Real Estate & Island April Newsletter 2016
Island Geography
Even if you are a geography whiz, understanding the layout of Roatan can be difficult.
Why? Well, the island of Roatan runs at an angle from southwest to northeast, and roads on the island are often cut into land at various elevations. In addition, these roads wind in different directions. Combine all of these factors and it can sometimes be confusing to determine which direction you are going.
For those of us who grew up in the United States or Canada, we are used to a definitive North, South, East, and West, which relate to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. We also may be used to streets, which are laid out in a grid-like fashion. However, that isn’t the case on the island.
Researching Areas on the Island to Buy-
When researching a real estate purchase here, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with specific areas. Often times, when people arrive on the island, people state that they want to purchase a piece of property on Roatan or Utila. Although this may seem specific, it’s actually a broad statement. In fact, it’s almost like saying you want to buy a home in Chicago, Atlanta, or Asheville.
Even though the island is obviously much smaller than the above mentioned cities, (only about 35 miles long and a couple of miles wide), neighborhoods and developments vary greatly.
For example, Utila is a far smaller island, and although very beautiful, there is only one commercial area, Utila Towne. From there, there is the town and the area to and from the airport. This is the center in regards to amenities and supplies. Outside of that area, much of the island is water access only.
The island of Roatan can be more complicated as it is long, narrow, and it varies far more in areas, neighborhoods, and developments. Take a few minutes and check out this geography video and it should help a lot in regard to both your knowledge of Roatan and what part of the island that may interest you and your research.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPXHZ_dSPF4
Over the next few months I will highlight some of the areas on the island for you to help familiarize yourself.
Island Living Community Highlight: Parrot Tree Plantation
In the upcoming months, I will focus on the pros and cons of buying in different areas of the island. This month’s focus is Parrot Tree Plantation, one of the nicer communities on the island.
If you dream of living in a tropical paradise, look no further than Parrot Tree Plantation Resort Community. Set on over 200 acres on the south shore of Roatan, Parrot Tree Plantation offers you a world of lush vegetation and breathtaking views of the Caribbean in which to make that dream come true within an exclusive gated community. With Mediterranean-style villas and condos, luxurious homes with panoramic vistas, and many home sites on which to build a home to your exact taste, you will have access to the amenities of one of the best resorts on the island, with a marina, a beautiful private beach, swimming pool and beachside restaurant.
You can kayak, swim, or snorkel in the oceanfront lagoon; snorkel or scuba dive Roatan’s world re-known coral reefs right off shore, flats fish, bill fish or simply relax under a palapa with your toes in the sand.
You also have the convenience of being close to French Harbour, Roatan’s second largest city, where you will find a large, well-stocked grocery store, pharmacies, banks, restaurants, shops, championship Pete Dye golf course and the soon to be completed CEMESA Hospital.
The GARM (Global Alliance for Regenerative Medicine) Clinic is also located on the grounds of Parrot Tree. GARM is a full-service concierge medical facility, where patients and their families can be assured of receiving the latest in medical treatment.
Although GARM has a very qualified staff of physicians, they also practice alternative medicine for both minor and more serious medical issues. This includes regenerative medicine and stem cell research. If alternative medicine is something that interests you, visit their website. http://www.garm.com.hn
Here are the listings that we have at Parrot Tree right now for homes, condos, home sites and even a garage and a boat slip.
Homes-
You can see for miles & miles & miles!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Great-Community-Bargain-Luxury-Hilltop-Home-Roatan-mls_15-509
Nice home, nice location!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Beautiful-Home-in-a-Nice-Spot-The-Perfect-Fit-Roatan-mls_16-39
Get away from it all in this beautiful and very private spot!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Parrot-Tree-Plantation-Marina-Point-Home-Roatan-mls_15-120/
Cozy Home with outstanding Views!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Hillside-Luxury-in-Parrot-Tree-Roatan-mls_16-72/
Condos-
You cannot possibly go wrong with any of these beautiful Marina front Villas!
Unit 6A
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Parrot-Tree-Marina-Front-Villa-6E-PTP-Roatan-mls_15-343/
Unit 7A
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/7A-Parrot-Tree-Condo-Marina-Waterfront-Roatan-mls_16-41/
Exquisite three BR!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/4F-Luxury-Villa-Exquisite-Top-spot-Marina-Front-Roatan-mls_16-40/
Land/Home Sites
Offering #1
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Lot-42-Parrot-Tree-Roatan-mls_16-122/
Home Site #2
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Gorgeous-Views-Parrot-Tree-Plantation-Lot-44-Roatan-mls_15-222/
#3 – All are great values!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/PTP-66-Value-Priced-Top-End-Community-Roatan-mls_15-535/
How about a Garage or a Boat Slip?
