Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

The Tuscany Resort, on Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos, has won the #7 spot in TripAdvisor.com’s Top 25 Hotels in the World. The hotel has also won a place in the Top 10 for Services category in the Caribbean and Mexico. Those rankings are even more significant if you consider that TripAdvisor.com provides information or reviews on over 400,000 locations across the globe.

The Tuscany has only 30 2,000 SF oceanfront 3-bedroom condos making it a boutique resort, which concentrates on excellent service and hospitality. Located just 15 minutes from Providenciales International Airport, The Tuscany offers the ultimate in luxury and privacy. Each of the oceanfront suites has a distinct ambiance and decor. Whether you’re in the mood for a unique adventure like whale watching or a week of testing your skills at Provo Golf Course, The Tuscany will not disappoint. Enjoy golfing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, tennis, and relaxing…savor an afternoon walk on the beach or relax by the european-style pool. The Tuscany is very secluded, yet close to everything.

For more information and a video, visit the Tuscany web site, or contact our Coldwell Banker office. The Tuscany Resort is one of our featured properties. (Photo courtesy of the Tuscany web site.)

FIFA has launched a football training program for 12-16 year olds in communities throughout the St Kitts-Nevis federation. It will be held over the next 18 months to help develop football skills in our youth, and will be funded with a contribution of $150,000 US from FIFA.

The program will teach children the skills of football and also the importance of education, so that they would have good grades in school while they maintain their football ability.

CONCACAF WICWC Region Manager Dick Howard said football is the world’s game and FIFA invests millions of dollars in development programmes globally. He indicated that the programme is critical to the development of the youngsters at an early age and take them to a period where they could enjoy the game. 11 other countries are already involved in the program.

Technical Director Lenny Lake said that over the past six years the local association had been involved in youth development programs. Training of coaches, improved facilities, referees’ training, and off-field training are some of the some of the activities the SKNFA would be undertaking.

CNN.com has voted Peter Island in the BVI as one of its top 10 Caribbean retreats, the prime places to relax and indulge with a partner. Here’s the information:

“Peter Island has all the romantic essentials: secluded beaches, luxurious suites and villas, and a quietly attentive staff. Located on one of the largest private islands in the Caribbean, the resort is the only attraction (excluding wild goats), and five different beaches ensure you’ll have your own stretch of soft sand.

“Go Ahead, Indulge: Surrounded by lush gardens, the spa offers an Indian Ayurvedic program, including massage and yoga.

“Make A Date: Escape to Honeymoon Beach, where the hotel will drop you off with a picnic lunch to enjoy the day under the shade of a lone palapa.

“Best Sunset: Sign up for the Sunset Loop, an exciting ride up the curvy mountain roads to one of the highest points on the island.

“Rates: Oceanview rooms start at $740″

Visit PeterIsland.com Special Offers for more information.

This 2-story condo is located in Tierra Del Sol golf community. On the ground floor you will find a dining room, living room, cozy fully-equipped kitchen with granite tops, powder room, storage, and back patio. The two bedrooms are on the first floor. The spacious master bedroom suite has a full bath and walk-in closet, and nice ocean country views. This “lifestyle” listed condo offers an spacious one car garage, car, and ATV. 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, gated community, 2,112 SF, asking $699,000.

More photos on our Coldwell Banker listing page.

Continental Airlines has started service between Newark, NJ and Turks & Caicos. The flights will be four times/week, Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As of March 6, they will be daily flights. As of now, Continental will use a Boeing 737 for 160 passengers on the route.

JetBlue has also started service to Providenciales, making it the 16th destination in the Caribbean for the airline. Daily flights from New York’s Kennedy Airport have started, and weekly Saturday flights from Boston. To celebrate the new service, JetBlue fliers can enter to win a JetBlue Getaways vacation package. Visit the Promotion page on their web site.

Scott Laurence, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning, said, “Providenciales and the more than 40 islands that make up the Turks and Caicos are a perfect addition to our wide array of Caribbean leisure destinations.” They will operate a 150-seat Airbus on the route.

Air Turks & Caicos will now fly from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting April 15. The airline started with a single piston aircraft in 1992 as InterIsland Airways. After changing the name to Air Turks and Caicos to better reflect the country’s identity and national pride, the airline continued to grow and now has a fleet of 15 mainly turbine aircraft, ranging in size from 9 to 30 passengers. Chairman Lyndon R. Gardiner noted that this new route is one more step to accomplish is dream of uniting the Caribbean Islands through convenient air connections that will promote trade and tourism. The flights will orginiate in Providenciales.

