How to find a great deal from among the thousands of listings available? Easy: I’ve done that for you. In order to maintain my objectivity, I have not included any properties in which I have a personal interest. Nor can I earn a commission or any other kind of fee from properties mentioned in this article. Selections were based solely on exceptional value for the buyer. If you would like more information about any of these properties, contact me and I’ll give you the name of the real estate agent handling it.

Let’s take a look, now, at the best bargains the Bahamas has to offer.

Abaco: 15 Acres with 630 Feet of Ocean and Beach Frontage

Abaco is known as the sailing capital of the Bahamas. With scores of uninhabited cays and extraordinary fishing, yachtsmen consider the Abacos to be among the world’s finest cruising grounds. A few miles north of Treasure Cay, a private seller is offering 15 acres of land with 630 feet of oceanfront on the Sea of Abaco. The parcel has elevations to 65 feet. A portion of the oceanfront is beach, and more could be converted to beach without difficulty. For all of you yachtsmen, there is sheltered anchorage of 20 feet depth in front of the property. Harbor-front lots at nearby Green Turtle Cay and Guana Cay routinely sell for $400,000 an acre. The subdivided retail value of this 15-acre parcel, therefore, is in the $5 million range. And the asking price? $1.2 million.

Berry Islands: Four Bedroom Beachfront House

Before I wrote this article, I would have told you it was impossible to buy a beautifully maintained and landscaped four-bedroom house right on a secluded beach for under $1 million. Not only do I stand corrected, I stand double-corrected. This house on Sugar Beach, Great Harbour Cay, comes with two beachfront lots, for a total of 185’ of beach frontage and almost an acre of land. Use the extra lot for a guest house or a pool. Great Harbour Cay has a superb harbor with a marina, plus a nine-hole golf course for us landlubbers. The price of this fully furnished beach house? $790,000. And if that’s too much for you, sell off the extra lot. There’s one on the market nearby for $300,000.

Berry Islands: Almost-on-the-Beach Lot for the Price of a Loaded SUV

This quarter-acre lot on Great Harbour Cay is right across the street from a beautiful white-powder beach. On the west, it borders a salt water creek, so you can get your feet wet without leaving your property. Electricity is available at the site, and a well could be dug for water. The sticker price of the lot is $45,000. Ocean and sunset views are included at no extra charge—a bonus you’re not likely to get with the SUV.

Cat Island: Beachfront Lot at Half the Price

Fifty miles long and with a population of 1600, you can almost hear your echoing footfalls on Cat Island. This is a place for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of, for example, rural North Dakota. Cat Island has miles of deserted, pink-sand beaches, and you can buy 100 feet on one of them for $179,900. How is this possible, with beachfront in the Out Islands routinely selling for two to three times that amount? This quarter-acre lot is actually 150 feet back from the sea, but the parcel in front is a reserve that can never be developed. The owner of the lot can landscape the reserve, trim its trees, and best of all, walk right across it to the beach. Just don’t try to build on it. The lot has 30’ elevations, so a house could have expansive ocean views. And when you’re deciding what to do with the $170,000 you saved, don’t forget the guy who gave you the tip.

Eleuthera: Four Bedroom Duplex Overlooking the Atlantic

The island of Eleuthera is 110 miles long with a population of just 8,000. With sixty miles of beaches and a few dozen hotel rooms, Eleuthera is a paradise for beach lovers who enjoy privacy and unspoiled natural beauty. Located in Eleuthera’s Rainbow Bay community, “Coral Reef” is a two-story house on an elevated lot which looks out over the Atlantic Ocean. Each floor consists of a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment with a bright, modern interior and an open plan. The units are fully furnished. A separate structure to the rear houses a double garage. Coral Reef is solidly built of concrete block and stucco and painted an orangey shade of yellow which isn’t my favorite—but then again, no one comes to me for decorating advice. Coral Reef sits on the landward side of Ocean Drive, about 300 feet from the Atlantic. There’s a beach almost directly across the street from it—two lots to the right, actually, about 500 feet from the front door. In theory, the lot which is directly across the street from Coral Reef could be built upon, partially blocking the view of the Atlantic. In fact, however, because of salt spray and other problems, the lots on the ocean side of the street are essentially unbuildable, and your view is safe. Coral Reef, which was built in 1986, would cost at least $400,000 to build today, not including the price of the land. The asking price for the property is $250,000. If it’s still available when you read this, don’t waste anymore time–take out your checkbook and make a deposit.

Freeport/Lucaya: Canal Front Home for Half the Price

Fortune Bay is a stylish canal-front community on the southern coast of Grand Bahama, just a few minutes by car from the shops and restaurants of Port Lucaya. As noted in my book, How to Buy and Sell Real Estate in the Bahamas, “A typical three-bedroom, three-bath house with a pool on one-third of an acre [in Fortune Bay] would sell for $1.2 million.” The house I found for you has four bedrooms and two baths and sits on an oversized half-acre lot with 120 feet of canal frontage. The large back yard has plenty of space for a pool. The kitchen could use updating, but the overall condition of the house is excellent. An investment of $100,000 for interior upgrades and a pool would turn this into a million-dollar house. The asking price from the motivated sellers? $625,000.

