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Bahamas
Bahamas Real Estate
Bahamas real estate offerings include many different types of real estate opportunities. You can choose from Bahamas condos and Bahamas beach villas. Caribbean Real Estate Showcase's Bahamas real estate agents offer villas with swimming pools and sea front lots. The Bahamas villas that are available will capture your wish for amazing sea views and wonderful tropical clarity. Bahamas real estate owners enjoy appreciating real estate values and the delight of being next to nature. Bahamas real estate listings can be studied by potential clients. The Bahamas climate and atmosphere allow investors in Bahamas beach villas to offer their real estate investments to renters as Bahamas vacation rentals. You can simply enjoy your Bahamas villa for vacations, investment or later retirement. Caribbean Real Estate Showcase's exclusive professional Bahamas real estate agents will provide you with full details on Bahamas real estate properties and Bahamas businesses for sale.
Bahamas Real Estate Regulations
Foreigners may purchase real estate in the Bahamas. Under certain circumstances, usually if the purchase is for investment purposes, foreigners must apply for a permit under the International Persons Landholding act. Bahamas real estate purchases must be registered with the Foreign Investments Board of the Bahamas.
Bahamas real estate is sold freehold. Caribbean Real Estate Showcase recommends that all real estate purchasers use a Bahamian attorney to assist them with all aspects surrounding their Bahamas real estate purchase.
There is a Government Stamp Duty, which is a tax on the sale of Bahamas real estate and the rate on transactions over $250,000 is 10%. This tax is normally split between buyer and seller. The Bahamas real estate purchaser will also be responsible for his legal fees including the "lawyer's opinion," which amounts to a guarantee of good title and the recording fees. Where a purchase and sale of Bahamas real estate is classified as a "net sale", the purchaser makes himself responsible for all fees and taxes.
There is no Capital Gains Tax on Bahamas real estate resold, provided the purchase is registered with the Exchange Control Department at the time of purchase.
There is no income tax or inheritance tax payable by residents of the Bahamas.
There are various rates of taxes due under the Bahamas Real Property Tax. Bahamas real estate valued at over $500,000 pays 1% in Real Property Tax annually.
Bahamas visitors are permitted to stay in their Bahamas villa or other Bahamas home for up to 8 months at a time provided they do not work and have means of financial support and a departing airline ticket.
Bahamas real estate investors investing in excess of $500,000 may establish permanent residency either with or without the right to work
Abaco Bahamas
Abaco is not one island, but rather a chain of islands from Walkers Cay in the north to Hole in the Wall to the south. The Abacos are located approximately seventy five miles north of Nassau and 200 miles east of Florida. The Abacos are renowned for their pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and truly world class sport fishing. Visitors will also find many power and sail boats for hire, with or without crews. Excellent golf facilities, wonderful scuba diving and snorkeling and first rate modern marinas are also available. The Abacos boasts a full range of accommodations from five star luxury resorts to uninhabited islands, and everything in between.
The Bahamas is a tourist and residential paradise comprising close to a thousand islands and over 2,000 cays. CVOA and Caribbean Real Estate Showcase offer Bahamas villas for sale and Bahamas rental villas throughout this glorious island chain.
The Bahamas proximity to the US make it a short flight from the east Coast of the USA and a quick start to your relaxing trip to completely unwind.
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Caribbean Real Estate Showcase and CVOA offer herewith more information on the Bahamas and some useful links for those planning to rent a Bahamas vacation villa or to purchase a Bahamas beach villa or Bahamas real estate.
History of the Bahamas
The first inhabitants on the Bahamas were probably Lucayan Indians who arrived around 250 AD. The Bahamas was spared the influence of marauding Carib Indians who overwhelmed many of the Caribbean islands. Just before 1500 Christopher Columbus arrived at the islands of the Bahamas. The Spanish explorers enslaved the Lucayans and used them to work the gold mines in Hispaniola. In a very short time all of the Lucayans had died.
In 1647 the Eleutheran Adventurers, who were spiritual refugees from England and Bermuda, established the first permanent settlement and gave Eleuthera its name. They were followed by other groups who established other Bahamanian settlements and the Bahamas became a British Crown Colony in 1717.
