St. Maarten has very little developable land left. There is still a substantial amount of land left in the green mountain regions but development above the 200 m is fortunately restricted. The result is that more and more condominiums and townhouses are being constructed on the island.

That is why the shortage of prime land for the construction of single family homes has become a very interesting fact for investors. If they can get a hold of a nice piece of land that is well located, especially if this land is situated in a well developed sub-division with all the modern amenities and with a spectacular ocean view like the Prima Vista Estate you have a winner. Such a site as the Prima Vista Estate is sure to gain 10% to 12% on annual value and that is a conservative estimate. A well defined and sharp set of development standards will help assure this capital gain. An investor can realize added income from using the property as a vacation villa rental when not in residence. During high season from December to April short-term villa rental are priced from $ 1200 US to $ 10,000 US per week; approximately 25% less during the remainder of the year.

Next to that St. Maarten is the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean and has a fantastic airport and beautiful harbor making the island an important hub in the Eastern Caribbean, resulting in an economy that is very investor friendly.
There are very few restrictions when investing. You don’t need to become a resident to be able to buy property on St. Maarten. If you want to buy a property in your own name you have to present your passport. If buying in a company name, you must present articles of incorporation and a statement showing the company is in good standing.

Personal or business accounts can be opened at local banks as off shore accounts not restricted to local foreign exchange taxes. Dollars can be moved freely from one country to another.
The responsibility of clear title is with the notary whom is appointed by the Queen of Holland and is responsible by law to both parties. Closing costs are minimal. There is a one-time government transfer tax of 4% plus the notary’s fee amounting to a total of approximately 5% of the gross sale price. These costs are the buyer’s responsibility. There are no land taxes and no capital gain taxes. Offshore companies are welcome making it fiscally interesting. Building permits are routine.

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