Waterfront Property in the Bahamas & Real Estate Expertise

Nassau's BNT Wine and Art Festival kick starts the holidays...in October!

Nassau is just about ready to start a holiday season that stretches from October to mid January. Like the American Embassy, we celebrate almost every possible holiday.

This month, we've already celebrated Discovery Day/Heroes Day/ Columbus Day, and lived through the lively Cultural Festival all last weekend, where we were plied with great food, drinks, dances, music, art, and people from around the world (our own little New World is very cosmopolitan).

Now, we are looking forward to the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Wine and Arts Festival, featuring 50 wines and as many artists, Saturday, October 29, at the "Retreat Garden" on Village Road, Nassau. Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Members night on Friday gives us a preview of the art and head start on the wines. This is the major fund raiser for the BNT, which takes care of our flora, fauna, national parks, historic sites, most things bright and beautiful. Major sponsor Bristol Wines and Spirits very thoughtfully puts all the wines on special at or just after the festival. Patrons ask for them by number, as in the Festival program.

Parking is the only problem at this event. Cars edge in all along Village Road and nuzzle up to the lovely, old, neighbourhoods (that's "neighborhoods" to our American relatives and friends), branching from it. These houses are rarely for sale, but a couple are now. Buy one, restore it, and become of the preservation effort instead of the problem.

Click here for more information

After Wine and Art, we have covens of Halloween parties at Rotary, schools, private parties, nightclubs. They are getting more and more elaborate, a trend borrowed from American visitors and friends.

Then it's BNT Christmas Jollification, Bahamas Humane Society Ball, BHS Fashion show, and US Thanksgiving, all in November.

This  leads up to nonstop Christmas parties from December 1^st through mid January (for those in retail); culminating in our world famous Junkanoo parades in the early morning hours of on December 26 and January 1.  (And don't forget the concerts! from Brad Paisley to the National Youth Choir.)

We have so much fun here that life does feel like a permanent Holiday! ... And, You're invited.

Posted by:  Sara Parker

Determined as you are to invest in a place to call home or "my land,’’ you, the pre-approved buyer, or you, the property virgin, have not yet made a decision to make an offer or to leave a deposit. Weeks, months and, in some cases, years of searching has gotten you to the point of desperation to find a deal and when you find it, it expires. Have you found yourself in this scenario? Has your decision not to purchase or to hesitate on a good investment been clouded by negative input?

It’s easy to confuse advice with opinion when discussing home ownership and investment with family and friends. Yes, they may love you, but this process is so much more personal than the average allow. Nobody I know has grown younger, investment decisions made at an early age is a no-brainer. Similar to purchasing insurance, the younger you are the better. This especially works out well when you decide that you want to take on another investment using your equity. Your financial institution would happily oblige to a great mortgage plan as your age and finances allow. This is not to say only "young people’’ invest; we know that is surely not the case as most inexperienced buyers and even the experienced are exposed to the ‘Noise in the Market.’ Yes, the person you consider and respect as the glorified advisee may have your best interest at heart, but interestingly enough, you always end right back at square one.

Here’s some advice, as it relates to investing. Trust your real estate agent, one can help you with the numbers, to ensure that your offer is a sound one and a home or property price is not inflated. They will also advise you have a home inspection conducted on an aging home. Put trust in those in your position already. Opinions on location or crime can easily be sought about by speaking with the local police department in the area. A weekend drive throughout the neighborhood you wish to call home won’t hurt either. Buying a home is a huge decision; it’s easy to have a change of mind based on biased information by friends or family. Remember that you alone make payments on your investment, and you alone determine how your funds are spent. Besides, a house isn’t a home until you’ve unlocked its doors to engage in its limitless possibilities.

Posted by:  Brian Austin