Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

There are 6 distinct ecosystems on Grand Bahama:

Pine Forest
Blackland Coppice
Rocky Coppice
Mangrove Swamp
Whiteland Coppice
Beach/Shoreline

Pine Forest: According to the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, “Though people envision palm trees when they think of the Bahamas, the Caribbean pine is actually the most common tree on the island, covering 50% of the land mass. This unique tree (bahamensis var.) is endemic to only four of The Islands of The Bahamas. It is fire resistant, containing resins just under its bark that set off small explosions when hit by fire, there by suffocating the nearby flames. In the past, they were heavily harvested for lumber. Common in this ecological zone are also the Agave, or Century plant, and Palmetto.”

Blackland Coppice: “Decomposing leaf matter inside the Pine forest creates the Blackland Coppice, which nurtures indigenous fig trees, Dogwood, Lancewood, and Gumbo-Limbo trees. Also growing here is the Satin Leaf tree, which produces a dark red edible fruit that migratory North American birds feast on in late winter. The shade created by all these trees makes a perfect habitat for various ferns, bromeliads, and orchids.”

Visit our blog next week to learn about Rock Coppice and the Mangrove Swamp. Grand Bahama is a varied and interesting island - come visit!

St Kitts was recently featured in the International Business Times Travel section. In company with Aruba, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia, St Maarten, and Turks & Caicos, the islands are not “Specks of land surrounded by large swaths of water…they are island paradises. There are more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cayes in the Caribbean, after all, and many of them are sparsely populated and stunningly beautiful.”

Here’s what they say about St Kitts,

“Population: 43,000
Capital City: Basseterre
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Official Language: English
Location: Geographically St. Kitts and Nevis is part of the Leeward Islands. To the north-northwest are the islands of St. Eustatius, Saba, Saint Barthelemy and St. Martin. Northeast of St. Kitts is Antigua and Barbuda.
St. Kitts was the first British Colony in the West Indies in 1624. In 1983 St. Kitts and Nevis achieved independence and is the newest sovereign nation in the Americas. It is also the smallest in terms of population and land area.
Literacy Rate: above 98% and unemployment is among the lowest in the Caribbean at 4.3%.

We do have beautiful islands just waiting for you. Come visit and discuss buying opportunities with a Coldwell Banker agent while you are here.

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to consider the home inspections. As most inspections thoroughly check the home’s infrastructure, foundation and roof, most real estate experts recommend that you look for problems before putting your home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing

If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home’s plumbing system, a home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Cooling Systems

As there are many types of cooling systems, there is no standard test for home inspectors. However, regardless of what type of cooling system your home utilizes, even if just ceiling fans, you should try to ensure that everything is working properly prior to the home inspection. You may also want to consider having your cooling units serviced prior to selling your home.

Electrical System

A typical home inspection will check the electrical panel and circuit breakers that power your property for problems and test outlets throughout the home. The inspector will also check for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the kitchen and bathrooms. Designed to automatically shut off power during a short circuit, these special outlets are an important safety feature for every home. If you live in an older home, you may want to have GFIs installed and have your electrical system checked before an inspection.

Roof

A home inspection will check for weak or missing shingles and make an assessment regarding the quality of the roof. If any poor shingles are spotted, an inspector might check underneath to see if the building materials are damaged or rotten. To prevent a poor report, you should consider replacing bad shingles and having an expert check the overall quality of the roof.

Gutters

Prior to the inspection, try to make sure your gutters are clean and rainwater is able to flow without spilling over the sides. Also, downspouts should be pointed away from the house, as poor drainage is often the cause of mold and mildew problems.

Mold and Mildew

If you have seen mold or mildew anywhere in your home, you should consider contacting a cleanup professional prior to the inspection. Regardless of where mold and mildew are found in the home, it is important to both kill the fungus and fix the cause of the problem.

As homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects mold and mildew can have on a home, you might experience difficulty selling your home if you don’t take care of the issue.

