COLDWELL BANKER JAMAICA REALTY

To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow Feng Shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Talk to any of our Coldwell Banker agents about other ways to maximize the marketing potential of your property when you are ready to sell.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt ran a lightning fast final leg of the 400-meter relay Saturday, taking the baton in a near dead heat, then overtaking USA Blue’s Ivory Williams to win the event at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson and Bolt finished in 37.90 seconds for Jamaica Gold. Bolt’s dash lasted an unofficial but superfast 8.79 seconds.

Bolt holds the world record in the 100 and 200, and his appearance at the relays — his first competition of 2010 —  brought the highest single-day attendance (54,310) in the Penn Relay’s 116-year history. A total of 117,346 fans watched the three days, also a record.

Commercial Land for Sale, Jamaica, Coldwell Banker

A developer’s dream just under 1 acre of flat land sitting below Beverly Hills.

St Andrew, Kingston, Jamaica.

Asking $422,222.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing Page for details.

Caribbean Property Magazine’s April issue ran an excellent article on “15 CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING OVERSEAS REAL ESTATE” which we summarize here.  If you are considering a purchase outside your country of residence, read the entire article (click on the link) and it should help you avoid mistakes, or at the least, suggest research you need to do before you buy.

If you have found a property to interest you - whether condo, house, land for development, investment - look at the big picture and try to isolate yourself from your enthusiasm about the view, or price, or location.  The country of your choice may be paradise, but it is still a foreign country.

1.  Country Access - is there year ’round access to the area and how long will it take from the airport
2.  Building Requirements - are there some, and if not, are there standards in place or deed restrictions
3.  Sewage - is there a central sewer system, and if not, and you need to install a septic tank, require a “perk test”
4.  HOA - is there a Homeowner’s Association, what are the fees (they will only go up), how financially stable is the association, and how much deferred maintenance is shown
5.  Greenbelts - are there common areas, open space areas, a master plan - check the developer’s plans and programs for working with the community on a shared future
6.  Amenities - what are they, what do they cost, what are the long-term maintenance requirements
7.  Title - what type of guarantee of title will you receive, what language will be included for coastal laws and changing shoreline
8.  Telecommunications - is there state-of-the-art telecommunication equipment in place or planned - check phone service, bandwidth, and service providers
9.  Water and water pressure - is there enough fresh water and water pressure, does it plan for future growth, how will the growth be paid for - check pressure in any structure by turning on all the faucets and flushing at the same time
10. Hot water - check for hot water plumbing, and if building a new home, double check that hot water will be included
11. Infrastructure - does this include fiber optic, underground electricity, paved streets, sidewalks, storm drains, high-speed internet access - don’t take any of this for granted, and make sure the development has planned for these services or find out how the homeowner will be assessed
12. Assume nothing - you probably will be an off-site owner while your new home is built - who will oversee construction, what avenues of communication will you use, check references of the developer and builder - make sure you verify the plans for proper wiring, air conditioning, dryer vents, etc. - take nothing for granted
13. Development Company - check their financial condition and references - realize financing is unusual so the developer may provide buyer financing - how will this affect their balance sheet
14. Safety and security - if you want 24/7 security, double check it will be part of the property maintenance and cost
15. Health care - Most major Latin American cities have state-of-the-art medical facilities, but if you purchase outside these, it may be a distance to good health care

As the author concludes, “Much of the world outside North America and Europe is the land of ‘Buyer Beware.’ Be sure you know the answers to these important questions and make a conscious decision about what levels of creature comforts are mandatory and which may be optional for you…An educated buyer is a happy owner.  There are items you may take for granted that will not be the standards in other countries.”

Contact your local Coldwell Banker office for help with your research and investigation into answering these questions.  All of our agents are knowledgeable about their local areas and laws.

Oceanfront condo, Montego Bay, Rose Hall, Jamaica, for sale

Beautiful 1 bedroom/1 bath ocean front apartment in the Rose Hall, Montego Bay, St. James area now available.

