Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Grace Bay residence at Point Grace Hotel.

From the moment you arrive at the front entrance it is obvious this is a home and not a rental unit.
This 3 bedroom condo is on the third floor in the west building at Point Grace resort on Grace Bay Beach.

Featuring 2,612 square feet of luxury living, you can enjoy remarkable sunsets from this suite. Although this home has never been in the rental pool, with 3 well appointed bedrooms, each with their own bath, it could do very well as a rental at this luxury boutique hotel.

Point Grace has consistently been favored by Conde Nast as an outstanding boutique hotel. Don’t miss this opportunity to view this property.

With the hurricane season well underway here in the Caribbean, a few thoughts at preventative care and 1st-line reaction seem timely.

Homeowners should begin their disaster preparations by developing a plan. A good plan includes not only an emergency preparedness kit, with important papers, food and water, and extra blankets and flashlights, but also a well-thought out plan for how family members will evacuate and communicate—making sure that everyone in the family is familiar with the plan and knows what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.

Homeowners who live in high-risk areas should have a “go-bag” ready in case they need to leave quickly; including a change of clothing, insurance policy and agent contact information, and toiletries as well as money, an evacuation route and a place to stay. If you rent your property, it is only common sense and considerate to leave a hurricane preparedness information packet for your guests.

It’s smart to catalog all of your possessions using a digital camcorder or camera and move expensive items to a higher location such as a second floor or attic. This is also true if you are an absentee owner and leave your own possessions in an empty or rental property.

Make sure your home is properly insured against natural disasters, since many plans don’t cover earthquakes, hurricanes and floods—especially in high risk areas—and consider supplemental disaster insurance policies that cover losses from specific catastrophes that traditional policies don’t cover. Homeowners should first review their existing policy to determine what’s covered since supplemental plans can cost a few hundred dollars to several thousand each year depending on the type of disaster and the home’s location, size and type, and then determine their area’s disaster risk. If you are a condo owner, then be sure you know what the association policy covers and what is left to you.

In the event of a hurricane, reinforce doors and windows against strong winds. Hurricane film is an inexpensive, clear plastic film that keeps glass shards from becoming dangerous missiles and can be left in place year-round, however it can’t prevent heavy winds from blowing in the entire window frame. Another less expensive alternative is plywood; its downside is that it’s temporary and is often put up at the last minute when a hurricane is approaching. An easier but more expensive alternative is roll-up or accordion-style storm shutters that are permanently attached to a house. The most expensive option may be high-impact windows, made of two panes of tempered glass separated by a plastic film. They are always in place and since they look like standard windows, they don’t affect a home’s appearance. Many homes in the Caribbean do have hurricane shutters. Know what you have available.

Preventative maintenance can also lessen property damage. Leaky roofs and foundation cracks can let water into a home more readily and weaken the structure, so it’s important to make repairs quickly. It’s also good to clear gutters and drains, invest in a battery-powered sump pump, and prevent sewage backup by installing a check valve, which allows waste to only flow one way. It’s also smart to catalog all of your possessions using a digital camcorder or camera and move expensive items to a higher location such as a second floor or attic.

If flood waters do make their way into a home, be proactive within the first 24 hours. Before entering the home, check for any visible structural damage. Turn off all water and electrical sources, even if the power isn’t currently operational. Before making repairs or removing any water, fully document the damage by taking photos or video and notify your insurer as soon as possible. Wear waders or waterproof boots and rubber gloves because water could be contaminated by sewage or household chemicals. After the insurer has approved removing the water, use a sump pump or wet vac, open doors and windows, and remove wet contents, including carpeting and bedding, to mitigate mold damage.

For more information, visit www.houselogic.com.

(resource: RISMedia.com)

Grace Bay residence at Point Grace Hotel.

From the moment you arrive at the front entrance it is obvious this is a home and not a rental unit.
This 3 bedroom condo is on the third floor in the west building at Point Grace resort on Grace Bay Beach.

Featuring 2,612 square feet of luxury living, you can enjoy remarkable sunsets from this suite. Although this home has never been in the rental pool, with 3 well appointed bedrooms, each with their own bath, it could do very well as a rental at this luxury boutique hotel.

Point Grace has consistently been favored by Conde Nast as an outstanding boutique hotel. Don’t miss this opportunity to view this property.

