span along Cable Beach. Paradise
class="cap">W ith 20 Island, connected to New
major islands to choose Providence by a bridge, is home
from, deciding where to buy real to the gargantuan Atlantis and
estate in the Bahamas can be other resorts. New Providence and
overwhelming. This quick primer Paradise Island have many gated
will make it easy to find the subdivisions and townhouse
island that best fits your tastes developments, as well as
and budget. high-rise condominiums. On
Nassau and Freeport
average, real estate prices here
The cities of Nassau on New are much more expensive than
Providence Island and Freeport on elsewhere in the Bahamas. Expect
Grand Bahama are the only choices to spend $1.5 million for a
for buyers who want urban or typical canal-front house in one
suburban surroundings and the of the popular gated communities.
amenities that come with A one-acre beachfront lot (the
it--extensive shopping, a wide yardstick we will use throughout
array of cultural opportunities, this article) would cost at least
hospitals, multiple golf courses, $3 million.
and direct flights to many major
Grand Bahama, the northernmost
airports.
of the major Bahamian islands,
New Providence, a small island has a population of 50,000, the
dominated by Nassau and its greatest part in and around
suburbs, is home to 215,000 Freeport. Grand Bahama is almost
people—fully three-fourths of the 100 miles long, however, and
Bahamas’ population. Nassau has a unlike New Providence, has less
busy downtown with both modern populated regions with deserted
and historic architecture, and on beaches and tropical pine
the outskirts, a strip of forests. Lucaya, the residential
high-rise hotels and casinos area of Freeport, has a vast
network of interconnected canals each have several major resort
lined with thousands of home developments. Prices are
lots. Canal-front lots are therefore higher. One-acre
reasonably priced--in the beachfront lots on Great Exuma
$125,000 to $250,000 range. are selling in the $1-2 million
One-acre beachfront lots in range. Abaco has prices in this
Lucaya sell for $1.5 million and range as well, but also less
up. expensive beachfront in some
The Out Islands
locations.
After Freeport, the largest
Bimini
"city" in the Bahamas is Marsh
Hemingway made his "island in
Harbour, with a population of the stream" famous as a center of
only 5000. The majority of deep-sea fishing, and it remains
settlements in the Bahamas are so today. Bimini is also just 50
even smaller, with just a few miles from the east coast of
hundred souls. This is the world Florida, which ensures a good
of the Out Islands—large areas of yachting crowd. Bimini has one
untouched land with the major resort development, Bimini
occasional house or small Bay Resort and Casino. Bimini Bay
village.
has no casino, but it does offer
Abaco and Exuma
condos with boat slips in the
The Abacos and Exumas are not $600,000 range. The only
adjacent physically, but they beachfront lot listed on Bimini,
have much in common. They are the for comparison purposes, is a 2.7
most popular yachting acre parcel for $1.7 million.
destinations in the Bahamas, and
Eleuthera
their islands and cays provide
With sixty miles of beaches
beautiful cruising grounds. Abaco and only a few dozen hotel rooms,
and Exuma are better known than Eleuthera is a paradise for beach
the other Out Islands, and they lovers who enjoy privacy and
unspoiled natural beauty. constrictor, and who knows what
Eleuthera has four major resorts else. The east coast of the
planned or underway, but none is island, the only populated area,
near completion yet, and overall, has scattered villages and miles
the island is still rustic and of deserted beaches. For those
relatively unknown. Eleuthera is not afraid of
therefore less expensive than who-knows-what-else, beachfront
Abaco and Exuma--one-acre lots on Andros are selling in the
beachfront lots sell in the $200,000 to $250,000 range.
$500,000 range. With a population
Fifty miles long and with a
of 8000 and close proximity to population of only 1600, Cat
resort-rich Harbour Island, Island is one place where you’ll
Eleuthera has good never have to wait in line. Cat
infrastructure, stores, and has many miles of spectacular
services. If and when Eleuthera’s pink-sand beaches and several
nascent resorts succeed, prices delightful boutique resorts. A
may catch up to Exuma and one-acre beachfront lot will set
Abaco.
you back $350,000-400,000.
Andros, Cat Island, Long
The aptly named Long Island is
Island
96 miles long and only seven
These three islands are the miles wide at its widest point.
next step up in remoteness and Long Island has a varied
the next step down in name topography ranging from hills and
recognition, infrastructure, cliffs in the north, to flatlands
services, and prices.
in the south. Deadman’s Cay, the
Andros is said to be the commercial center, is fairly well
largest unexplored landmass in equipped, with a medical clinic,
the hemisphere. The island’s banks, and well-stocked food
interior is home to the six-foot stores. Prime beachfront lots on
iguanas, the rare Bahamian boa the island sell for $375,000, and
lots on a narrower beach are Author
currently selling for as little id="authorbio"
as $185,000. class="membersnoticewhite">Matthe
San Salvador, Acklins, w Simon is developing Crooked Island, Mayaguana, href="http://www.buttonwoodreserv
Inagua
e.com/">Oceanfront
For the true pioneers among Condominiums on the island of
you, these islands are farther Eleuthera. His latest book is south, more remote, and less href="http://www.howtobuyrealesta
populated. But the prices are tebahamas.com/">How to Buy and
tempting. A four-acre beachfront Sell Real Estate in the Bahamas:
lot on Crooked Island is selling Insider's Guide. Matthew may
for $525,000—95% less than you be reached at
would pay in mattsimonmx@juno.com.
Nassau.
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