Since you have found this blog you may already know about the most desired beach in the western Caribbean. Many journalists and travel magazines have rated this beach a “top destination”. West Bay Beach on Roatan has this sugar soft white sand which is perfect for swimming and snorkeling or just strolling along and watching the sun set. All along West Bay beach are, restaurants, palapa bars, entertainment, nature parks and stores that make this an island dream destination.

Today I wanted to let you know about a 10 acre residential community called West Bay Estates located on Roatan’s West Bay Beach. The development is literally just steps from all the amenities West Bay has to offer. West Bay Estates has nice size residential building lots and the developer has already installed concrete roads and underground utilities so you can start building immediately.

West Bay Beach Estates

West Bay Beach is the most requested location on Roatan for vacationers and retirees alike. This makes homes in West Bay Estates the best rental income properties and the best retirement location on the island.

The developer has recently decided that he needed to move some of these home sites and consequently reduced the prices accordingly. These are nice size building lots and now start at only $55,000. Take a look at the West Bay Estates development on my web site I think you will find it the best value on the island.

Enjoy Life, Philip

Resources are rarely infinite, especially on an island, and as the world tries to become more environmentally conscious people are looking to those few infinite resources to produce more of the things they need.

Electricity production here on Roatan has been exclusively done with diesel fuel, one of the most expensive, inefficient and finite resources typically used. But Roatan Electric Company (RECO) has started a project that will begin to reduce the use of this finite resource and begin to use an infinite one.

Generation of electricity with wind is not a new technology and it isn’t new to Roatan. There are several real estate owners here that have installed wind generators to provide all or part of the electrical needs to their properties, but this is the first large scale wind farm on Roatan.

Wind Power for Roatan

RECO’s wind farm project, when completed, will have installed more than 20 Nordtank 150 wind generators. These wind generators will have a combined capacity of more than 3 Mega Watts of power whenever the wind blows more than 8 MPH. Our trade winds provide that much wind and more most of the time on Roatan.

This new wind farm will not produce enough electricity to cause our rates to go down but it will likely keep our rates from going up further.

One of the most frequently asked questions that comes my way is “how much does electricity cost on Roatan”. My first response is usually that it depends on how much you run the air conditioner. Now I can say our electricity isn’t cheep but it is “greener” than it was before the wind farm was built.

Enjoy Life, Philip

Roatan just keeps on distinguishing itself among the islands as a great place to live. The latest accolade is from Islands Magazine in their most recent issue that has a circulation of 500,000 copies. The article titled  “20 Best Islands To Live On” names Roatan as number one.

Wow, it doesn’t get any better than that!

With the world wide economy driving down Roatan Real Estate prices to a low point that hasn’t been seen in years, opportunities to buy real estate and move here at a low cost, abound. Also the cost of living here once you have settled in is low, so your nest egg goes much further.

If you are curious to see what type of Roatan real estate your money can buy, take a look at the listings available on our Multiple Listing Service

If you have questions send me an email or give me a call.

Enjoy Life, Philip

Well the best kept secret of the Caribbean island of Roatan is no longer. Yesterday National Geographic Magazine published its Top 10 Pick of Best Summer Vacation Destinations and our little island was their number nine pick.

Parrot Tree Beach

This well respected magazine article will be a huge boost to tourism on Roatan as well as a much needed “shot in the arm” for Roatan Real Estate industry. With the continued support of Continental and Delta airlines providing direct flights to the island, tourists looking for a new place to vacation will find it easy to make travel plans and enjoy their summer get away on a tropical island.

There is no shortage of things to do here during your stay. Of course there are the diving, snorkeling and fishing trips you would find on an island and new this year is an 18 hole, Pete Dye designed, championship golf course. So bring your clubs and come on down. If you would like assistance in planning your trip feel free to give me a call 831 359-4244.

Enjoy Life, Philip

Parrot Tree Beach Condo

These one bedroom condos on the beach at Parrot Tree Plantation have been reduced substantially to move them quickly. The mortgage holder needs his cash back quickly and has priced them below the original pre-construction sale price. These 733 sqft condos come fully furnished including a washer and dryer, all appliances and kitchen wares.

If  you would like to see inside one of these condos and the development of Parrot Tree Plantation please take this virtual tour . After viewing the white sand beach and marina send me an email and I will be glad to help you plan a trip to Roatan to stay in one of these units.

Enjoy Life, Philip

As the Roatan real estate market begins to gather speed there will be fewer deep discounted properties that savvy buyers will be able to take advantage of. The most recent troubled owner of a Beach Front Condo in Parrot Tree has dropped the price of their unit to $199,900. This is a rare price for these furnished one bed room condos that are located right on the white sand beach. If you are interested in seeing this unit and Parrot Tree Plantation follow this link, http://rtvpix.com/RE-0673-H0VL23-01

If you want more information on this property or other properties on Roatan give me a call 831 359-4244 or send me an email Philip @ RoatanLiving.com

Enjoy Life, Philip

Marbella Beach

I know many of you travel, or tried to travel over the holidays. Hopefully you were not stranded in the blizzard that hit the northeast U.S. The press is still reporting airport closures as I’m writing.

If you are saving your vacation days for the upcoming weeks I hope you are considering Roatan as your warm water destination. Our winter rains have past and we are currently having the best weather you could wish for. Sunny and warm, translation….no snow.

The hotels on Roatan were booked solid through New Years but many still have reservations available for January if you plan quickly. If you are looking for a recommendation for an excellent hotel on a spectacular beach you might check out Parrot Tree Plantation.

Hotel over looking the pool and lagoon

This is a perfect place to relax after the hectic holidays and warm you body in the sun. Snorkeling and diving are at your door step and the new golf course is 10 minutes away.

If you would like assistance with reservations I would be glad to assist you. You can call me at 831-359-4244 or send me an email, Philip@RoatanLiving.com

Have a wonderful and prosperous New Year, Philip

I am often asked about the demographics that make up the buyers here on Roatan. Some people think that there are a lot of Central American buyers and there are a few. However the vast majority of people buying Roatan Real Estate are from North America. To be more specific the United States and Canada.

A minor segment of the market that has grown in the last few years is the European sector, especially since Henry Morgan Resorts started direct flights from Italy. Another growing segment are the Canadian buyers. In part due to the shrinking dollar value giving the Canadian dollar more buying power, but also because West Jet has been introducing Roatan to Canadians with their direct non-stop flights during the cold winter months.

The down turn in the global economy during the last two years had a predictable effect on Roatan Real Estate as it did on the world wide real estate market. Home prices are generally down 30-40% from their peak in 2007. This means great deals for buyers that have the foresight to see that Roatan is poised to grow substantially in the coming years into a vibrant destination.

If you would like more information or have a question please call 831 359-4244 or write me at Philip@RoatanLiving.com.

Enjoy Life, Philip

This time of the year is not the peak real estate season. However I have been pleasantly surprised by how many people are looking at property through the Roatan MLS and my web site. The web traffic has definitely increased this year over previous years so I thought a short Guide to home searching might be informative.

* Use the internet to do your research before reaching the island. You can get a general idea about price, quality and location saving you time when you are on the island.

* Don’t ask too many people for opinions…you know what they say about opinions. Select one or two people and develop a relationship via email and phone conversations.

* Make sure you understand what you can afford. If you need financing talk with your Realtor about which owners might be willing to finance.

*Think about how you will use the property you buy. Will you be a full time or most time resident on Roatan. Or, will you be short term and want to rent out your property when you are gone.

I hope this sparks some things to think about as you are searching for real estate on our island. As always if you have questions please email or call.

Enjoy Life, Philip