Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Bloemond Park Christmas Lights
Today, Dec. 20, is the annual Christmas Bazaar when almost all of the stores downtown are open until 8 PM. Mainstreet is closed to traffic, there is live entertainment, and the stores have special gifts and raffles.
Christmas Day is a national holiday, celebrated with the season’s special foods and drinks. Visit Aruba offers a recipie for Christmas Roasted Ham and Ayaca, a tradition adopted a couple of decades ago from Venezulan immigrants.
Bon Probecho!

North Caicos - The Turks & Caicos Islands

The “Garden Island” of North Caicos can be reached easily by private boat or public ferry service from Providenciales, the island also has an airstrip.

Made up of the four settlements of Whitby, Bottle Creek, Kew and Sandy Point, it is a slow-paced and idyll lifestyle for the 2,000 or so residents.

Characterized by lush flora, the island boasts unique native fruits such as the sugar apples, guineps and sapodillas.

While on North Caicos you can explore freshwater ponds, plantation ruins, inter-tidal wetlands or observe the spectacular flamingo populations. Water enthusiasts will enjoy snorkelling at Three Marys Cays and scuba diving on unexplored reefs.

Upscale resort and condominium developments are under construction to complement the existing hotels, guesthouses and villas for rent.

Beach and ocean front properties such as Pumpkin Bluff, Seaside and Sandy Point feature picture perfect residential lots, a few properties are currently available for re-sale. The North Caicos Yacht Club, often referred to as the premier development for canal lots, is a first rate quality development featuring wide concrete top dock, underground utilities, paved roads and lush landscaping throughout this development.

To view investment properties currently available for sale on North Caicos visit our website at www.coldwellbankertci.com or contact Nathan G Smith (649) 231-5555, email nathansmith@coldwellbankertci.com, or Steve Allen (649) 232-1200, email steveallen@coldwellbankertci.com.

Coldwell Banker, we never stop moving…….

Real Estate For Sale - Royal West Indies Resort in the Turks & Caicos Islands

The Royal West Indies Resort offers an affordable option to be on the best stretch beach of Grace Bay in a relaxed, intimate resort environment.

Surrounded by numerous multi-million dollar condo’s on the 12 mile stretch of Grace Bay Beach, this hotel sits on a 5 acre parcel of land and features the ever popular Mango Reef Restaurant and Bar.

The on-site management does a first rate job with the resorts rental and maintenance operation - the result is clearly happy owners and repeat guests due to their continuing effort. Contact listing agents for financial information on this investment property.

Featuring two swimming pools, jacuzzi, lush tropical gardening all on the beach. Within walking distance to the shops, restaurants and amenities in the Grace Bay Hotel and Resort area.

This suite is a super buy at $415,000 USD, ready for the new owner to enjoy vacations and vacation income. MLS #076669.

Contact Coldwell Banker Real Estate Turks & Caicos
www.coldwellbankertci.com

Nathan G. Smith (649) 231-5555 or Steve Allen (649) 232-1200

Coldwell Banker, we never stop moving…….

The home-buying process can be daunting, particularly for the first-timer. Liz Pulliam Weston with MSN Real Estate suggests the following timeline as an ideal one for someone purchasing their first home. Of course the steps can be accomplished in far less time, particularly if you employ trusted industry experts for advice.

As soon as possible (Ms. Pulliam Weston suggests one year)…
Obtain a copy of your credit report. In the US, the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer free credit reports. You should scan the report for errors: accounts that aren’t yours and other mistakes will negatively impact your credit and may cause you to pay higher interest rates. Errors and mistakes can usually be dealt with and usually without assistance from an attorney. If you are outside the US in a country without a formal credit tracking system contact a local lender and ask them if you have doubts about your ability to finance a home purchase. Lenders can have vastly different opinions about late payments, repossessions and bankruptcies depending largely upon how badly they want to make the loan.

Improve your credit rating.
In the US most mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring formula. For $50 you can buy your FICO score for all 3 credit reporting agencies at MyFico.com. In the US or not, you can improve your credit standing by avoiding late payments, pay down credit cards and don’t open or close any new accounts while you’re in the market for a mortgage.

Deal with your debt.
Eradicate high interest "toxic" loans: credit card balances and pay-day loans because they are indicators you are living beyond your means. Low interest debt such as student loans or auto loans generally won’t present an obstacle.

Save, save, save.
You will have more financing options the more money you have to put down. 5% is minimum but 10% is better and if you can demonstrate that you saved this money on your own over a period of time, so much the better. Don’t show up at the mortgage lender’s office flush with a cash infusion from Uncle Bob. That doesn’t show character. But if you can accumulate the down payment over a period of time by avoiding eating out, dropping your cable TV subscription or other, that does.

Put your bills on automatic.
Use on-line bill paying and the recurring payment feature. Better yet, consider using automatic debt payments so that the bill is paid directly from your checking account. A single late payment can harm your chances of getting the loan to purchase your dream home.

