Has anyone here bought property in Bonaire?

[drrich2]

Have you explored Curaçao? If I were considering buying on Bonaire, I’d be mindful Curaçao offers more topside.

 

[flyboy08]

6 months should be minimum before a purchase

Yea, we were like 3 days in.....bad move I would reside abroad for at least one full year prior to finalizing anything going forward...that time frame also acts as a stupidity reminder..

once we purchased, we immediately regretted it...why? Well for one the yearly expenses, one can visit a new and different place each year for an extended period. Locked into one place didn’t do it for us.

 

[darook]

I can’t imagine living there and I’m a huge Bonaire fan. Heading there for trip 11 in less than 48 hours. I live in Minnesota where winter is a real thing and also eventually drives me crazy. That said, I have a hard time thinking about life without it. Two days ago we were walking through the dog park after a lovely little snow. It was absolutely heavenly. I can’t live without that and certainly without my silly rescue dogs. With VRBO and the like, one can do a longer stay anywhere at low cost and then walk away for the next adventure right after.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I can’t imagine living there and I’m a huge Bonaire fan. Heading there for trip 11 in less than 48 hours. I live in Minnesota where winter is a real thing and also eventually drives me crazy. That said, I have a hard time thinking about life without it. Two days ago we were walking through the dog park after a lovely little snow. It was absolutely heavenly. I can’t live without that and certainly without my silly rescue dogs. With VRBO and the like, one can do a longer stay anywhere at low cost and then walk away for the next adventure right after.

By the same token, we could live some place more warm and vacation in the snow.

Regardless, one year for islands and countries not our own prior to buying. 6 months absolute minimum and it must be almost full time living there.

"Marry in haste, repent at leisure" as they say

 

[ThatDogDontHunt]

Maybe ask these people?

https://www.ultimatedivetrucks.com/

 

[Diving Dubai]

Regardless, one year for islands and countries not our own prior to buying

As an Expat myself (not in Bonaire) I completely agree.

Visiting on vacation (even regularly ) and living somewhere are very different. On vacation you don't experience normal day to day life, and even if you do, inconveniences are put up with, because it's only a temporary visit.

Apart from family, financial of health reasons, the biggest reason people give up it that a number of seemingly minor factors/inconveniences mount up and people decide that on balance that life isn't for them

Bureaucracy, day to day costs (say cell phone or utilities) poor internet are some of the reasons people get frustrated.

One has to accept it's not home. Some things will be better, some things worse.

You have to accept and adapt to the culture, rather than expecting it to adapt to you. Don't be isolationist. Obviously expats congregate together but that should mean you limit your interactions with the local community. You are and always will be a guest.

Social media (normally FB) often has local expat groups, joining and just watching the posts will give you a good insight - although be careful, since people will be more vocal about their complaints rather than the good, so it can be skewed.

Some people feel more comfortable keeping a base in their home country (one foot in each camp) others, move lock stock. In my case I kept a place in the UK for 5 years, before I decided it wasn't worth it financially nor with the headaches (of renting it out)

The nice thing about renting is that if you make a bad decision over location (either on the island or the island itself) you can easily move. Again it can take a while to decide where you actually wish to live.

Never underestimate "culture shock" it can take a while to manifest even in the most experienced traveller.

Hope some of this helps

 

[dmaziuk]

Never underestimate "culture shock" it can take a while to manifest even in the most experienced traveller.

Moving from West Australia to Midwest was in some respects as much of a culture shock as moving from the then-still-USSR to West Australia.

 

[Protondecay123]

Most, not all Caribbean countries will not allow a foreigner to own property in that country. The way around it is to create a corporation which can be owned by an expat, and this corporation actually owns the property. When you go to sell, you basically sell the corporation and the assets within, hence the property. This is what we had to do in Roatan...pretty easy process.

There are no nationality restrictions on purchasing property in Bonaire, IIRC. Also Dutch and US passport holders can stay on the island for 6 months/year and doesn’t require VISA. To stay on the island for a year you may need to apply for Permanent Residency. Here is a concise explanation, and I have no relationship financial or otherwise with this company. Vacation, immigration and citizenship on Bonaire Dutch Caribbean

 

[Peter Bomberg]

Just sold my place, so feel free to ask away, I might not have the answers though as my plans changed a lot after I bought the condo

 

[chillyinCanada]

Just sold my place, so feel free to ask away, I might not have the answers though as my plans changed a lot after I bought the condo

Would you like to share your story here?