Bahamas aims to attract the Canadian tourist market

THE BAHAMAS is committed to promoting its tourism assets to the Canadian market, Public Works and Transport Minister Neko Grant said.

Addressing a reception for Sunwing Airlines' inaugural flight from Canada on November 3, Mr Grant said: "As you are aware, tourism is our country's lifeline. We depend on it for the health of our economy and indeed for much of our quality of life.

"We take the tourism sector of our economy seriously and take pride in developing strategic partnerships with companies such as the Sunwing Travel Group, Canada's largest leisure company."

He described the new service as the first step in a long and lasting partnership between the Sunwing Travel Group and the Bahamas - and an opportunity to introduce Canadians and others to the country's rich heritage and its friendly, hospitable people.

"We are excited to have Canada's leading high frills, low cost airline service the Bahamas. Your award winning 'Champagne Service' which has been voted number one by customers and travel agents for the last four years, is a welcomed addition to the Bahamas' airlift from Canada," he said.

The Bahamas continues to upgrade infrastructure in Nassau and the Family Islands, Mr Grant said.

Some of the latest initiatives include: major roadworks throughout New Providence, a new airport gateway dual carriage road, the Baha Mar resort which is currently under construction, and upgrades to the Lynden Pindling International Airport and the Marsh Harbour airport in Abaco.

"Downtown Nassau is being rehabilitated to provide an exciting historic, entertainment and shopping experience for residents and visitors," Mr Grant added.

"Construction of a new Straw and Craft Market is completed and it will soon open for business, the historic parliament buildings are being refurbished, public green spaces are being established, commercial shipping is being moved from the downtown area, extensive road paving and sidewalk works are being done and Charlotte Street will be upgraded and pedestrianised."

Other Family Island airports are scheduled for improvements as part of the government's efforts to accommodate growth and development, and increase capacity for airlift and tourism, he said.

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To Handle Low-ball Offer, Minimize Emotion

It's a common scenario in today's real estate market: Sellers have their eyes on getting a certain amount for their home. Buyers make a low-ball offer that insults and offends the sellers and they refuse to even consider it. No sale.

How do you, as a seller, turn such a situation around in your favor to achieve a successful sale closer to your asking price? Your motivation plays a major role in your response, says Julie McCoy, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Accord in Lafayette, California.

If you want to sell a home quickly and a buyer is offering less but can close quickly, it's worth considering, McCoy says. When lower-than-expected offers come in, ask for an explanation from the buyer's agent and compare home sales to see how things stack up.

"The emotion has to be removed from the transactions," McCoy says. "Regardless of what kind of offers you receive, you can't take it personally. When someone writes a low-ball offer, it's not an indication of what your house is worth - but rather what they can afford."

Try to find wiggle room by negotiating the terms, such as the moving timeline, closing costs and repairs. You can gain back some money that way, McCoy says. If you're reluctant to touch the price but you're not having a lot of showings, seriously consider your motivations.

"When a seller says no to low offers, that means he or she will be carrying more payments on the house for a longer period of time," McCoy says. "If a seller can afford the daily cost of staying in the home and wants to get the best bang for the buck at closing, then there's not an urgent need to move. "

If you leave your gut reaction out of the equation, it's easier to make an informed decision on whether or not to consider a low offer.

"Motivated sellers will work with their agent, who then works with the buyer's agent, to negotiate - even if that involves countering," McCoy says. "It takes teamwork to arrive at a conclusion that everyone's happy with."

Timing is Everything....Especially in The Bahamas!

While much of the investing world sits on the sidelines and waits for the real estate market to turn around, the opportunities for second home ownership in The Bahamas are really heating up! Activity for the first quarter of 2010 has surpassed all of our expectations and, as a result, many of the right priced properties are being bought creating a much more balanced supply and demand situation.

