You’ve made the decision. You’re ready for the next step. Now what?

Buying a property locally can be can be daunting but seems doubly so when you are contemplating buying in another country. We are here to make the process as pain free and as smooth as possible. Our job is to guide you through the process with expert advice and constant communication. We will assist you in locating the right property providing all the relevant information and local expertise where necessary.

Deciding to Buy

Weather you plan to buy locally or abroad you still need to be prepared and we are here to help you. Here are a few things to consider:

• Determine your preference of buying a lot to build or purchasing an existing property. We will assist you with the pros and cons.

• Determine how you will be financing the property. Loans in the Caribbean are at a higher interest rate than you are accustomed to and demand higher down payments. As always "Cash is King". You may want to consider refinancing your current property if the funds you need for your Caribbean purchase are not readily available.

• Define your needs and wants – make a list of the things you simply can’t live without, like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms your family needs. Then list some nice-to-haves: maybe a pool or sea view. This will help you further down the road when you start looking at properties    

• Understand market conditions – In the Caribbean region the real estate market does not go through the wild price fluctuations seen in North America. The real estate market is fairly stable with small increases over long periods of time. Islands have limited land space so prices tend to go up rather than down even though properties may take a bit longer to sell.

Choosing an Agent

Whether you are buying a home to retire in, an investment/income property or a piece of land on which to build your dream home, it is still a personal and sometimes emotional process. It is therefore important that the relationship with your real estate agent be one of mutual respect   and  trust. Their expertise and advice will be crucial in your decision making process. After all, they will be acting as your eyes, ears and voice throughout the process. They have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests, to be completely transparent and accountable to you. Here’s what a RE/MAX Results Realty agent will do:

• Keep you updated on current market conditions

• Review with you your wants and needs against your budget

• Guide you to properties that best fit your criteria

• Coordinate the work of other professionals you’ll need during the process

• Negotiate with the Vendor/Seller on your behalf

• Make sure all the required paperwork is fully completed, accurate and that deadlines are met

• Work with you to resolve any challenges that may arise 

 Procedure for foreigners who wish to purchase property in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

 If you are not a native born Vincentian you will be required to acquire a Alien Land Holding License issued by the government of St. Vincent and The Grenadines You cannot complete the purchase of any piece of real estate without this license.

Alien Landholding License

You will need the services of a local Attorney who will apply for the license on your behalf  and who is also responsible for the registration of the license with the High Court Registrar.  At RE/MAX Results Realty we have already vetted a number of Attorneys and will provide you with a list of the most reputable Attorneys.

The license is granted for a specified piece of property and for a specified person (s). The purchase contract must be Executed and is non-assignable, must contain the legal description of the property purchased and conditional upon the purchaser obtaining a Land Holding License. The license is permanent and does not required to be renewed annually.

Conditions of the Alien Land Holding License

• The license must be registered at the Land Registry within three months of the issue date or it becomes void

• The Deed of Conveyance must be registered at the Land Registry within three months of the issue date

• For Land only, the Purchaser is required to build within two to five years of the purchase

• This process could take between four to six weeks

Required Documents

• Completed application

• Application Fee EC$100.00 Non Refundable

• 4 Copies of the survey of the property purchased

• 2 Copies of the draft Deed of Conveyance

• Date and place of birth of the Purchaser(s)

• Copy of Purchaser's Passport

• Country of Citizenship

• Banker's reference letter

• Police certificate of good character from country of residence

• Current address and any address for the previous 5 years

• Purpose for acquiring the property

• Treasury receipt for payment of the application fee

• Any additional documents required by lawyer

Finding Your Home

If you are buying locally you already know which city, or town you want to live in. Not so easy when you intend to buy a home in another country. One in which you have never lived and maybe only visited a couple of times. Your choice of location in SVG will depend on the your budget, lifestyle choices and your "must have" list. We are here to assist and guide you giving you all the information you need so you can make the right decision.

Locating the right property can be a lot of work but we aim to make it pleasurable fun. We will go by boat to each island then by car to each property. We'll make a day of it with meals, snacks and beverages.  We expect you to ask lots of questions, take photographs and fill out your checklist. We will have a package of relevant information for you to take away. In other words we are here for you.

 Making an Offer

You’ve fallen in love. But it’s important that you don’t let your emotions get the better of you when making an offer. Remember, real estate is an investment. Fortunately, for you we are here to help you put together an Offer to Purchase. We will discuss all the details along with the steps you need to take and provide you with the other experts like Attorneys,  home inspectors, surveyors etc.

Your slice of paradise awaits you. Just contact us today to get started on making your dream come true.