St. Maarten/St. Martin Real Estate

By Pat Cantor

There are two ways to fully experience the St. Maarten/St. Martin lifestyle and feel just like a local. One is to rent a villa or condo for vacation. The other is to actually buy one. For most people, renting often leads to buying, just as staying in a hotel can lead to renting a vacation home!

The lifestyle here is very addictive. The more you visit, the more often you want to return and just luxuriate in your surroundings. Whether you are a fan of the Dutch side or the French side, you never want to leave. After all, what could be more fabulous than having that first cup of coffee in the morning on your terrace overlooking the lagoon or the sea, then having your first drink at sunset sitting in the same spot! Hopefully, you've gotten out during the day, but you know what we mean.

Picture, for instance, residing in a 16th century Japanese Samurai-inspired farmhouse that blends into its gorgeous setting among the lush tropical rainforest on top of Troy Hill. The views from every room and the sweeping terraces are like perfect paintings overlooking the sea and forest. This is the Haiku House, and, though it is a departure from the traditional architectural style of St. Maarten/St. Martin, this beautiful Asian-style home is exquisitely suited to the island.

While the natural wood architecture is reminiscent of the refined simplicity and elegance of ancient Japan, Haiku House is very modern and totally adapted to today's lifestyle. The home is equipped with a state-of-the-art kitchen, expansive entertaining spaces and three large bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The terraces feature a spa and Jacuzzi. The Zen-inspired interior is tastefully designed by Jan des Bouvrie, one the most famous Dutch interior decorators. The house is beautifully proportioned and totals almost 3,500 square feet divided between the interior living spaces and exterior terraces.

The Haiku House is part of Troy Hill Development, an exclusive and highly luxurious project offering beautiful, scenic building lots and design/building services. The entrance to the Troy Hill Development is through the beautiful Queen's Garden Resort, providing each residence with privacy, security and a lovely dining setting. For information about Haiku House and Troy Hill, contact Andie Richardson at Romac Sotheby's International Realty on St. Maarten. Offices are located at 54 Simpson Bay Road, Simpson Bay. On Saba contact Marlena McGrath at Saba Island Realty (599-416-2954) or via e-mail at info@sabaislandrealty.com.

For something more island chic, discover one of the newest condo developments in St. Maarten, La Promenade at Cupecoy. It is located on the Dutch side and offers easy access to French St. Martin. You can relax in the common pool or just lounge on the terrace; the beach, along with several restaurants and a casino, are all within walking distance. A golf course is also close by. Surprisingly, this is one of the most affordable new properties on the island. The condos range from studios to two bedrooms and feature such on-site amenities as a pool, gym, spa, and restaurant. Prices begin at $180,000. The property floor plans and artistic renderings can be seen at the Platinum Vacation offices in Philipsburg.

Another location where amenities abound is Princess Heights, "St. Maarten's Premiere Boutique Condominium Hotel," which offers guests the feeling of being in a private villa with the convenience of a resort atmosphere. It is located in Dawn Beach, one of the most private and exclusive areas of Dutch Sint Maarten, where the hillsides are dotted with private villas. Owners Emil and Hanneke Lee live on-site, ensuring the property is always immaculate and pristine. Recently, readers of Caribbean Travel & Life voted Princess Heights one of the Caribbean's best boutique resorts. Demand for purchase of the condominiums is quite high for several reasons, including the elegance of the property.

Princess Heights is an undiscovered hideaway — intimate, elegant and surrounded by unspoiled landscapes. It is ideal for discriminating, sophisticated travelers who prefer luxury, privilege and unfettered privacy. For information or for reservations from the United States, call 800-441-7227. On St. Maarten call 543-6906; visit the website at www.princessheights.com or e-mail info@princessheights.com.

It's easy to find a house to fall in love with, but the big question most people ask is, "How can you buy a house offshore?" Simple answer: Buying a house or condo in Dutch St. Maarten or French St. Martin is as easy as buying in the United States. There are no residency requirements or legal restrictions limiting foreign home ownership. If you are planning to reside on the island for an extended period, you will need to obtain the necessary legal status for long-term stays. You can obtain temporary resident status by applying to the lieutenant governor's office in Philipsburg. You must obtain a long-stay visa through the French consulate or embassy back home for visits extending past 90 days.

Most people who buy on the island pay cash or take out a mortgage with their bank back home, as loans on St. Maarten/St. Martin have higher interest rates than in the States. Condo projects offer financing to buyers, generally with 50 percent down.

Closing on the French or Dutch side is a similar process, using the European notary system. The notary is a real estate lawyer representing both the buyer and seller. The Dutch side has no real estate taxes or capital gains taxes, and you may hold your home ownership in a U.S. trust, U.S. LLC, an offshore company or bearer share company, as well as in an individual's name. The French side does have real estate taxes, and there is a transparency tax agreement with the United States. With the help of a qualified local real estate professional, it will all be made very simple for you to buy your dream property.