The government really encourages foreign investment and the process is not as daunting as one may think. The first thing to do is find a quality real estate professional, someone with experience and one that you can trust. This will help you in not only locating the right purchasing opportunities, but assisting you in being referred to the right attorney for your conveyance and title work as well as the right lenders should you require financing. The RIGHT real estate professional should be able to answer all of your questions, put your mind at ease and make the adventure of purchasing your very own piece of paradise a truly rewarding experience. It is not uncommon to become friends for life with your real estate agent!

If the thought of investing in a foreign country makes you uneasy, give me a call! I talk to people everyday about the beauty of The Bahamas, the excellent investment opportunities and relaxed way of life I have come to love. I am always here and ready to assist wherever possible.

Contact me for more information on investment opportunities in The Bahamas.

Some Great News for The Bahamas Economy!

Despite the ongoing pessimism regarding the global economic outlook, The Bahamas continues to get great news with the announcement of some very positive events!

Firstly, the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace was quoted recently in The Nassau Guardian newspaper as saying, "In the middle of a recession, 2010 will see an increase of over 400,000 new air-seats bringing a potential visitor spend of an additional $400 million compared to 2009," during a debate on the government's mid-year budget in the Senate. "These new seats include non-stops to Exuma, to Abaco and to Eleuthera from the United States and Canada that have either never been seen before or haven't been seen in decades."

This potential injection of revenue into the local economy will surely have a profound effect on the economy of our country! Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace went on further to say, "We are restoring the proximity advantage of The Bahamas by having that proximity reflected in the cost of travel to The Bahamas. That, as I mentioned earlier, is the first of six strategies that we outlined for tourism over a year ago. There is very strong research to show that for flights under three hours in length, the customer would rather spend their hard earned money enjoying themselves at the destination instead of consuming their funds in airfare cost in traveling to the destination. We are obliging them." The remarkable part to this statement is that proximity not only the tourist visitor but the second home owner as well!

Another very encouraging bit of news is that the new Baha Mar Resort in Cable Beach seems to finally be moving forward with the release of the news that there will be an estimated $7 Billion (with a B) in wages injected into the Bahamian economy in the next 2 decades. A report by the Oxford Economic Company, seen by Guardian Business, set out some of the key economic benefits which could create a "transformative economic event for The Bahamas in terms of tourism, economic multiplier effect, infrastructure and social change".

Yesterday Hu Dingxian, Ambassador to The Bahamas for the People's Republic of China, re-asserted his country's commitment to the project saying: "Baha Mar is an important project for the long-term benefit of The Bahamas. It is exciting that two Chinese companies, China's Exim Bank and China State Construction, are participating with Baha Mar to bring this project to fruition."

The benefits outlined in the report include:

* 6,500 Bahamians directly employed by Baha Mar by 2014
* A further 2,000 jobs indirectly created by the project, totaling 8,500
* $5.5 billion in direct wages going straight into the pockets of Bahamian families
* A further $1.5 billion in salaries for those indirectly employed
* A $14.8 billion contribution to The Bahamas gross domestic product GDP - a massive boost to the national economy.
* $24.5 billion extra in visitor spending over a 20 year period, though spending and direct taxes, taking the total contribution for the resort to $33.6 billion over the next two decades
* An extra $6.2 billion in government revenues over a 25-year horizon.
* Visits to the property jumping from 250,000 this year to 644,000 by 2016, generating a predicted 2.3 million visitor nights. Figures have also predicted that the development will inject $880 million into The Bahamas in its first year of operation through direct taxes and spending.

It is clear to see that the future of the Bahamas economy and, as a result, the Bahamas real estate market will be enormously effected over the next several years! There is no better time than now to get into the Bahamas real estate market!

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Grand Bahama real estate springing forward

Real estate in Grand Bahama appears to be bouncing back before any of the other islands, with that island's Chamber of Commerce chief noting a shift in particular in interest from second-home buyers.

"Real estate is coming back," said Chamber President Peter Turnquest. "Things have been slow in 2009, but they're beginning to see the return of the second home buyers.

