WHERE TO STAY IN ST. LUCIA – NORTH VS SOUTH

People usually ask what the best area to stay in Saint Lucia is – North or South. Most of the St Lucia Villa Hotels and Resorts are located in the north of the island. Here you can discover the utmost diversity of accommodation as well as tourist facilities.

# Gros Islet / Rodney Bay

Rodney Bay is the main tourist center offering white sand beaches, restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Although very pleasant and vibrant in its own way, the north of the island is fairly touristy, more crowded, more costly to live in, as well as less local and authentic.

# Marigot Bay

South of Castries is Marigot Bay, which has also a variety of popular St Lucia Villas and very pretty views. On the other hand, this area is mainly a marina, there is not too much to do in and around Marigot, with the exclusion of diving, kayaking, sailing, as well as visiting the rum distillery.

# West Coast and East Coast

Between Soufriere and Marigot Bay, there are some places to stay, in addition to the same can be said for the East Coast, the area between Vieux Fort and Castries. These parts of the island are quite picturesque and local, as well as mainly untouched by tourism, although they do offer some interesting attractions and lovely views. Check here!

# Vieux Fort

Near Vieux Fort and just north of Vieux Fort, there are some lovely guest houses as well as inns worth visiting. In addition, there is a wonderful white sand beach popular with kite surfers and certainly the international airport, restaurants, and shops.

# Soufriere

Soufriere is generally a tourist resort, but the setting is more intimate as well as natural than the north. The town is a bit run down and it can feel quite busy as well as touristy sometimes. Expect to be accosted by vendors or beggars and individuals offering different services. It’s better to stay outside of Soufriere, but most St Lucia Villa Hotels and Resorts further out tend to be costly.

# Laborie

Laborie is one of the best areas to stay in Saint Lucia. The charming and authentic fishing village of Laborie proposes some small guesthouses and affordable vacation rentals. You don’t essentially need a car in Laborie.

The beach, restaurants, and small shops are within walking distance, as well as it’s easy to catch a bus to the bigger town of Vieux Fort. It is very near to the Balenbouche Estate which provides the best of both – seclusion and nature, along with access to nearby sites, communities, and attractions.

# Choiseul

Choiseul provides fewer accommodation choices than Laborie, but there are a few Airbnb and private villas, as well as a small boutique resort. Many of these St Lucia Villa Rentals present stunning views of the ocean and the Pitons.

Last Words

In our view, the best area to stay in Saint Lucia is in the south and southwest of the island, between Soufriere and Vieux Fort. This is where most of the islands’ spots and attractions are located, in addition to where you can experience more of the local culture and history. Click here for more information: https://www.prudentialgrandvalley.com/4-reasons-saint-lucia-is-every-vacationers-dream-getaway/

Continue Reading

Is It A Bad Time To Invest In Vancouver Real Estate?

In spite of having around a fifth of Canada’s population, how did British Columbia avoid a massive COVID-19 outbreak as well as a province-wide lockdown? The province has relaxed the coronavirus pandemic rules now. However, British Columbia had fewer to begin with than many other provinces, preserving a lower hospitalization rate than Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec. Generally, the West Coast has maintained a fixed stream of great news during this public health disaster.

Given that the COVID-19 was largely contained in British Columbia, does this mean that Downtown Vancouver Condos Market was also unaffected? It’s been an uneven ride, but it looks like the worst could be finished.

Vancouver Real Estate Market

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation are forecasting a major drop in the nation’s largest housing markets. It projects that Vancouver will face the largest drop of all, with prices falling 12.00% by 2022 from the 2019 average. Not everybody is convinced of a national slowdown with sales activity increasing over the past month. Local experts say that it’s challenging to monitor the information to identify developing trends.

Vancouver Realtors continue to improve new digital tools as well as practices to help their buyers meet their housing needs in a safe and responsible manner. House buyers and sellers have felt more comfortable operating in physical distancing and many other safety protocols in place over the past three months.

Greater Vancouver reports an increase in re-listing activity. There were 5,787 new listings in June, representing an increase of 57% compared to the same period last year. These dramatic trends have astonished analysts in view of that the spike occurred so shortly after the coronavirus outbreak. The number of active listings reached 11,424 and 15% more than in June 2019. Suffice it to say that if you’ve been waiting to dive into the Downtown Vancouver Condos, now might be the best time. Know more here!

Home Affordability to Attract More Clients?