Platinum Vacation Properties was founded by Frank Carter, an experienced timeshare broker whose clients fell in love with St. Maarten/St. Martin and wanted to buy a condo or villa. Rather than turn them over to another real estate company, he decided to expand his portfolio to include residential and commercial real estate, condo sales, land sales, vacation and long-term rentals, and property management for clients who wished to offer their properties for vacation rental. Timeshares are a very good way to "get your feet wet" in offshore property ownership; and the entire team at Platinum is dedicated to making your real estate experience in St. Maarten/St. Martin a smooth process.

Platinum has expanded its horizons and has agents on the island and also abroad to help you find that dream home whether for a short or long term. They deal equally with local as well as international clients. Personal attention and service is of utmost importance; and because of their wide range of experience and expertise, they don't shy away from giving advice to people who may not be current clients but who want a second opinion or just information. For more information, call 599-542-0950, or e-mail info@platinumvacationproperties.com.

Another leading real estate agency on the island is RE/MAX® Island Properties, one of the largest and oldest full-service agencies on St. Maarten/St. Martin. Managing Director Peyton Cromwell has assembled a dynamic, highly experienced, international and multilingual team of 20 members who know the market intimately on both sides of the island, as well as that of St. Barths, Saba and St. Eustatius. In addition to the main office in Simpson Bay, RE/MAX® Island Properties has offices in Oyster Pond, Marigot and the islands of St. Barths, Saba and St. Eustatius.i

RE/MAX® Island Properties is also the exclusive representative for several new projects including Coral Beach Club, located on Dawn Beach in Oyster Pond. Coral Beach Club is an intimate, design-informed masterpiece of villas, two-story townhouses and apartments. There are a total of 14 exquisite beachfront villas, seven waterfront condominiums overlooking Oyster Pond and three apartments. These properties were designed by renowned architect Jean Pierre Heim. Visit them online at www.coralbeach-club.com.

Opening in 2009, The Gateway will be multiple stories of condominiums and a hotel, located within walking distance of the new state-of-the-art airport terminal. The property will have a marina for mega yachts. There will be concierge services for private jets and five-star hotels on connecting islands. Water taxi services will be offered to surrounding islands and various locations on St. Maarten. Visit them online at www.gatewaysxm.com or for more information, sign up at www.remaxislandproperties.com for the company's newsletter.

RE/MAX® can also be reached by telephone at 599-544-4580, by e-mail at info@remaxislandproperties.com, or you can visit them online at www.remaxislandproperties.com. The RE/MAX® offices are located at #62 Welfare Road.

Indigo Bay is a world-class development on St. Maarten/St. Martin — one of the world's most desirable destinations. Spanning 148 pristine acres, Indigo Bay transforms some of St. Maarten's most beautiful oceanfront properties into the island's only planned gated community. Embodying urban elegance and serene beachfront living, Indigo Bay is further distinguished as one of the lowest-density developments in the Caribbean, ensuring utmost privacy and spectacular green spaces that highlight the natural splendor of the sea.

The property features hillside luxury villas, oceanfront estates, enchanting townhouses and luxurious condominiums from only $525,000, combined with a magnificent five-star hotel with an ocean spa. It also features fine dining, outstanding recreational facilities, breathtaking views and all of the activities and tranquility you could ever hope for. Residents will also benefit from lush landscaping, scenic trails, a charming boardwalk, an equestrian center, 24-hour high security and convenient access to shopping and professional offices.

To learn more, contact exclusive sales broker, Daunesh Alcott, and his team at Century 21 Island Realty in St. Maarten/St. Martin at 544-2401, or their U.S. sales office at 1-718-732-0554; visit online at www.indigo-bay.com or www.century21islandrealty.com,

Situated in the exclusive Little Bay area, Barbaron is one of St. Maarten's newest and most prestigious residential developments. Barbaron is a magnificent contemporary yet exotic-style building comprising 157 residences soaring just six stories above the beach, providing exquisite views of St. Maarten's magical waters and coast.

The interiors draw inspiration from a rich palette of Mediterranean influences overlaid with 21st century amenities. Carefully selected materials, such as sumptuous granite and marble stone finishes, combine to create a unique look and feel that take Caribbean design to a whole new level of luxury. This exclusive development of one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments and penthouses features gourmet kitchens, spacious rooms and exquisite bathrooms.

Each apartment is a luxe yet comfortable home. Prices range from $363,000 to $3,511,000. Each unit has access to pools, whether shared for smaller apartments or plunge/private pools for the larger apartments and penthouses. Residents of every unit will enjoy such amenities as an on-property restaurant, spa, kids' club, shops and sports facilities. An added benefit is property management when you are off the island. The apartments on this property are offered by St. Maarten Immo and are affiliated with Sachs Warburgh Fides, an offshore services company. For additional information contact Sebastien Belilty at 590-690-34-65-14 or sebastienb@sxm-immo.com.

Turn to the island's professionals for assistance with business or to plan your trip back. Get contact information for business and real estate from our online guide.