One dream is universal – to live on an island. The prospect of awakening among palm trees swaying in gentle trade winds, add to this the catnip of living on a golf course, and the dream is further amplifi ed. By William DeSousa-Mauk

For golfers enamored with Caribbean islands (or investors seeking Caribbean property to rent to golf enthusiasts), the rewards of purchasing and owning golf course real estate can be considerable if well-researched buys are equally well managed. As golf ’s international ascendancy has increased, the Caribbean’s idyllic climate and infrastructure have attracted many world golfers. Naturally, big-purse competitions have spawned considerable demand for top-shelf properties for rent or sale. Also within the past decade, a vigorous new salt-tolerant turf hybrid— Seashore Paspalum—has been developed, and it requires far less pesticides, can be irrigated with brackish water, is low maintenance and offers high playability. This breakthrough is responsible for an explosive expansion in new, high-quality courses throughout the Caribbean.

Barbados is a superb option for real estate investing and a no-brainer for holidays, which makes investment here a wise choice. It offers political stability, a well-educated workforce, reliable telecommunications, and superb climate - all of which have fostered an entrepreneurial spirit with local enterprises proactively entering both regional and international markets. Purchasing real property in Barbados is relatively simple, as non-nationals are treated equally as citizens but must secure authority from the Central Bank of Barbados to purchase real property.

Government and private sectors anticipate the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME) modelled after the EU. Such preparations portend a stable economy and managed growth. Purchasing in Barbados, a former British colony, is straightforward with a globally-recognized legal structure. Local lawyers handle title searches and contracts. Barbados has an active market for long-term and vacation rentals with wide variations in returns. Most investors should anticipate returns between 5% to 12% on income plus reasonable capital appreciation. Short-term renters must register for VAT and add 7.5% value added tax to the rental fee with the added advantage of allowing the owner to reclaim VAT as part of property maintenance and upkeep. Profi ts from rentals are subject to Barbados income tax.  Read More...