"They're [also] beginning to see a bit of property value increase."

This follows a slow year for real estate sales in The Bahamas, where the entire market saw a shift in the time houses lingered on the market. Unlike most of the region and even the Family Islands, home and land prices in New Providence, however, have been largely recession-proof. That's despite a noted drawback in buyer enthusiasm.

But according to Turnquest, the tide appeared to be shifting for Grand Bahama now.

"There are great opportunities and deals in Grand Bahama," he added. "It's still one of the best buys in The Bahamas and maybe in the southern U.S.

"So it's a really attractive market."

Recently, the head of the Bahamas Real Estate Association suggested the holiday shopping season had provided the perfect opportunity for buyers to see as much as a 10 percent discount on property prices.

It's an opportunity created by relatively slow sales leading up to the month of December, something that has placed developers in a merry mood to bargain in order to generate sales. It's a developing trend that applies throughout the Family Islands.

Priced to Sell; Choosing the right Bahamas Real Estate Agent for You

You have been thinking and rethinking whether you should put your house on the market and you have now decided that it is the right time for you to sell your Bahamas real estate.

The first thing you should do is contact a local real estate agent to assist you. “Who do I call?” you may ask. Well you need to find an estate agent that you will get along with. Pick an agent that is going to look out for your best interests and not just an agent who wants another listing under their belt.

Opening the telephone directory and randomly choosing a real estate agent is literally the ‘blind’ approach. You need to select an estate agent that will gel with you, an agent that you feel comfortable with and one that you can trust.

The first place you should look for a real estate agent is in your group of contacts; your family, your friends, your business partners, your co-workers, your friends friends etc. If you do not know an estate agent personally, ask your group of contacts; they probably have had dealings with an agent and can point you in the right direction whilst also informing you of agents or company’s not to have any dealings with.

After you have done some research on the agents and their respective companies, and narrowed the list down to about three or four agents, it is time to interview them. Arrange interviews with each agent so that you can find out who the best agent and company is to potentially market your property. As the agents are asking you questions on your home you can ask them questions on their experience, their respective real estate company, and what homes are selling for in your neighbourhood. If the agent is prepared they will be able to give you some information on themselves and their realty company. After each of the agents have left your property you will have a better feel on who they are and who they represent.

The estate agents at RE/MAX Paradise Realty are fully trained and prepared to list your home for sale. We offer information and statistics to help you in choosing us to represent you and your property, but we are not interested in getting a listing just to have it in our database. We are dedicated on listing your home at the right market price.

Listing your home with the right market price will benefit you. Rather than listing your home at an inflated rate and having it sit on the market for months or even years, reduce your asking price to the right market level. This will ensure your home is in front of more eyes which in turn will result in a quicker and more successful transaction.

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The Bahamas Real Estate Market: Why we have survived!

I am often approached by buyers, foreign and local alike, asking if the real estate market has suffered like that of our neighbours to the north. The answer is a resounding "Not even close!" Typically there is an uncomfortable silence on the other end of the line and then I begin to explain.

The Bahamas real estate market is a very unique creature indeed! We are geographically close to the US and our government and currency are stable. We enjoy a year around climate that is sunny and warm and our islands and our people are equally as beautiful. Our banking industry has very prudent lending practices which enables them to minimize their risks while maximizing their returns. We did not experience a "credit crisis". Another interesting contrast with the US real estate market is that we do not have an over abundance of inventory. We do not have neighbourhoods that are 50% or more in foreclosure. We have not seen a huge sell off of foreign or locally owned properties. We have enjoyed a relatively balanced supply and demand situation.

While I would be remiss in not mentioning a correction in pricing, all markets across the globe will, from time to time, experience some correction. This is healthy for the market and healthy for the economy as it allows the more prudent investors the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of home ownership in a slower market.

If you are interested in learning more about our market and it's dynamics I would be happy to discuss it with you. There is much to learn but one thing is for sure: There is no better time to get into the Bahamas real estate market!

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