-‘Combo’ edition
– New Canadian Fights
– Pawn Stars – ‘CashWiz’ –‘Island Posh’
– ‘Tasty Treats’
-‘Champagne Taste/Beer Budget’
– Document Security
– New listings/hot deals/real estate overview
– ‘Like’ Us?
– Selling your Property?
– Giving Thanks
-‘Combo’ edition-
This month’s issue will be a ‘combo’ of sorts. In the past, on rare occasion, I combined more than one month’s newsletters. When I have done this in the past and did not let people know I was basically skipping a month I have some readers ask where the letter was. So this time around I thought I would actually announce that I was doing a November/December due to the holiday season, travel, family etc. My next issue will hit your inbox in January.
-New Canadian Fights/American Airlines
For our Canadian friends living anywhere near Montreal the link below takes you to an article about Air Transat and their service to Roatan. For those of you who are more comfortable speaking French when you visit us on Roatan, we can help. Our Agent Bob Sirois (we call him ‘Montreal Bob’) will be happy to assist you.
As mentioned a couple of months ago American Airlines is now servicing Roatan with direct flights to and from Miami. Although flying has gotten to be an expensive venture with the price of jet fuel nowadays, it sure is nice to have American on the list of airlines joining United and Delta, (Houston & Atlanta), that are providing direct flights to the island. If you wish to make the trip to the island but are hesitant due to price, you may wish to check flights to SAP (San Pedro Sula). It is only about a 40 minute flight from San Pedro Sula to Roatan on one of several regional carriers. When I checked yesterday the round trip flight with a change in SAP cost about half the cost of traveling on the direct flight. I am all about loving a direct flight but double the price has me leaning toward the extra stop, no doubt about it.
– Pawn Stars – ‘CashWiz’
For all of you that watch the TV program ‘Pawn Stars’ on the History channel
and for those of you with the desire or need, a new business is opening in Jackson Plaza in Mount Pleasant called ‘Cash Wiz’. ‘Cash Wiz’ (http://www.cashwiz.com/) is a chain of pawn shops that currently has 16 locations throughout the Caribbean. They handle pretty much anything including larger items like boats and cars. This is a large operation and if you’re like me you might have fun coming in and looking around. And who knows, you may just find the ‘treasure’ you’ve been looking for.
-Island Posh-‘Champagne taste/Beer Budget’-
I do not have direct knowledge of this new store in that I went by and they are not yet open. That said, it looks like a pretty interesting place that the ladies may like. It is called ‘Island Posh’ and it is located in the Coral Stone Center in Sandy Bay. From the outside looking in it looks like a place where you can buy designer purses, jewelry, perfumes and the like and according to the signs ‘up to 90%’ off. It looks like they are close to opening any day now. You may wish to check it out while you’re on the island.
-‘Tasty Treats -‘Champagne Taste/Beer Budget’
One of the things I have learned in the almost 13 years I have lived here on the island is that ‘here is not there’. That is in many ways, but normally in pleasant ways. One of those pleasant encounters was finding some sweet bakery items that we buy and I thought I would share. One of my minor disappointments living here has been the absence of bakery sweet treats. Never in a million years would think that you would buy these items in this place but again, a pleasant surprise. The islanders have various pastries here and overall people from here may like them a lot, but they never really ‘rang my bell’, so to speak. Well that changed for me and now it can change for you. The Mt. Pleasant Oil Co, (the gas station right across the street from Jackson Plaza in Mt. Pleasant) has a great selection of single serve cakes, cheese cake, tres leche and more. These are made by a nice lady by the name of Julie Guerra and if ever you wish to tantalize your taste buds, now you know where to stop. Who would have thought? A gas station. Yummy!
-Document Security
For as long as I have been on Roatán, part of what we do is to educate the consumers in regard to the purchase of property here on the island or on the mainland. In some cases it makes more sense to purchase property in the name of a Honduran Corporation. This most often the case when a purchaser wishes to purchase more than 3000 square meters (0.74 acres) of land here but also may be preferred by some when thinking about estate planning. (for more information on purchasing please send me an email) –
Part of the situation you encounter when purchasing property with a corporation versus purchasing property as an individual, is that with your new ‘company’ you are issued stock certificates. In order for you to sell or transfer the company to another party in the future, (therefore transferring the asset of whatever property that may be held by that corporation to another party), having these stock shares in a safe place is imperative. These ‘bearer bond’ type certificates are something that should not be stuffed in a drawer somewhere with your latest ‘Publishers Clearing House’ mail but should be kept safe. Unfortunately some do not. In the past 60 days we have had two Sellers either not able to find the stock certificates or had these stock shares destroyed. Unfortunately obtaining new ones is very difficult. You need to hire an attorney and have them go to court, with various documentation in order to get a court order to reissue them. If you think it takes a long time to get through the legal system wherever you are, you have not experienced the Honduran system. The act of replacing them can be measured at times in years, not months and at a cost of thousands of dollars. The option of dissolving the corporation and selling the ‘asset’ of that corporation would mean you would need to form a new one and paying closing costs all over again.
