So how does a surfer kid from Southern California end up falling in love with the Caribbean?  Have you ever seen the surfing opportunities in Barbados and Tortola?  If your answer is YES, then you know the other answer, too.

I arrived in Redondo Beach  in 1948, and lived on the beach for the first 21 years of my life.  I thought it was normal to live a block from the pier and enjoy all the Pacific Ocean offered - everyday!  I thought all things connected to the Pacific Ocean were normal - sailing, surfing, diving, beach volleyball, pier fishing, boat deliveries to Mexico, and a hundred more activities.  In hindsight I was one the luckiest kids I know because of growing up with amazing experiences connected to the Pacific Ocean - every day.  I had no idea that my love for the ocean would lead me to the Caribbean Islands and then create an international real estate company. Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, you can enjoy Jim Walberg’s Caribbean Paradise without owning a Fractional deeded ownership,  home, townhome, or villa.  Your alternative is a luxury Caribbean rental.

Those of you who enjoy a visit to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands are going to LOVE the luxury rental I discovered a few weeks ago.  In fact, I have stood on the deck and enjoyed the sunrise over American Yacht Harbor  in Red Hook - a magnificent sight!  This luxury rental is named “Harbor House”, and it sits on the hillside above the harbor. Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Walberg  has just discovered one of the most decadent and luxurious chartered sailing vacations in the Caribbean - just for two people in Paradise!

So, I was having a discussion last week with Chris and Julie, who own s/y Felicia - the Privilege 65 catamaran based in the BVI.  They told me about their dear friends, Ed and Natalie who have been sailing the Caribbean since 1994, and have created an ultra-luxury chartered sailing vacation experience in the Las Aves - an eight island chain just off of Bonaire , on their 52′ high-performance sloop, s/y Safari.  I LOVE new sailing adventures so my curiosity got the best of me.  I called Ed and Natalie up on Skype  and began an amazing series of conversations about what they have created for their very discerning guests.  What I discovered was SO exciting that I needed to share it with all of you immediately.  Here goes… Read the rest of this entry »

Ten romantic spots in the Caribbean not to miss - from a $2,000 a day luxury resort,  to a $10 Pain Killer rum drink on the most beautiful sunset beach in the Caribbean.

So, my wife, and fellow world adventurer and I sat down today and said, “Why don’t we share with our friends our Top Ten Romantic spots in the Caribbean?”  I have been remiss in not telling you know about these ten jewels that are our favorite romantic spots to hangout at.  They range in price from a $2,000 a day to just the cost of a Pain Killer rum drink for $10 each.  Here goes; Read the rest of this entry »

Another of Jim Walberg’s (YouTube)  picks for pure luxury in the Caribbean is the Cayman Islands and the Wyndham Grand Bay Waterford!  This Residence Club resort was just added to The Registry Collection!!!

There are a couple of other parts of the Caribbean that are missed with those who want a piece of Paradise.  One of those special places is the Cayman Islands.  The Wyndham Grand Bay Waterford  is one of my favorite luxurious choices that you can find in the Caribbean.  The Cayman Islands are not noted for the sailing experience that I love, however if you love mash potato coral sand beaches and breathtaking SCUBA diving these are the islands for you. Read the rest of this entry »

The Adventuras Club is a new luxury condominium resort built at the private seaside resort community of Puerto Adventuras in the Riviera Maya of Mexico!

Yes, the Caribbean real estate community includes the Riviera Maya  on the cost of Mexico from Cancun to Belize.  I first discovered this part of the Caribbean in 1995 and even had the opportunity to purchase an acre beach front lot with a new Spanish style home for $120,000.  There was no financing available at that time I didn’t have the cash.  I missed one of the best real estate opportunities in purchasing that Caribbean home. Read the rest of this entry »

The rumors about the demise of Dolphin Cove Resort are over stated.  It is alive and well and is creating a remarkable resort for the very discriminating owner.

Last month I had a conversation with a real estate contact in St. Thomas who was giving me an “update” of the real estate developments in the Virgin Islands that were in trouble.  During that conversation he stated that Dolphin Cove, the luxury development on the Red Hook side of St. Thomas, had ended it’s planned development because of the lack of capital.  I filed this information, and I was concerned because I know the managing partner very well and had not heard this “update”.

Remember, rumors are usually not true.  They are a result of one person telling another person, who tells another person, and so on, until the eleventh generation “story” has no baring on reality.  So, I contacted Dave Marriner, the managing partner of Dolphin Cove and asked him what was happening with it’s completion date.  We had a very interesting conversation about this beautiful project.  It is on track to have the first phase up by the Summer of 2009!  And, all of the approved portions of this project will be built. 

You may recall several of my past articles about this amazing development on one of the most pristine beach front properties in the Caribbean.  I have been following this project for five years, and you will not believe it.  The Dolphin House, the 5-star restaurant on the edge of the Caribbean, will be a historic “rebuild” of the home scientists used to train dolphins to find ocean mines during WW II. The location of Dolphin House provides one of the most spectacular views of Nazareth Bay and St. Croix you will ever see from St. Thomas.

