The place to celebrate Old Year’s Night is Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke - BVI!

Forget Times Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve.  Those who are fortunate enough to get to Foxy’s on December 30th – by boat, water taxi, dingy, or windsurfer, are in for the time of their lives celebrating Old Year’s Night with Foxy and the amazing band line-up he has planned for this year’s 48 hour Caribbean bash – the last Caribbean party of 2007!

Foxy’s Bar & Restaurant on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI is well known around the world for throwing one of the biggest and best Old Year’s Night parties – ANYWHERE!  The Millennium party was over the top!  Foxy built a huge stage behind his bar and brought in the Beach Boys for a celebration that had over 500 boats rafted up together in the small harbor.  You could literal walk to Foxy’s across all of the boats instead of bringing in your dingy.  In fact, some of the revelers did just that. 

The biggest challenge you will encounter if you show up by boat will be finding “your yacht” once the 48 hour party is over.  Many of my sailing friends have awakened after the party to find some lost souls passed out on their deck because they were unable to find their own boat.  In addition, you will want to bring along a chain and lock for your dingy if you do motor in to Foxy’s dock.  The scramble the next morning for sailors to locate “their” dingy is a hysterical event to watch. (Put your key in a place you can find easily even though your alcohol level may be sky high.  Or, get back to your boat early New Year’s morning, put a pot of coffee on, and sit back and be prepared to be amused all morning watching the dingy chaos.

At Foxy’s there’s always special entertainment for Old Year’s Eve. Headliners and local area bands are onhand to provide non-stop music from dusk till dawn. This year, they will kick things off Sunday evening (Dec 30th) with Extreme Band, which is one of the top bands of the BVI and Caribbean. And on Monday, they are bringing out the Eric Stone Band to help get the party going early with his Nautical Americana style. Shifting to the Outback Main Stage, Maxx Cabello Band is on next and is sure to jam their blues-rock tunes. Cool Sessions Brass swings their sweet Caribbean vibe next on the Outback Main Stage. And if you’re still partying strong, we’ve got DJ Avalanche to keep things going. . . the only reason to stop partying might be for breakfast!!!

After breakfast at Foxy’s on New Year’s Day we often pull up anchor and sail right around the corner of Jost Van Dyke and anchor at Soggy Dollar Bar for our first painkillers of the year – “A Sunny Place For Shady People”.  You’ll  remember  Soggy Dollar Bar and Mick, the bartender, from my past postings. It’s always an forgettable moment laying in their hammock and watching the New Year unfold.  It is an awesome way to spend your first day of 2008.  Let me know what adventures you create for your New Year’s Eve and the first day of 2008.  Happy New Year!  And, remember the quote from Dean Martin, “If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt.”  Until next time…

Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest” in traditional Africa

Each December 26th the Kwanzaa celebration begins.  It is a celebration that lasts for seven days, ending on January 1st.  Each day focuses on a principle that reaffirms the African commitment to themselves, their families, their community, and their black struggle for equality.

• December 26th – Umoja – Unity
• December 27th – Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
• December 28th – Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
• December 29th – Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
• December 30th – Nia – Purpose
• December 31 – Kuumba – Creativity
• January 1st – Imani – Faith

The seven principles are collectively referred to as the Nguzo Saba, and are intended to serve as guideposts for meditation and daily living.  The greeting each day of Kwaanza is Habari Gani, and the reply is Habari Gani followed by the principle of the day. Kwanzaa is celebrated by people of African descent in North America, the Caribbean and other parts of the world connected to African heritage.  It was created by M. Ron Karenga in 1966.

The St. John gathering was held in Cruz Bay in a small park near the ferry dock. Lucinda Parsons, Sigma Theta Omega Chapter President welcomed the audience of local residents and tourists.
The Love City Pan Dragons played the America National Anthem and Virgin Islands March. The 3 Sweet trio sang the Black National Anthem and South African Anthem. There were other student performances, as well as the St. John Cultural Dancers.
There are celebrations all week on St. Thomas and St. Croix.  Also check out the local celebrations held in all of the Windward and Leeward islands.  Habari Gani!

Fun Christmas traditions have evolved over the past 200 years in the Caribbean.

The early Caribbean Christmas celebrations were typically mirrors of what was happening in England and Europe.  The only greeting cards available were from the countries that controlled the Caribbean islands.  It was very strange to have greeting cards wishing people a “white Christmas”.   Obviously, the only “white” in the Caribbean are sand and fluffy clouds.  Even the music of the early Caribbean Christmas celebrations was from England and Europe. 
 