The Turks and Caicos U20 Men’s National Football Team will soon compete with the United States Virgin Islands in what is expected to be an exciting test of wills for the local team in a home and away game format.

The 2010 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U20 Men’s Tournament will see Team TCI play the first phase of the competition of the scheduled match-up, from which the winner will qualify for the Second Phase Preliminary Stage, joining Jamaica, Guyana and Grenada.

The first game will take place at the TCI National Stadium in Providenciales on Wednesday, Sept. 8, with a kick-off time of 4 p.m.

“Whilst the at home and away format requires considerably more expense on TCIFA’s part, the approach to host one of the matches in TCI was taken to give our players an opportunity to showcase their talents in the presence of TCI supporters and peers, who may not have an opportunity to travel to the USVI to support the team,” said Sonia Bien-Aime, general secretary to the TCIFA.

“The Football Association’s aim is to be competitive at regional level, and these games will be an important indication of where we are currently in this regard,” she said. “We still have a young squad of players, and these matches will give the young men much needed experience in a higher level of competition.”

The second leg will be held in the USVI on Sept. 14 at The St. Croix Educational Complex Grounds, Rural Route No. 2, Kingshill.

The TCIFA, a non-for-profit organisation in the business of football development throughout the TCI, has been in operation since 1996 and a member of FIFA since 1998.

The above article is a reprint from The Free Press Newspaper, published Thursday, Aug 26, 2010. www.tcfreepress.com.

The Turks and Caicos U20 Men’s National Football Team will soon compete with the United States Virgin Islands in what is expected to be an exciting test of wills for the local team in a home and away game format.

The 2010 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U20 Men’s Tournament will see Team TCI play the first phase of the competition of the scheduled match-up, from which the winner will qualify for the Second Phase Preliminary Stage, joining Jamaica, Guyana and Grenada.

The first game will take place at the TCI National Stadium in Providenciales on Wednesday, Sept. 8, with a kick-off time of 4 p.m.

“Whilst the at home and away format requires considerably more expense on TCIFA’s part, the approach to host one of the matches in TCI was taken to give our players an opportunity to showcase their talents in the presence of TCI supporters and peers, who may not have an opportunity to travel to the USVI to support the team,” said Sonia Bien-Aime, general secretary to the TCIFA.

“The Football Association’s aim is to be competitive at regional level, and these games will be an important indication of where we are currently in this regard,” she said. “We still have a young squad of players, and these matches will give the young men much needed experience in a higher level of competition.”

The second leg will be held in the USVI on Sept. 14 at The St. Croix Educational Complex Grounds, Rural Route No. 2, Kingshill.

The TCIFA, a non-for-profit organisation in the business of football development throughout the TCI, has been in operation since 1996 and a member of FIFA since 1998.

The above article is a reprint from The Free Press Newspaper, published Thursday, Aug 26, 2010. www.tcfreepress.com.

Keeping your finances in good order during a recession is key to building wealth in the real estate market over the long-term. The average rate on 15-year fixed loans dropped today to 3.86% from 3.9% last week. For the ninth time in the past 10 weeks mortgage rates have been dropping to their lowest levels in decades. Starting in 1971 Freddie Mac began tracking 30-year interest rates, this week they reported 30-year fixed loan rates at 4.36% vs 4.42% last week. The 15-year rate is at its lowest since they began tracking in 1991.

With 82.4% of all new US loan activity categorized as “refinanced loans and mortgages” refinancing is now at its highest level since May 2009. Low rates have sent borrowers back to their banks to re-negotiate home loans at favorable terms, allowing homeowners to put a little more money back into their wallets each month. Shortening the amortization, refinancing at lower interest rates while keeping the same monthly payment was also desirable to current homeowners that wanted to repay their mortgage quickly. You will need to provide proof of income, stable employment and a good credit history to qualify for the best rates and terms.

Variable mortgage rates for one-year terms fell to 3.52% and five-year terms remained unchanged at 3.56%.

Lenders are currently taking a closer look at the security for the mortgages they are approving and will often add fees known as points to the base rates posted by banks and lending institutions. Owner occupied and income producing properties are considered preferred security over non-income producing real estate such as raw land.

