News From the Caribbean
Article
21 Jul 2009
Trinidad & Tobago
Buying Real Estate is confusing to most of us. Here we take a look at some of the influences that affect our decisions to buy and try to put these in perspective from both the Home Ownership and Investment views. We suffer from an overload of information coming at us from all angles as everybody has an opinion in Real Estate. Not only are your banker and your lawyer experts who know all about the ups and downs of the market when prices will fall, when they will go up, when to buy and when not to buy as well as what price to pay!! This information of course is also fully available from your mother, mother-in-law, friend, office manager, gardener, plumber, electrician or in fact just about anybody you care to listen to; the more people you ask the more different opinions you will get! But who really knows when to buy, when to sell, or if and when the prices will go up or down?? The truth is that nobody does. It is really up to You to make that decision.
Newsletter
01 Jul 2009
Trinidad & Tobago
JULY 2009 Exclusive Listing Vs. Non-Exclusive Listing
[
Download
]
Exclusive listings are the primary listings that are used in North America and Europe, and this is fast becoming the norm here in Trinidad. Smart sellers know that if their property is to be sold in the shortest time possible, then they are looking for maximum exposure. An exclusive listing ensures that your property gets that exposure. Many people shy away from exclusive listings, believing that they are restrictive, when in fact the opposite is true.
Newsletter
01 Jul 2009
Barbados
JULY 2009 Residential Capitalisation Rates
[
Download
]
In recent years, residential investors have sought out beachfront product on Barbados largely with the intention of holding for a period and eventually cashing in the capital gain on resale. By and large the same can be said for off-beach residential investors, whether in a local residential neighbourhood or a branded or themed development. Once running costs and some element of debt service were looked after, the anticipation of double-digit appreciation took precedence over the cash or operating return. With a focus on the overall yield as opposed to the cash return in isolation, an investor was generally content with the performance of this asset class. As the market continues to change and as some segments experience slowing in absorption (and in some cases oversupply), many residential investors are looking more carefully at the cash or operational side of the equation.
Press release
08 Jun 2009
Barbados
Business Monday - The Barbados Advocate - Monday 8th June, 2009 Barbados will once again distinguish itself as the Caribbean’s premier venue for world-class events when the Barbados Sailing Association hosts the 2009 International One Metre (IOM) World Championship from June 20-27, 2009. During the official media launch at Wispers Restaurant on Wednesday June 3, planning committee members, Senator Peter Gilkes, who is also a board member at the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), expressed his satisfaction with the tremendous confidence that the international community has in Barbados’ ability to produce high quality, first-class events. “Recently, we held an event which attracted people from the international sailing community, who came and saw and realised that Barbados has great sailing conditions and organisational skills. “We submitted a bid to host this championship and in December 2008 we were given the event. Most countries are given two years to plan, but our confirmation came with a lot less time to secure sponsorship and so in.
Article
28 May 2009
Barbados
The question on everyone’s mind is “Where is the market going?” As valuers we have to answer the question of market value every day. While an opinion of value is not a prediction of the future, many of the trends and variables that we study can give us guidance for the market performance in the future. The following are some brief comments on trends that we are seeing. As always this is only an opinion. The local housing market – There continues to be significant demand for middle market (Bds$400K to $750K) housing in central locations.
Newsletter
01 May 2009
Barbados
MAY 2009 A Market in Transition
[
Download
]
The question on everyone’s mind is “Where is the market going?” As valuers we have to answer the question of market value every day. While an opinion of value is not a prediction of the future, many of the trends and variables that we study can give us guidance for the market performance in the future. The following are some brief comments on trends that we are seeing. As always this is only an opinion.
Press release
13 Apr 2009
Barbados
LAST WEEK I NOTED the tremendous contribution of the offshore sector to the local economy and mentioned the new publication put out by Invest Barbados, the fairly new Government agency set up to promote inward investment. I also noted that the magazine was put together in association with the local offshore sector association, the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA). Just before I move on today, please allow me to make a few corrections to that article: the contribution to the Treasury by the offshore sector in terms of corporation tax in 2007 was around $265 million, I have been reliably informed, not the $50 or $60 million I suggested, although it is expected to be less in 2008. Another error, I have been informed, occurred when I suggested that offshore companies can buy cars duty free. Not so, apparently.
Newsletter
01 Feb 2009
Barbados
FEBRUARY 2009 On the Beach
[
Download
]
There’s a new seaside hotspot in Barbados. Fitness enthusiasts, pet walkers, strolling parents and their little ones are among the many Barbadians and visitors who now frequent the new South Coast boardwalk. With this part of the Coastal Infrastructure Programme almost completed, people on the west coast need not feel left out as the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) has identified the Holetown Beach area for similar improvements.
Newsletter
01 Jan 2009
Trinidad & Tobago
JANUARY 2009 How to Sell A Property In a Tough Market
[
Download
]
Newsletter
01 Dec 2008
Barbados