International Property & Travel Volume 20 Number 6

Page 55

C AR I B B E A N

Visitor numbers to the island have increased by more than  over the last five years and growth in the local property market and economy is expected to be . for . Citizenship by investment is available to those investing at least , in real estate within St Kitts and Nevis.

St Lucia

From its volcanic peaks in the south to the trademark white beaches of the north, St Lucia’s landscape is lush and beautiful. Part of the Windward chain in the East Caribbean, it is a mixture of peaks and valleys, rainforests and coves. Both Britain and France feature heavily in its history and both languages are spoken there. According to Asnia Ste Marie from Brown & Co, a UK property consultancy with a base in Castries, St Lucia, it is an attractive destination for buyers of retirement and second homes. “Beaches, tropical rainforest, mountains and a developed tourism industry – without the disadvantages of mass tourism, St Lucia is worth a look for those considering a move to a warmer environment. Property values in St Lucia are typically around  of neighbouring Barbados. It’s a beautiful country and environment to get off the treadmill of life in the UK.” Government incentives for developing tourism and residential projects are growing the market on the island, with Brown & Co estimating a  annual increase in the last couple of years.

THE HILL ST LUCIA At the north of St Lucia, this villa offers fantastic views along the island’s two coasts and north to Martinique, while at the same time enjoying the privacy of 3.6 acres of formal gardens. It is composed of three sections, connected through shaded walkways, and includes staff quarters as well as the main house. Constructed in the 90s, it would lend itself to redevelopment as a boutique hotel. £8m / €9.7m / $13m Brown & Co (Caribbean): +1 758 451 6151

Barbados

Situated in the south east of the Caribbean, Barbados has long been a favourite for UK travellers, with both luxury and less expensive properties on offer. “The island offers them a secure economy, great infrastructure, a wide variety of entertainment, restaurants and shops, not to mention the sea and sun,” says Suzanne Davis, managing director of St Jamesbased Realtors. “The British in particular feel very much at home here in Barbados.” Although the property market on the island has been somewhat subdued this year, that is changing, she says. “It does appear to be picking up with serious buyers returning to the island to have a second or third look. This is definitely the right time to buy in Barbados as it is still a buyers’ market. There is a wide cross section of properties available on the island from the small one-bedroom apartment to the most luxurious villa or condominium on the Platinum West Coast of the island. Something for everyone’s pocket or taste.”

Antigua

The history of the UK and Antigua are bound together – its natural harbours made it of vital strategic importance and it is a former British naval base, now home to the restored Nelson’s Dockyard. As a once British territory,  56

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GRENDON HOUSE SANDY LANE, ST. JAMES, BARBADOS Standing on around two acres of land, Grendon House is an imposing five-bedroom, five bathroom villa. Inside there’s a formal dining room that seats 12, a games room and comfortable living areas. An upstairs patio with bar looks out over the landscaped grounds, while outside, a gazebo with barbecue and a breakfast nook overlooking the large pool, offer opportunities for outdoor dining and entertaining. Facilities include use of Sandy Lane Beach. £2.923m / €3.493m / $4.7m Realtors Real Estate: 246 432 6930

International Property & Travel

29/11/2013 13:21


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