Spacious and new, fully furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with air conditioning throughout. This 2400 sq. ft. condo could be called home for one family or become an income generator, by being rented as a 1 bed/1 bath and a 2 bed/1 bath apartment, each with separate entrances and amenities. Appliances included. Economic Citizenship Available. Asking $615,000 US.

St. Christopher Club Condominiums are located on Frigate Bay Beach. It is a full ownership condominium project. The location offers direct access to a 27-hole championship golf course, and is just a ten minute drive from Basseterre, the historic capital of St. Kitts.

The St. Christopher Club condominiums are part of a master plan situated on nine acres of prime beach front property currently consisting of; two three story condominium buildings, swimming pool, Italian restaurant, scooter rentals, Island Fever© boutique and Rock Lobster Restaurant. Future development includes; a seventy room hotel, casino, shopping arcade, spa, tennis courts, a new swimming pool with an in-pool bar, four more three story condominium buildings, beach bar and sports beach facility. (photo courtesy of StChristopherClub.com)

For more photos of the unit, visit our Coldwell Banker listing page.

The BVI International Finance Centre plans to expand its reach in 2011, in partnership with the private sector, to expand to new markets that can benefit by access to BVI services.

Sherri Ortiz recently wrote for Hedgeweek.com, “It has been gratifying to observe increasing interest in the BVI, as exemplified by the jurisdiction’s position as the world’s foremost incorporation domicile as well as a leading centre for fund services. Its global appeal is down to a sound and business-friendly platform of legislation combined with flexibility and user-friendliness.

“This is the product of a close and long-standing relationship between the private sector and public bodies, including the regulator, the BVI Financial Services Commission. It has helped build a reputation for innovation that is a key competitive advantage in the global marketplace and enabled the financial industry to thrive even under adverse global economic conditions.

“We will be taking this message to fast-growing markets such as Latin America, China and Russia where increasing wealth is prompting a greater focus on investment planning and structuring issues.

“In a world of increased regulatory focus, it’s incumbent upon jurisdiction such as the BVI to demonstrate that we are capable of satisfying new regulations as they arise. Clients need to know that the BVI is not the kind of jurisdiction that will end up on blacklists or suffer sanctions. What they appreciate about doing business in the BVI is our position as a well-regulated and well-respected jurisdiction that upholds international standards…A level playing field with international standards and transparency principles is the key to a sustainable international financial industry.”

Located in Tierra Del Sol gated golf community, this amazing five-bedroom, two-story villa consists of a beautiful foyer entry on the first floor with spacious living area, dining area, fully equipped kitchen with island, all with view towards the pool area. Complemented by 2 bedrooms and a maid’s quarter. The second floor has a large study room and master suite with jacuzzi and generous walk-in closets. This master suite also has a panoramic view of the Mesa, golf course and ocean view. The garden consists of a large pool with lots of privacy and manmade trail towards the golf course. SF 3,593. Asking $899,900 US.

More photos on our Coldwell Banker listing page.

The development of a $2.5 billion mega resort on Cable Beach here in Nassau, Bahamas, should trigger a strong increase in demand for real estate in the area.
Ground was broken on the Baha Mar resort this week. The China-backed resort is so big it’s projected that it could boost GDP by as much as 10 percent. It’s being touted as “the golden baby” that will propel the economy forward, outpacing the Bahamas’ competitors.
Billed as the most spectacular resort in the Western Hemisphere on tap, it’s the largest private investment project in the history of the Bahamas.
Baha Mar will showcase four hotels, a convention centre and the biggest casino in the Bahamas and Caribbean region. Thousands of jobs are expected to be created.
The spin-off benefits are expected to be huge. The development will undoubtedly fuel demand for homes and commercial property in the surrounding area.
This is a good time to invest. Whether you’re in the market for a townhouse , an apartment or a luxury home, our Nassau real estate agents are on it!

Planning and preparation can make the difference in getting top value for your real estate. Here are some suggestions you should consider when you sell.

1. Understand why you are selling your home. Your motivation to sell is the determining factor for how you will approach the sale of your home. It will affect everything from your asking price to how much time, money and effort you are willing to invest to prepare your home for sale.