What has evolved today are Caribbean Christmas celebrations that reflect the local cultures and unique traditions of this tropical paradise.  Today their greeting cards are often times handmade, or they have a Caribbean flavor to them.  Here is one of my favorite examples from Holiday Card Website.

In addition, the traditions that have evolved include decorating homes with fun paint colors, new colorful window coverings and various types of “Christmas trees” that are decorated with ribbons, ornaments, and colorful lights.  There are family feasts, church celebrations and awesome reggae Christmas music.

Santa is still a worldwide magical symbol of gift giving, and the most anticipated visitor of all children.  I did see a unique presentation of the milk, cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer – there was a surfboard on the beach in front of a friends home that had all of the goodies sitting on it waiting for Santa’s visit.  One of the most unusual moments I have had during Christmas in the Caribbean is coming to an anchorage at Soggy Dollar Bar and seeing Santa lounging in their hammock after a 24 hour whirlwind trip of dropping off presents.  If you have some special Christmas traditions you want to share, let me know.  Enjoy every moment of your Holiday Season!  Until next time.

Our family sends you Holiday greetings and best wishes from the Caribbean!

 This is the time of year that all of us spend time with family and friends, and remember the many blessings that we receive each day.  One of my wishes for you today is that you not only focus on your blessings for a few days in December, but everyday.  There are so many grateful moments that we need to pay attention to each day!  There are people to love, to serve, and even to just listen to that will improve whatever condition they are in.  There is a quote I really like, “If you are wondering if your mission in life is complete… It is not, if you are still alive.”  Below is a prayer that we will be using at our Holiday celebration dinner.  Make a copy of it and review it from time to time.  It means a lot to us.

 

Dear God, this is the Season of getting together with our loved ones; feast, toast, enjoy the blessings of life - and give thanks.  Thanks for life all around us, under foot, and overhead.

Thanks for the ability to remember the things that we love as well as to forget how much we’ve been hurt. Thanks for fine young bodies and old, venerable minds; for sun on our faces, the rain on the roof, and the food on the table grown by people we don’t even know.  

Thanks that the jets overhead aren’t dropping their bombs, that our healing hands have a place to practice, that children are born every minute of the day, and that death is there to gather us up at the end. And thanks for at least a few days a year when we all take the time to get some perspective.

Best wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season with your dear family and friends!

Harlequin Property from London, England is building five 5-star resorts in the Caribbean

 Sometimes the hurdle that slows down a person thinking of purchasing their second or third vacation home is MONEY!  As I mentioned last week, deeded fractional ownership of vacation resort living is sweeping the Caribbean – from the Dominican Republic to the Grenadines.  A London company, Harlequin Property, is in the midst of developing five very high end deeded fractional ownership and full ownership Caribbean resorts.  The “hook” that they are using to promote the purchase of their properties is 100% financing!

Over 40% of the properties purchased in the Caribbean are done with all cash.  However, that leaves 60% of the properties purchased with some type of financing.  Caribbean properties purchased by Europeans are increasing dramatically because of the value of the Euro and the British pound.  Today it takes $1.47 to purchase one Euro!  So, if someone with Euros is considering purchasing property in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it would be a “fire sale” for them because of the HUGE discount they are getting because of the value of their currency.

So, what do Americans do regarding their Caribbean resort property purchases when many of these resorts are outside of the U.S. domain?  Harlequin Property has designed a way for almost ANYONE who currently owns real estate to purchase their properties for almost no money down.  Here is a simple explanation of their financing proposal.

•  The resort property purchaser borrows money from the equity of their current real estate for the down payment of the resort property.
• Harlequin Property signs an agreement with the purchaser that they will pay the interest payments on their equity line debt for three years, and provide them a loan for the remainder of the purchase.
•  Harlequin Property will refinance the entire property in three years, adding into the principle the amount they paid for the interest only loan payments.  The appreciation of the real estate in those three years will allow the borrower the ability to take out equity from the Caribbean resort property and repay their equity line loan.
• Final result…the purchaser has bought a Caribbean resort property for no money down!

There are obviously restrictions as to who can qualify for this financing program with Harlequin Property, but because of this purchase option the Harlequin Property Caribbean resorts are selling like hotcakes!  Please contact me if you would like more detailed information about how their program works.  Until next time…

For the third time in his long career his peers have honored him with this special award!

