama?

Most land and homes are sold privately, without a real estate agent. There are active agents, however, and their fees are usually 5%. There is no escrow and no title insurance in Panama, though a secure transaction can be made through a local bank. There are some restrictions on foreign ownership of waterfront and island property. Such restrictions may be avoided if you are investing in one of the tourism zones.

Selling Panama real estate

Please find our advertising packages to help sell Panama real estate here 

 

Caribbean Citizenship By Investment Programs

According to a Bloomberg article ultra high net worth individuals spent nearly US$2 Billion in 2015 to purchase passports through Citizenship by Investment Programs.

No surprise then that the Caribbean Citizenship By Investment Programs have raised millions of dollars in revenue. In fact, as reported at a recent economic citizenship conference, the money generated from the Antigua program launched just three years ago is expected to account for 25% of the government’s annual revenues.

For St Kitts & Nevis, the program is projected to generate 30% of the government’s revenue in 2015 — roughly EC$200 million (approximately US$74 million). A significant percentage of the millions generated by both programs are used to fund various development initiatives across a range of sectors through the Antigua & Barbuda National Development Fund (NDF) and the St Kitts & Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation respectively.

How to get a Mortgage in the Caribbean

Homesgofast.com work with partners that can help with mortgages for the purchase of Caribbean property

Available for purchases only and on the following islands:  Antigua, Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, BVI and Cayman Islands.

  • We typically arrange loans in US Dollars
  • Available on a Capital & Interest repayment basis only
  • The maximum loan to value is 60%
  • The maximum term is 20 years – available to age 65/70.
  • The minimum loan amount is US$250,000 with no maximum
  • All schemes require full documentary evidence of income – ‘self-cert’ mortgages are not available.
  • Affordability

To qualify for a mortgage in the Caribbean, a calculation is used to establish whether you can afford to maintain the mortgage repayments.

Your existing liabilities, including your UK mortgage or rental payments, loans, credit card payments and maintenance are taken into account, together with the proposed Caribbean mortgage payments.  All this must not typically exceed 40% of your monthly net income.  For example if your net joint income is £2,500, 40% of this equates to £1000. The amount that you can borrow may be a restricted by the maximum loan to value as mentioned under Eligibility and criteria.

Antigua & Barbuda Citzenship or Golden Visa Investment 

A good example of the types of win win advantages can be seen by looking at one popular investment programme in the Caribbean in Antigua.

Facts

  • Program Launched: 2012
  • Visa-Free Travel To: 132 countries and territories
  • Residency or Visitation Requirement to Maintain Citizenship: 5 days over 5 years

Investment Requirements:

Option 1: A contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF) of a minimum non-refundable amount of US$200,000.

Option 2: An investment of at least US$400,000 into one of the approved real estate projects and to be held for a minimum period of 5 years.

Option 3: An investment of a minimum of US$1,500,000 directly into an eligible business as a sole investor or a joint investment involving at least 2 persons in an eligible business totalling at least US$5,000,000 and each of those persons individually invests at least US$400,000.

What are the tax saving when buying property in the Caribbean?

The Caribbean have been generating inward investment from foreigners for years and some have done so by creating attractive tax advantages. 

The Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands has no income tax, no corporate tax, no estate or inheritance tax, and no gift tax or capital gains tax, making it a pure tax haven.The Caymans has very strict banking laws designed to protect banking privacy. The country does not have any tax treaties with other nations, thus guarding the finances of its offshore banking clients from the tax authorities of other countries.

Panama

Offshore Panamanian companies and their owners are not subject to income taxes, corporate taxes or local taxes. People of any nationality can incorporate. Panama strictly protects the privacy of offshore trusts and foundations by law. As a provider of offshore banking services, Panama has strict banking secrecy laws designed to protect the privacy of account holders. Panama has no tax treaties with any other country and no exchange control laws.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas provides offshore banking, registration of offshore companies, registration of ships and offshore trust management. Offshore companies are not required to submit any accounting records to tax authorities.

The Bahamas is a pure tax haven, with no tax liability at all for offshore companies or individual offshore bank account holders on income earned outside of the jurisdiction.

The British Virgin Islands

There are no taxes on offshore companies, and BVI IBCs pay no taxes on profits or capital gains generated from outside of the BVI. The only monetary payment an offshore corporation must make to the BVI government is an annual business license fee. An advantage to offshore banking customers and offshore companies incorporated in the BVI is that there are no exchange controls.

Dominica

Dominica is a pure tax haven that imposes no income taxes, no corporate taxes and no capital gains tax on income earned abroad. There are also no withholding taxes and no estate taxes, including inheritance taxes or gift taxes. Offshore companies and trusts do not have to pay any stamp duty on transfers of assets. People of any nationality may form offshore corporations in Dominica.

Costa Rica

Companies incorporated in Costa Rica are allowed to conduct business both within and outside of the jurisdiction. Offshore companies incorporated in Costa Rica do not have to file any financial reports with Costa Rican tax authorities. They are not required to disclose the names of owners to the registrar of companies. Costa Rica tightly protects the privacy of offshore banking. Money or other financial assets can be transferred in or out of Costa Rica without any limitation on the amount – and without having to disclose the source of funds.

The website Investopedia offers some great advice, tips and information about tax saving when buying or investing in the Carribbean.

Read The Top 10 Caribbean Tax Havens