They have both in this community. Feel free to ask!
More on Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is something that has considerable interest on the island. Long before people from around the world and cruise ship ports were a part of island life, locals practiced “bush medicine” using many of the local tropical plants for various ills.
As you know, many of the prescriptions that are on the market today had their roots in plant life and alternative medicine, especially in tropical climates. Those roots, which now include ideas about lifestyle and diet are often viewed by people here as a way of allowing the body cure itself.
The most prominent alternative doctor here on Roatan is Dr. Fabian Vallejo who has office locations both in West Bay and French Harbour. He is a Medical Doctor trained in Allopathic Medicine (Western Medicine), but decided that helping a patient medically goes beyond just prescribing pharmaceuticals. He therefore went into the field of alternative medicine. He believes in our body’s own capability to fight illness which often is the result of an over-exhausting of our self defense mechanisms caused by stress, environmental factors, and diet. His practice is based on restoring these mechanisms, with the vision on longevity, He has trained in Oriental medicine and acupuncture, anti aging medicine through bio-identical hormone replacement and aesthetic medicine.
You can communicate with Dr. Fabian here – drfvallejov@aol.com
Traveling within the country-nice place to visit
It is common belief that people who live on an island get a case of “island fever” every so often. I may be the exception, as I love island living, and I believe Roatan is the perfect place to call home. That said all of us no matter where you live wish to visit elsewhere.
There is one week of the year when I do get an itch to get off the island: Semana Santa, (Easter Week). Semana Santa is the week when it seems as if the entire mainland comes to Roatan.
This year my wife and I escaped the crowds and headed to the Cangrejal River Valley, just outside La Ceiba. We stayed at the award winning La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast, a small boutique, bed and breakfast, jungle lodge.
Soledad and John, the innkeepers, even arranged for us to be picked up at the airport.
The La Villa de Soledad turned out to be a peaceful oasis during the most hectic travel weeks of the year in Honduras. We stayed in a lovely private room with an impeccably clean bathroom and plenty of water, both hot and cold. The B and B also had a spacious living room where the biggest decision was which hammock we would lay on to enjoy the cool breeze and read our books or take a snooze. I could certainly get used to these kinds of options!
Nights were pleasantly cool, and we enjoyed not having an air-conditioning unit in the room. In addition, WiFi was fast, considering we were in the middle of the jungle!
The lodge also has private access to the Cangrejal River. This river offers great white water rafting and swimming. With about 400 different species of birds in the area and thousands of varieties of butterflies and months, it is a nature lover’s paradise.
The area is safe to walk, and my wife and I enjoyed walking around and visiting the neighboring restaurants. However, food at La Villa was truly delicious, and we dined there each evening.
If you get a case of island fever, a visit to La Villa De Soledad is the perfect cure. We will certainly be back! Oh, I forgot to mention, the owner John, is fully bilingual, so you do not need to speak any Spanish to have a great time. Yet, another perk!
For more information, contact Ana with our company, and she can make arrangements for a visit to this little piece of paradise. It has a different appeal from the island, and it is only 40 miles away! Ann: anaflores@roatanislandpropertymanagement.com
Caribbean Free Diving Championships-
Right here on Roatan there will be the Free Diving Caribbean Cup Championships held from May 25 thru June 1st. If you ever wondered how far down you can go without any equipment, this may really interest all you diver out there. With Champions coming from all over the world to participate if you are here already or will be here check it out right here. http://roatanfreediving.com/caribbean-cup-2016
Need an update on our sister island Utila?
That is a sleepy little island and not a lot new happens there but the talk of the town now is the Utila Dream Ferry versus Utila Princess Ferry price war continues.
Utila Dream Ferry is currently charging Lps 100 $ 5.00 U.S.), each way on the Utila to/from La Ceiba route.
Utila Dream Ferry has also changed their Utila to/from Roatan frequency from 2 times a week to 3. Friday, Saturday and Sunday – departing Utila at 10:45am, departing Roatan at 1pm.
And here are a couple bargains for property there –
$104,000 price reduction from $699,000 to $595,000, very motivated seller, will consider all reasonable offers.