2. Keep the reasons for selling your home to yourself. If you are asked why you have decided to sell, simply respond that your housing needs have changed. Don’t give a buyer leverage in negotiations by knowing your motivation.

3. Deciding on an asking price needs professional guidance. As a seller, you will want to get a sales price as close to your list price as possible. If you start out by pricing too high, you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and having your house sit on the market for a long time. If you price the home too low, you could be costing yourself thousands of dollars. Contact a Coldwell Banker agent to find sales prices and trends of homes in your neighborhood.

4. Get a competitive market analysis from a Coldwell Banker agent so you will know your competition. Take note of both the listing prices, and the sales prices.

5. Get an appraisal. A good appraisal can be a huge benefit in marketing your home and helping you set a realistic asking price. A word of caution: an appraisal is not a guarantee that your house will sell for that price, and you also may not like the appraisal value you are quoted.

6. Understand what tax assessments mean. Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The difficulty here is that the assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home’s true value.

7. Find a good real estate agent. Take the time to locate the agent who is committed to your needs and selling your home with a good marketing plan.

8. Ensure that you have room to negotiate. Before settling on an asking price, make sure you leave yourself enough room to bargain. A buyer is more likely to make a full-priced offer on a home that is priced right before making a low offer on a home that is priced too high.

9. Make the appearance of your home count. The look and feel of a home will generate more emotional response from prospective buyers than any other factor.

10. Invite the honest opinions of others. The biggest mistake you can make is to rely solely on your own judgment. Don’t be shy about seeking the opinions of others. You must be objective about your home’s strong and weak points. Work with a Coldwell Banker agent who will give you honest and unbiased opinions about what should be done to make your home more marketable.

11. Clean everything, no matter how seemingly insignificant it may seem. Make all the minor repairs needed. Competition is still. Don’t give potential buyers excuses not to buy your home.

12. Allow potential buyers to visualize themselves in your home. Avoid clutter such as knickknacks, clothing lying around, or dirty dishes. Decorate in neutral colors like white or beige and place a few carefully chosen items to add some warmth or character.

13. Get rid of all offensive odors. Odd smells like traces of food, pets, or cigarette smoke can kill a sale quickly. If potential buyers see a dog or notice you smoking a cigarette or cigar, they’ll start seeing stains or smelling odors, even if they aren’t there. Don’t leave any clues.

14. Disclose everything. Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects in writing. This will reduce liability and prevent costly lawsuits later on.

15. The more buyer prospects, the better. Work closely with your Coldwell Banker agent to maximize your marketing. Having several interested buyers can only drive the price of a home up.

16. Keep your emotions in check during showings and negotiations. Let go of the emotion you have invested in your home. Use a businesslike manner and be detached. Let your Coldwell Banker agent handle the bargaining negotiations.

17. Learn why your buyer is motivated to buy. The better you know your buyer, the more leverage you have to negotiate. As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best affordable property for the least amount of money. If you know the buyer needs to move in quickly, this can help you get a better price.

18. Find out what the buyer can really afford. Work with buyers who are pre-approved for a home loan so you know exactly how much they are going to finance and how much will be spent as a down payment.

19. Find out when the buyer would like to close. Knowledge of a buyer’s deadline for completing negotiations again creates an advantage for you to get the most possible money.

20. Never sign a contract on your next home until you sell your current one. You may find yourself stuck with two mortgage payments.

21. Moving out before you sell can also put you at a disadvantage. Empty homes give the feel of being abandoned or neglected. Buyers who know you already have another home may feel they have an advantage to negotiate a lower price.

22. Deadlines create a serious disadvantage. Don’t try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure to sell and can cost you thousands of dollars off the asking price.

23. Don’t take a low offer personally. Invariably the initial offer is below both what you were expecting and what they buyer is actually willing to pay. Don’t get upset. Evaluate the offer objectively. This is merely a starting point for negotiations.

24. Turn that low offer around. You can counter a low offer with one that is just under your original asking price. This lets the buyer know that you don’t take their first offer seriously, but at the same time are going to be flexible.

25. Resist the temptation to deviate from the contract. Do not risk the collapse of the sale because of a single, seemingly insignificant deviation. Your Coldwell Banker professional agent is experienced in contract terms and real estate law. Use a professional to represent you in the sale of your home.