Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Smarter Travel.com has chosen AirTran as the Best Value Airline this year. The low-cost carrier serves many domestic airports, and also Cancun, Bahamas, and Aruba. It won the honor by being tops in answering these question: Which carrier consistently offers low fares, always makes a significant percentage of seats available at its lowest promotional prices, and benefits all travelers by spurring competitors to match its sale prices? Time and again, its prices are among the best on every route it flies.

The site explains, “AirTran has delivered a steady stream of value-oriented promotions in 2010, quietly becoming a pace-setter whose prices force other air providers to match or risk being passed over by budget-conscious consumers. Also worth noting is the travel window-or period of time during which a traveler can fly on a given airline’s lowest prices-that AirTran makes available in its frequent sales. The window is consistently longer with AirTran than with virtually all of its competitors. In early spring this year, AirTran was already discounting flights into November.”

Aruba and AirTran - a great partnership.

The Grammy-winning Zac Brown Band has invited the Dirty Guv’nahs to perform on the Sailing Southern Ground music cruise/festival in the Cayman Islands in September, with the Zac Brown Band, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Jason Isbell, Darrell Scott, and a handful of other up-and-coming bands. The festival runs Sept. 2-6, prices start at $599, with an itinerary of Tampa - Grand Cayman - Tampa.

Sailing Southern Ground, a floating festival hosted by Zac Brown Band, will be home to 2000 friends that value family, food, and authentic music above all else. For those of you who have been a part of the ZBB experience, you get it. You know that emotional performances, spur-of-the-moment collaborations, amazing new friendships, and incredible stories are never far around the corner.

The Dirty Guv’nahs quintethave been spreading their rock gospel across the Southeast for three years now. Their sound has been best described as “a passionate, jubilant slice of rock-meets-Americana.” Nobody enjoys himself more on stage than front man James Trimble, who draws comparisons to Jagger, Morrison, and Cocker, but the show doesn’t revolve around him. Guv’nahs’ shows are a family (from SailingSouthernGround.com).

Visit the Sailing Southern Ground web site for details. Hope to see you in Grand Cayman.

The Ministry of Border Control of Turks and Caicos has announced that it is tripling from 30 days to 90 days the maximum period that businesspeople and tourists can visit the islands without seeking an extension to stay. the amendment will allow immigration officers to determine the length of a visitor’s stay, but the use of a 90 day tenure will be at the discretion of the government.

On making the announcement, Clara Gardiner, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, said: “As we look to bring on economic recovery, it is key that we make it clear that the Turks and Caicos Islands welcome genuine visitors and investors to the islands. Our new 90-day policy is intended to reflect that.”

(resource: Tax-news.com)

A new program has been approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to improve competitiveness and boost private sector development in 15 Caribbean countries. Compete Caribbean will be a joint initiative of the IDB, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the United Kingdom’s Department of International Development (DFID).

The countries to be included are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The program, estimated at (US) $32.55 million, will provide technical assistance and investment funding to a variety of activities aimed at establishing productive development policies, implementing business climate reforms, launching clustering initiatives, and promoting small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the region. CIDA will contribute (US) $18.7 million, and DFID (US) $13.8 million grants.

Hopes are that Compete Caribbean will contribute to an increase in non-tradtional exports for the region, from 2.2% of GDP to 5% by 2017.

Nestled in 1.6 acres of lush, tropical gardens, ‘Pelican Point’ is a Caribbean delight. Complete with 3 air-conditioned bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and self contained apartment, pool and Jacuzzi, this home is the epitome of Caribbean living. Only moments from the sea, it offers spectacular uninterrupted ocean and island views and a breezy ambience complimented by a warm and welcoming décor. Asking $1,200,000.

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

Every country and even areas within countries have their own tax laws. To assess the future value of your real estate investment, ask your Coldwell Banker real estate Agent these tax questions.

1. What is the assessed value of the property? Note that assessed value is generally less than market value. Ask to see a recent copy of the seller’s tax bill to verify this information.

2. How often are properties reassessed, and when was the last reassessment done? In general, taxes jump most significantly when a property is reassessed.