Very clean, well maintained, nicely furnished. Excellent ocean view. Private beach, pool, tennis court. Gated, 24 hour security.

Asking $105,000

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos.

Duncan's Bay, Trelawny, Jamaica, home for sale

It’s quiet and tranquil, offering beauty to rest your soul and a relaxing lifestyle.

Come feel the cool tropical waters, the gentle breeze, extensive views of the Caribbean Seas. Imagine just swimming and sun bathing just footsteps from your private retreat.

This valuable waterfront villa is worth the trip now to visit Jamaica. This home features an open floor plan, living, dining and kitchen, 3 beds, 3 baths plus helper’s quarters.

The villa is fully furnished and ready for you to move in. Offered @ US$400,000.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos.

Earlier we wrote about the numbers released in the National Assn of Realtors’ vacation home study, which showed a modest increase in 2nd home sales in 2009.  More is at work in those statistics, though, than just buyers deciding to purchase.

While Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of NAR, said the typical vacation-home buyer makes a lifestyle choice, buying in this economic climate also shows these folks felt the property was a good investment, a good use of their discretionary funds at this time.

By the purchase, they also said they see a 2nd home as an investment, to use for vacations yes, but with an eye toward future appreciation. 

The study also showed a changing attitude in the US toward 2nd homes.  In the U.K. and Europe, vacation homes are part of the culture.  Since the typical age of a 2nd home buyer in the US is 46, a subtle shift could be taking place toward younger buyers of these homes.

“Historically, people become interested in buying a second home in their mid 40s,” Yun said. “The large number of people who are now in their 30s and 40s will dominate the second-home market in the coming decade.”

Be sure and contact our Coldwell Banker agents in the Caribbean to discuss your options for a vacation home purchase, including Fractional Ownership.  This is a great time to buy on all our islands.

Apartment Bldg for sale on Jamaica

Very spacious and nicely designed.

Great income earner consisting of 4 level apartment building. (3) 4 bedroom, 4 bath apartment (1) 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment

Great view of sea and mountain in a quiet, serene neighbourhood 10 minutes from downtown Montego Bay.

Asking $595,000.  In Fairfield of Montego Bay.

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for photos.

A U.N. environmental expert has recently cautioned that Jamaica’s beautiful beaches are in danger.  He predicted that several beaches on the western end of Jamaica could be totally wiped out in the next five to 10 years if local authorities and citizens do not act now to protect the environment.

Pascal Peduzzi, head of the Early Warning Unit, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Division of Early Warning and Assessment/GRID-Europe, based his prediction on data coming out of a UNEP study on the role of the ecosystem in disaster risk reduction.

JamaicaObserver.com writes, “According to the study, titled ‘Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology Development Project (RiVAMP) — The Case of Jamaica’, scientific evidence shows that over the past 40 years, Negril’s beaches have been experiencing severe and irreversible shoreline erosion and retreat.

“‘Bloody Bay in the northern section of Negril has experienced lower erosion rates than Long Bay, with sections of Long Bay beach without coral reef cover showing higher rates of erosion,’ the study said. ‘The highest erosion rates have occurred after 1991, when beach recovery after storms has been slower, and these trends are likely to continue. It is expected that long-term sea level rise, changing patterns of tropical storms and cyclones in the region (in terms of both frequency and intensity), diminishing sand supplies due to coastal ecosystem degradation as well as coastal development will exert an even higher toll on Negril’s beaches.’”

Peduzzi believes other areas in the country could be in similar danger.  According to UNEP, the ecosystem in Jamaica, like many other countries in the world, was under serious threat.  UNEP said that one-third of coral reefs and mangroves, two of the world’s rarest ecosystems, are already seriously damaged with some countries having already lost much more.

Our citizens and leaders need to launch a coordinated effort to protect Jamaica’s natural resources.