There are people who dream of living in an island paradise and then there are people who buy an entire island to become their playground. Think Mel Gibson. Well, since you are neither one of the two, you can invest in real property in the island paradise of Antigua in the Caribbean!
What You Will Get
Since there is only so much land available, it is important to purchase some of the highly desirable land in Antigua while you still can. Just about anywhere in Antigua will give you incredible views so there should not be a problem in finding just the right land for you and your family.
And we are not just talking about nature in its most beautiful incarnation either because even God?s own images in Antigua are beautiful! You will see proof of this statement during the Antigua Carnival where men and women in various states of undress shake their booty to hypnotic African music.
What You Pay For
The cost of the property that you look at in Antigua will depend on one thing normally and that is location. But that is just like anywhere else in the world as the location of the property is always a large determining factor in the cost of the land. Things such as the architecture styles of the house and how spacious it is will also play a contributing role in the cost of the purchase.
You will have to first purchase the Alien Landholding License which is around 5 percent of the value of the property. Then there is the Stamp Duty which is around 2.5 percent. And the Legal Fees which could be anywhere from 1 to 2 percent of the value of the property.
All in all, you may pay up to a quarter of the property value in roundtrip transaction costs when investing in Antiguan property. Put that into perspective if you are thinking that it might be too much. You are investing in paradise, after all, and paradise is priceless!
What You Need To Do
Investing in island property is relatively easy especially as the Antiguan government is keen on foreign investments pouring into their coffers. Antigua is also a tax haven so you need not worry too much about your property becoming another white elephant on your tax forms.
While though you are welcomed to buy land, you still have to go through the standard procedures, which includes that Alien Land Holding License before the purchase can be completed. Since this process takes around three months, you can always explore the island and get to know the place a little better.
You may ask why Antigua is being promoted as a real property paradise investment haven, not its sister island of Barbuda. One reason: The government prohibits the sale of even a single rock in Barbuda!
Also, keep in mind that government being as it is anywhere in the world, the laws on buying real estate can be confounding to the average investor. You are better off hiring a property management service company that will handle the details and documents of the purchase.
Now that you have the house you have always wanted in your own little paradise, the next logical step is to begin to enjoy it!
This antigua real estate article is brought to you by www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com