One of THE Caribbean “hot spots” are The Turks & Caicos!

We are “beach people”, so we are always on the lookout for our favorite spots to plop down on the Caribbean mashed potato coral sand, soak in the sun, read a book, and swim in the turquoise waters of this magical part of the world.  Guess what, The Turks & Caicos offers 40 islands and cays with some of the BEST beaches we have ever felt squish through our toes!

Because of our addiction to exploring the world, we hang out with similar people with the same addictions. Our friends, Jay and Carol Rosenbaum are two of them. Just like us, they have traveled all over the Caribbean and their favorite beaches are on the island of Providenciales – Grace Bay Beach. You will be stunned when you arrive there because it is a 12 mile long beach with the softest white coral sand you will ever find!  However, it is not for those that are looking for the most chic action in the Caribbean. It is one laid back experience on The Turks and Caicos.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are just 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, just to the east of Cuba. The islands are technically in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean, however you didn’t hear that from me. The language is English, the currency is the U.S. dollar, and they are a British Crown Colony. Tourism is the economy, and the beaches, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and fly fishing for bonefish are a big part of that. In addition, the Islands are BIG in off-shore financial services – one of the most appealing banking and tax havens in the world!  They also used to be the world headquarters for exporting salt, conches and lobsters!

If SCUBA diving is your deal, you must meet Wayne Hall who owns Ocean Vibes SCUBA & Watersports on the island of Providenciales. For over eight years, Wayne has created a spectacular business that is focused just on small group dives – eight to ten max. It is a very intimate experience to dive the diverse waters of The Turks and Caicos with Wayne and his team of professionals.  Check him out the next time you are on-island.

Here are two suggestions for your stay in The Turks and Caicos – remembering there are many other awesome choices depending on your interests.  The first is Paradise Inn just off Grace Bay Beach. It is a little boutique hotel with just 17 rooms – daily rates are under $200 $US.  Several steps up in luxury is the Sands Resort at Grace Bay. It has all of the typical amenities of a world class resort with over 100 rooms available – daily rates are typically in the $350+ $US range. Let me know what your favorite spots are.

The real estate opportunities are some of the best in the Caribbean. You remember from a past blog, some of the top values are Turks and Caicos, St. Kitts, Dominica and the Dominican Republic! On Turks and Caicos you have all of the real estate choices you could imagine – from multi-million dollar villas to beach front studios for $150,000 US!

Let us know your real estate needs and we will provide you with some fun choices to consider. I am off to review another project in Anguilla. Stay tuned for what I discover next as your Caribbean lifestyle reporter. Until then…

Willard Daggett from International Center For Leadership In Education speaking in St. Croix and St. Thomas.

One of the factors that keep real estate values stable is a great local education system.  Last year at a St. Croix Foundation event focused on the condition of the Virgin Island education system, Willard Daggett – founder of International Center For Leadership In Education (ICLE) stated, “The public education system in the Virgin Islands is in crisis.” The St. Croix Foundation have invited Mr. Daggett to return for an education symposium this month in St. Croix and St. Thomas.

Mr. Daggett has spoken to hundreds of thousands of educators, advocating the need for public education systems to keep pace with its global competitors.  In addition to stressing the need for eliminating some of the levels of “bureaucracy” within the Education Department, Daggett also suggested the adoption of new methods to help assess students’ abilities and target materials — such as new educational software and other applications — specifically designed to help individual students.

The St. Croix Foundation has scheduled a Virgin Island symposium on January 14th-15th with Mr. Daggett as the featured speaker.  Representatives from the territory’s schools, Education officials and local policymakers are urged to attend, according to a foundation press release. The symposium is scheduled to run from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM January 14th at St. Croix’s Educational Complex, and from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM January 15th at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School on St. Thomas.

During this important symposium, Mr. Daggett will address three critical topics: 1) Developing 21st century literacy in students; 2) Rigor and relevance for all students; 3) Preparing students for the changing world. The event — a major part of the foundation’s Comprehensive Educational Initiative — is also sponsored in conjunction with the local Education Department. For more information on the symposium, call the St. Croix Foundation at (340) 773-9898 or visit their website. Anyone is welcome to attend so if these topics interest you, please put it in your schedule.  Until next time…
 

Fractional ownership of Caribbean real estate continues to SKYROCKET!

