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

From my chair on the beach here is West Bay it looks like Roatan Real Estate has started to recover from the world wide recession. First quarter sales were below average when compared to previous years but we are half way through the second quarter of 2010 and sales have definitely begun to recover.  Honduras property sales through the Century 21 office have shown a cyclic trend over the last 10 years between land purchases and home/condo purchases.  Currently we are in a home/condo portion of the cycle and bargains on residences are quickly being sold. So where are the good deals now?

Many who bought residential lots at the peak of the “land purchase” phase are finding it hard to sell their land in this “home purchase” phase.  So if you are looking for a deal take a look a land and lots for sale.

For example lot 11 in Marbella Beach Resort is a .4 acre lot with 110 feet of white sand beach. This lot is on the market at $340,000 which is $100,000 below the sale price of a neighboring lot sold 3 years ago! This is only one example of the type of bargains to be found in Roatan Real Estate.

Send me an email if you would like more information on this lot or any other properties you have seen on the web.

Enjoy Life, Philip

The house is approximately 1,500 sqft and has 2Br and 2Ba with a deck that spans the entire house. The house is being sold with an adjacent lot (that can be sold separately) and the total acreage is almost 1.5 acres. Located in Palmetto Bay Plantation the owners will enjoy the 2 miles of beautiful white sand beach with excellent diving and snorkeling found on this north shore location.

For more information on this property or any others available through our MLS database send me an email, Philip@RoatanLiving.com or call me on my U.S. phone 831 359-4244.

Enjoy Life, Philip

This property just came on the market this week with special financing that will meet anyone needs. The spacious 5BR home is on the beach front and comes fully furnished with top quality furniture, three 50 inch and larger plasma TV’s, a fully equipped kitchen with professional grade Frigidaire appliances and granite counters. There is a 140 foot long private dock out your front door which includes your own 27 foot boat and the diving and fishing gear to boot. Also included is a Toyota SUV.

There are multiple business currently being run from the location and there is a huge amount of space to expand the existing businesses or start your own beach bar and restaurant. The cruise ship tour operators have found that this particular gift shop and the island boat tour offered here to be the most popular on the island.

The best feature of this property is that the owner is willing to finance the sale and the income these businesses generate will easily cover the payments. For more information and a Virtual Tour of this property and many others on Roatan please visit my Roatan Living web site.

Enjoy Life, Philip

If you are a property seller your best evaluation of an agent and broker is to know how they will advertise your property. Traditional print advertising is not as effective in this age of digital and social marketing, especially when trying to market properties to international clients. Agents must rely heavily on electronic media and web sites to market you property, some key questions to ask are:

• Is the listing agent a member in the RRA?
  • This is crucial to get your property seen by prospective buyers that visit the MLS database.
  • The RRA publishes an MLS magazine 2-3 times a year, your agent should include your listing in this publication.
• Does the agent/broker have a top ranked web sites with areas to post your property so it can be found by prospects?
  • Do a Google search for the agent or broker to see their ranking on the web. A high position means a strong marketing effort for their clients.
• Can the agent provide Virtual Tours and quality photographs for your listing?
  • Virtual Tours not only provide a prospect with great viewing of a property from their own computer but they also connect to a huge network of web sites that can introduce your property to potential buyers.
• How much experience does your agent have in the Real Estate field?
  • Selling Real Estate involves more than just getting your property advertised. Your agent must be familiar with Honduran contracts and laws and have many sales and closings in Roatan to represent your property properly during negotiations.
• How long has your agent lived on the island?
  • Since Roatan doesn’t have many street signs, but many different neighborhoods, developments and back roads an agent has to be familiar with the island.

If you are a buyer interested in investing in Roatan Real Estate and are searching for an agent many of the same qualifications apply for a “buyers agent”. Are they members of the RRA, do they have their own web site, are they experienced in real estate. Additionally it is important that you and your agent “click” does the agent listen and understand your requirements and show you properties that meet your criteria. No one wants to spend time looking at the wrong properties when you could be on the beach enjoying ocean!

If you have questions about property on Roatan or want to evaluate me as an agent for your needs send me an email, Philip@RoatanLiving.com and I will be glad to answer your questions.

Enjoy Life, Philip

Enrollment is easy just let me know at any point before you arrive or anytime during your stay on Roatan that you want to participate in the “Buyers Stay Free” program and when we close on your purchase you will get a check for the cost of your hotel room. So if you have been thinking about buying one of the great properties on Roatan there is no better time than the present.

If you would like help making reservations on the island for some discounted rooms or for information on flights email me: Philip@RoatanLiving.com and I will be glad to help.

Enjoy Life, Philip

Hello, I wanted to let all my readers know about my new video blog that I have created. It is called the Roatan Living Channel and my intent is to bring you interesting videos about a variety of things on Roatan. Some episodes may be about tourist activities and restaurants while others may be on special events like the fishing tournament or pirate festival.

Currently you will find a couple of videos posted, one on the Mayan Princess and another on Parrot Tree. If there is something you would like to see me broadcast on my channel send me an email, Philip@RoatanLiving.com with your suggestion and I will do my best to get it posted.

Enjoy Life, Philip

This pool is the most beautiful pool on the island. It is has water falls, multiple fountains, two levels with an infinity edge and even a water slide for the kids. The hotel has been renting for a few months and plans are underway for an official opening later this month.

If you would like more information on Parrot Tree Plantation or other Roatan Properties please send me an email.

Enjoy Life, Philip