Jim Walberg was selected by his peers as the 2007 Realtor Of The Year this past week!  This is the third time this honor has been bestowed upon him during his very long real estate career.  The criteria for this award is based on the Realtor who has significantly contributed to the professionalism of the industry and service to the community.

When asked to comment on the award Mr. Walberg gave a few words for the audience to remember.  “To whom much is given,  much is required.”   Some of the organizations that have benefited from Mr. Walberg’s community involvement are;  Rotary International;   The Food Bank;  Adopt-An-Angel;  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation;  Special Olympics;  The One Warm Coat Project;  Toys For Tots;  and,  many more.  Mr. Walberg continues to live his life using Rotary International’s model of “Service Above Self”.  He describes his experience as a long time Realtor as having a career worth having, a business worth owning and a life worth living.  The entire real estate community congratulations Mr. Walberg on this significant acknowledgement of his commitment to extraordinary service to others.

Mr. Walberg is the owner of Caribbean Islands Realty, The Bay Area Team – a realty group in the San Francisco Bay Area servicing the residential real estate needs of that region, Worldwide Properties 4 Sale – an internet center featuring homes and deeded fractional ownerships that are for sale from the BVI, to Tuscany, to Thailand , and Navigate The World – a charter vacation yacht brokerage company booking vacations on the world’s finest yachts.

This form of real estate ownership continues to be impacting all Caribbean real estate. 

What is becoming evident is that the Baby Boomer second home purchases are moving towards fractional, deeded ownership as opposed to full ownership of a second home or townhome. The realities of how the Baby Boomer customer is making real estate decisions regarding second and third homes has created a brand new focus of real estate development – not just in the Caribbean, but all over the U.S. and the world.

 

We now have fifteen marketing agreements with fractional ownership opportunities, in the

Caribbean alone!  They range in price from $145,000 to $600,000!  The ownership offered ranges from 21 days to 30 days.  With a deeded fractional ownership you own a tropical second home with typically eleven other people.  Your time schedule at your tropical home is arranged so all of the owners have prime time opportunities to visit the resort property.  You are also sharing in any rental income when you are not there and someone rents it from the management company.

When a fractional ownership is purchased through the Ritz Carlton, the Westin Resorts, Raffles Resorts, and other international 5-star resorts, you are able to follow the snow or the sun since the opportunities are all over the world.  The Ritz is currently the leader with the most fractional deeded options for consumers, however Weston Resorts is coming on strong.  The Ritz has fractional opportunities from Hawaii to the Caribbean, with Aspen, Colorado as part of the choices.  The Westin Resorts is currently only in Hawaii and the

Caribbean. However, they have BIG plans to add many more location options soon.  This has become one of the most profitable division of these companies.

 

One of the best bargains in the fractional deeded ownership opportunities is in the Dominican Republic – Jardine de Coson!  As I have mentioned in past writings the Dominican Republic has generally been ignored because of the misconception that they are just like Haiti.  Those with that opinion are dead wrong.  What a wonderful tropical experience is awaiting those who venture to the DR.

For more of the details of how fractional deeded ownership resort properties might be a part of your personal real estate portfolio, contact me.  It is a fascinating choice to consider.

Have you ever dreamed of participating in the Rolex Cup Regatta or BVI Spring Regatta?

As I reported in my blog posting November 9th, a new competitive sailing opportunity has been created by ONDECK Ocean Racing that allows anyone who is interested in learning about competitive sailing to step “on deck” and have an unforgettable sailing experience.

In the past, in order to participate in any of the Caribbean sailing regattas, such as the International Rolex Cup and the BVI Spring Regattas, you needed to have A LOT of money or know someone who does. Now, you can jump on board one of these high tech racing boats and participate in the most competitive sailing adventures outside of the Americas Cup – and for a fraction of the costs.  I have friends who would love to sail in the Caribbean, but they only want to race.  ONDECK has created an opportunity for these die-hard racers to get the experience they have always dreamed about.                              In addition to the Caribbean regatta series, ONDECK works with corporations for;

• Corporate entertainment sailing days – four to six boat competitions.
• Leadership and team building races.
• Themed sailing events for business client networking.
• Off-site business meetings with sailing as a key activity.
• Exclusive fleet races.

To charter one of the fleet of Farr 65s, or Farr 40s for any of the above charter opportunities and any of the International Rolex Regatta, and the BVI Spring Regattas.  ONDECK boats have even won several of these Regattas with the core ONDECK crews and the charter crew members getting the checkered flags.  I would highly recommend this company and the experience they deliver to their charter racing teams.  Let me know