Does investing in Barbados sound like something you would like to do? If you like the idea of investing in a place where the political and societal infrastructure is very stable, a functional high tech telecom infrastructure, low tax system and business-like suitable place, then Barbados is a best option for you.

Examples of existing Barbados Investment Developments are Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Information Technology. So why do you think investing in Barbados a critical way to expand your business? For one, businessmen may opt to invest in Barbados because of the possibilities of seeing the best accounting, financial and legal services in the world, even in such a remote location within the Caribbean chain of islands. Understanding the way Barbados local government sustains their best efforts in putting up systematic ways of enhancing the infrastructures, taxation system and business opportunities, you can view Barbados a potential business venture moving forward. Part of the government efforts are composed of boosting the Corporate Registry, and signing better tax treaties with the UK, Canada, and the US.

There are many benefits you need to consider for you to gain positive results in pursuing Barbados Investment Developments. For one, you can get a 10-year tax holiday complete with 21/2% tax rate per year for every year after that. You get exempted from any import duties. Capital plus profits and dividends get complete repatriation as well. The ten industrial parks are not only fully-serviced but they provide less expensive and subsidized factory space too. Worker training comes with cash grants while customs services are both effective and cooperative.

The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation will give you consulting services free of charge. Since the government is dedicated to promoting private enterprises, you will find that government officials will welcome your legitimate efforts to invest in the place. Operating expenses are inexpensive so that savings reach at least 40% and even more. At the same time, you can hire people who are trainable, literate, productive yet skilled so that your business experiences low turnover and absenteeism rates.

The stability and integrity of the social, political and economic systems are guaranteed for people who choose to do investing in Barbados. The EU, Canada, and US also have arrangements that permit investors in Barbados to gain duty-free access.

Now what about holiday investments? Is it possible to make holiday investments, such as investing in Barbados real estate properties? Actually, this may be the more commonly-known form of investing in Barbados that most people are aware of. Investing in a holiday real estate property may mean setting aside at least $150,000 up to $2,000,000 at the most per holiday investments property you purchase. The appeal of this type of investment is that you can always rent out your holiday investments when you are not occupying it or have not lent it out to friends and family for their use. If you can manage to get 100% occupancy year-round, then that is a pretty good source of income for you that can help you recoup the cost of having your holiday investments upgraded or the initial purchase price.

A Barbados Luxury Villa – The Ultimate Holiday Experience

There is a wide offering of Barbados Luxury Villas to choose from, when you are planning your next holiday in Barbados. You can choose a luxury villa to suite your particular interest, whether it is golf, polo, tennis or just getting away from it all. When you are ready, getting to Barbados is easy, with daily flights out of London, New York, Miami, Toronto and other international airports in North America and Europe. The Barbados villa offering keeps getting better and now you can have the unique experience of a private villa combined with the convenience of a Barbados luxury hotel.  

Choosing a Barbados Luxury Villa 

Some Barbados villas are located on prestigious golf courses like Royal Westmoreland, Sandy Lane and the (soon to be opened) Apes Hill Club. More luxury villas can be found around the Barbados Golf Club and Rockley Golf Club. These villas are ideal if you want to combine a golf holiday with a few rounds of golf. At these locations you will also have easy access to swimming, dinning and shopping.

If you are not a golfer and you want to experience pure luxury with the full range of personal services included with a private villa over-looking the beautiful Barbados West, then you have an incredibly wide choice. Most of these properties offer magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea and breathtaking sunsets almost every day of the year. They all have private swimming pools and many have easy access to good swimming, lovely beaches and snorkeling opportunities. The easiest way to find one of these properties is to visit one of the websites, which offer Barbados luxury villas for rent. The sites provide good descriptions of each villa and have photo galleries highlighting the main features thus making it easy to choose your private villa. 

Barbados luxury villas also come in gated developments with a wide range of services offered to villa owners. These are serviced very much like a condominium project with a common restaurant, swimming, parking, gym facilities and tennis courts located within the community. These exclusive-style villas communities have front office services to ensure that residents have access to the services they need. A good example of this type of villa development is found at Sugar Hill, which is located near to Royal Westmoreland Golf Club.

Combining the Privacy of a Luxury Villa with the Convenience of a Luxury Hotel 

Recently, my friend Vanessa was appointed General Manager of a Barbados Luxury Villa Hotel and wanted me to take a look at what she was offering. I love to travel and I was curious when she told me she had something very unusual to offer in the villa market. These were luxury villas with a difference. I decided to take a look and was amazed with the beauty of the location. This was a unique hotel with 22 luxury villas situated around beautiful tropical gardens that meandered down to the white sandy beach on the Barbados West Coast. It combined the privacy of these luxury villas with the conveniences of a luxury hotel, which included the famous Spago Restaurant (on site) and a full-service front office operation. 

