Real estate recommendation for diver??
- Thread starter ECPaul
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dvrliz1
Guest
I sort of agree with Dan. If you are going to live on an island than you definitely want to stay on that island for at least 3-6 months before making a final decision. We actually bought our first townhouse on Bonaire in 1996. We used it as a vacation home and rented it out in the meantime. It worked our great! We finally moved here full time (Bonaire) just about 2 years ago and couldn't imagine living full time back in the states. We probably extended our lifetime by at least 10 years each. I guess it all depends on what you want and what suites your lifestyle. We gave up the "American" way of life when we moved here, but were ready, knew what to expect and love it!
Liz
Liz
OP
ECPaul
Contributor
Oh - you're way ahead of me!!! The kids are all in college in 4 years and then I could easily imagine leaving this rat race to spend most of the year on some island. Great idea. And to all those who suggest spending a considerable amount of time on an island before making a purchase, I entirely agree.dvrliz1:
St. Johns is beginning to look very attractive, with the only downside being $$ and the fact that it could get smacked by some random hurricane.
itsjustme0770
Contributor
ECPaul:
ECPaul-
What I would tell you about the safety of Utila is what I would tell you about anyplace in the world. Pay attention to your surroundings, don't flash a ton of cash, no flashy jewelry and know those you are with. In general I believe that Utila is as safe as many places in the States and considerably moreso than others.
We love the little rock, with whatever issues it has, and all those that it doesn't. I'd be more thank happy to discuss further if you like.
ronbeau
Contributor
ECPaul:
Have you considered Curacao? Curacao is out of the hurricane belt and the diving is great.
I was there for two weeks last June & July. I talked to U.S. ex-pat that bought his own house in Curacao . He said cost of houses was pretty modest and many come with an in-law apartment that can be rented out.
shakeybrainsurgeon
Contributor
If I had my wish, I would buy one of the villas in Tierra del Sol, Aruba. Simply gorgeous, in the 250-500k range. All brand new, terrific desert landscaping, like living in an upscale Arizona community. Built around the golf course, each unit has its own pool in addition to a central pool/restaurant/spa facility which are all top notch. Diving on Aruba is good, weather very predictable, top-side features superb (tons of great restaurants, casinos, shopping, several golf courses, theaters, nightclubs, etc), currency is, for all practical purposes, the dollar. Traffic is much less than caymans, and no chance of hurricanes. Also, flights to Aruba are plentiful, the airport is good, customs are easy and quick and, best of all, you check through customs in Aruba, not the US. Thus, you don't have to waste time in international terminals in the US. And jumping to Bonaire is easy, where diving is better. Cost of living on Aruba is not exorbitant, and the breezes keep the bug population quite low by island standards.
Downside: Tierra del Sol has no beach access, but residents have free access to Palm beach through the Aruba Grand (but you have to drive). Also, if you don't golf, living on the golf course may not be a big plus. If you do golf, the course is wonderful, a Robert Trent Jones beauty that serves as a senior tour event.
I've stayed there and I've stayed in many resort condos/villas and this was the first facility that looked BETTER in real life than it does in its brochures or websites. Check them out, but leave one for me (if i could just convince my wife...)
Downside: Tierra del Sol has no beach access, but residents have free access to Palm beach through the Aruba Grand (but you have to drive). Also, if you don't golf, living on the golf course may not be a big plus. If you do golf, the course is wonderful, a Robert Trent Jones beauty that serves as a senior tour event.
I've stayed there and I've stayed in many resort condos/villas and this was the first facility that looked BETTER in real life than it does in its brochures or websites. Check them out, but leave one for me (if i could just convince my wife...)
shakeybrainsurgeon
Contributor
One correction --- i checked, the new prices state that 2 BR condos start in the 300- 400K range. Homes 3BR and up run 500K to 1.5 million. A bit pricey...
However, rental business does defray a lot of that, if you plan to rent.
Staying there isn't that expensive, so check it out--- about 250-300 a night for a 2 or 3 BR place off peak, about what you would spend crammed in one room at the Hyatt. And they throw in a round of golf and a budget rental car too.
And, as they say, I'm not paid to say this, I just loved the place, but the cost to buy is a bit forbidding.
However, rental business does defray a lot of that, if you plan to rent.
Staying there isn't that expensive, so check it out--- about 250-300 a night for a 2 or 3 BR place off peak, about what you would spend crammed in one room at the Hyatt. And they throw in a round of golf and a budget rental car too.
And, as they say, I'm not paid to say this, I just loved the place, but the cost to buy is a bit forbidding.
OP
ECPaul
Contributor
shakeybrainsurgeon:
Hey Shakey:
Thanks for an excellent and very specific recommendation - what I'm always looking for. We've never been to Aruba, but by the looks of it, it certainly meets many of my "requirements". Thanks for calling out a specific villa/condo community.
As to your profession, I almost hesitate to ask, but are you really as neurosurgeon??
shakeybrainsurgeon
Contributor
ECPaul:
Yes, I was, until hand tremors forced me out of the OR in 2002, although I still practice in an office setting. The tremors don't stop me from doing anything else, but for some strange reason, people don't like to see hand tremors in their brain surgeons. Go figure. And Aruba is great ... and safe, the whole Natalie Holloway thing really irked them since violence there is really non-existent. Picture Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, AZ only sitting on a pristine white beach with dive boats on one side and Las Vegas casinos on the other. All staffed by friendly Arubans, not surly Americans. that's aruba.
shakeybrainsurgeon
Contributor
One more thing... Marriott is also putting up a new condo facility, I think called the surf club, nearer to the beaches. In the airport they were offering a five day-four night package for around 600 bucks to anyone interested in buying a condo or at least listening to their spiel. Included was 100 bucks of "marriott money", whatever that is (I presume to be spent in the resort). A good deal, one you could use to check out Aruba, the new marriott construction and Tierra del Sol all at a good price.
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