How to Talk like a Bahamian

Talk like a Bahamian - Bahamas Slang

Have you ever been to the Bahamas? If you are new to traveling to the islands and are concerned about communicating with locals, remember that it is an English speaking country. That being said, the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas almost speak in their own language. The people have their own dialect and creative words, just like the other Caribbean islands do.

Trying to blend in the Bahamas?

Want to speak like a Bahamian?

If you are a novice at the Bahamian language have a look at the list below where you will find commonly used words and phrases along with their meaning.

Bahamas Words to Know

Bey or Ma’ bey - Used as boy, man, person.

   Example 1 - “Hey bey look here.”

   Example 2 - “Ma’ bey I ain’t playing.”

Conch (pronounced Conk) - This is a mollusk that is used in many Bahamian dishes, the most

Queen Conch

famous being conch salad which is a blend of conch, lime, salt & pepper, tomato, sweet green pepper, and hot bird pepper. Some conch vendors also offer other ingredients such as mango. Other conch dishes popular in the Bahamas are conch fritters, cracked conch, conch chowder, and even conch burgers.

Crawfish - The Spiny Lobster is known as crawfish by the local Bahamians. These crustaceans are found under the sea on reef beds and are caught with traps or by spearing. The crawfish is tasty in any recipe and loved by all.

Spiny Lobster Crawfish

Dat - Short for that

Dem - Short for them

Dred - Another word for dude or guy.

   Example - “Bey! You see where dat dred go?

Fish Fry - This is an event or a place where fish and other seafood is fried and served usually in a group setting. The most known Fish Fry in the Bahamas is located at Arawak Cay, on New Providence Island, where many local Bahamians and tourists gather for food and entertainment.

Irie Nuts - At some traffic light locations on New Providence Island you will find people, usually Rasta’s, selling bags of irie nuts. No need to wonder, this is just a name - the bags contain roasted peanuts in the shell. Yum!

Jitney - This is the local word used when referring to a bus. These buses don’t really run on a set schedule. There are bus stops where one just waits until the next one passes by which could take a few minutes 10 - 15 minutes. The jitneys run from 6:00 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening.

Juk - To stab or pierce the skin.

   Example - “Bey juk dat fish man!”

Bahamas Junkanoo

Junkanoo - This is a parade of local Bahamians dressed up in costumes they designed and created as they play music from their instruments. The costumes are made from cardboard cutouts decorated with colourful craft paper, beads and feathers. The people are organized into groups, play on drums, cowbells, horns and whistles, and compete against each other for best costume, best music, and best theme. The most notable teams are the Valley Boys and the Saxons. The main Junkanoo parades are held on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) and New Year's Day with smaller ones held during the summer months.

Mudda Sick - This phrase is usually uttered after sucking teeth in frustration or disappointment. It can also be used when excited.

   Example 1 - disappointment - You can’t go wit me! “Mudda Sick man! I really wanted to go.”

   Example 2 - excitement - The carnival reach already. “Mudda Sick! I ready to go now!”

Potcake - A potcake is a local Bahamas dog which is a mix of a lot of different breeds. These dogs can be spotted at different locations usually trying to find some food. The potcake was given it’s name from when cooking rice and it got burnt and caked up - this was fed to the dogs. The potcake is the official dog of the Bahamas.

Reverse back - When giving someone directions reverse back is often used when guiding someone backwards.

   Example - “Reverse back some more.”

Suck teet - Short for suck teeth - Usually accompanied when showing annoyance or disappointment

Spry - a light rain

   Example 1 - “She just start to spry?”

   Example 2 - “No man. She been sprying all day.”

Switcha

Switcha - This is the slang name for homemade limeade

Teif (pronounced teef) - Stolen. Short word for thief or rather something that was taken by a thief.

   Example 1 - “Man they tief my car dred.”

   Example 2 - “Stop tieffing!”

Tings - Short for things

Tree - Short for three

Those were the local words we thought you should know. We hope your crash course in Bahamian slang words was helpful. If you have any other words or phrases you think should be included in this list please leave a comment below.

Are Communities with Home Owners Associations a Good Investment?

In a word, Yes. But let me expand upon that.