Contact your local bank for more information. For mortgage and loan rates in the Turks & Caicos Islands contact us and we’ll put you in touch with our local lenders. www.coldwellbankertci.com.

Keeping your finances in good order during a recession is key to building wealth in the real estate market over the long-term. The average rate on 15-year fixed loans dropped today to 3.86% from 3.9% last week. For the ninth time in the past 10 weeks mortgage rates have been dropping to their lowest levels in decades. Starting in 1971 Freddie Mac began tracking 30-year interest rates, this week they reported 30-year fixed loan rates at 4.36% vs 4.42% last week. The 15-year rate is at its lowest since they began tracking in 1991.

With 82.4% of all new US loan activity categorized as “refinanced loans and mortgages” refinancing is now at its highest level since May 2009. Low rates have sent borrowers back to their banks to re-negotiate home loans at favorable terms, allowing homeowners to put a little more money back into their wallets each month. Shortening the amortization, refinancing at lower interest rates while keeping the same monthly payment was also desirable to current homeowners that wanted to repay their mortgage quickly. You will need to provide proof of income, stable employment and a good credit history to qualify for the best rates and terms.

Variable mortgage rates for one-year terms fell to 3.52% and five-year terms remained unchanged at 3.56%.

Lenders are currently taking a closer look at the security for the mortgages they are approving and will often add fees known as points to the base rates posted by banks and lending institutions. Owner occupied and income producing properties are considered preferred security over non-income producing real estate such as raw land.

Contact your local bank for more information. For mortgage and loan rates in the Turks & Caicos Islands contact us and we’ll put you in touch with our local lenders. www.coldwellbankertci.com.

Article below was issued by The Free Press Newspaper, written by FP Staff, in the August 19, 2010 Edition.

Soon an air of nostalgia will fill the empty walls of Cockburn Medical Centre in Grand Turk.

Pioneered by the National Museum through its intern Shalomar Forbes, new life will be added to the hospital as it features restored old photos of the capital’s first formal facilities which date back to the early 1960s.

Shalomar, who will be completing a degree in graphic design this year at Barry University in Miami, spent many hours restoring 14 old black-and-white prints of the Grand Turk medical facility.

She scanned the historic images, which are part of the permanent collection at the National Museum, and cleaned them up using special software.

“The original pictures were so small, about 2 inches square, and enlarging them proved very difficult,” Shalomar said. “They are over 50 years old, and every small scratch or spot became huge once we scanned them in.”

However, her hard work was not in vain, and the photos were enlarged more than five times their original size. Some of the restored images show the Grand Turk hospital, nurse Bailey and images of the probationary nurses’ class which were all photographed by Allan Bishop in the early 1960s.

Brian Hogan, NHIB’s chief executive officer, said it was an appropriate way to pay tribute to medical pioneers that laid the foundation of the modern medical system.

“We felt that incorporating a bit of TCI’s healthcare history was the best way to demonstrate our appreciation to healthcare professionals and remind people how TCI’s healthcare system has evolved.”

National Museum Director Neal Hitch said medicine has come a long way since the first facilities.

“Medical facilities were at a minimum in the Turks and Caicos during 1960s with a 16 bed hospital on Grand Turk, a small operating theatre, an X-ray machine with limited capacity and a rudimentary laboratory,” Hitch said.

“Medical staff included two medical officers, one on Grand Turk and one in South Caicos. The staff at the Grand Turk hospital consisted of a matron, four staff nurses, three probationary nurses and one nurse working as a midwife.”

During 1960, eight women from the Caicos Islands were recruited and trained in Grand Turk to be midwives, he said. They were considered settlement nurses and were provided with a nurse’s bag, dressing, scissors, and a stretcher on which to evacuate very ill patients.

Prior to that, many local settlements were without any trained medical help. By 1967 the Grand Turk hospital was aided by four medical clinics in the islands, in Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Bottle Creek on North Caicos. Much changed by 1970 when medical staff included two doctors, one dentist, one matron, seven staff nurses, nine settlement nurses, nine probationary nurses and two public health inspectors.

Hogan said they showed current staff members the historic prints before they were taken for framing, and one recognized a family member.

“We hope that persons visiting our offices will take time out to look at the amazing prints; who knows, you might see yourself, a family member or a friend,” Hogan said.