After the initial inspection, try not to be discouraged if the inspector finds a few flaws; very few homes are perfect and inspectors are trained to take note of every possible concern. Home inspections are designed to assess the working order of the home’s infrastructure and assure the buyer that home’s condition matches the details of the contract. In short, if you take care of the most important repair concerns before you try to sell, you will grant yourself a better chance of passing your home inspection.

Windsurfing is one of the most challenging sports to learn and is also one of the most rewarding. It is more than just a sport to many, as it often becomes a lifestyle for those who really enjoy it.

The Island Surf and Sail Shack at Nanny Cay is a great escape destination, offering a wider variety of water sport for all ages from beginner to expert. Using the latest equipment and teaching methods, all instructors are RYA trained and passionate about windsurfing.

Located in the perfect spot to learn in BVI, the Shack is onshore of the calm waters of the natural lagoon, and surrounded by a protective reef. Here you can learn the basics, or improve your skills with qualified instructors.

“With year round trade winds, there couldn’t be a better place to learn,” said Deborah Lewis, who along with her husband, Scott Hustins took over the club in November of 2007.

The Shack also teaches surfing at Josiah’s Bay, one of Tortola’s finest surfing beaches located on the north east shore of Tortola.

In July, the company will host its 2009 Summer Cool Kids Camps for children age 6 – 12 yrs who want to have a safe, fun and experimential learning experience this summer. During the camp, children will be participating in Project Aware, learning about ocean life and taking part in an international shark awareness competition.

As the seas calm, the Shack will also be offering wakeboarding and tubing this summer.

For more information on Island Surf and Sail, call Deborah or Scott on 284-494-0123.

(resource: StandPointOnline)

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to consider the home inspections. As most inspections thoroughly check the home’s infrastructure, foundation and roof, most real estate experts recommend that you look for problems before putting your home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing

If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home’s plumbing system, a home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Cooling Systems

As there are many types of cooling systems, there is no standard test for home inspectors. However, regardless of what type of cooling system your home utilizes, even if just ceiling fans, you should try to ensure that everything is working properly prior to the home inspection. You may also want to consider having your cooling units serviced prior to selling your home.

Electrical System

A typical home inspection will check the electrical panel and circuit breakers that power your property for problems and test outlets throughout the home. The inspector will also check for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the kitchen and bathrooms. Designed to automatically shut off power during a short circuit, these special outlets are an important safety feature for every home. If you live in an older home, you may want to have GFIs installed and have your electrical system checked before an inspection.

Roof

A home inspection will check for weak or missing shingles and make an assessment regarding the quality of the roof. If any poor shingles are spotted, an inspector might check underneath to see if the building materials are damaged or rotten. To prevent a poor report, you should consider replacing bad shingles and having an expert check the overall quality of the roof.

Gutters

Prior to the inspection, try to make sure your gutters are clean and rainwater is able to flow without spilling over the sides. Also, downspouts should be pointed away from the house, as poor drainage is often the cause of mold and mildew problems.

Mold and Mildew

If you have seen mold or mildew anywhere in your home, you should consider contacting a cleanup professional prior to the inspection. Regardless of where mold and mildew are found in the home, it is important to both kill the fungus and fix the cause of the problem.

As homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects mold and mildew can have on a home, you might experience difficulty selling your home if you don’t take care of the issue.

After the initial inspection, try not to be discouraged if the inspector finds a few flaws; very few homes are perfect and inspectors are trained to take note of every possible concern. Home inspections are designed to assess the working order of the home’s infrastructure and assure the buyer that home’s condition matches the details of the contract. In short, if you take care of the most important repair concerns before you try to sell, you will grant yourself a better chance of passing your home inspection.