The gated community of Dolphin Cove will feature two beaches, tennis courts, fresh and salt water swimming pools, a myriad of hiking trails, restaurant, and fitness center. Water sport amenities will be available at the beach that is next to the original dolphin training center. Dolphin Cove will also be a self-sufficient community, offering its own security, water treatment plant and standby generators.

Please contact me  if you would like more information about how to purchase your piece of Paradise at Dolphin Cove.

The Boat Show is over, and today the Crews and a few of the Brokers started their day relaxing at the Yacht Haven Grande pool and some even moved the party on to Secret Harbor Resort beach.

Yes, there was an after-party today!  Many of the Crews have charters that start on Saturday, so they had one more day to relax before they started their provisioning details.  Since their yachts are all charter-ready, it gave them one more day to relax and enjoy the time off before their real work begins - six to seven months of hosting charter guests.  And, some of the Brokers are stay an extra day or two, since they are already on-island.  The day started pool-side at Yacht Haven Grande, and then transitioned in the afternoon to Secret Harbor.

Since many of the charters will be starting this Saturday at American Yacht Harbor, it made sense to move to the Red Hook side of the island for the rest of the after-party.  Secret Harbor is the perfect location for any party.  Even some floaties showed up so cocktails could be consumed while sunning in the water.  There even was some fun happening at the outdoor showers.

The sunset set with more goodbyes, and some were even planning on participating in Jonny and Meredith’s wedding tomorrow.  Remember them?  they are the adorable crew from s/y Conundrum.  Yes, they have been planning a wedding for months so it coincided with the Boat Show.  That way their family and friends could fly down for the wedding, and all of their very special Crew friends could join them, too.

The light started to dim and we watched another glorious Caribbean sunset.  The “Charter Gang” started to dispurse for the actual start of another very successful charter yacht season.  And, the mantra we talked about several times today that many are now going to post in their crew quarters to read each morning when they get up to face another day of customer service is;

“Today I will declare a commitment to a result that has no present evidence of possibilities.  Let’s make miracles happen today!”

Fari winds to all, as your Boat Show internet reporter signs off until November 8th - 11th, 2009 at next year’s VICL Boat Show!  Contact me  any time with updates on your adventures.  I will glad to post them for all to read.

This year’s BVI Boat Show is now concluded with a Sunday sail and party at Deadman’s Bay on Peter Island!

The BVI Charter Yacht Society  concluded another amazing boat show for both the charter yacht Brokers and the charter yacht Crews.  The Saturday night BASH was memorable for some, and some may not even remember it.  It was pure FUN!  So, those who were able to rally this morning, a group of the charter fleet sailed to Peter Island’s Deadman’s Bay  for a day of water sports, more rum, and a lot of farewells.

The charter yacht community of Crews are an extended Caribbean family from November to June.  And, the Boat Show is one of the few times they are all in one spot.  It is a community of professionals that clearly understand they are members of a very special group.  No matter what a member of this community may need, they are willing to help - anytime.  They all know that this Crew community takes care of each other.  I remember a bareboat charter I captained where I lost my dingy under sail.  I put out a message on Channel 16 for boat captains to keep an eye out for it.  Within less than an hour Captain Whitey from s/v Tamerin called me and let me know he had found it and would meet me at Norman Island with the dingy.  It is an amazing community that always takes care of each other.

So…now to the last day of FUN of the BVI Boat Show experience - Splish Splash at Peter Island.  Lots of water sports, drinks on board and at Deadman’s Beach Bar, and just hanging out in the water.  This year’s show was a bit quieter than past ones, but it was still the place to be in the Caribbean the first week of November for the Charter Yacht Society members and vacation yacht Brokers.  Contact me anytime  for information about the charter yacht vacation experience.  Until next year’s show…fair winds to all of you.

So, why are the Canadians still focused on the Caribbean as their second homes?  It is so darn COLD there half of the year!

Eleven months ago it was the British Boomers  who were flocking to the Caribbean.  Who has taken over those purchases are the Canadians!   The Canadian market has been the largest increase in Caribbean real estate purchases this past year - both fractionals and full deeded  ownership.

The Canadian demand for second home is being fuelled by their Boomers’ desire to re-invent their retirement lifestyles - following the sun!  It is REALLY COLD from Edmonton to Nova Scotia half of the year!  With direct flights to the Caribbean from Toronto and Montreal the entire Caribbean is easily accessible - from Aruba to the Dominican Republic.  And, this year 42% of our Canadian Buyers have been paying ALL CASH for their real estate purchases!  Here are the results of the Harris/Decima  study following the Canadian trends.

14% of the Canadian population own recreational real estate asset.

57% of owners are sole recreational property owners.

43% of owners have invested in shared ownership assets - fractional ownership properties.

36% of those who are sole owners purchased their property prior to 1990.

43% of fractional and timeshare ownership investment with most acquisitions made since the year 2000.

59% increase in second home ownership among Canadians since 1990.

30% of the total population in the Harris/Decima Survey indicated they are interested in purchasing a recreational property asset.

71% are interested in acquiring sole ownership properties.

14% are interested in fractional ownership.

48% prefer to be very close to the beach.

46% want retail facilities nearby.

Contact me today  if you want to get in on what the Canadians are discovering in the Caribbean for their second homes.  The Caribbean continues to be the real estate HOT SPOT in the Western Hemisphere.  Until next time…go Maple Leaf’s!