Anyone who owns black-and-white prints showcasing the health sector, hospitality or utility sector is encouraged to contact the museum.

e360’s latest 2nd Home Trend Report, conducted this past June/July, shows positive signs for the Coldwell Banker Island Affiliates, throughout the Caribbean. The report surveyed existing second home buyers on preferences for timing, attributes, location, and pricing of an additional second home purchase.

Of those 45% indicating that they are in the market for a second home, Mexico was the top international destination with more than half of the total interest. More impressively, of the remaining 54% who indicated that now would not be a good time to buy, 79% indicated that they would be likely or very likely to purchase in the next 2 years.

As consistent with current market trends, lifestyle and vacation attributes are the leading motivator at 46%. Investment purposes showed 41%. Second home purchases for the purpose of retirement ranked 3rd at just over 11%.

The desire for a second home geared for vacation purposes is not a surprising finding. E360’s Global Research Analyst, Chad Martin, said “This is a consistent trend with the preferred attributes of the buyer being water views and proximity to water or mountain activities.” Lake and ocean views combined for an overwhelming majority of the preferred attributes surveyed with mountain views coming second.

Martin added that while spa and medical facilities have exhibited recent high growth rate forecasts in recent studies, respondents did not translate that growth into the highest motivation for second home purchases. Green-based second homes also did not show the highest appeal, nor has golf amenities translated into sales.

The appeal of being close to the water with an ocean view should help keep our beautiful Caribbean Islands as an attractive 2nd home location in the next few years. Contact a Coldwell Banker agent with any questions you have on investing in our real estate.

Article below was issued by The Free Press Newspaper, written by FP Staff, in the August 19, 2010 Edition…….

Soon an air of nostalgia will fill the empty walls of Cockburn Medical Centre in Grand Turk.

Pioneered by the National Museum through its intern Shalomar Forbes, new life will be added to the hospital as it features restored old photos of the capital’s first formal facilities which date back to the early 1960s.

Shalomar, who will be completing a degree in graphic design this year at Barry University in Miami, spent many hours restoring 14 old black-and-white prints of the Grand Turk medical facility.

She scanned the historic images, which are part of the permanent collection at the National Museum, and cleaned them up using special software.

“The original pictures were so small, about 2 inches square, and enlarging them proved very difficult,” Shalomar said. “They are over 50 years old, and every small scratch or spot became huge once we scanned them in.”

However, her hard work was not in vain, and the photos were enlarged more than five times their original size. Some of the restored images show the Grand Turk hospital, nurse Bailey and images of the probationary nurses’ class which were all photographed by Allan Bishop in the early 1960s.

Brian Hogan, NHIB’s chief executive officer, said it was an appropriate way to pay tribute to medical pioneers that laid the foundation of the modern medical system.

“We felt that incorporating a bit of TCI’s healthcare history was the best way to demonstrate our appreciation to healthcare professionals and remind people how TCI’s healthcare system has evolved.”

National Museum Director Neal Hitch said medicine has come a long way since the first facilities.

“Medical facilities were at a minimum in the Turks and Caicos during 1960s with a 16 bed hospital on Grand Turk, a small operating theatre, an X-ray machine with limited capacity and a rudimentary laboratory,” Hitch said.

“Medical staff included two medical officers, one on Grand Turk and one in South Caicos. The staff at the Grand Turk hospital consisted of a matron, four staff nurses, three probationary nurses and one nurse working as a midwife.”

During 1960, eight women from the Caicos Islands were recruited and trained in Grand Turk to be midwives, he said. They were considered settlement nurses and were provided with a nurse’s bag, dressing, scissors, and a stretcher on which to evacuate very ill patients.

Prior to that, many local settlements were without any trained medical help. By 1967 the Grand Turk hospital was aided by four medical clinics in the islands, in Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Bottle Creek on North Caicos. Much changed by 1970 when medical staff included two doctors, one dentist, one matron, seven staff nurses, nine settlement nurses, nine probationary nurses and two public health inspectors.

Hogan said they showed current staff members the historic prints before they were taken for framing, and one recognized a family member.

“We hope that persons visiting our offices will take time out to look at the amazing prints; who knows, you might see yourself, a family member or a friend,” Hogan said.

Anyone who owns black-and-white prints showcasing the health sector, hospitality or utility sector is encouraged to contact the museum.