January puts Caribbean real estate smack dab in the most active real estate time of the year – both for buyers and sellers. And, deeded fractional ownership of 5-star resort properties continues the momentum of 2007 into 2008. It is impacting the Virgin Islands and Caribbean re-sale of homes, town homes, and condos. The real estate developers of fractional ownership properties are getting into their “groove” regarding what the worldwide consumer is looking for in second homes that will be occupied for a month or less a year.

Some of the BIG players hitting the bullseye are The Marriott Corporation – which includes the Ritz Carlton fractional products from the Caribbean to Hawaii, The Westin Hotel Group – with properties from the Caribbean to Hawaii, and Harlequin Property – with the most choices of 5-star resorts in the Caribbean, from St. Vincent to the Dominican Republic. ( You may recall from past postings, Harlequin Property even has 100% financing available for all of their resorts.)

In 2007 80% of the buyers for Virgin Islands real estate came from the Eastern half of the U.S.  European buyers made up almost 20% of the purchases – a HUGE increase from any past year.  This increase in European buyers is because the Euro continues to kick the heck out of the U.S. dollar - $1.48 for one Euro today!  We expect Europeans to flock to the Virgin Islands even more in 2008 because all real estate connected to the dollar is on sale for those who own Euros. Of the 2007 real estate purchases, over 40% of them were ALL CASH!

What does all this mean for the sellers and buyers of Virgin Island and Caribbean real estate?  If you are a seller, get your home on the market NOW!  As sellers you want to be right in the middle of the hottest part of the real estate market year. Again, that is NOW!  Sellers need to contract with the most experienced Realtor they can find, and present their home in turn-key condition. When contracting with a Realtor find out what their international marketing plan is to the U.S. and to European buyers. It is critical for a Realtor serving the Caribbean real estate market to have an internet based marketing system, and have them demonstrate to you how it works. You want to confirm how they are reaching the potential buyers for your home.

As a buyer in 2008 of Virgin Island and Caribbean real estate, you are going to have your pick of some great bargains. Some have huge appreciation potential, if you know where the values are.  Some of the real estate “hot spots” are;  St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Anguilla, Dominic, and the Dominican Republic.  If you are up for some risk, there are even some great values on the Caribbean side of Central America.

The outlook for buyers and sellers in the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean is “bullish” for 2008!  Deeded fractional ownerships of resort properties will continue to gain market share away from the fully owned homes and town homes/condos. Those who have Euros will have the biggest buying power for any real estate connected to the U.S. dollar.  Find the best Realtor you can to represent you. Contact me anytime with questions.  No one knows the Caribbean real estate market like I do!

The last day of celebrating Family, Community, and African culture.

Today is the final day of the Kwanzaa celebration. After seven days of celebrating, it ends on the first day of the year.  Each of the celebration days has a topic.  The final day is focused on Imani - Faith, “…the faith to believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our righteousness, and the ultimate victory of our struggle.”

For each of the seven days’ celebrations, a specific place in the home is chosen to display the symbols of celebration.  A table is spread with a beautiful piece of African cloth.  The mat is placed on the cloth, and all of the other symbols are placed on it which symbolize the deep roots of tradition.  Next, the candle holder is placed on the mat and the seven candles are placed in the candle holder. The colors of the candles are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle – one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles.

The table is then set with two ears of corn, and the Unity Cup. The ears of corn symbolize that all of us are social parents of the children of our community. The Unity Cup is used to pour the “libation” to the ancestors in remembrance and honor of those who paved the path down which we walk and who taught us about the good and beautiful life.  The final additions to the table are; African objects and books on the life and culture of African people to symbolize their commitment to heritage and learning.

The last day of Kwanzaa, January 1st, is for African people a time of sober assessment of things done and things to do, of self-reflection and reflection on the life and future of the people and of recommitment to their highest cultural values in a special way. It is a time to ask and answer soberly and humbly the three Kwanzaa questions: 1) Who am I;  2) Am I really who I say I am; and, 3) Am I all I ought to be? And it is a time to recommit oneself to the highest ideals of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense.  We all need to honor and hold special the many cultural celebrations of this world. Kwanzaa is one of those special celebrations. 

All of us start 2008 with high expectations of an unforgettable year of special moments with our loving family and friends. Here’s to every aspect of your magnificent life coming true in 2008!  Until next time…I remain your humble Caribbean lifestyle detective.