Head to the north of the Antilles and there you’ll find an island group in the North Atlantic Ocean called the Lucayan archipelago. It comprises the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos islands which, as they don’t actually border the Caribbean Sea, are classed as being part of the West Indies but not the Caribbean. Unsurprisingly, properties within this delightful location are greatly sought after and achieve consistently high prices. John Christie, affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, says,

“The Bahamas is performing well in the main luxury markets including Lyford Cay, Albany, Old Fort Bay and Bakers Bay. People are buying homes and private islands. We are seeing a number of European buyers leaving the Continent as the tax laws change and they look to move their families to the Bahamas. The base level of luxury begins at around $1 million but this price level goes way up. We are seeing a lot of interest in private islands and there are a number of sales that are in process at the moment.”

George Damianos of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty reports that Americans are tending to buy in Abaco, while French, British and South Americans are buying in exclusive gated communities and applying for permanent residency.

“The Bahamas has a residency program; if you purchase a residence for $500,000 or more you can apply for Permanent Residency,”

explains Mr Damianos. The luxury residential market is also continuing to gain momentum in Turks and Caicos. Bernadette Hunt, owner and broker of Turks and Caicos Property, reports,

“In the last two years over 42 villas priced over $1 million sold in the Turks and Caicos and in February of 2016 a significant sale of Oliver’s Estate and an adjacent parcel on Parrot Cay sold for $27.45 million. This sale was the largest transaction for a villa in the islands.
“What is also worth noting is the number of estates that have been built and that are currently under construction along Grace Bay Beach and Long Bay Beach. Beachfront sites are now in short supply with Long Bay Beach sites having increased in price by over 100% in the last two years. Our client base is still mainly from the East Coast and from Toronto and many have invested in more than just one property.”

Ocean Club Estates, Paradise Island, Bahamas (Above)
Casa Sophia is a magnificent 2.7 acre modern estate with over 500 feet of sandy beach. It includes a main house and a separate guest house making a total of six bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and three half bathrooms. A vast living area has stunning views of the infinity edge pool, pool deck and ocean. The spacious living room features a coffered ceiling, fireplace and recessed lighting. The kitchen includes a pizza oven and butler’s pantry while the formal dining room seats 10. The ground floor also has a cigar room with wine storage, a library and two en suite bedrooms with a sitting area. On the second floor is the impressive master suite complete with a covered terrace overlooking the ocean, an en suite bedroom and an office. The guesthouse has a gym/games room on the ground floor and the sixth bedroom with living area, kitchenette and bathroom on the second floor.
£20.5m / €26.9m / $30m
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty
www.sirbahamas.com
CIRE_Sea-Level_estate

Ocean Club Estates, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Sea Level is the premium luxury estate located in the gated community of Ocean Club Estates and situated directly on the Nassau Harbour in Paradise Island, Bahamas. This impressive home comprises six bedrooms, two kitchens, three garages, a koi pond, multiple entertaining areas spanning across two levels, a pool with waterfall and an expansive yacht dockage.
£13.65m / €17.95m / $20m
Christie’s International Real Estate
www.christiesrealestate.com

GS6A7098_psNew3.jpg--(LIving-Room-east-view)

Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos
The Caroline Penthouse offers a setting of peace and privacy with 70 feet of its own unobstructed beach frontage. This elegant and palatial home has breathtaking ocean views providing an unrivaled backdrop to the glorious gardens of The Mansions, an exclusive residential condominium property. Spanning the entire top floor of almost 4,000 square feet, the penthouse includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a media room with a custom built library. As you enter through majestic custom Mesquite double doors, the entire penthouse floor opens into an expansive living room complete with soaring cathedral ceilings, marble floors and limestone arch columns. An elegant designer kitchen features soaring wood beamed ceilings and spectacular ocean views. The penthouse’s interior features an effortless indoor-outdoor flow, evoking a feeling of warmth and a constant presence of the ocean. Every room has its own terrace, eight in total, with unobstructed views of the sea and sky. The main terrace, a screened-in veranda, also provides a regal entertainment area for hosting friends and family.
£2.04m / €2.66m / $2.98m
www.turksandcaicosproperty.com
2013-25

STAY
Seven Stars Resort & Spa 
in Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos, offers its guests total seclusion when they want it and a world of amenities when they don’t.
Surrounded by white sand beaches and the marine preserve of Princess Alexandra National Park, Seven Stars embraces the natural environment of the islands. The resort’s team takes great pride in the service and hospitality offered by each and every staff member. Guests connect with an online concierge prior to their arrival to ensure that everything from customised sightseeing itineraries and grocery shopping to dinner reservations at the resort and around the island, are effortlessly put in place. Suites range from junior and one-bedroom options with garden or ocean views to two and three-bedroom options with ocean views. The Luxury Villa Collection by Seven Stars also offers guests the ultimate tranquility of their own beachfront villa, complete with a private pool and stretch of beach. Seven Stars’ world-class spa provides an extensive menu of soothing treatments and massages, while its restaurants offer island-inspired gourmet dining experiences. The award-winning Seven restaurant features a blend of international flavours, spices and techniques along with the island’s freshest seafood and steak. For a lighter meal, The Deck is ideal and also serves sundowners, mojitos and local brews overlooking Grace Bay. Alternatively, guests can arrange private beachside dining just for two or up to 10 friends while enjoying views of the sun setting over Grace Bay.
www.sevenstarsgracebay.com