Nassau: Four-Bedroom Cliff House in Tusculum

This spectacular three-story house on West Bay Street sits on a cliff facing the ocean. Designed by a noted architect, it has 4000 square feet of living space. Features include a den which could serve as a fifth bedroom, a formal dining room, a breakfast nook, multiple balconies and patios, and a private yard with a pool. The house comes fully—and very tastefully—furnished. A comparable house is listed nearby for $1,295,000. This one is on the market—briefly, no doubt—for $995,000.

Nassau: Canal Front Lot with Dock in Sandyport

Sandyport is a gated community on the edge of Cable Beach, close to the hotels and casinos along that strip. Sandyport has 500 homes, seven pools, five tennis courts, four restaurants, three beaches, and a partridge in a pear tree. It also has its own shopping center, the Olde Towne Mall. The lot I’m recommending has both canal frontage and beach frontage, and comes with a dock. It is unusual to see any Sandyport canal front lot offered for under $500,000, never mind one with beach frontage. At $450,000, this lot is a rare find—even without the pear tree.

Nassau: Three-Bedroom Oceanfront Townhouse on Eastern Road

New Providence’s Eastern Road runs from the city of Nassau east along the coast. It is home to many fine oceanfront residences, most priced between one and two million. I found one for you for under $500,000. This three-bedroom, three-bath townhouse has two stories plus a loft, for a total of 1581 square feet of living space. The attractive, modern layout features soaring ceilings, floors of tile and wood, and a wall of sliding glass doors facing the sea. Outside space includes a large balcony and a patio, both with an ocean view. Built in 1999, the townhouse is located in a gated community with a pool and a small private beach. The price: $439,000. You won’t find a better bargain on an oceanfront townhouse in Nassau.

Nassau: New Three-Bedroom Townhouses for $249,000

For this bargain, I had to put the price in the headline or no one would believe it. Renaissance East is a small gated development of a dozen two-and-a-half story townhouses with a pool. The Victorian-inspired design is very pleasing to the eye. The units have three bedrooms (including a large loft), two and a half baths, and 1300 square feet of living space. Amenities include private patios, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. Given that construction on the islands costs upwards of $200 per foot, you would be hard-pressed to find a better deal. There are only three units left, so I guess I’m not the only one who can divide $249,000 by 1300.

North Eleuthera: Private Island with Three-Bedroom House

Just because David Copperfield has a private island in the Bahamas doesn’t mean you can’t afford one, too. Located off the northeast coast of Eleuthera near Harbour Island, this 3.5-acre retreat is surrounded on three sides by deep water and on the fourth by a beach. A concrete pier and a wooden dock are already in place. Electricity comes from the main Eleuthera grid. The three-bedroom house is in need of extensive renovation, so set aside a couple hundred thousand to personalize your space. Even so, David Copperfield paid $45 million for his island. The price for yours? $1.5 million.

A Final Word

Someone is going to notice this, so I might as well come and admit it: that was eleven bargains, not ten. I tried to choose one to cut but was paralyzed by indecision. The quickest way to shorten the list, I decided, is to publish it. You can decide which property should get off the list and into the “sold” column first.

Copyright 2008 by Matthew Simon.

Nassau and Freeport

The cities of Nassau on New Providence Island and Freeport on Grand Bahama are the only choices for buyers who want urban or suburban surroundings and the amenities that come with it–extensive shopping, a wide array of cultural opportunities, hospitals, multiple golf courses, and direct flights to many major airports.

New Providence, a small island dominated by Nassau and its suburbs, is home to 215,000 people—fully three-fourths of the Bahamas’ population. Nassau has a busy downtown with both modern and historic architecture, and on the outskirts, a strip of high-rise hotels and casinos along Cable Beach. Paradise Island, connected to New Providence by a bridge, is home to the gargantuan Atlantis and other resorts. New Providence and Paradise Island have many gated subdivisions and townhouse developments, as well as high-rise condominiums. On average, real estate prices here are much more expensive than elsewhere in the Bahamas. Expect to spend $1.5 million for a typical canal-front house in one of the popular gated communities. A one-acre beachfront lot (the yardstick we will use throughout this article) would cost at least $3 million.

Grand Bahama, the northernmost of the major Bahamian islands, has a population of 50,000, the greatest part in and around Freeport. Grand Bahama is almost 100 miles long, however, and unlike New Providence, has less populated regions with deserted beaches and tropical pine forests. Lucaya, the residential area of Freeport, has a vast network of interconnected canals lined with thousands of home lots. Canal-front lots are reasonably priced–in the $125,000 to $250,000 range. One-acre beachfront lots in Lucaya sell for $1.5 million and up.

The Out Islands

After Freeport, the largest “city” in the Bahamas is Marsh Harbour, with a population of only 5000. And the majority of settlements in the Bahamas are even smaller, with just a few hundred souls. This is the world of the Out Islands—large areas of untouched land with the occasional house or small village.