Next Week: 6 months out

The Bahamas real estate development, Bimini Bay, has received the green light from the Bahamas government for phase 2A.
Bimini Bay has been the target of criticism by persons and groups concerned that the Bahamas real estate residential and resort complex was having a negative affect on the fragile mangrove and reef systems.
Phase 2A is subject to an environmental impact assessment, an environmental management plan, a town meeting and a published report, according to a statement released this week by the Bahamas Ministry of Environment.
The Bahamas Government contracted Black and Veatch to conduct an independent evaluation of the previously approved real estate development.

The home-buying process can be daunting, particularly for the first-timer. Liz Pulliam Weston with MSN Real Estate suggests the following timeline as an ideal one for someone purchasing their first home. Of course the steps can be accomplished in far less time, particularly if you employ trusted industry experts for advice.

As soon as possible (Ms. Pulliam Weston suggests one year)…
Obtain a copy of your credit report. In the US, the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer free credit reports. You should scan the report for errors: accounts that aren’t yours and other mistakes will negatively impact your credit and may cause you to pay higher interest rates. Errors and mistakes can usually be dealt with and usually without assistance from an attorney. If you are outside the US in a country without a formal credit tracking system contact a local lender and ask them if you have doubts about your ability to finance a home purchase. Lenders can have vastly different opinions about late payments, repossessions and bankruptcies depending largely upon how badly they want to make the loan.

Improve your credit rating.
In the US most mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring formula. For $50 you can buy your FICO score for all 3 credit reporting agencies at MyFico.com. In the US or not, you can improve your credit standing by avoiding late payments, pay down credit cards and don’t open or close any new accounts while you’re in the market for a mortgage.

Deal with your debt.
Eradicate high interest “toxic” loans: credit card balances and pay-day loans because they are indicators you are living beyond your means. Low interest debt such as student loans or auto loans generally won’t present an obstacle.

Save, save, save.
You will have more financing options the more money you have to put down. 5% is minimum but 10% is better and if you can demonstrate that you saved this money on your own over a period of time, so much the better. Don’t show up at the mortgage lender’s office flush with a cash infusion from Uncle Bob. That doesn’t show character. But if you can accumulate the down payment over a period of time by avoiding eating out, dropping your cable TV subscription or other, that does.

Put your bills on automatic.
Use on-line bill paying and the recurring payment feature. Better yet, consider using automatic debt payments so that the bill is paid directly from your checking account. A single late payment can harm your chances of getting the loan to purchase your dream home.

Next Week: 6 months out

The home-buying process can be daunting, particularly for the first-timer. Liz Pulliam Weston with MSN Real Estate suggests the following timeline as an ideal one for someone purchasing their first home. Of course the steps can be accomplished in far less time, particularly if you employ trusted industry experts for advice.

As soon as possible (Ms. Pulliam Weston suggests one year)…
Obtain a copy of your credit report. In the US, the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer free credit reports. You should scan the report for errors: accounts that aren’t yours and other mistakes will negatively impact your credit and may cause you to pay higher interest rates. Errors and mistakes can usually be dealt with and usually without assistance from an attorney. If you are outside the US in a country without a formal credit tracking system contact a local lender and ask them if you have doubts about your ability to finance a home purchase. Lenders can have vastly different opinions about late payments, repossessions and bankruptcies depending largely upon how badly they want to make the loan.

Improve your credit rating.
In the US most mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring formula. For $50 you can buy your FICO score for all 3 credit reporting agencies at MyFico.com. In the US or not, you can improve your credit standing by avoiding late payments, pay down credit cards and don’t open or close any new accounts while you’re in the market for a mortgage.

Deal with your debt.
Eradicate high interest “toxic” loans: credit card balances and pay-day loans because they are indicators you are living beyond your means. Low interest debt such as student loans or auto loans generally won’t present an obstacle.

Save, save, save.
You will have more financing options the more money you have to put down. 5% is minimum but 10% is better and if you can demonstrate that you saved this money on your own over a period of time, so much the better. Don’t show up at the mortgage lender’s office flush with a cash infusion from Uncle Bob. That doesn’t show character. But if you can accumulate the down payment over a period of time by avoiding eating out, dropping your cable TV subscription or other, that does.

Put your bills on automatic.
Use on-line bill paying and the recurring payment feature. Better yet, consider using automatic debt payments so that the bill is paid directly from your checking account. A single late payment can harm your chances of getting the loan to purchase your dream home.

Next Week: 6 months out

The home-buying process can be daunting, particularly for the first-timer. Liz Pulliam Weston with MSN Real Estate suggests the following timeline as an ideal one for someone purchasing their first home. Of course the steps can be accomplished in far less time, particularly if you employ trusted industry experts for advice.

As soon as possible (Ms. Pulliam Weston suggests one year)…
Obtain a copy of your credit report. In the US, the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer free credit reports. You should scan the report for errors: accounts that aren’t yours and other mistakes will negatively impact your credit and may cause you to pay higher interest rates. Errors and mistakes can usually be dealt with and usually without assistance from an attorney. If you are outside the US in a country without a formal credit tracking system contact a local lender and ask them if you have doubts about your ability to finance a home purchase. Lenders can have vastly different opinions about late payments, repossessions and bankruptcies depending largely upon how badly they want to make the loan.

