Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Mikaya is quite simply the right house at the right price. With a spacious open plan of lounge/kitchen/dining area, 3 bedrooms, large shady terraces and a pool, it ticks all the boxes. Two bedrooms and bathrooms are on the upper level and the third, again with ensuite bathroom is on the lower level, next to the pool. There is also an inviting jacuzzi on the lower level. The views out over North Sound are nothing short of spectacular. Whether you are simply looking for a home in the sun or a vacation home with rental income potential, Mikaya will prove ideal. Leverick Bay Resort, a short distance down the hill, provides a bar, restaurant, shop, beach, tennis and watersports. Leverick is also one of the few places in the BVI you can own a home and park your boat out the front. Asking $1,600,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos.

In the 19th century, stones from Ballast Bay were used by trading ships to balance their vessels as they sailed to and from the islands. In more peaceful times, fishermen would cast their nets from these shores. Today, Ballast Bay is the perfect spot for the more relaxing pursuits of soaking up the sun and enjoying the spectacular views of Cane Garden Bay and the sailboats that choose to drop their hook at one of the BVI’s favourite anchorages. One of Tortola’s finest sandy beaches is only moments away for those who love to feel the grains between their toes yet far enough to guarantee peace and tranquillity. Lot size 0.358 acres. Asking $120,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos.

Online Degrees.net offered to share their blog on hurricane preparedness with us. We wrote some tips in June, but one can never be too prepared. Visit their blog for all of the 100 tips. Here are the 1st 12, for General Supplies:

1. Pack a to-go bag: This overnight bag should be easy to take with you if you have to evacuate in a hurry and should include a change of clothes, bottled water, flashlight and important documents.
2. Cash: ATMs and credit card machines may not work for a while after the storm.
3. Battery-operated radio: Make sure you have extra batteries too, so that you can keep up with news reports and alerts. Hand-crank radios work well, too.
4. Secure a two-week supply of prescription medicine: Anyone on prescription medications, as well as pregnant women, should pack a two-week supply of their meds in a sealable plastic bag, clearly labeled. Include instructions for taking the medications, too.
5. Flashlight and lanterns: Make sure you have a couple of flashlights, candles, matches, lanterns and other alternate sources of light.
6. Personal hygiene items: It might be hard to get to the store to buy toilet paper, tissues, soap and other sanitary items after the storm.
7. Extra keys: Having an extra set of keys in your kit is a good idea in case people get separated or if they’re lost in a flood or the confusion.
8. Pet items: Remember food, medicine and water for your pet, too.
9. Disinfectant: You never know what mess you’ll have after a storm.
10. Checklist: This printable checklist can serve as a guide for your own personal checklist. Give one to each family member to personalize.
11. Extra batteries: You’ll need extra batteries for your radio, flashlights, and other items. Get these early before they all sell out.
12. Prepare early: Emergency items sell out quickly at the stores, so stock up your kit before hurricane season even starts, and replenish food supplies every six months.

Other categories in this extensive review are
*First Aid
*Repair & Maintenance
*Food & Water
*Power Outages
*Entertainment
*Special Needs
*Evacuating
*Paperwork
*Staying Informed
*Safety

Be sure and read the full blog, as you will probably find some ideas to help you and your loved ones be ready for our next major storm.

A new website, Jewels of the BVI, has been developed by the BVI Tourism Accommodation Properties (TAP) with the support of the BVI Tourist Board, to showcase the range of locally-owned and operated accommodations in BVI.

The “Jewels of the BVI” is a collection of 43 hotels, inns, and villas owned by BVIslanders on the territory’s four main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. In addition to the website, potential visitors can call toll-free 1-866-GOTOBVI (866-468-6284) to learn more about what each property has to offer and make bookings.

The website lists all 43 BVI TAP member properties and provides valuable information about the properties, the BVI’s main islands, and activities for tourists. Website visitors can search for properties by island, type of accommodation, and number of guests. The properties range from economical accommodations with rates of less than US$150 per night to more luxurious villas and hotels.

As locally-owned hotels, villas, and intimate inns, each property is carefully maintained and offers an authentic experience imbued with the stories and culture of the British Virgin Islands. Not unlike the overall sense of the destination, a stay at one of the Jewels of the BVI offers a relaxing pace, a personal connection, and a warm feeling of hospitality that cannot be replicated.

(resource: bvitourism.com)

Rose Lodge sits in a magnificent hillside location that allows you to capture the full beauty of those classic BVI sunsets. The two bedroom main house is perfectly placed to capture views to the west including the beach at Long Bay and the islands of Jost Van Dyke, St Thomas and beyond. The very private one bedroom guest cottage faces due north and enjoys fantastic vistas of Cane Garden Bay. The garden at Rose Lodge is wonderfully mature and full of character. A lovely tropical collection of tall palms, fruit trees and plenty of color surrounds a flat, usable grass lawn, a rare find amongst the hillsides of Tortola. A single car garage sits beneath the Guest Cottage. The main house offers some potential for further development. Asking $1,100,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker listing page for more photos.