3. Will the sale of the property trigger a tax increase? The assessed value of the property may increase based on the amount you pay for the property.

4. Is the amount of taxes paid comparable to other properties in the area? If not, it might be possible to appeal the tax assessment and lower the rate.

5. Does the current tax bill reflect any special exemptions that you might not qualify for? For example, some tax districts offer reductions to those 65+ or for home businesses.

Our Coldwell Banker Agents are highly qualified and experienced in local real estate laws. Be sure and use their expertise to learn as much as possible about the property you want to purchase.

Every country and even areas within countries have their own tax laws. To assess the future value of your real estate investment, ask your Coldwell Banker real estate Agent these tax questions.

1. What is the assessed value of the property? Note that assessed value is generally less than market value. Ask to see a recent copy of the seller’s tax bill to verify this information.

2. How often are properties reassessed, and when was the last reassessment done? In general, taxes jump most significantly when a property is reassessed.

3. Will the sale of the property trigger a tax increase? The assessed value of the property may increase based on the amount you pay for the property.

4. Is the amount of taxes paid comparable to other properties in the area? If not, it might be possible to appeal the tax assessment and lower the rate.

5. Does the current tax bill reflect any special exemptions that you might not qualify for? For example, some tax districts offer reductions to those 65+ or for home businesses.

Our Coldwell Banker Agents are highly qualified and experienced in local real estate laws. Be sure and use their expertise to learn as much as possible about the property you want to purchase.

Every country and even areas within countries have their own tax laws. To assess the future value of your real estate investment, ask your Coldwell Banker real estate Agent these tax questions.

1. What is the assessed value of the property? Note that assessed value is generally less than market value. Ask to see a recent copy of the seller’s tax bill to verify this information.

2. How often are properties reassessed, and when was the last reassessment done? In general, taxes jump most significantly when a property is reassessed.

3. Will the sale of the property trigger a tax increase? The assessed value of the property may increase based on the amount you pay for the property.

4. Is the amount of taxes paid comparable to other properties in the area? If not, it might be possible to appeal the tax assessment and lower the rate.

5. Does the current tax bill reflect any special exemptions that you might not qualify for? For example, some tax districts offer reductions to those 65+ or for home businesses.

Our Coldwell Banker Agents are highly qualified and experienced in local real estate laws. Be sure and use their expertise to learn as much as possible about the property you want to purchase.

Every country and even areas within countries have their own tax laws. To assess the future value of your real estate investment, ask your Coldwell Banker real estate Agent these tax questions.

1. What is the assessed value of the property? Note that assessed value is generally less than market value. Ask to see a recent copy of the seller’s tax bill to verify this information.

2. How often are properties reassessed, and when was the last reassessment done? In general, taxes jump most significantly when a property is reassessed.

3. Will the sale of the property trigger a tax increase? The assessed value of the property may increase based on the amount you pay for the property.

4. Is the amount of taxes paid comparable to other properties in the area? If not, it might be possible to appeal the tax assessment and lower the rate.

5. Does the current tax bill reflect any special exemptions that you might not qualify for? For example, some tax districts offer reductions to those 65+ or for home businesses.

Our Coldwell Banker Agents are highly qualified and experienced in local real estate laws. Be sure and use their expertise to learn as much as possible about the property you want to purchase.

Every country and even areas within countries have their own tax laws. To assess the future value of your real estate investment, ask your Coldwell Banker real estate Agent these tax questions.

1. What is the assessed value of the property? Note that assessed value is generally less than market value. Ask to see a recent copy of the seller’s tax bill to verify this information.

2. How often are properties reassessed, and when was the last reassessment done? In general, taxes jump most significantly when a property is reassessed.

3. Will the sale of the property trigger a tax increase? The assessed value of the property may increase based on the amount you pay for the property.

4. Is the amount of taxes paid comparable to other properties in the area? If not, it might be possible to appeal the tax assessment and lower the rate.

5. Does the current tax bill reflect any special exemptions that you might not qualify for? For example, some tax districts offer reductions to those 65+ or for home businesses.

Our Coldwell Banker Agents are highly qualified and experienced in local real estate laws. Be sure and use their expertise to learn as much as possible about the property you want to purchase.