Jim Walberg’s  friend, Tom, just completed a move to the Caribbean this month.  Over the past ten years there have been several of Jim’s friends who he has assisted with the transition from the Mainland to the Islands.  The results have been a mixed bag.  Each had surprises and disappointments.  All of them have had adventures of a life time.  One of the biggest hurdles has been changing the pace of their daily lives.  It is unbelievable the length of our “To Do Lists”, and supposed amenities that we seem to require back on the mainland.

Tom showed up in St. Thomas on August 11^th after selling all he didn’t want to bring with him to St. Thomas.  He ended a successful career in the world of home mortgages and decided it was time to act out a life long dream.  Six months ago Tom and I started exploring what it would be like to completely change his life and move to the Caribbean.  Tom decided he wanted a job in St. Thomas in order to accelerate his entrance into a completely different life.  Below are some of the keys that I shared with Tom regarding what it takes to move to Paradise.  After you review my suggestions, I welcome any of your experiences. Read the rest of this entry »

There are 25 Caribbean countries that Jim Walberg  follows relating to their real estate economic trends.  The trends he follows includes Caribbean fractionals, villas, townhomes and condos.  In spite of the current global economic crisis there are international real estate markets that are still thriving.  Remember, all real estate is local.  Four of the locations in the Caribbean that are thriving are the Dominican Republic,  Belize, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dominica.  There is an amazing amount of cash that continues to sit on the sidelines waiting for smart values in the world of international real estate.  The Caribbean is one of those locations where the cash is being spent.  Read the rest of this entry »

Old guys  are still surfing – promise!  Jim Walberg  just discovered that Roy’s Cabana  has re-launched their board shorts and surfing apparel after 25 years.  Roy and Dody Colburn’s son, Tom Colburn, now heads the re-launching of the company his parents started in 1952.  It is now based in Cardiff, California  near San Diego with the surfing apparel available in the Caribbean by going on-line.  The Caribbean surfing community will love the clothing Roy’s is now ready to deliver!

Most of you know that I grew up in Redondo Beach  and surfed all through the 1950’s and 1960’s before I discovered the Caribbean in 1975.  Growing up, Roy’s was my board shorts for over 20 years.  Roy’s started as a motel and café that was just across the road from the beach in Santa Monica.   Roy and Dody Colburn began their business in 1948 by serving meals all day and evening at the café next to their motel next to the beach.  As the surfing community of Southern California started to grow in Santa Monica they began hanging out at Roy’s Café when they were not in the water, lathering themselves with Baby Oil for the darkest tan possible, and playing volleyball.  Read the rest of this entry »

There are possibilities of hurricanes every year in the Caribbean, it is just a matter of when which islands they will hit. If your mind-set is OK about living in a region of the world with the possibility of hurricanes, then the time to buy is during hurricane season – July through October.  This is the “slow time” for Caribbean real estate, and it is the time when the smart international bargain hunters show up.

In my 30+ years of experiencing the Caribbean during July through October I have never experienced a hurricane while on-island or sailing   That is not to say they are storms to be taken lightly, but I would rather deal with a hurricane than an earthquake.  Hurricane warnings are so sophisticated that you are given several weeks to watch the storm’s progress as you decide what to do about you and your property.  There is no warning about an earthquake.  Can you believe that we live and have real estate offices in both of these parts of the world?  We wouldn’t change a thing! Read the rest of this entry »

The first week of January 2009 the Virgin Island Water & Power Authority  made a commitment to begin moving away from the use of fossil fuel as it’s only means of energy.  The long awaited agreement was signed this week with Denver-based Alpine Energy Group  to build waste-to-energy facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

This project has been a long awaited event that will now use USVI waste and convert it into energy for the islands.  Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority  has also contracted Alpine Energy Group to reduce the Territory’s two landfills that are bursting at the seams.  Both of these critical contracts are for 20 years.

“The project clearly demonstrates that two government agencies can really work together and reach a turning point from which they can both move into the future as they responsibly are guardians of our natural resources.”  Gov. John deJongh Jr.  said during the press conference. Read the rest of this entry »