One of Canada’s largest banks published its real estate affordability data for January 1st to March 31st of 2020. The Royal Bank of Canada indicated that that Canadian affordability is still deteriorating, but Vancouver has appeared the biggest improvement in affordability in the Great White North.

According to the Royal Bank of Canada, the median Vancouver household currently needs almost 80% and 4% percent less than last year. This is the sudden drop in British Columbia. Even though prices are still 31% greater than the long-term average, affordability is increasing. This is a welcome improvement for not only homebuyers but also real estate investors, especially millennials. This demographic has driven novel trends in the Downtown Vancouver Condos Market in recent years.

Vancouver Adapting to Coronavirus

Industry insiders say an important trend in Vancouver Housing has been the adaptation of buyers and sellers to this new coronavirus society. If it’s practicing social distancing or adopting stricter hygiene routines, everybody is doing their part as well as this is helping the housing market. Realtors have installed physical distancing mechanisms to comply with government health and safety commendations like other key markets. And more and more individuals are becoming more comfortable with this novel normal for housing transactions.

As well as wearing masks, gloves, and limiting contact, real estate agents take advantage of digital tools, from business papers to virtual tours. This makes buying and selling Downtown Vancouver Condos still feasible, even though the public health crisis still affects Canada. You can know more at: https://www.prudentialgrandvalley.com/important-tip-when-buying-a-vancouver-condo/

Continue Reading

Important Tip When Buying a Vancouver Condo

It’s your third weekend to head out and view 5 new Vancouver MLS Listings that just hit the market on Thursday. One posting in the 5 looks fantastic in the photographs, yet it’s your first time going to this specific building. Your real estate agent has disclosed to you the building looks great, and he has not heard anything terrible about its development and/or condition. Once inside the condo, you are amped up for the view and the design. After seeing the conveniences, typical regions, underground stopping, extra closet and bike room, you realize that this could be your next home.

This Downtown Vancouver Condos scratches off all the cases, and you advise your agent you might want to make an offer.

Read the Strata Documents before You Offer

Before a pen is put to paper (fingertips to a console), a decent purchaser’s agent will request a duplicate of the relative multitude of strata records from the posting agent. Numerous buyer’ agents today rush to compose an offer subject to the purchaser endorsing the strata reports. I generally read the whole strata report bundle before plugging down with my customer to write a proposal on a Downtown Vancouver Condos available to be purchased.

Note any data that may influence the worth of the posting or be an undesirable expense in the close or far off future. Strata records to zero in on are the accompanying.

Structure B and financials

  • Minutes of the meeting including all AGM’s and Special AGM’s
  • Devaluation report and any Engineers Reports
  • Strata plan
  • By-Laws and Rules

Seven-day subject period

When every one of the records has been perused and a current market assessment is done, my customer and I will have a reasonable comprehension of how to continue recorded as a hard copy of an offer. Even though we have perused the reports, incorporate the standard seven workday subject provision for supporting all archives:

Provision: “SUBJECT to the Buyer, before 7 workdays from the date of acknowledgment getting and endorsing the accompanying strata reports… ”

We can demand additional data about the building during this seven-day subject period, knowing there are no curve balls or things that will influence the worth or utilization of the Downtown Vancouver Condos. Check here!

When a listing agent has a copy of the strata document?

Should the posting agent have a duplicate of the strata report before the principal day of appearances?

Indeed, undoubtedly. A posting agent ought to have every one of the strata archives prepared and accessible when the posting hits the market. If the posting agent doesn’t have the records, they cannot manage their work appropriately or expertly.

  • A few realities of why strata reports are significant before making an offer?
  • Legal strata plan may show a more modest area than the promoted area.
  • Depreciation Report shows spaces of concern and expected uncommon appraisals.
  • Form B may state forthcoming changes to the By-Laws.
  • Minutes of gatherings frequently tell a story of how the local area works inside the building.

In summary, knowing however much as could be expected about the building and the strata before you compose an offer is significant.

See the best of the Downtown Vancouver Condos Real Estate Agent and click here for more information: https://www.prudentialgrandvalley.com/is-vancouvers-real-estate-market-really-in-free-fall/

Continue Reading

Is Vancouver’s Real Estate Market Really In Free Fall?

Who wouldn’t want to invest in Vancouver? It’s beautiful and there are many beautiful homes to snap up; however, there has been a lot of talk about falling house prices. That’s always a concern when you own property, especially if it’s a rental or investment property. Even when it’s your family home, you can owe more than you originally bought it for. It’s a nightmare and something which many Vancouver homeowners are concerned about. So, is the real estate market in free fall?