Vanessa took pride in showing me this property and I kept thinking that for the first time I was really excited about planning a villa holiday in Barbados. This beach front Barbados villa looked very appealing, especially since it was situated near to Holetown where there was great shopping, several gourmet restaurants and entertainment readily available. These Barbados luxury villas are ideal for a honeymoon couple or a family group of any age that want to spend quality time together. The villas are located around the grounds to provide maximum privacy with easy access to services, the restaurant and the glistening sandy beach. You can visit Vanessa’s website to learn more about her very special Barbados luxury villas.

The reality of buying property in Barbados is simple: you will need some legal representation. Purchasing property anywhere, local or otherwise it is always smart to get some legal advice. Buying property in Barbados has a fairly set structure and follows a specific series of steps that ensure that the sale is taken care of legally and in good faith. Let’s have a look at the different steps and how they are completed.

Agreement For Sale – This is the first step that occurs after negotiations have come to a close. This agreement is prepared by the seller’s legal representation, signed in duplicate by the buyer and delivered to the sellers representative along with the deposit. The whole package is then sent back to the buyers legal representative and this step is concluded.

Investigation Of Title – Much like any other area, home sales in Barbados have to clear title before the transaction is complete. This search is typically done by the buyers attorney to ensure that the seller has clear and valid title to the property and that there are no encumbrances, liens, or judgments against the property that could affect the smooth transfer of ownership.

Completion Of Sale & Purchase – Once title has been cleared the seller’s representation then prepares the means of conveyance (usually a mortgage) as well as the previous titles.

Closing Costs – There are a variety of closing costs involved in the sale and purchase of a Barbados home. Sellers are responsible for the stamp duty and property tax. The taxes are respectively 1% of the consideration for the sale and 2.5% in the case of land without any buildings and 2.5% on the amount by which the greater of the consideration paid or value of the land exceeds $125,000.

Retaining Legal Advice & Council – This is a required step in purchasing property in Barbados. There are several aspects of the purchase or sale process that can only be dealt with by a proper legal representative. There are several areas of concern for first time Barbados buyers such as absence of title insurance, the great amount of unregistered property, and some particular conveyance laws make legal assistance a necessity.

Legal Fees – Legal fees are largely dependent on the value of the home being purchased, as defined by the Barbados Legal Profession Rules, 1997. As well, the minimum scale fee may be adjusted by an attorney to reflect their years of experience and the intricacy of the transaction. There is also a 15% value added tax that is payable upon the attorney’s fees.

Financing – Financing is a different story in Barbados as in-country financing is available only to Barbadian nationals. If you are a non-national who is thinking about buying a property in Barbados, then funding must be secured out-of-country. Essentially all foreign financing must be overseas or arranged through overseas institutions.

Keep in mind that purchasing overseas will be quite different than purchasing a home in your own country. There are different processes and laws that apply to real estate and you should be sure that you understand them all before jumping into a purchase. When considering a home in Barbados it is essential that you get legal representation and tax advice long before you start signing papers.

About Barbados

Barbados was discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Campos in 1536, when he named the island Os Barbados (“The Bearded Ones”) which was subsequently shortened to Barbados. The Island is located just off the coast of South America, with Venezuela the nearest major neighbour. The island of Barbados is situated in a group of islands which include the tourist havens of Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados itself is part of the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 430 square kilometres (23 kilometres wide and 34 kilometres long at the widest points). It offers a relatively flat landscape, which rises slightly in the centre of the island – offering beautiful views of the beaches.

While the island has a tropical climate, which is very attractive to the tourist industry, there is a rainy season from June to October, although thankfully the country is situated just outside of the infamous hurricane belt. Barbados itself has one of the highest literacy rates in the developing world, not to mention one of the highest standards of living. The make-up and culture of the island is heavily influenced by the British who have had a presence there for some time – indeed it has become a holiday paradise for many well known British entrepreneurs.

The capital of Barbados is Bridgetown, which is a thriving area of immense tourist activity, and also has the main airport on the island. The overall population of the island is only 279,000 and while the majority of the islanders are native Barbadians, there are a small number of foreign residents. Under heavy British influence, the main sport of the island is cricket with Barbados introducing a number of famous cricketers to the world, including Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell.