Home Owners Associations are designed to create a uniform set of standards for residents to abide by and, in exchange, residents will typically enjoy a consistent quality of life through that uniform environment. Residents will pay a monthly, quarterly or annual fee and this fee is used to cover the cost of maintenance of common areas, garbage collection, security and other "common area" expenses, such as water, electricity and in many cases a property manager, like PINDER'S Property Management. It should also include a "savings" component so that the community can hedge against future large capital expenditures, such as road repaving, common area facility renovations, etc. If the Home Owners Associations are managed correctly, the value of your community will be protected and your real estate investment will generally have a higher value than similar properties outside the gates. There are exceptions however, as I will now explain.

If a Home Owners Association or HOA is not managed properly there are some serious implications that an investor can experience. First, if the rules for the aesthetic upkeep of real estate in the community are not adhered to or enforced, then the values of the surrounding properties can be negatively impacted. Who would want to buy a home next to a house that is in need of a complete overhaul!? Second, if a significant number of members of the HOA don't pay their fees or are in severe arrears, the financial health of the community can be put at risk. This can cause the basic needs of the community to be neglected, such as maintenance of common areas and community facilities, but can also turn off prospective investors to purchasing a home in a financially dysfunctional community.

It is important that you choose a Bahamas real estate agent that will point out these important aspects of home ownership to you! Knowing that your Home Owners Association is being properly managed and is in good financial health will ensure that the value of your Bahamas investment will continue to grow!

HOME STAGING TIPS - TOP 10 Tips to Sell Your Home!

Preparing your house to be sold can be a daunting and overwhelming task whether you have lived in your home a couple or many years. The longer you have lived in your home the more things you would have acquired. The intent of this Top 10 Tips for Successful Home Staging is to help you save TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.

Take a step back when preparing for your house to be sold and have the mind set that this is no longer your home but your investment for your future. You want your house to have a broad buyer appeal to your target market. Following these 10 Tips for Successful Home Staging will help you sell your house sooner and possibly for more money than if you did not prepare it for selling at all! Remember most people want to move into their new home without having to make updates to it.

1) Curb Appeal
Stand back and view your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is the ‘first impression’ stage. Depending on the season you may want to have pots of colourful and attractive flowers to greet buyers; a clean and inviting door mat; new and shiny door handles and/or knockers; a freshly painted door, etc...

2) Declutter
Start your pre-pack as soon as possible. You need to decide what you are going to keep, give away, sell or throw away/recycle. Many clients will rent storage lockers or have pods delivered so they can start to clear out what is not going to make the house look good.

3) Clean
You would think this one is common sense but let me assure you, I wish it was so! A clean home translates into "They must have really cared for their home." Kitchens and bathrooms must be sparkling clean at the very least.

4) Depersonalize
We know you love your family photos and your personal treasures and for living they are perfect. For selling pack them up carefully so you can showcase them in your new home. For selling you want buyers to focus on the best features of your home and not your personal things or collections.

5) A neutral colour scheme is the way to go for selling.
Choose only 3 colours or less to paint your house for selling. If you have an open floor plan then paint the main floor all the same colour. Bedrooms look good in light sage greens or warm blues.

6) Highlight your home’s best architectural features
Place your furniture in each room so that you have very obvious focal points that show off the home’s best selling features. For example, if you have a beautiful fireplace then place the furniture in a parallel grouping so that the eye is drawn to the fireplace.

7) Decide on the function in each room
If you were using your guest bedroom as your den for living, for selling turn it back into a bedroom with bedroom furniture in it. If you do not have the right furniture for each room consider renting it. If you don’t want to rent then borrow.

8) Lighting your home to its best advantage
Spend money on new light fixtures in brushed nickel or stainless steel. Brass is out so don’t fight it. There are many low-cost lighting stores to select from so no excuses for having dated light fixtures.

9) Window treatments that sell your home
The most popular on the market are the 2” faux woods in a white tone to go with your trim. Decorative side panels will do the trick if you need to add warmth and colour.

10) Flooring needs special attention and is a good investment for updating the look of your home
Tile or linoleum is great for entranceways, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms; a good quality laminate or hardwood is perfect for living rooms and family rooms; bedrooms are attractive in a neutral carpet.

By planning and budgeting you can get yourself to the “OPEN HOUSE READY” stage.

