Paradise Report: It’s time to take off

We’re warming up for a busy autumn at Grand Isle Resort & Spa in Exuma, Bahamas. Yes, as North America cools down, the Bahamas stays positively balmy.

And since Exuma has had the busiest summer in years, as far as tourism is concerned, I can only imagine what the next few months will bring. The office has been overflowing with interested buyers, excited by the quality of the villas and its surrounding amenities and gardens. The villas, originally built in 2004 through 2006 as the Residences of the Four Seasons, are renowned for their workmanship.

Every visitor who has toured the villas with me is awed by the superb materials used. They say that nothing like this will be built again in the Bahamas, unless someone wants to spend $800 to $1,000 a square foot, that is.

Nothing comparable exists on the islands. The original group of owners pranced up the beach from the then Four Season Hotel (now a very high-end Sandals), to Grand Isle, and bought like crazy, some picking up three or four villas with the stroke of a pen. These original owners, the who’s who of North American business, tell me they had never seen anything like Grand Isle before! And they had seen it all!

Here is a video with some of the owners talking about why they bought and how they feel about their beloved Grand Isle:

http://vimeopro.com/vantagephotography/grandisle/video/85934139

Prices sliced in half when the U.S. market deteriorated – and buyers today are reaping the benefits.

“Its time to take off,”  famed realtor Hunter Milborne predicts, who represents property sales at Grand Isle.  “The next four months are going to be huge.”

It’s hard to argue with a guy whose company recently sold over 1,000 condos in a week! I call Hunter the “Donald Trump of Canada”, except he is a great guy.

No offense, Donald, but I just don’t know you quite as well.

The new group of buyers at Grand Isle are often a different breed. They seem very interested in being hoteliers and renting their villas when they’re not at the resort. Yes, as a villa owner, you are also a hotelier, and will own part of everything, including our first-class restaurant, fitness center, spa and all common areas. Just leave your key at the front desk and they rent it all for you!

Grand Isle is also part of Elite Alilance and 3rd Home travel exchange destinations. The reports that come back to us from our owners are fabulous.

Our team has arranged interesting events and happenings around the resort in October and November, some of which are public, while others are very hush hush. Sigh … such is the Grand Isle life.

So much to talk about – so little time. Canada is getting cold, so when are you coming?

See you in paradise.

– Sharon Dunn

 
Sharon is the real estate representative at Grand Isle for Milborne Real Estate Inc. You can reach her by phone at 242 358 5000 or email sharon.dunn@grandisleresort.com.

Grand Isle Resort & Spa, located on Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas, is a stunning oceanfront resort. The exclusive, gated community consists of 78 luxuriously appointed villas, with prices ranging from $500,000 to $5 million.