Property Market

Due to the size of the island and nature of the country’s economy, demand has been historically high for property in Barbados. Fuelled by a massive increase in tourism activity over the last decade, prices have been pushed higher and higher. While there have been a number of localised “property bubbles” over the years, these tend to be only short term situations.

The government of Barbados take a fairly hands on approach to controlling and ensuring that areas such as the general property market are not pushed artificially high, and do not “over heat”. While interest rates have remained fairly steady for sometime, with very few short term spikes, the authorities are quick to take action (normally by increasing interest rates) where appropriate.

As you would expect of a country which depends to a large extent on tourism, situations such as the terrorist attacks of 9/11 can have a major short term impact. While the economy was effected in the aftermath of 9/11, the Barbados property market remained fairly resilient on the whole.

Activity in the Barbados property market is visible all over the island, although there is particular interest in areas such as Bridgetown, where many multi-national companies have added their presence. This has pushed the demand for rented property to new highs, as new companies look to house their staff. Overseas developers need to obtain permission from the authorities, although this is fairly straight forward without any major issues.

Why Invest in Barbados

Barbados offers a number of incentives for overseas property investors, mainly the quality of the properties, active market place and presence of a westernised culture (heavily influenced by the British). While the island does not operate a full “free market” economy (with some areas of industry still working to a set fee structure) there are plans to change this in due course.

The government have shown in the past that they are willing to take difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions in order to retain the long term improvement in the economy. The beautiful landscape, excellent infrastructure and relaxed life style of the locals adds to the overall attractions of the country, demonstrated in a very buoyant tourist industry.

As with a number of smaller island in the West Indies, they hold great attraction for many of the worlds rich and famous, with the area constantly in the news. Barbados property is currently in vogue as the country gets ready to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which has resulted in the redevelopment of the famous Kensington Oval, and improvement in the islands infrastructure.

On the downside, due to the fact that not all trade has been opened up to the “free market” philosophy, the legal charges and taxes related to property transactions are higher than you might expect. While this has not dented the strength of the property market in Barbados in any way, it is better to be aware of such detail prior to considering the area.

Outlook

The run up to the 2007 Cricket World Cup is causing a major stir in Barbados, evidenced by the increase in development. While normally the effect of such events would be localised, due to the size of the country there will be an impact on the overall economy. The country is already seeing a significant increase in interest from tourists, which increases the island’s profile above and beyond 2007.

The considered approach taken by the local government is a breath of fresh air, for an area which has often been subject to loose economic controls. When you also consider the relatively low level of interest rates, and inflation, and increased spending on local amenities, you have the makings of a strong long term economy. This type of stable environment is ideal when trying to forecast potential returns for the future.

While the millionaire properties receive the majority of the limelight, the effect is starting to ripple through the whole island, as people attempt to spot the next lucrative opening. As demand continues to far outweigh supply, there will always be a strong backbone to property market, which is further strengthened by the demand for local rented accommodation for overseas workers. The government have also shown a willingness to reinvest into the islands facilities ensuring plenty of attractions for overseas investors.

 

Barbados is the jewel of the Caribbean and it’s still the safest and most secure place in the Caribbean for property investors according to Simon Jones market analyst at http://www.internationalhotproperty.co.uk .  “Finding a Barbados property investment that is secure and give Investors a real rate of return with interest rates currently so low can be very difficult but we believe that we have done that for our Investors” claimed Simon.

 

So what is so attractive about Barbados? Barbados has a population of 28000 with a coastline of 65 Miles with the Island being 166 square miles in size. Barbados has the third oldest parliament in the world with 358 years of an uninterrupted parliamentary system of government. The island was granted independence in 1966 but retains the British monarch as its official head of state, represented by the Governor-General. Since independence, Barbados has transformed itself from a low-income economy dependent upon sugar production into an upper-middle-income economy based on tourism. Barbados is now one of the most prosperous countries in the western hemisphere outside of the United States and Canada.

 

What is special or unique about the Barbados property developments being proposed by International Hot Property? “A guaranteed rental return of 10% which is substantially better than the interest rates currently on offer in the UK banks and most importantly the product is SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension) compliant which means this product is offering substantially better returns than the majority of other pension products at the present time.” Explained Simon.