Understanding the Average House Prices

A lot of newspapers have been talking about how the bottom is falling out of the Vancouver real estate market and if you look at the figures it does seem that way. However, while there has been a slight drop in the average house price, it isn’t as shocking as you might think. Yes, there has been a downturn in the market of late but if you actually look at the homes behind the headlines, it’s the ones worth millions of dollars. Estimations for standard family homes are pretty steady at the moment so it’s not time to panic, as yet anyway.

Traditional three or four-family homes worth a few hundred thousand dollars aren’t suddenly losing their value. Of course, if your home was worth $5 million then you have some cause for alarm. Generally, you can invest in Vancouver real estate and make a tidy profit – if you buy wisely.

Changing of the Vancouver Real Estate Market

There’s no denying that real estate can fluctuate as much as any stock or investment piece. It’s a gamble to buy a home, even when the market is pretty steady. You never know when the economy is going to nose-dive and leave you with a home that’s worth half of what you paid for it. It’s a major risk of life and one that’s often unexpected. Fortunately, if you do your homework before you buy, you can invest in Vancouver and see a nice return. Of course, nothing is guaranteed but it does help to know the market. Sometimes, buying in an up-and-coming area helps, especially if you’re buying a family or forever home. More details!

Taking the Gamble Is More about the Property You Buy

Investing in property can be a smart idea but you do have to be extremely careful. You need to understand the current state of the market and whether the home you buy is worth what you pay. For instance, a $1 million mansion in an upscale part of Vancouver might seem nice but will you be able to see a profit the way the market stands? Or, would you be more likely to see a safe return on a smaller family home in another nice area of Vancouver? The Vancouver real estate market is buoyant, somewhat, but prices on the higher-value properties are decreasing.

Watch the Markets Closely

Unless you own a $5 million home, it’s unlikely the slight decrease in house prices will affect you. Of course, that doesn’t mean a dip in the market won’t impact you at some stage. As said, the real estate market can change in an instance and you need to stay alert to that possibility. The market isn’t in free fall yet but anything can change. If you want to invest in Vancouver real estate you have to approach any property with caution. To find out more, check out https://www.prudentialgrandvalley.com/who-is-buying-vancouver-real-estate/

Continue Reading

Who is buying Vancouver Real estate?

When looking at the current Vancouver real estate, you may be left with the question with who these days have the money to buy housing in the city. In this article we will cover just who is able to purchase real estate in Vancouver.

Foreign home owners

In recent reports conducted in the Vancouver area it has been discovered that the majority of home-owners in Vancouver are not actually residents there. The type of property often owned by non-residents tends to be condos, with the percentage of condos owned by non-residents being 30.4% higher than that of residents. However, the condos owned by non-residents often come at a higher price, 25.6% to be exact. There has also been a rise in Hong Kong buyers due to uncertain political stability in their country. More details!

New ways to buy

Due to high property prices in the Vancouver area people have been adapting and figuring out new ways to get onto the real estate property ladder. One of the ways that they have done this is by co-ownership of the property. This is when two or more people pool together their resources and purchase the property together. This can become difficult later on when they are trying to figure out who is entitled to what depending on how much each has paid, but in the meantime it get them onto the property ladder. This is normally done by either: each person gets a private suite or each one gets a bedroom and the common areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and living room are shared between all of them. This situation can get even more complicated if there are renovations needed to the property which could lead to conflict as to how to split the renovation costs. It is for this reason that it is advised that in this situation that both parties have a lawyer to help them through this process to avoid any unresolveable problems in the future.

Big earners

A study was concluded to determine just how much a person would need to make in order to be able to afford a house in different neighborhoods, and the results were shocking. In at least five of the neighborhoods in Vancouver the amount needed to purchase a property was over 100,000 USD more than the average household was making. This leaves a big gap for high earners to come in and purchase all of the property that the average household cannot afford. This leads to big earners owning more than the average family, such as a West end condo or a downtown one.

In conclusion, the majority of property in Vancouver is being purchased by either big earners or by non-residents buyers. However, this is down to the fact that Vancouver real estate is a very attractive investment for all. For more details, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver

Continue Reading

Citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia

There are many reasons as to why citizenship in Saint Lucia is attractive, and it can be easy to get by just as little as investing in a St Lucia villa. Based on your needs and situation, it could be the right step for you. In this article we will have a look at what it is, what the benefits are and how you can do it via investment.