Abaco and Exuma

The Abacos and Exumas are not adjacent physically, but they have much in common. They are the most popular yachting destinations in the Bahamas, and their islands and cays provide beautiful cruising grounds. Abaco and Exuma are better known than the other Out Islands, and they each have several major resort developments. Prices are therefore higher. One-acre beachfront lots on Great Exuma are selling in the $1-2 million range. Abaco has prices in this range as well, but also less expensive beachfront in some locations.

Bimini

Hemingway made his “island in the stream” famous as a center of deep-sea fishing, and it remains so today. Bimini is also just 50 miles from the east coast of Florida, which ensures a good yachting crowd. Bimini has one major resort development, Bimini Bay Resort and Casino. Bimini Bay has no casino, but it does offer condos with boat slips in the $600,000 range. The only beachfront lot listed on Bimini, for comparison purposes, is a 2.7 acre parcel for $1.7 million.

Eleuthera

With sixty miles of beaches and only a few dozen hotel rooms, Eleuthera is a paradise for beach lovers who enjoy privacy and unspoiled natural beauty. Eleuthera has four major resorts planned or underway, but none is near completion yet, and overall, the island is still rustic and relatively unknown. Eleuthera is therefore less expensive than Abaco and Exuma–one-acre beachfront lots sell in the $500,000 range. With a population of 8000 and close proximity to resort-rich Harbour Island, Eleuthera has good infrastructure, stores, and services. If and when Eleuthera’s nascent resorts succeed, prices may catch up to Exuma and Abaco. For more information about Eleuthera and its real estate, click here.

Andros, Cat Island, Long Island

These three islands are the next step up in remoteness and the next step down in name recognition, infrastructure, services, and prices.

Andros is said to be the largest unexplored landmass in the hemisphere. The island’s interior is home to the six-foot iguanas, the rare Bahamian boa constrictor, and who knows what else. The east coast of the island, the only populated area, has scattered villages and miles of deserted beaches. For those not afraid of who-knows-what-else, beachfront lots on Andros are selling in the $200,000 to $250,000 range.

Fifty miles long and with a population of only 1600, Cat Island is one place where you’ll never have to wait in line. Cat has many miles of spectacular pink-sand beaches and several delightful boutique resorts. A one-acre beachfront lot will set you back $350,000-400,000.

The aptly named Long Island is 96 miles long and only seven miles wide at its widest point. Long Island has a varied topography ranging from hills and cliffs in the north, to flatlands in the south. Deadman’s Cay, the commercial center, is fairly well equipped, with a medical clinic, banks, and well-stocked food stores. Prime beachfront lots on the island sell for $375,000, and lots on a narrower beach are currently selling for as little as $185,000.

San Salvador, Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Inagua

For the true pioneers among you, these islands are farther south, more remote, and less populated. But the prices are tempting. A four-acre beachfront lot on Crooked Island is selling for $525,000—95% less than you would pay in Nassau.

Enjoying a Piece of Paradise

The Bahamas consists of 700 islands and around 2,500 cays spread over 700 miles of aquamarine waters and white sand beaches and shoreline. Bahamas real estate offers different types of properties including beach front properties, private islands, Vacation homes, and condominiums. Each type of property has its own charm and offers a piece of the real Bahamas.

In the recent past, many people have opted for permanent residency in the Bahamas through a minimum property investment of $500,000. All you require with your application is an evidence of good character, financial support and a written letter saying that you would want to live permanently in the Bahamas. Owning a property in the Bahamas is simple, hassle free and easy!

Whether you are seeking to invest in a condo, or a second home, or a beach front property, the Bahamas real estate market has properties in the range of $100,000 and $250,000. The prices actually vary from location to location. Moreover, beach properties are most expensive. Due to increased investment activity in the Bahamas, the value of the properties, in areas such as New Providence and Paradise Island, has witnessed a phenomenal increase in the recent past! For a one and a half acre beach front site on Old Fort Bay, you many have to shell out as much as $4,500,000.

Amazing Bahamas

Discovered by Christopher Columbus, the Bahamas holds the tourists spellbound, with its huge range of natural wealth. It lies 60 miles of the coast of Florida and has a population of 269,000 people. A tropical paradise, the Bahamas enjoys both dry and wet weather with high humidity in the summers and rainfall from May to October. Most people believe that the Bahamas is about beaches this is not entirely true. Besides water sports and activities, you can also enjoy eco tours, hiking, nature walks, and golf.

Why invest in the Bahamas?

The Bahamas real estate market has grown in leaps and bounds in the last decade. This is because Bahamas offers sound investment options, suitably backed by the government. Investments in the Bahamas make for a good option because:

 It offers a politically stable environment, promoting profitable real estate investments

 It offers a safe and friendly environment to live in

 It has a stable exchange rate and a prudent fiscal policy

 Has a strong infrastructure backed by all modern facilities including health and education facilities

 Public infrastructure is in place with airports, road, and ports.