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to consider the home inspections. As most inspections thoroughly check the home’s infrastructure, foundation and roof, most real estate experts recommend that you look for problems before putting your home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing

If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home’s plumbing system, a home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Cooling Systems

As there are many types of cooling systems, there is no standard test for home inspectors. However, regardless of what type of cooling system your home utilizes, even if just ceiling fans, you should try to ensure that everything is working properly prior to the home inspection. You may also want to consider having your cooling units serviced prior to selling your home.

Electrical System

A typical home inspection will check the electrical panel and circuit breakers that power your property for problems and test outlets throughout the home. The inspector will also check for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the kitchen and bathrooms. Designed to automatically shut off power during a short circuit, these special outlets are an important safety feature for every home. If you live in an older home, you may want to have GFIs installed and have your electrical system checked before an inspection.

Roof

A home inspection will check for weak or missing shingles and make an assessment regarding the quality of the roof. If any poor shingles are spotted, an inspector might check underneath to see if the building materials are damaged or rotten. To prevent a poor report, you should consider replacing bad shingles and having an expert check the overall quality of the roof.

Gutters

Prior to the inspection, try to make sure your gutters are clean and rainwater is able to flow without spilling over the sides. Also, downspouts should be pointed away from the house, as poor drainage is often the cause of mold and mildew problems.

Mold and Mildew

If you have seen mold or mildew anywhere in your home, you should consider contacting a cleanup professional prior to the inspection. Regardless of where mold and mildew are found in the home, it is important to both kill the fungus and fix the cause of the problem.

As homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects mold and mildew can have on a home, you might experience difficulty selling your home if you don’t take care of the issue.

After the initial inspection, try not to be discouraged if the inspector finds a few flaws; very few homes are perfect and inspectors are trained to take note of every possible concern. Home inspections are designed to assess the working order of the home’s infrastructure and assure the buyer that home’s condition matches the details of the contract. In short, if you take care of the most important repair concerns before you try to sell, you will grant yourself a better chance of passing your home inspection.

img src=”http://www.coldwellbanker.aw/images/listing_photos/506_gasparito004s.jpg”width=160 align=”left”vspace=4hspace=4>Luxury Brand new villa in Gasparito. This villa has a landscaped garden with pool and gazebo. The great porch offers you shade and is ideal for a entertainment area. The villa features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with European fixtures. Each bedroom has its own patio or balcony. The large European kitchen has luxurious European equipment and gives cooking his own experience! The villa further has air conditioning and fans in all rooms and hot water. Everything was build on 820 m2/8826 sq ft. Long-lease land and the total build up is 233 m2/ 2509 sq ft. The beach is only a few minutes away. Offered at $595,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more details.

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to consider the home inspections. As most inspections thoroughly check the home’s infrastructure, foundation and roof, most real estate experts recommend that you look for problems before putting your home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing

If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home’s plumbing system, a home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Cooling Systems

As there are many types of cooling systems, there is no standard test for home inspectors. However, regardless of what type of cooling system your home utilizes, even if just ceiling fans, you should try to ensure that everything is working properly prior to the home inspection. You may also want to consider having your cooling units serviced prior to selling your home.

Electrical System

A typical home inspection will check the electrical panel and circuit breakers that power your property for problems and test outlets throughout the home. The inspector will also check for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the kitchen and bathrooms. Designed to automatically shut off power during a short circuit, these special outlets are an important safety feature for every home. If you live in an older home, you may want to have GFIs installed and have your electrical system checked before an inspection.

Roof

A home inspection will check for weak or missing shingles and make an assessment regarding the quality of the roof. If any poor shingles are spotted, an inspector might check underneath to see if the building materials are damaged or rotten. To prevent a poor report, you should consider replacing bad shingles and having an expert check the overall quality of the roof.

Gutters

Prior to the inspection, try to make sure your gutters are clean and rainwater is able to flow without spilling over the sides. Also, downspouts should be pointed away from the house, as poor drainage is often the cause of mold and mildew problems.

Mold and Mildew

If you have seen mold or mildew anywhere in your home, you should consider contacting a cleanup professional prior to the inspection. Regardless of where mold and mildew are found in the home, it is important to both kill the fungus and fix the cause of the problem.

As homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects mold and mildew can have on a home, you might experience difficulty selling your home if you don’t take care of the issue.

After the initial inspection, try not to be discouraged if the inspector finds a few flaws; very few homes are perfect and inspectors are trained to take note of every possible concern. Home inspections are designed to assess the working order of the home’s infrastructure and assure the buyer that home’s condition matches the details of the contract. In short, if you take care of the most important repair concerns before you try to sell, you will grant yourself a better chance of passing your home inspection.

Take Initiative Nassau has been launched to promote the revitalization of downtown Nassau, to educate the public and as a forum for an exchange of views on the subject.
Bay Street is located in the heart of Nassau and in its heyday was a tourist mecca. It was the envy of the region with its lovely historic buildings, duty free shops of fine perfume and cameras, pretty horse and carriages, and exciting Bahamian night life. It was a prime location for Bahamas real estate.
Sadly, Bay Street has deteriorated and is no longer the jewel it once was.
But plans are afoot to breathe new life into downtown Nassau.
Vaughn Roberts, managing director of the newly formed Downtown Nassau Partnership (DNP), and redevelopment advocate Alastair Knowles at a recent meeting outlined the exciting plans for a new downtown Nassau.
They include adding pedestrian areas, lots of cultural events, green spaces, an art district, homes and a marina. The container port would be re-located, thus easing some of the congestion in the city.
As far as Bahamians acquiring/renting real estate for business purposes, Roberts suggested property owners might compromise on rental and sale prices, and recognize they can serve their interests as well as the downtown district.
A possible scenario might allow a tenant to renovate a derelict building in exchange for rental concessions.
The architect, Jackson Burnside, recently highlighted the huge potential of downtown Nassau using a three-pronged development approach. These are exciting days for our old city and we would like to encourage the people involved in this project to forge full steam ahead.

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to consider the home inspections. As most inspections thoroughly check the home’s infrastructure, foundation and roof, most real estate experts recommend that you look for problems before putting your home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing

If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home’s plumbing system, a home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Cooling Systems

As there are many types of cooling systems, there is no standard test for home inspectors. However, regardless of what type of cooling system your home utilizes, even if just ceiling fans, you should try to ensure that everything is working properly prior to the home inspection. You may also want to consider having your cooling units serviced prior to selling your home.

Electrical System

A typical home inspection will check the electrical panel and circuit breakers that power your property for problems and test outlets throughout the home. The inspector will also check for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the kitchen and bathrooms. Designed to automatically shut off power during a short circuit, these special outlets are an important safety feature for every home. If you live in an older home, you may want to have GFIs installed and have your electrical system checked before an inspection.

Roof

A home inspection will check for weak or missing shingles and make an assessment regarding the quality of the roof. If any poor shingles are spotted, an inspector might check underneath to see if the building materials are damaged or rotten. To prevent a poor report, you should consider replacing bad shingles and having an expert check the overall quality of the roof.

Gutters

Prior to the inspection, try to make sure your gutters are clean and rainwater is able to flow without spilling over the sides. Also, downspouts should be pointed away from the house, as poor drainage is often the cause of mold and mildew problems.

Mold and Mildew

If you have seen mold or mildew anywhere in your home, you should consider contacting a cleanup professional prior to the inspection. Regardless of where mold and mildew are found in the home, it is important to both kill the fungus and fix the cause of the problem.

As homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects mold and mildew can have on a home, you might experience difficulty selling your home if you don’t take care of the issue.

After the initial inspection, try not to be discouraged if the inspector finds a few flaws; very few homes are perfect and inspectors are trained to take note of every possible concern. Home inspections are designed to assess the working order of the home’s infrastructure and assure the buyer that home’s condition matches the details of the contract. In short, if you take care of the most important repair concerns before you try to sell, you will grant yourself a better chance of passing your home inspection.