 

The development is question is The Merricks wherer you have the choice of purchasing a luxury Apartment, Cabana or villa in this exclusive Residence or investing in the most exciting new resort to open in Barbados in the last 20 years! The benefit of buying one of these prestigious residence homes is that they have the full use of facilities of the 5 star Merricks Beach Resort which includes a spa, gym, swimming pools and tennis courts also bars and restaurants, a conference centre and local shops.… Part of the Merricks development houses the Merricks beach resort. The 5 star Hotel Management Company (major name announced shortly) will be responsible for the running of the resort, which includes the maintenance of the properties and the general up-keep and landscaping. The Hotel itself will comprise of 14 four-storey buildings each containing 10 luxury studio hotel rooms all with balconies and views of the ocean. The rooms are from approximately 688 sq ft for a studio apartment up to 1,336 sq ft for a 2 bedroom apartment with a fantastic wrap around balcony. All studios and apartments will be at least a third larger than standard Hotel accommodation. All the studios/apartments will include full luxurious bathroom facilities, including a shower, Complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer. Every room will have a plasma screen with satellite television, a safe, luxury bedding and all soft furnishings. There will be a table and chairs in each room, a fridge and tea making facilities. There will also be a table and chairs on the balcony. The Merricks also offer bespoke penthouse suites and 14 luxury cliff top villas – prices are on asking.

 

 

 

Property investors wishing to find out more about Barbados property investment should contact International Hot Property by email or phone.

 

 

 

 

Barbados investment property is a flourishing business even though it is not a trend; it is a unique way of saving your money in every year. Before entering into any kind of investment overseas there are some important issues you have to put into consideration. First of all ask yourself whether the property is major for investment or a variety of holiday and investment. For the past five years or so, overseas investment properties has been in the centre of discussion for several investors who have been looking to keep money aside and make handsome returns.

There are some properties that you may buy which may not be up to standards. This is the reason why most people choose to buy cheap properties that will later on yield great returns. The economic crisis that the world is currently facing has made it almost impossible for people to buy properties abroad. The little money that most people have now is not enough to cater for their basic needs and also make investments.

In Barbados, there are many opportunities which have high potential in yielding; also which you too can take advantage of and make some value. There are a large number of investors who are rushing to this place from all the corners of the globe. Investing in properties in Barbados comes with one big benefit to the purchaser; the fee chargeable by the property authorities and property agencies is cost effective as compared to most parts of the world. Most property agencies will offer the 50/50 split on property sold; a good deal for any property investor. Properties for sale in Barbados are not charged any inheritance fee; no buyer’s tax neither nor capital gains tax.

For the movable properties, they will come with a two year 10% lease guarantee and a 50% room rate share which is normally given to the agency that offer storage to the property and offers inclusive services to them. There are a numerous reasons why Barbados property investment is a darling to most investors. One of them is that they have a record of good returns.

They are: For less than $95,000 you will get a property that is fully furnished. This is also the same amount of money that you will get each year for that investment. You will get a two-year rental income that will ensure that your money keeps flowing. The property will be managed very well so you do not need to worry about rental maintenance and other utilities. There is guaranteed mortgage when you have completed paying for your investment. All you need is a $ 1,000 reservation and nothing more.

Have you ever wondered whether it is possible to acquire your own valuable piece of Barbados Real Estate? Yes, actually it is most possible. All you need to do is find a Barbados Real Estate Sales services company that offers Barbados Property Sales & Rentals services. This is very easy and all you need to do is simply go online and start your search.

What exactly are your benefits in searching Barbados Real Estate? The truth is that Barbados Real Estate is highly valued because the climate at the Barbados island nation is comfortable enough for most people throughout the year. This independent country also enjoys relative political and social stability, while Barbados citizens are said to be friendly to visitors too. Search for a Barbados Real Estate Sales services company if you are searching for an ideal vacation home (such as an oceanfront villa or maybe a compact apartment).

If you do find a company that engages in

It is also very important to know what rules, regulations and laws exist that governs Barbados Real Estate Sales to people like you (especially if you are not a citizen of Barbados). You should check both with your home country and with your Barbados Real Estate Sales agent so you would know if there’s a need to provide any vital documents. Understand that some countries may permit sales of their land to foreigners but may impose certain restrictions. Fortunately for Barbados Real Estate, there are no existing restrictions forbidding foreign nationals from purchasing Barbados Real Estate, but you do have to get permission first for your Barbados Real Estatepurchase from the Central Bank of Barbados. Though this is just a formal way of dealing with such business, it is best if you follow this rule for your protection as well.

Finding a reliable agent is also a best way to hold business in Barbados real estate. Ask your Barbados Real Estate Sales agent if you need to make a deposit of any kind once you have secured permission from the Central Bank of Barbados. Ask too if you will get your deposit back should the sale fall through. There will probably be taxes to pay too, such as the stamp duty of 1% and the property transfer tax equal to 10% from the total purchase price.