Remember that over 79% of prospective buyers have already checked out your home through the internet and the Bahamas MLS listings. Will they like what they see?

Rotary Races to bring an end to Polio

HUNDREDS of Rotarians and supporters turned out for the End Polio Bed Race at the Marathon Mall, Nassau, Bahamas on Saturday.

Organised by Joanne Smith and Paul Cartwright of the East Nassau Rotary Club, the event raised about $10,000 for Rotary International's global campaign to eradicate polio, which still strikes thousands of children in four African and Asian countries.

Over a period of three hours, competitors from four Rotary Clubs in Nassau pushed and pulled 12 custom-made beds (with at least one occupant in each) over a hundred-yard course in the mall parking lot.

The bed team sponsored by Deloitte & Touche won the day. The winning team included Carl Rolle, Theodore Williams, Keith Beneby, Jamal Ijeoma, Lowell Coleby and Benson Beneby.

Volunteers also provided street food for spectators.

Rotary became involved with polio eradication in 1979 when the organisation committed to immunise six million children in the Philippines.

At the time, more than 350,000 children worldwide were afflicted annually by this crippling and sometimes fatal disease.

Since then, the number of those infected has been reduced by more than 99 per cent, and to date Rotarians have helped immunise more than two billion children in 122 countries.

The Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas have contributed more than $100,000 to this worldwide effort over the years.

9 Common Mistakes made when Selling Real Estate

Mistake #1 – Incorrect Pricing
Every seller naturally wants to get the most money for his or her product. The most common mistake that causes sellers to get less than they hope for, however, is listing too high. Listings reach the greatest proportion of potential buyers shortly after they reach the market. If a property is dismissed as being overpriced early on, it can result in later price reductions. Overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price than they likely would have had they been priced properly in the first place.

Mistake #2 – Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for Market Value
Re-finance appraisals can be very encouraging for homeowners, leading them to assume that the appraisal is the amount that they should expect to receive for their property. Lenders often estimate the value of your property higher than it actually is, however, in order to encourage re-financing. The market value of your home could actually be (and often is) lower. Your best bet is to ask your Realtor® for the most recent information regarding property sales in your community. This will give you an up-to-date and factually accurate estimate of your property value.

Mistake #3 – Failing to "Showcase"
In spite of how frequently this mistake is addressed and how simple it is to avoid, its prevalence is still widespread. When attempting to sell your home to prospective buyers, do not forget to make your home look as pleasant as possible. Make necessary repairs. Clean. Make sure everything functions and looks presentable, and remove as many possessions as you can prior to showing. A poorly kept home, or one with too much clutter, will make it dramatically more difficult for buyers to become emotionally interested in your property.

Mistake #4 – Trying to "Hard Sell" While Showing
Buying a house is always an emotional and difficult decision. As a result, you should try to allow prospective buyers to comfortably examine your property. Don't try haggling or forcefully selling. Instead, be friendly and hospitable. Pointing out any unnoticed amenities and being receptive to questions is advisable, but this is not the time for negotiation and salesmanship.

Mistake #5 – Trying to Sell to Lookers A prospective buyer who shows interest because of a For Sale sign or an open house ad may not really be interested in your property. Often, buyers who are not accompanied by a Realtor® are 6-9 months away from buying, and are more interested in seeing what is out there than in actually making a purchase. They may still have to sell their house, or may not be able to afford a house yet. They may still even be unsure as to whether or not they want to relocate.

Your Realtor® should be able to distinguish realistic potential buyers from mere lookers. Realtors® should usually find out a prospective buyer's savings, credit rating, and purchasing power in general. If your Realtor® fails to find out this pertinent information, you should do some investigating and questioning on your own. This will help you avoid wasting valuable time marketing to the wrong people. If you have to do this work yourself, consider finding a new Realtor®.

Mistake #6 – Being Ignorant of Your Rights & Responsibilities
It is extremely important that you are well-informed of the details of your real estate contract. Real estate contracts are legally binding documents, and they can often be complex and confusing. Not being aware of the terms in your contract could cost you thousands for repairs and inspections. Know what you are responsible for before signing any contract. Can the property be sold "as is"? How will deed restrictions and local zoning laws affect your transaction? Not knowing the answers to these kinds of questions could end up costing you a considerable amount of money.