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/The-Well-South-Shore-Casa-del-Rey-Beachfront-Home-Utila-mls_14-94/
$20,000 price reduction from $99,000 to $79,000, very motivated seller, will consider all reasonable offers. https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Silver-Gardens-South-Shore-0-46-Acre-Beachfront-Utila-mls_14-184/
All of the world experienced the “real estate bubble” in 2008. That said many places there were hit very hard and have completely recovered for the most part. Although here the average home sale decreased considerably the home that attracts the most attention here are in the $250-$300K range. Land however is a different story. Builders here have lowered there price points considerably from the “heydays” pre-2008 and land is real, real, bargain.
Now is the time for you to find that perfect building lot for you to build on in a few years, when retirement calls. That property can even be purchased with an IRA or IRA/SEP if you wish to in regard to an investment property. (buy low has always been a sound financial strategy). They when you retire, you take the distribution of the land personally and build your home. There is a lot that can be done with the financial ability that you may have but do not know you can use. Something to consider? Again, I, the real estate guy am not a financial advisor, though few of them will tell you about this option in that you then very well may move your money out of their care into something that they cannot charge you for, (like a piece of property), but I certainly can point you in the right direction.
Here are some New Property Listings , great deals and properties of interest.
May you be looking for a Hotel/Condo to visit and vacation in, right on West Bay Beach!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Infinity-Bay-Rd-Infinity-Bay-Condo-2008-Roatan-mls_16-157/
And another right here………
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/West-Bay-Road-Infinity-Bay-Condo-605-Roatan-mls_15-538/
Mayan Princess Beachfront Condo?
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/201-1br-1ba-Pays-It-s-Own-Way-Beachfront-Condo-Roatan-mls_14-111/
How about a great little home in between West Bay and West End?
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Tamarind-Drive-West-Bay-Casa-Maya-Roatan-mls_15-540/
Are you in the mood to just get away from it all and buy your own resort on the beach?
Yep, we have one of those also……….https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Sandy-Bay-Tranquil-Seas-Eco-Resort-Roatan-mls_16-156/
Beachfront Home, Milton Point
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Milton-Point-Lot-3-Beachfront-Home-Roatan-mls_16-76/
Waterfront Home with Boat House, French Cay-
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/French-Cay-Home-Studio-Apt-Dock-2-Bed-2-5-Bath-Waterfront-Roatan-mls_16-2/
2 Bed 1 Bath Home plus Guest House on 4 Acres for Under $200K-https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/1-Bed-1-Bath-Guest-House-2-Bed-1-Bath-Main-House-Roatan-mls_15-533/
“Agent of the Month”
I decided this month to start a little introduction process to our company which includes both out Office Management Staff and Sales Agents so you will all know who we are and be able to get to know us a little better.
The below is from one of our Professional Sales Staff, Wendy McLaughlin. Wendy’s email is wendy.carefreeroatan@gmail.com and her Agent web site is Agent web site is
http://www.bayislandsrealestate.net
From Wendy………
“First, let me take this opportunity to welcome you to my beautiful Caribbean island, Roatan, Honduras. I am a native islander with over eleven successful years buying and selling real estate on Roatan for a wide variety of international clients. If you’re looking for an expert, experienced, trustworthy and well connected Roatan Real Estate agent to list and sell your property please contact me. My process is to ALWAYS anticipate my clients’ needs by listening and then exceeding ALL expectations for maximum return on your investment.
Additionally, I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business as well as several years as a board member on the Roatan Realtors Association, The Real Estate Chamber of Commerce in Honduras( CANABIRH) & National Association of Real Estate ( NAR). I consistently ensure that all transactions are professional and stress free process from beginning to closing”.
Check out a short video that Wendy took of “island neighbors” on this link about Roatan
Check out a short video – https://www.roatan-realestate.com/roatan-info/
Looking for things to do when you are on the island or visit this country? Check out this link and it will give you some ideas- http://roatanbayisland.com/things-to-do-on-roatan/
Need the MLS on your IPad or smart phone?
http://portal.flexmls.com/BayIslandsRealEstate
It seems most of you are having a very late Spring with winter still there in much of the North America last week.
Whether you are looking at your dream property on a tropical Caribbean island or you are thinking of making that big move to relocate to our beautiful island, we have a great place for you to consider Roatan & Utila should be on your short list of great places to live your dream!
Thanks for reading and we hope you can visit us soon.
Best regards to all.
Larry
Your new Profession – Beach combing!
