Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, and/or placed a significant amount down, you may have unrealized (in a tax sense) gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good as you raise a family. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job, or live in a better school district.

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your housing regulations don’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home. Every community and country is different. Check with a Coldwell Banker agent for local real estate market trends.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Stop by our Coldwell Banker office and find out what your property is worth. That’s the best way to start planning for a move.

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, and/or placed a significant amount down, you may have unrealized (in a tax sense) gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good as you raise a family. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job, or live in a better school district.

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your housing regulations don’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home. Every community and country is different. Check with a Coldwell Banker agent for local real estate market trends.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Stop by our Coldwell Banker office and find out what your property is worth. That’s the best way to start planning for a move.

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, and/or placed a significant amount down, you may have unrealized (in a tax sense) gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good as you raise a family. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job, or live in a better school district.

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your housing regulations don’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home. Every community and country is different. Check with a Coldwell Banker agent for local real estate market trends.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Stop by our Coldwell Banker office and find out what your property is worth. That’s the best way to start planning for a move.

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, and/or placed a significant amount down, you may have unrealized (in a tax sense) gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good as you raise a family. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job, or live in a better school district.

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your housing regulations don’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home. Every community and country is different. Check with a Coldwell Banker agent for local real estate market trends.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Stop by our Coldwell Banker office and find out what your property is worth. That’s the best way to start planning for a move.

Although less than ideal, purchasers may make their offers to buy Bahamas real estate contingent upon being able to receive satisfactory financing, receiving a satisfactory building inspection and any number of other conditions. Sometimes the conditions represent nothing other than “weasel clauses.”
If the purchasers aren’t successful in any of their conditions, their offer to purchase the Bahamas real estate becomes null and void, leaving the vendors back at square one.
A compromise has developed, called in the U.S a “kick-out clause,” which is wording included in the contract that allows the vendors to continue marketing their home, even while under contract. If the vendors receive another offer, the purchasers are granted a “kick-out” period - usually 72 hours - to respond by removing their contingencies and completing the purchase.
Unfortunately, the chances are often that most purchasers won’t be able to complete. If the purchasers are unable to remove these conditions then the vendors have the right to accept another offer from a qualified purchaser.
While this might seem to put the purchaser at a disadvantage, the vendor must have some sort of protection against an offer that could tie up their listing indefinitely and perhaps never be completed.
Include language in the contract that requires the purchaser to begin aggressively to fulfill any condition within a specified period. If the purchaser doesn’t leap into action, the contract can be voided when the time limit is up and the vendor can sell to another party.
Ask your Bahamas Real Estate Association broker or agent for guidance.

With performances by 8 world-class musicians and musical styles ranging from Jazz and Latin to Classical, the Second Annual Amanyara Music Festival is scheduled from Thursday June 3rd to Saturday June 5th in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

This years concert series features the music of Charlie Parker, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Franz Schubert, Ludwig Van Beethoven and others.

The schedule for this 3 day event is as follows:

Thursday, June 3rd, Piano Recital at Stargazer Villa, 6:30 - 8:30, $50
Friday, June 4th, Jazz Concert and Dinner at Amanyara, 6:30 - 11pm, $150 and up
Saturday, June 5th, Classical Concert and Dinner at Amanyara, 6:30 - 11pm, $150 and up

For more information contact the Amanyara Resort directly at www.amanyara.com

For vacation villa bookings during this event please contact us through our website at www.coldwellbankertci.com.

The Dragon Bay Owners’ Weekend will be held May 28-30, including the Dragon Bay Fishing Tournament and The Dragon Bay Golf Tournament hosted by Mike Ryan, Cayman Islands Developer of The Residences At The Ritz-Carlton on Dragon Bay, Grand Cayman. Dragon Bay is a 330-acre luxury resort community.

Ryan said, “Dragon Bay Owners’ Weekend is our opportunity to let everyone celebrate the luxury amenities and the exciting lifestyle that living in the Caribbean affords, while being part of a community.”

The Dragon Bay Estates are an exclusive enclave of water-oriented custom home sites with British Colonial Design, that provide the unique opportunity to create and own some of the few single family estates that are planned within the Dragon Bay community.

The Dragon Bay community also includes residential communities, Dragon Bay Estates, The Deckhouses, Secret Harbour, and The Residences At The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Each luxury community has it’s own design, features and ambiance for a variety of options to live in luxury while enjoying all the amenities and high standards that the Ritz-Carlton brand is known for.

Contact any of our Cayman Islands Coldwell Banker agents to find opportunities for ownership in Dragon Bay.

With about 50ft elevation and white sand beach below this is one of a handful of lots which offer privacy and beach access. The protective building covenant does not require you to build, so its an excellent opportunity to secure now at a very competitive price. Lot size 1.0, asking price $595,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker listing page for more photos and contact information.

In less than 3 years, St Kitts and Nevis once again hosted a major international sporting event - the 1st round Women’s matches of the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 Cricket Tournament May 2-11. The tournament featured 12 men’s and 8 women’s teams. All the top international players competed, including teams from England, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Pakistan.

During the 2007 Cricket World Cup that was also staged in the Caribbean, the 68-square-mile island of St. Kitts gained the respect and admiration of the international cricket fraternity for its efficiency in hosting first-round matches of the tournament.

St. Kitts’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard “Ricky” Skerritt recently said, “Sports tourism is a steadily growing market for us.” The minister explained, “This event (twenty20) is the perfect example of the type of world-class experiences we are attracting from golf and cricket to music and cuisine.”

St. Kitts’ success in hosting International Cricket test matches would not have been possible if Warner Park, originally built in 1928, was not rebuilt, with the assistance of the Taiwanese government, to the highest international standards for the 2007 World Cup.

The picturesque Warner Park, often described as one of the finest in the Caribbean, has a full seating capacity of 10,000, which is more than 20 percent of the island’s population.

The ICC tournament comes just after the 5th Annual St. Kitts Legends Golf Classic, April 21-25, and on June 24-26 the 14th Annual St. Kitts International Music Festival will be held, featuring an eclectic mix of musical genres and a host of world-class entertainers.

(resource: eTurboNews.com)

Keys to a long-awaited new rescue boat, the Gorda Peak IV, were given to the Vigin Gorda Search and Rescue (VISAR volunteers at the recent Governor’s Reception. The 26′ boat is outfitted with state-of-the-art electronics and powered by twin 225 hp Yamaha engines.

The VG rescue team covers an area from Cooper Island to Anegada. The larger size and power of this new boat will enable the volunteers to cover a much wider range more efficiently. They can search larger areas, for longer, and arrive on scene more quickly.

VISAR was founded in 1988 and was modeled on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the UK, the world’s oldest lifeboat service. Like the RNLI and many other lifeboat services in Europe, it is an independent, volunteer-based organization funded almost entirely by charitable donations, and relies very heavily on the financial support of the local community, visitors to the British Virgin Islands and people like you.

(resource: All at Sea Caribbean)