Things to Consider | jbaileyrealty

Things to Consider When buying in Barbados

Financing

Some people prefer to visit their financial institution to find out exactly what they qualify for before embarking on their house/land hunting project. This sometimes saves the heartache or embarrassment of thinking that you qualify for more than you do or finding your dream home/land plot and then finding out that you cannot afford it. The financial institution will need some very brief details to let you know initially what you qualify for.

Once you know what you qualify for, you can begin your search. This is the most important part of the buying process so think carefully about:-

Location of the house/land - As this may be where you will live for a very long time, it is probably the MOST important aspect of your buying. Parish and district within the parish will be equally important so, once you decide on a parish, drive around the area and consider schools, churchs, restaurants, beaches, socialising, etc
Access to transport - you and/or your visitors may not own a vehicle so this will be important information to know
Design of the Lot - Is it on a slope, is it shaded on in direct sunlight, are there lots of trees on the plot or is it clear, what direction does the wind come from are all things to consider
Insurance Costs - You will need insurance to cover your mortgage in the event of anything happening to you during the course of your mortgage so remember to factor this into your monthly/annual costs. You will also need to insure your home and contents against fire, flooding, etc
Land Tax - This varies according to land size, area and whether there is a property on the land. So find out what these are
Access – is your lot behind other lots? Can a fire truck or ambulance drive into your driveway or would they have to struggle to reach your front door?

Legal

Closing costs and Legal fees: this can be anything between BDS $10,000-$15,000
Are the boundaries clearly and accurately marked?
Does the seller have clear title for the property? You don't want to find yourself caught up in a legal estate battle with the sellers siblings or family members where a property has been left as inheritance
Is there legal access by road or right-of-way? Who maintains the road?
Is there adequate road frontage to build if you are buying land or renovate if you are buying?
Are there any deed restrictions, liens, covenants, easements, rights-of-way or other encroachments on the property?

Associated Costs

Survey
Connection fees for utilities: water, electric, natural/bottled gas, phone, tv services
Treatments: termite, bugs, filtration
Land clearing
Landscaping
Road/driveway construction

Covenants and Community Rules

Some developments and housing areas may have covenants or community rules. They can vary from party hours to home businesses, so please make sure you are aware of what these are and how they might affect you and/or your visitors before you make a decision on going ahead with a purchase.

Remember, the last consideration, once you have all the above information is WHO ARE YOUR NEIGHBOURS. Do your homework and find out if your new neighbours are compatible with you and your lifestyle

Having considered all of the above - let's start what will be one of the most important purchases you will make

BACK