You will then need to register the purchase price amount with the Central Bank of Barbados. Do not forget to get the services of a good lawyer, especially one who is well-versed in laws governing Barbados Property Sales & Rentals. You can expect to pay as much as 2% of the property purchase price for the legal fees of your Barbados Real Estate Sales lawyer. Some people may also opt to buy their Barbados Real Estate via a company which was incorporated outside Barbados territory (also called an offshore company).

Barbados property is still the most popular out of all the Caribbean islands, according to developers in the Caribbean and realtors from the Caribbean and around the world. This is despite the fact that Barbados property is among the most expensive in the Caribbean and indeed throughout the world.
 
Speaking of prices — again according to developers and agents — Barbados property has not endured any price falls since the onset of the so called international downturn. This is because the demographic who buy property in Barbados — predominantly wealthy individuals from around the world — have not been directly affected by the downturn, and so have remained active in buying property.
 
Barbados has not been the only market in the world to see this effect. During the height of the media black-out on overseas property — when overseas property editors and journalists were covering make-up or something else people were still interested in en-masse — the Express ran a feature on how the Turks and Caicos islands were seeing activity at the same levels as during the boom. Again, this is because those who can afford to buy property in the Turks and Caicos Islands, have not been directly affected by the downturn.
 
Yes, it is true that not every market favoured by wealthy buyers has been so lucky. The French Riviera suffered badly from the exodus of its foreign buyers. But this is because those buying on the French Riviera were the likes of young rich bankers who had made a fortune from bonuses or from the stock market. When this group found that they could lose money as quickly as they could make it, markets like the French Riviera obviously suffered the consequences.
 
Barbados however, tends to be favoured by the more mature buyer, who pay with the savings they have accrued during their life.
 
Now is an extremely good time to buy property in Barbados. Though prices haven’t fallen, there have been attempts to make up for the reduction in sales that has been experienced. Developers are offering things like free furniture packs, and multiple years free of paying maintenance fees. Some developers are even offering guaranteed finance, though most sales are currently being completed in cash.
 
There have also been reports in the media of developers taking away non-essential luxuries like spas and moorings, so that they can sell the same property at lower prices. We have not seen this with the developers that we work with however.

Barbados Property Management is basically a service by which your Barbados property will be managed completely on your behalf. The best Barbados Property Management offers personalized services for your convenience. Considering your options, a good Barbados Property management company could offer a one-size-fits-all cookie- cutter approach for your business. The goal of your Barbados Property Management services company is to bring out the best potential of your Barbados property, lessening running costs, while allowing both potential tenants and the owners alike to get the best out of the property.

What exactly is this management service need to do on your behalf? Your Barbados Property Management service could start the process of management by conducting an in-depth analysis of the type of property you have and what its needs are. Examples of specific needs are what kind of septic system would be best for your property, as well as how your garden should look like. For some Barbados Property Management service companies, this is a free part of their service so you may want to consider that, though free does not automatically mean better or best service.

Further, the Barbados Property Management service could prepare a detailed proposal concerning how property management should be done for your property, what requirements you have, and how much the property management package should it cost. For instance, if your property management plan involves hiring gardeners to maintain the grounds of your property so the Barbados Property Management company has to come up with an estimate of how much periodic gardening would cost and how long this would take to be completed.

Hiring a Barbados Financial Management services involves managing the insurance and the accounting services. Therefore, it’s important for you to consider such features or services of the Barbados Financial Management company you’ll hire.

Getting appropriate Barbados Property Management services is sometimes very important for those property owners who may be shuttling from the Caribbean to other countries often, or may be absent for long periods of time from their Barbados property. It is also important for your property to be managed appropriately so that you are able to optimize the value of your property. Some properties also have high maintenance amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, and gardens which need constant attention. If you cannot be around to manage your property, then Barbados Property Management may be best the solutions for you.

To track down which Barbados Property Management companies are reputable and deliver on their promises, asking around is one of your best ways of researching for the reputable management company. Check for online information or try to ask around in Barbados personally. Maybe you have run into some Barbados property owners at some community event so you can always probe who does their property management. This is a good way to get referrals to a short list of Barbados Property Management companies that others have already tried out. Remember, word of mouth through referral is sometimes the most effective and cheap ways of looking around. You can think of your predecessor clients who have done the initial testing for you. Realize the results of predecessors’ experience before you approve or hire the property management company.