Known as the land of 365 beaches, it’s no wonder Antigua and Barbuda attracts property investors from different parts of the world. However, it’s not just the beauty of the island nation that draws people in. The potential for business is another attractive component that the financially well-off zoom in on as well.
If you have your eyes on Antigua and Barbuda for diversifying your investments, the country’s abundance of luxury properties will not disappoint. Additionally, the program through which foreigners can purchase real estate in Antigua is a major draw factor.
Say, you wish to buy properties in this tropical paradise in the most cost-effective way. For this, you can take advantage of its citizenship by investment program (CIP). This program will make your investment the key to obtaining dual citizenship if your country of origin allows it.
Citizenship to Antigua and Barbuda frees you of much of the additional costs of real estate purchases in the country, such as higher legal fees and Alien Landholding License or ALHL. Likewise, through this program, once you become a citizen of the country (which can happen in just a matter of months), and should you become a full-time resident which means being physically resident for about half of the year, the financial freedom provided by the Antigua tax laws will automatically apply to you.
Where to Find Luxury Real Estate for Investment
Are you set on placing some of your property investments in Antigua and Barbuda, given the conditions discussed above? Here are the best locations to consider.
1. Jumby Bay
The stunning Jumby Bay, also known as Long Island, is home to a very exclusive expat community. The houses built here have been designed for optimum luxury and the majority of them have direct access to the white sandy beaches of the fifth biggest island of Antigua and Barbuda.
While the houses for sale here are very close to the beach, all of them have swimming pools and vast landscaped lawns. If you are not keen on joining the crowd at the beach, you can still enjoy a lazy day under the sun in the quiet privacy of your property.
Homes at Jumby Bay fetch top dollar rental income but also cost a lot to purchase in the US$15M to US$50M range.
2. English Harbour
This natural harbour has long been a settlement area for expats. It was home to the Royal Navy during the 18th Century. You can retrace the steps of history here with its dockyard museum, which is situated on a protected heritage site. Currently, English Harbour’s population barely hits 800.
Here, you will find a lovely selection of villas offering guests and residents a variety of amenities and services. There are also a limited number of condos with a 24-hour concierge, decked-out social lounges, swimming pools, a private dock, free hi-speed Wi-Fi internet and more. Luxury villas make up the majority of the accommodation or second home stock in Antigua as it is a high-end luxury Caribbean island.
3. West Coast
Hodges Bay is a premier location for condos and villas as the area is smattered with luxurious resorts and hotels. It boasts a stunning view of the ocean and both traditional and modern infrastructure.
It’s worth noting as well that in recent years, there have been a lot of real estate developments in the area. You can find everything from beach-front villas to sprawling manors to charming cottages here. These are perfect if you are looking for a stylish property to live in.
Not only that, there are new swanky and serviced mid-rise apartments here as well which are perfect if you are more likely to split your time between Antigua and your home country.
4. Dickenson Bay
This is another community in Antigua that property investors consider. It is right north of the capital, St. John, and there are numerous properties up for investment here. There are residential buildings and vacant lots if you wish to build a structure to suit your preference.
What you will love most about Dickenson Bay is that every day lavishes you with warm sunshine and a view of an ocean adorned with lazily cruising and docked luxury sailboats or yachts. Also, if you have business plans, you can take advantage of the fact that a lot of tourists flock here, especially from December to April, the peak season for travel to Antigua and Barbuda.
5. Cedar Valley
Cedar Valley is the home of a world-class golf course and real estate developments around it have been designed to be on par with the standards of the area’s main attraction. This location holds the potential of turning the fantasy life you’ve always wanted into reality with its lush vegetation and elevated areas that provide a magnificent view of the sea.
And with the golf course playing host to competitions, many of which are international ones, business possibilities are abundant here as well.
Investment Haven
Evidently, there’s no shortage of excellent investment properties in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. If you wish to direct your investment here, consider applying for Antiguan citizenship. This is a program that will not only make purchasing a property so much easier and more affordable, but can also usher in other great economic benefits for you.
AUTHOR BIO
Kal Kennard is a Partner at Citizens International, a white-glove specialist firm offering private client services necessary for citizenship investment into the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Based in the Caribbean for the past 15 years, she is an experienced consultant who works directly with many professional partners and advises clients worldwide.