When you buy real estate in the Bahamas, expect your closing costs to land between 2.5% and 10% of the total purchase price. The exact percentage depends largely on the value of the property and your residency status. Sellers can expect to pay a similar percentage, as the standard practice in the Bahamas is to split the primary government taxes down the middle. The bulk of your closing costs will come...
Living in Shoreline means residing in a 26-acre private, gated community located directly on Fortune Beach in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Built as a planned development, it consists of 76 custom-built, Bahamian-style homes arranged around a central lake, tropical gardens, and a network of swimming pools. If you are looking for a turnkey, low-maintenance beachfront lifestyle with tight security and high-end...
To get fast-track permanent residency in the Bahamas through real estate, you need to buy a property for at least $1.5 million, register the purchase, and submit an Economic Permanent Residency application alongside your financial and background records. While the legal minimum investment for standard residency is $750,000, only the $1.5 million threshold qualifies you for the government’s accelerated...
Yes, non-Bahamians can buy property in Grand Bahama, and the process is quite straightforward. The Bahamian government actively encourages foreign investment in real estate. Under the International Persons Landholding Act, you do not need special approval to buy residential property if the land is under five acres and you plan to use it as a personal residence. You simply buy the property and register the...
If you buy a home or commercial building in Freeport, Bahamas, you will not receive an annual real property tax bill from the Bahamian government. The reason for this is a 1955 legal document called the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. In the mid-20th century, the Bahamian government wanted to develop the island of Grand Bahama, which was mostly uninhabited pine forest at the time. To do this without spending...
If you are trying to decide between buying property in Freeport or Lucaya, the quick answer comes down to how you plan to use the home. If you want a waterfront property, plan to generate short-term vacation rental income, or want to be within walking distance of beaches and tourist amenities, you should buy in Lucaya. If you are moving full-time for work, want a more affordable residential home, or are...
If you are planning a trip to Freeport, Grand Bahama, and want to know exactly how to spend your time, the top seven must-do activities include exploring Lucayan National Park, browsing Port Lucaya Marketplace, snorkeling or diving the local reefs, walking through the Garden of the Groves, blending your own scent at the Perfume Factory, touring the Bahamian Brewery, and eating at the Smith’s Point Fish...
Finding real estate value in Grand Bahama comes down to understanding two major factors: elevation and zoning. If you want to know where the smart money goes, you have to look past the main tourist strips and understand how this island actually functions. Value here isn’t just about finding the lowest price tag. It is about matching your lifestyle needs to specific neighborhoods, factoring in annual...
If you are looking to buy property in Freeport, Grand Bahama, you need to understand that this market does not operate like Nassau, Florida, or anywhere else in the Caribbean. After thirty years on the island, you learn that the glossy real estate brochures only tell about ten percent of the story. Buying a home here means navigating a unique legal framework, understanding the very real impact of island...
When you buy property on an island, you aren’t just buying a piece of land or a house. You are buying into its history, its climate, its legal framework, and its local economy. On Grand Bahama, institutional memory—specifically, the knowledge accumulated over the last 30 years—is the most effective insurance policy a buyer can have. Having access to three decades of local knowledge answers the...