7 Reasons to Own Your Home

1. Tax breaks. Usually these favor homeowners. Check with a local Coldwell Banker to discuss tax advantages of home ownership.

2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value, not withstanding the recent market fluctuations.

3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.

4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan.

5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will probably increase.

6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home.

7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to develop and enjoy a sense of community.

Come visit our Coldwell Banker office and discuss your home buying opportunities with one of our experienced agents.

This recently constructed, pristine example of rarely available waterfront property has been built to offer uncompromising luxury and seclusion to satisfy the most discerning of clients. From the grand Living Room with its elevated ceilings and breathtaking views out over the spacious, covered main terrace, to the sumptuous Master Bedroom and bathroom Suites, every element is practically perfect. At the water’s edge, along with the private dock for vessels of up to approx 30′, a slipway for hauling out boats and a deep water mooring ball for larger vessels just offshore, sits a delightful entertainment terrace with outdoor kitchen, shady pagoda and carp pond. A swim ladder allows snorkellers to easily enter the turquoise ocean and enjoy the warm waters teeming with fish and coral right off the dock. Asking $5,200,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos and details.

The International Academy of the Visual Arts has named Coldwell Banker On Location, the brand’s YouTube channel, a recipient of this year’s Communicator Awards for Creative Excellence in the real estate website category. The category honors the best site for the sale or rental of residential or commercial property.

“We were the first national real estate brand to add streaming video to our website. Today, our agents across the globe have posted more than 15,000 videos to our On Location channel,” said Mike Fischer, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “The most exciting part of On Location is that we have only just begun—there’s a lot more to come.”

On Location has been rated among the top 10 most-viewed brand channels on YouTube. This April, just 11 months after launching On Location, Coldwell Banker announced it had received over 1 million views. The site was launched in May 2009 and was produced in collaboration with FD Kinesis.

“Home buyers would much rather see a home than only read about it,” Fischer said. “Our On Location videos empower them to get a feel for a home, a community or a real estate professional that they could not get from photos or a text description alone. Equally important are the home sellers who are now expecting video to be a part of marketing their property.”

With thousands of entries received from across the United States and around the world, the Communicator Awards is one of the largest and most competitive awards program honoring the creative excellence for communications professionals. The Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, advertising and marketing firms.

(source: RisMedia.com)

We are pleased to offer 3 units in the Islands Time Condos of Virgin Gorda. Each is one bedroom, one bath, 1,200 SF interior, priced at $595,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC officially launched the new version of its website, www.coldwellbanker.com, which has been in beta form since December 2009. Wholly re-thought and re-designed, the site features optimizations that completely alter and enhance the experience of searching for a home online, the company stated.

The site includes a variety of new features, such as:
-BlueScape Search - Taking cues from popular music recommendation websites, Coldwell Banker developed BlueScape, a visually-driven real estate search platform to help “dreamers” find just that–the home of their dreams. Instead of limiting search options to zip code or the number of bedrooms, users begin the search by rating abstract images with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” from landscape scenery to images of snow mobiles and taxi cabs. At any time, users can submit a query and the BlueScape technology will identify homes that are a good fit using all properties available through ColdwellBanker.com nationwide.

-Keyword Search - For those who prefer a more traditional approach to searching for a home, Coldwell Banker has added keyword capabilities to its general real estate search function so that consumers can more easily narrow down the properties they are interested in viewing.

-Similar Properties – Coldwell Banker also added a “You May Also Like” feature that offers additional homes of interest, based on a range of characteristics from properties consumers select as “preferred.”

-Expansive Use of Video - Taking advantage of the popularity of Coldwell Banker On Location, the brand’s YouTube channel which has had more than 13,000 videos posted by agents and 1.3 million video views in a bit more than one year, the new site integrates video into real estate search.

Additional capabilities of the ColdwellBanker.com site include:
Technology that immediately identifies the current location of visitors via their IP address, offering up homes for sale in that area; Join Us: a recruiting resource enabling brokers to promote job opportunities and create local career pages; Learn: helpful real estate news and tips for consumers, such as real-time industry articles from the Associated Press and Home File: Place for consumers to store, share and organize a limitless amount of property searches, sales associate and real estate office information and industry articles.

Coldwell Banker also included integrated video and social networking capabilities to the new site. Visitors will have access to an array of videos powered by Coldwell Banker On Location, the company’s branded YouTube channel, offering behind-the-scenes looks at towns and neighborhoods, tips and timely news on real estate topics and video listings of homes for sale.

(resource: RISMedia.com)