Fractional ownership of property in the Caribbean is the most popular method of owning your piece of Paradise – from Aruba to the Mayan Riviera  in Mexico.  A new fractional opportunity in the Dominican Republic has just been announced.

One of the most beautiful and exclusive privately owned luxury villas in the Dominican Republic  is now offering the opportunity to purchase a 1/10^th share of Villa Castellamonte, which allows them five weeks of enjoyment in the DR.  You know I am a fan of fractional ownership.  It is a way for people to enjoy their slice of Paradise without having to fully own the property.  There are some “potholes” to avoid with developments that are promoting that they have fractional ownership opportunities, when, in fact, it is not true.  So, it is a “Buyer Beware” for people investigating a fractional ownership anywhere in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

For the past two years the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute on St. Croix has been selected by the National Geographic Geotourism Challenge as a Top Ten Finalist out of 611 entrants from around the world.  The VISFI is located on more than 100 acres in the rain forest of St. Croix.

The mission of VISFI is: To provide a working educational farm enterprise that integrates sustainability in education, environment, and community through quality instruction in Agroecology and related fields.  The National Geographic Geotourism Challenge promotes innovations that benefit local communities and cultural landscapes in tourist destinations. The 2009 theme is “The Power of Place: Sustaining the Future of Destinations.” Read the rest of this entry »

One of the truths about real estate is that all real estate is local.  The world news continues to report each day the demise of real estate because of the world’s credit meltdown, however there are always real estate locations that are still thriving.  The Caribbean fractionals are one of those locations.

I am constantly looking for the best opportunities in the Caribbean for people to secure their slice of Paradise.  For the last several years the real estate product that has represented half or more of the sales has been fractionals.  If you recall, almost ten years ago the Ritz Carlton in Red Hook,  St. Thomas, was one of the first to test the market of fractional deeded ownership as a method to own real estate with several other partners.  It was a huge success.  Below are six more Caribbean islands to consider for your slice of Paradise by purchasing a fraction of the property instead of the owning it all yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

Freedom is something that I have enjoyed all of my life.  Much of the world has not had that experience.  It is important to not take it for granted. 

Nelson Mandela is one of my heroes who symbolizes from for me.  Here is a portion of his inagural address when he was installed as the first African president of South Africa in 1993.  It is my favorite sentiments about what to do with the gift of freedom.  As I celebrate another 4th of July celebration I wanted to share President Mandela’s thoughts about what freedom means to him and his country.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Each of us have  “baggage” that slows us down.  Our job is to discover that baggage and get rid of it so we can discover the person our creator meant us to be – magnificent. Read the rest of this entry »