Mistake #7 – Signing a Contract with No Escape
Hopefully you will have taken the time to choose the best Realtor® for you. But sometimes, as we all know, circumstances change. Perhaps you misjudged your Realtor®, or perhaps the Realtor® has other priorities on his or her mind. In any case, you should have the right to fire your agent. Also, you should have the right to select another agent of your choosing. Many real estate companies will simply replace an agent with another one, without consulting you. Be sure to have control over your situation before signing a real estate contract.

Mistake #8 – Limited Marketing
There are two obvious marketing tools that nearly every seller uses: open houses and classified ads. Unfortunately, these two tools are rather ineffective. Less than 1% of homes are sold at open houses, and less than 3% are sold because of classified ads. In fact, Realtors® often use open houses solely to attract future prospects, not to sell that particular house. Does your Realtor® have a website? There are very few successful real estate professionals who don’t, and for good reason.

Your Realtor® should employ a wide variety of marketing techniques and should be committed to selling your property; he or she should be available for every phone call from a prospective buyer. Most calls are received, and open houses are scheduled, during business hours, so make sure that your Realtor® is working on selling your home during these hours (many Realtors® work part-time).

Mistake #9 – Choosing the Wrong Realtor®
Selling your home could be the most important financial transaction in your lifetime. As a result, it is extremely important that you select a Realtor® who is a good match for you. Experienced real estate agents often cost the same as brand new agents. Chances are that the experienced agent will be able to bring you a higher price in less time and with fewer hassles. Take your time when selecting a real estate agent. Interview several; ask them key questions. If you want to make your selling experience the best it can be, it is crucial that you select the best agent for you.

Newest Bahamas Subdivision Pride Estates Opens

PRIDE Estates Three was officially opened yesterday, the fifth Bahamas government subdivision to be opened and completed under the Ingraham administration.

Bahamas Housing Minister Kenneth Russell said this subdivision is in keeping with the Government's commitment to "reduce the presence of unregulated communities" in the Bahamas.

According to Mr Russell, the Bahamas Ministry of Housing has already constructed 480 houses and sold 237 serviced lots in this current term, with an additional 180 houses now under construction in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco.

He said: "I am pleased to report that we have not only met our goal to construct 600 homes, but we have surpassed it. We have estimated that $63 million is needed to complete what we have planned and we will continue to move forward ever increasing our numbers until either the money runs out or my position expired."

Mr Russell said the development of the 27-acre Pride Estates Three plot and Fire Trial Gardens will cost around $17.6 million of which $7.9 million has already been spent.

"We have completed in Pride Estates 110 homes and 16 are under construction. We are also in the process of regularizing a number of squatters in this subdivision. We have also provided jobs for 52 contractors and their workers," he said.

"We are pleased that we were able to provide homes for Bahamians while at the same time contributing to the economic advancement of our country. These three-bedroom, two-bath, and two-bedroom, one-bath homes range from $83,000 to $135,000."

In addition to the homes, Mr Russell said the government is also building a children's park, a basketball court, a tennis court and maintaining a public open space with a pond.

Click here to view and read this entire article on Bahamas Real Estate Property Portal.

Investing in real estate? Work with a professional.

Today’s marketplace is full of investment opportunities. It's possible that this is the best time in a generation to invest in real estate.

If you have investing in mind - no matter how serious or modest your goals are - you need an experienced real estate agent on your side.

The Right Agent for You

RE/MAX, with offices in more than 80 countries, has thousands of agents experienced in working with investors, and specialists in all types of investment properties, from foreclosures to luxury homes.

Get the Facts

- With low prices, favorable interest rates and strong demand, most rental properties these days are generating positive cash flow.

- Homeownership rates are dipping in the U.S. This tends to drive rental rates up and keep vacancies down.

As we’ve all seen in recent years, housing values can rise and fall. But even when values are static or worse, those rent checks keep coming in.

Investing Can Be for You!

By the way, you don’t have to be wealthy to invest in real estate. In 2009, half of all residential real estate investors earned $75,000 or less.

Interested in seeing what's out there in the Bahamas real estate market? Search RE/MAX Bahamas Paradise Realty for current listings throughout the Bahamas and contact us for further information on the property. Questions about finances? Call us. We will be happy to assist.