Due to the above scenario I personally am starting a new service at the RE/MAX Bay Islands office in Mt. Pleasant for document storage. This service includes your very own bank type safety deposit box (24”(D) x 10”(W) x 3” (H). These will be leased out on an annual basis. Although this is NOT a vault in which you would want to keep precious possessions or money, metals or other valuables, we will have an alarm system installed and you will have access to your security box during our regular real estate business hours. If you own property on the island and would rather not keep those valuable property documents of ownership in a drawer somewhere, drop me a line and I will send you the details. larry@roatan-realtor.com
-New listings/hot deals/real estate overview-
Real estate sales on the island are fairly brisk. I am sure that the lower prices on properties across the board has much to do with it, opening the market to far more Purchasers than before the economic downturn. In my humble opinion, it will take time for prices to come back to where they once were, but like the uptick in the U.S. markets buyers are coming out of the woodwork to scoop up bargains.
Here are some new listings and listings of interest for your consideration-
This may be a great little investment home having three apartments and a short walk to West Bay Beach. Rentals are in demand in the West Bay area and it could give you a great place to vacation in an ‘in demand’ location. (note: the Sellers have never rented it out but have lived there with in-laws. No rental history is available)
Two, nice small, mid island home sites with nice breezes and great views-
A six acre, water front parcel on the south side of the island at a very good price.
A small version of the above and it has an 8-10 ft draft for boaters-
This one is one of the finest view lots on the island. It has water, electricity, paved roads, low HOA fees and the Seller would even act as a General contractor for you if you wished to build a home (he already has plans) or your design!
An exciting opportunity to own your own bed and breakfast. With six bedrooms all with en suites and live-in staff quarters, this property is excellent business opportunity.
As all of our readers know we have had a ‘Buyer’s Market’ here, like many warm weather climates. This particularly holds true at the mid to higher end dollar inventory. We have homes that are up to less than half what they would have sold for 4-5 years ago, are below replacement costs and are extreme bargains. If you cannot replace the home with a lot and building, (plus a year or two of your time), for the price it is selling, you can only do well with it financially. Check them out here, some of the best deals on the island at this price point –
-‘Like’ Us?
If you are a Facebook member, especially if you are in business, you know that it is helpful on your business page to have someone endorse or ‘like’ you. Our RE/MAX page of course would like your endorsement. Before you visit the island you may wish to take a look at the photo albums on our Facebook page. It is a bit of a ‘Three worlds/One Country’ look at the island, the mainland rain forest and the ancient Mayan Culture/Ruins.
Check us out at the link below and check out some nice photos-
-Selling your Property?
We can help. Here at RE/MAX we would like to market your property. We will advertise on up to 17 web sites including one local MLS, one National MLS and two International MLS’s. We can feature it as a lead item and send it out to our thousands of Newsletter readers. No other company on the island can give you more exposure than we can. Want a free CMA? (Certified Market Analysis). We can do that and give you the price your property should be listed at here on the island.
We can help you Buy or Sell anywhere in the world! Need an Agent in another country in Central or South America? How about other Caribbean Islands? Europe? We even have RE/MAX in China now.
Remeber our mobil device site for your IPads, Iphones and the like
No one sells more property than RE/MAX!
-‘Combo’ edition-
Although I mentioned above that this was going to be a ‘combo’ version newsletter
I will certainly send you anything that I feel is a great deal or of considerable interest
in between now and the next issue in January.
-Giving thanks (serious)
With the Holiday season closing in on us fast, it certainly the time of the year to reflect and give thanks. The last 4 years has been difficult for many but for some it has been really pretty bad due to high unemployment, uncertainty in the markets, and life in general. In life the cup is always half full. Some have had a cup that was less than half full at times, but if there was anything in the cup it is time to give thanks. Give your kids and grandkids a hug, love your spouse and be thankful for all you do have.
-Giving thanks – (humorous – put a smile on your face)
Happy Thanksgiving, (U.S. & Canada), Merry Christmas, (Hanukah, even ‘Festivus’☺)and a Happy & Healthy New Years to all.
Best regards to all. Life is short. Enjoy it.
Larry