Improve your credit rating.
In the US most mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring formula. For $50 you can buy your FICO score for all 3 credit reporting agencies at MyFico.com. In the US or not, you can improve your credit standing by avoiding late payments, pay down credit cards and don’t open or close any new accounts while you’re in the market for a mortgage.

Deal with your debt.
Eradicate high interest “toxic” loans: credit card balances and pay-day loans because they are indicators you are living beyond your means. Low interest debt such as student loans or auto loans generally won’t present an obstacle.

Save, save, save.
You will have more financing options the more money you have to put down. 5% is minimum but 10% is better and if you can demonstrate that you saved this money on your own over a period of time, so much the better. Don’t show up at the mortgage lender’s office flush with a cash infusion from Uncle Bob. That doesn’t show character. But if you can accumulate the down payment over a period of time by avoiding eating out, dropping your cable TV subscription or other, that does.

Put your bills on automatic.
Use on-line bill paying and the recurring payment feature. Better yet, consider using automatic debt payments so that the bill is paid directly from your checking account. A single late payment can harm your chances of getting the loan to purchase your dream home.

Next Week: 6 months out

The home-buying process can be daunting, particularly for the first-timer. Liz Pulliam Weston with MSN Real Estate suggests the following timeline as an ideal one for someone purchasing their first home. Of course the steps can be accomplished in far less time, particularly if you employ trusted industry experts for advice.

As soon as possible (Ms. Pulliam Weston suggests one year)…
Obtain a copy of your credit report. In the US, the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer free credit reports. You should scan the report for errors: accounts that aren’t yours and other mistakes will negatively impact your credit and may cause you to pay higher interest rates. Errors and mistakes can usually be dealt with and usually without assistance from an attorney. If you are outside the US in a country without a formal credit tracking system contact a local lender and ask them if you have doubts about your ability to finance a home purchase. Lenders can have vastly different opinions about late payments, repossessions and bankruptcies depending largely upon how badly they want to make the loan.

Improve your credit rating.
In the US most mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring formula. For $50 you can buy your FICO score for all 3 credit reporting agencies at MyFico.com. In the US or not, you can improve your credit standing by avoiding late payments, pay down credit cards and don’t open or close any new accounts while you’re in the market for a mortgage.

Deal with your debt.
Eradicate high interest “toxic” loans: credit card balances and pay-day loans because they are indicators you are living beyond your means. Low interest debt such as student loans or auto loans generally won’t present an obstacle.

Save, save, save.
You will have more financing options the more money you have to put down. 5% is minimum but 10% is better and if you can demonstrate that you saved this money on your own over a period of time, so much the better. Don’t show up at the mortgage lender’s office flush with a cash infusion from Uncle Bob. That doesn’t show character. But if you can accumulate the down payment over a period of time by avoiding eating out, dropping your cable TV subscription or other, that does.

Put your bills on automatic.
Use on-line bill paying and the recurring payment feature. Better yet, consider using automatic debt payments so that the bill is paid directly from your checking account. A single late payment can harm your chances of getting the loan to purchase your dream home.

Next Week: 6 months out

The home-buying process can be daunting, particularly for the first-timer. Liz Pulliam Weston with MSN Real Estate suggests the following timeline as an ideal one for someone purchasing their first home. Of course the steps can be accomplished in far less time, particularly if you employ trusted industry experts for advice.

As soon as possible (Ms. Pulliam Weston suggests one year)…
Obtain a copy of your credit report. In the US, the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer free credit reports. You should scan the report for errors: accounts that aren’t yours and other mistakes will negatively impact your credit and may cause you to pay higher interest rates. Errors and mistakes can usually be dealt with and usually without assistance from an attorney. If you are outside the US in a country without a formal credit tracking system contact a local lender and ask them if you have doubts about your ability to finance a home purchase. Lenders can have vastly different opinions about late payments, repossessions and bankruptcies depending largely upon how badly they want to make the loan.

Improve your credit rating.
In the US most mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring formula. For $50 you can buy your FICO score for all 3 credit reporting agencies at MyFico.com. In the US or not, you can improve your credit standing by avoiding late payments, pay down credit cards and don’t open or close any new accounts while you’re in the market for a mortgage.

Deal with your debt.
Eradicate high interest “toxic” loans: credit card balances and pay-day loans because they are indicators you are living beyond your means. Low interest debt such as student loans or auto loans generally won’t present an obstacle.

Save, save, save.
You will have more financing options the more money you have to put down. 5% is minimum but 10% is better and if you can demonstrate that you saved this money on your own over a period of time, so much the better. Don’t show up at the mortgage lender’s office flush with a cash infusion from Uncle Bob. That doesn’t show character. But if you can accumulate the down payment over a period of time by avoiding eating out, dropping your cable TV subscription or other, that does.

Put your bills on automatic.
Use on-line bill paying and the recurring payment feature. Better yet, consider using automatic debt payments so that the bill is paid directly from your checking account. A single late payment can harm your chances of getting the loan to purchase your dream home.

Next Week: 6 months out