6 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying a Home in the Caribbean

More than a desire for many, owning a home in the Caribbean is a privilege. Because who’ll deny living in this utopia where luxury is the standard, laid-back lifestyle is obvious, and property for sale laws are favourable with strong political stability.

Besides the stunning weather and bucolic scenery, buying a home in the Caribbean is quite distinctive from States, Europe, and Canada.

Are you ready to create your dream nest in the Caribbean? Try to avoid these obvious mistakes to escapade a smooth-sailing home buying experience in the Caribbean, a place that is an amalgamation of liberation, excitement, happening social life, and larger-than-life amenities.

As we navigate through the blog, sit back and relax!

• Overlooking the Severe Weather Conditions

We hear a lot of fascinating things about buying a home in the islands, they are undoubtedly beautiful, but the fact we are unaware of is the diversity in their climate. BVI has many rain showers, Curacao is quite dry, while the Cayman Islands has a moderate climate.

Talking about the Caribbean in general, the climate here is tropical and is warm to hot throughout the year, with one or two rainy seasons. Also, the wet season coincides with the hurricane season running from 1st June to 30th November.

Here are some tips to consider while buying a home in the Caribbean.

• You are likely to encounter a hot climate every day. To combat it, either you can jump to the pool or can stay in an air-conditioned room. The wise choice is to find a home with a cooling breeze.
• The hurricane threat in the Caribbean is common; make sure your house can stand a flood.
• If you live near the sea, there are high chances that the salt in the air may damage the things at your home. So use only durable products during building construction.
• Assuming the Caribbean Real Estate is Inexpensive

This is one of the most common misconceptions we all have. Even if you are planning to build your own home, the expenses can touch the skies. On the other hand, hiring a construction company relieves your stress, but the process of building a home, plus the costs that would incur, are equally sky-rocketing. Whether you are planning to buy a small condo in Aruba or a luxury villa in Turks and Caicos, the prices are worth a fortune compared to many developed nations.

• Choosing a Self-proclaimed Professional

All that glitters is not gold. This aphorism best typifies the real estate scene of the Caribbean. Every day a new real estate company enters the Caribbean market, and in a hurry to gain massive profits, they end up doing frauds with foreigners by making false promises. They even push buyers into buying a worthless property.

If you’re planning to buy a piece of paradise, make sure you do proper research before working with any real estate agent. Ask a lot of questions to your agent. Go for references from your friends or neighbours; they might help you choose the right professional for you.

• Believing in Real Estate Ads and Images

Every one of us has a dream of owning a gorgeous home amidst the best of facilities, striking interiors, and a magnanimous pool area. Some images given on the website of the real estate companies are too good to be true. The rosy words and state-of-the-art description of the property attracts your attention in just a glimpse. They often promise ocean views which is like 10km away from the villa. In a hurry to choose a property, many buyers end up making the wrong decision.

Even if you like the images of the property, investigate the property minutely. Also, some real estate agents never reveal the real reason why the seller wants to sell such a dreamy house. Go ahead, and do your part of the research.

• Presuming all the Caribbean Islands are Same

Many people think of the Caribbean as a single destination, but it is actually an intricate geographical region comprising of 700 islands, cays in a region, and beautiful reefs. If you ask someone to imagine the Caribbean, they will have the image of a sandy tropical island surrounded by palm trees and an endless horizon of turquoise blue water.

Undoubtedly, the Caribbean islands are beautiful, but they are all diverse and have unique characteristics. Weather, the standard of living, and commute facilities in metropolitan areas of

Turks and Caicos will completely differ from the urban location of Haiti. Your 4–5 week vacation in one of these islands will not help you to make the right choice.

Learn about your requirements, check the health care facility, standard of living, choose whether you want to live in a remote place or do you want to live in a highly urbanised zone. Lastly, avail of the property management services in Turks and Caicos or any other islands that you’re considering.

• Not Realizing the Lengthy Home-buying Process

Despite the fact that buying a home in the Caribbean comes with lots of ease, the government here can make this process difficult for foreigners in some cases. The cultural, linguistic difference coupled with government bureaucracy can make purchasing your dream home like getting blood out of a stone. If you need a mortgage, there are a set of rules to follow; make sure to talk to a local lender to know the exact length of the process and current mortgage rates. Be patient and be in constant contact with the local agent to be sure that the process goes according to the plan.