For around thirty years or so starting at the end of the 17th century, The Bahamas was an ideal base for marauding pirates. The many islands, beaches and inlets near to major shipping routes provided hundreds if not thousands of easily accessible hiding places. Famous names such as Sir Francis Drake and the infamous Blackbeard used their glorious waters to plunder merchant ships. This episode was brought to an end by the first British Governor Woodes Rogers, a former pirate himself, after he was appointed in 1718. He immediately took steps to drive the pirates from his territory.
In the late 18th century escaping American colonists loyal to Britain fleeing from the American Revolution arrived and brought with them their knowledge of construction and agriculture. Many were accompanied by their slaves brought from the American mainland. Other immigrants from England joined these early European settlers and until 1834 when slavery was outlawed in Britain these British settlers imported slaves from West Africa and these unfortunates were the forbears of the current Bahamanian population.
This separate state close to the US mainland offered opportunities for new illegal shipping activities. During the Civil War in the Americas, the Confederates used the Bahamas as a base to beat blockades. Later during the period of Prohibition in the United States, the islands were used as a transhipment point for running rum.
The official name is the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
The Bahamas government encourages foreign investment in business, main residences and second homes. Bahamas regulations assist real estate purchasers to obtain a Home Owners Residence Card or Annual or Permanent Residence depending on their requirements and the degree of their financial involvement in the Bahamas. Work permits are made available to key personnel in new business ventures.
Total Bahamas Island Area is 5382 square miles.
Capital City of the Bahamas is Nassau, New Providence.
The Bahamas Climate is semi tropical
The Bahamian population was approximately 317,000 when measured in 2003
Languages of the Bahamas – Official English and Creole.
The Bahamas Government is a Constitutional parliamentary democracy. The Bahamas gained her Independence from the United Kingdom on July 10, 1973.
The British Queen is Head of State and is represented by the Governor General.
The main political parties are Free National Movement, Progressive Liberal Party and the Coalition for Democratic Reform.
There are universal voting rights to all those over 18 years old.
The Bahamas Economy has a total GDP of approximately $5.7 billion.
This is divided as follows:
Tourism 40%, Government 20%, Financial Services 15% Construction (mostly tourist related) 10%, with the remainder being taken up by manufacturing agriculture and fisheries.
The US is the main trading partner to the Bahamas providing over 80% of total Bahamas imported consumption
The Bahamanian Population is mainly of African Heritage and arrived as part of the slave trade or accompanied British loyalists who left America as a result of the Revolutionary War.
The Bahamas Education System
All children must attend school between 5 and 16. There are over two hundred primary and secondary schools in the Bahamas and the Government operates three quarters of these.
There are several private colleges offering programs of Higher Education in the Bahamas as well as the College of the Bahamas.
Bahamas Links
Office of the Government
http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/
Office of the Prime Minister
http://www.opm.gov.bs
Bahamas Compliance Commission
http://www.thebahamascompliancecommission.com
Bahamas Maritime Authority
http://www.bahamasmaritime.com
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
http://www.bahamas.com
Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX)
http://www.bisxbahamas.com
Securities Commission of The Bahamas
http://www.scb.gov.bs
Bahams Chamber of Commerce
http://www.bahamasb2b.com/bahamaschamber
Bahamas Financial Services Board
http://www.bfsb-bahamas.com
Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation
http://www.bahamasb2b.com/baic
Central Bank of The Bahamas
http://www.centralbankbahamas.com
Local Radio Stations: http://www.tvradioworld.com/region1/bah/Radio_Tv_Frequencies.asp
Local Television Stations: http://www.tvradioworld.com/region1/bah/Radio_Tv_Frequencies.asp
Local Weather Information: http://barometerbob.com/
Fishing: http://www.worldwidefishing.com/bahamas/salt.htm
http://www.walkerscay.com/index.html?section=fishing
Sailing: http://www.abacocharters.com/
Diving: http://www.diveabaco.com/
Golf: http://www.golfbahamas.com/
Kayaking: http://www.golfbahamas.com/
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Caribbean Real Estate Showcase is a division of Caribbean Villa Owners Association 877-248-2862 804-693-5216 804-693-4856 | |||||||||
Disclaimer
Caribbean Real Estate Showcase, Dunham Young Inc. its owner, executives and employees act in good faith in the promotion of this web site but are in no way responsible to either property participants or potential customers or real estate purchasers for any loss of any kind howsoever caused. Continued use of this website indicates acceptance of this condition. Property purchasers should exercise caution and use independent legal advice when entering real estate transactions of any kind.
