In most Caribbean countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis, people looking for a home to buy usually settle on a luxury apartment for various good reasons.
Luxury apartments provide owners a high level of modern comfort which they can experience in their units. They can also enjoy this inside and outside the building itself. These types of properties are usually always located strategically as well. If you live in one, you will be close to places that you need quick access to.
Additionally, security is something that homeowners never worry about in a luxury residential building. All units have the best security features, both in terms of technology and human resources.
Gaining access to more advanced pieces of technology is easier as well when you live in a high-end apartment. The individual units are designed to be installed quickly with the latest technological advancements in communication, IT, entertainment, and even security.
Lastly, luxury apartments are the most sought-after Caribbean investment properties that can also give you the chance to acquire a second passport.
Many countries in this region including Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda have citizenship by investment programs which allow foreigners to become legal citizens of their chosen country. You can do this without renouncing your current nationality.
Investing in a Luxury Apartment in the Caribbean
Because high-end apartments in the Caribbean provide homeowners plenty of benefits, they require a bit of investment. When you are ready to buy one for your retirement or add a property here to your portfolio, you will have your work cut out for you.
If you have the time and means to visit your chosen country in the Caribbean for property viewing, do so. Taking this extra step will help you select the best luxury residential building — one that will meet all your needs and preferences.
While searching for the ideal high-end property, take note of these tips that will help you find the right one:
1. Prioritize location
High-end properties are naturally luxurious and prestigious when you consider the amount of money you are going to invest. However, you won’t get the optimal experience of living in one if you get the location wrong.
The ideal luxury apartments are those that won’t require you to spend a lot of money when going about your routine errands. This means that if you need to go grocery shopping, you won’t need to travel far by car or public transportation to go to a supermarket.
Since you will be staying in the Caribbean, if you want to be near a beach, consider this as well when looking for your new home.
Keep in mind that the shorter the distance that you travel, the more money you save. You will go through fewer hassles, too.
Aside from convenience, make sure your potential new neighborhood is safe. Go online to find information on the area. Take note of crime rates and the usual incidents that take place, if there are any.
2. Take note of security
The level of security is a common selling point of luxury apartments. After all, no matter how beautiful your home is, you won’t feel comfortable if you don’t feel safe and secure inside it.
Aside from getting details about the level of security in a particular property from the realtor or agent, you can get an idea by merely making observations.
Strong gates with high fences and quality security cameras, for instance, are good indications that the management is serious about protecting their residents from various types of danger.
Make sure the apartment has a reliable security system that uses both technology and trained personnel as well.
Additionally, find out what kind of help and services are available when an emergency comes up.
3. Check the amenities
An apartment that comes with only the rudimentary amenities, which include a bedroom, kitchen, bath, and hall, is not considered a high-end property even if it is pricey. If you want to get the most from your investment in the Caribbean, you need a home that provides more than the basics.
Your apartment should have all the amenities you need and more. It must be spacious enough to accommodate you and the others who will be living with you and the furniture and any equipment you intend to have at home.
Additionally, storage is always a must-have feature, so make sure there is enough of this in your possible new home.
Find out which advances in home technology are available in the apartment, too. These features can significantly improve the level of comfort you will experience in your abode. It can introduce positive changes in your lifestyle as well.
Lastly, find out what kind of amenities and services you will have access to outside your unit. They should include a parking space, elevators, a recreational or fitness center, a garden, and a swimming pool. If you have a furry companion, check if you are allowed to bring, live with, and leave pets for short periods in the apartment.
4. Assess the look and feel of the apartment
High-end apartments need to impress you from the first time you see them. This is something that you should also feel every time you enter the property and unit.
To stay impressed by your home in the Caribbean, choose an apartment with an overall design that fits your personal aesthetics and preferences. You should also feel comfortable and truly at home whenever you are in your flat.
And since you will be staying in the Caribbean, keep in mind that the views here can make days and nights more pleasing, relaxing, and rewarding. As such, consider the sceneries surrounding your potential new home.
If you want to be sure that your shortlisted flats possess the look and ambiance you need, view them several times and at different times of the day. By doing so, you will notice things that you did not see before.
You will also either appreciate or dislike the property even more, and this will help point you in the right direction.
5. Look into the prevailing lifestyle in the area
Finally, if you want to enjoy harmonious living in the Caribbean, buy a property in an area where the residents’ lifestyle is similar to yours. For instance, if you are planning to retire here, you will do well to select a flat in a building or neighborhood that has plenty of other foreign retirees.
Keep in mind that shared values and lifestyles will help you get along with the rest of the community. Your chances of living in a stress-free environment and enjoying your stay here will be higher as well.
If you want to be sure that you will live in an apartment that supports harmonious living, take the time to know the demographic profile of the current residents.
When you follow these tips, your search for the perfect luxury apartment anywhere in the Caribbean will become easier and less stressful. Your stay in your chosen island paradise, whether short or long, will be more delightful and rewarding.
AUTHOR BIO:
Kal Kennard is a Partner at Citizens International, a white-glove specialist firm offering private client services necessary for citizenship investment into the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Based in the Caribbean for the past 15 years, she is an experienced consultant who works directly with many professional partners and advises clients worldwide.