The island of Saint Maarten or St. Martin is known for a well-established property market. If you have plans to retire and stay in the Caribbean for good, consider this part-French and part Dutch island.
For foreigners who want to invest in Saint Maarten real estate, this guide is written for you. This guide will give you some ideas on the process of buying a property in St Maarten.
St Maarten Real Estate Market
The island of St Martin is the smallest island in the world. It is divided into the northern part of the Netherlands and the southern region that adopts the French culture. Foreigners visiting the island can enjoy the best of both worlds – breathtaking beaches, gourmet European restaurants, island-wide duty-free, buzzing nightlife, and a lot more.
There are lots of things in-store for property buyers. Unlike other islands, buying a property in Saint Maarten is simple. If you decide to buy on the Dutch part of the island, you will enjoy their no tax on capital gains.
Because of the well-established real estate markets on the island, North American and European property buyers are interested. If you are looking for a luxurious home, check out the Terres Basses on St. Martin’s French side. You find villas and houses built on the hillsides and just a few steps away from the lovely beaches at Baie Lounge and Baie Rouge.
If you prefer to buy on the Dutch side of St Maarten, invest in Cupecoy, Maho, and Simpson Bay. In this part of the island, the real estate market offers apartments, condos, and villas fronting the beach.
Buying a Property in St Maarten
Foreign investors are welcome to buy property on the island. There are no limitations on foreign buyers. As compared to other destinations in the Caribbean, foreign buyers do not require a permit to buy a property on the island. You can purchase the property under the name of the company or the person.
The process of buying a property in St Maarten is quite simple. Below are the steps that you can follow:
- Look for the property you intend to buy.
- Make an offer.
- You can purchase real estate in the French and Dutch parts via a long or simple lease.
- You don’t need to bring your attorney as the civil law notary will carry out the title search and make sure that it has a clear title transfer.
- The buyer will need to pay 10% of the property’s total amount as a deposit. The notary will work on the legal documents, signed by the seller and the buyer.
It takes 4 to 6 weeks to complete the process. The buyer will pay the one-time transfer tax and the notary fees.
If you are decided to buy a property in St Maarten, start searching now. You can check some excellent properties for sales at Caribbean Escape. Perhaps one of these properties is your dream villas.