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a breathtaking island based in the eastern part of the Caribbean that is full of five star resorts, volcanic beaches and fishing villages. It is the perfect location for an island escape, weather that be for just you and your loved one or a whole family escape to relax and have fun. Saint Lucia has something to offer to everyone.

Benefits of nationality from Saint Lucia

In the current climate many people are now looking to the attractive option of gaining a second nationality, and Saint Lucia is a very attractive option to somebody looking to do so. Some of the benefits, to list just a few are the following: visa free travel to over 120 countries which include all of the carribean islands alongside with other countries in the common wealth.Tax advantages, which mean that you don’t pay taxes on worldwide income. Educational opportunities for your family, and alongside this there are no educational requirements for acceptance into educational programs. Security of living and working in a peaceful and politically stable country, so you no longer have to worry about you and your family in the future. Last, but by no means least, citizenship in Saint Lucia is forever, this means that once your passport is approved, that it is valid for a lifetime and can be passed onto your children and then onto theirs and so on and so on. Click here!

How to get nationality in Saint Lucia via investment

To be able to apply for citizenship in Saint Lucia you need to meet the following requirements: you need to already have a nationality, you must have a valid passport, all applicants and their dependants must not hold a criminal record, both applicants and their dependants must pass a medical examination, it is the responsibility of the main applicant to make the financial donation in real estate or to the National Economic Fund, children and dependants under 25 can be considered under the main applicants application – those over 25 have to make their own application, and for dependants over the age of 65 they can be considered on the application of the main applicant. The donation amount that you have to make depends on the application. A simple application for just one applicant would only have to be 100,000 USD invested in a property such as a St Lucia villa, whereas one for a couple would be 165,000 USD, for a family of four it would be 190,000 USD and from there on it would be an additional 25,000 USD for every extra dependant.

In conclusion, even though the first investment is high, getting citizenship in Saint Lucia is very quick and easy for you and your family, and you would be promised a safe haven for both you and your family in the future by doing so and not to mention you would have your own St Lucia villa to boot. Check out this site: https://ezinearticles.com/?St-Lucia-Real-Estate-Tips:-3-Great-Locations-to-Buy-an-Investment-Property&id=7810199

Continue Reading

How to get the best St Lucia villa rental for your needs

If you are planning to rent a property, you need to consider a number of items before closing any deal, especially if your goal is to find an option with a more affordable price in St Lucia Villa Rental. Remember that the price says a lot about the apartment or house itself, however much of the value of the rent is determined by other factors.

Want to know how to find a property with a fair, affordable rental value that allows you to save and not get off the budget? We give all the tips here:

Pay attention to location

Houses and apartments in central or noble areas of the city tend to be more valued and therefore with the rental price less in account. So maybe you really have to focus on regions that are a little further away. However, be careful: depending on where you choose, transportation costs can increase in a proportion that can make the cheap get expensive.

Check carefully the conditions of the property

It is essential to visit the property that you intend to rent. At this point, be sure to pay attention to the smallest details. Check for cracks in the walls as well as possible leaks. Keep an eye on the paint, broken tiles in the kitchen or bathroom. Even if the price and location are wonderful, if the conditions of the property are very bad it may not be worth it. Imagine just having to go through work while you live in the house? Don’t just keep the property in mind you want to also look at the agent as they smart looking?

If you need to do some small work, talk to the landlord so that this is written down in the rent as an improvement. Learn more.

Please note the value of the condo

Renting a small property may even be cheap, but if the condo offers many advantages it can present a high value. In this way, spending on housing can be high. Therefore, when seeking affordable rental value, make sure the condo also caters to your purchasing power in St Lucia Villas.

Contact the Owner

Having a real estate makes the business something more professional, that is, there will be built-in rental rates that go to the company or the broker. However, you can get a better price by talking directly to the owner. Ask him if in advance payment there could be some discount.

Another valuable tip is to have parameters to negotiate before closing any deal. This means knowing the value of other properties in the same region and with similar conditions. Ask the owner if he intends to rent for a long time. This issue can also be taken into consideration in negotiation if you also have an interest in staying in place for years. After all, empty property is a loss to the landlord in St Lucia Villas.

Avoid new real estate

Older property does not mean that it is in bad condition, just that it is not such a recent launch taking over 20 years of construction. Even with the general appreciation, a property that has not just been built has cheaper rent than a new one. You can check the beauties of St Lucia Villa Rental! In the search for a property with an affordable price, be willing to research and even dialogue so that the price is reduced. Keeping financial control up to date is a task that must be applied at all times! Click here for more information: http://akasha.stlucia.cc/the-villa/

Continue Reading