Buying your piece of Paradise Bahamas

There are 700 islands and cays (pronounced keys) making up The Bahamas creating a vast selection to choose from when it comes to buying your own piece of paradise in The Bahamas.

From remote out island homes or beachfront properties where you can listen to the sound of the waves and just relax, to the city life of Nassau where just about everything is at your fingertips, The Bahamas has something to offer every potential purchaser.

With so many choices available, speaking with a qualified real estate agent can help in locating a property that meets your personal investment objectives. Some people that have visited The Bahamas before may know exactly what they are looking for, and for others the decision may not be so clear. As a real estate agent, our goal is to uncover what type of property will meet your specific needs and assist you in buying that little spot to call paradise.

The first thing a potential purchaser should do after selecting the right agent will be to discuss what you are looking for regarding your potential purchase. By asking you questions and listening to what your specific needs are, getting to know you and your lifestyle, dreams and goals, along with gathering other important information, your real estate agent will then be able to guide you to properties that meet many or all of your criteria making the process much easier and therefore giving you the right options to choose from.

If you are looking to purchase your idyllic spot in The Bahamas, let a qualified RE/MAX real estate agent assist you in making the right decision to achieve your real estate goals.

RE/MAX University Exceeds 10,000 Registrants in 2009

Denver, CO - February 22, 2010 - With RE/MAX International, Inc. leading the industry in professional designations, it is no surprise that RE/MAX University surpassed 10,000 registrants for its award-winning training and educational courses in 2009. No other real estate franchise compares to the wide scope of designations and certification programs that RE/MAX offers to its membership.

“This major milestone for RE/MAX University is not only a reflection of the great training we offer, but it’s a sign that RE/MAX agents know how to adapt to changing markets,” said Tom Kramig, Vice President of Multi-Media and Education. “They are earning certifications and designations in everything from Short Sales and foreclosures to green issues and best practices.”

RE/MAX University distributes award winning educational video programming to its Associates through classroom training, online streaming video, download documents and via RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), the company’s proprietary satellite TV network.

Thanks to the recent partnerships with the Five Star Institute, Buffini & Company, Distressed Property Institute, the CE Shop, and REALTOR(r) University, the number of annual registrants topped 10,000 for the first time ever, up 40% from 2008.

With the dramatic increase in foreclosures and Short Sales, RE/MAX Associates have accepted the challenge of adapting to the current market and established a benchmark in helping buyers and sellers navigate the issues surrounding distressed properties. As a result, RE/MAX Associates, through the offerings of RE/MAX University, have earned more professional designations than agents from any other national real estate network, including more than 58% of all Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) in the United States.

RE/MAX University and the Five Star Institute will be joining together for a full day of distressed property education in a special “REO/Short Sale Summit” the day before the 2010 RE/MAX International Convention, Sunday, Feb. 28 in Orlando, FL. By attending, real estate agents will be able to earn two of the five credits required for the Five Star Professional (FSP) designation. The remaining FSP courses are being offered through RE/MAX University.

RE/MAX University remains committed to adding new courses to its education platforms in order to keep RE/MAX Associates among the best-informed in the real estate industry.

Priced to Sell; Choosing the right Bahamas Real Estate Agent for You

You have been thinking and rethinking whether you should put your house on the market and you have now decided that it is the right time for you to sell your Bahamas real estate.

The first thing you should do is contact a local real estate agent to assist you. “Who do I call?” you may ask. Well you need to find an estate agent that you will get along with. Pick an agent that is going to look out for your best interests and not just an agent who wants another listing under their belt.

Opening the telephone directory and randomly choosing a real estate agent is literally the ‘blind’ approach. You need to select an estate agent that will gel with you, an agent that you feel comfortable with and one that you can trust.

The first place you should look for a real estate agent is in your group of contacts; your family, your friends, your business partners, your co-workers, your friends friends etc. If you do not know an estate agent personally, ask your group of contacts; they probably have had dealings with an agent and can point you in the right direction whilst also informing you of agents or company’s not to have any dealings with.

After you have done some research on the agents and their respective companies, and narrowed the list down to about three or four agents, it is time to interview them. Arrange interviews with each agent so that you can find out who the best agent and company is to potentially market your property. As the agents are asking you questions on your home you can ask them questions on their experience, their respective real estate company, and what homes are selling for in your neighbourhood. If the agent is prepared they will be able to give you some information on themselves and their realty company. After each of the agents have left your property you will have a better feel on who they are and who they represent.

The estate agents at RE/MAX Paradise Realty are fully trained and prepared to list your home for sale. We offer information and statistics to help you in choosing us to represent you and your property, but we are not interested in getting a listing just to have it in our database. We are dedicated on listing your home at the right market price.

Listing your home with the right market price will benefit you. Rather than listing your home at an inflated rate and having it sit on the market for months or even years, reduce your asking price to the right market level. This will ensure your home is in front of more eyes which in turn will result in a quicker and more successful transaction.

The Bahamas Real Estate Market: Why we have survived!

I am often approached by buyers, foreign and local alike, asking if the real estate market has suffered like that of our neighbours to the north. The answer is a resounding "Not even close!" Typically there is an uncomfortable silence on the other end of the line and then I begin to explain.

The Bahamas real estate market is a very unique creature indeed! We are geographically close to the US and our government and currency are stable. We enjoy a year around climate that is sunny and warm and our islands and our people are equally as beautiful. Our banking industry has very prudent lending practices which enables them to minimize their risks while maximizing their returns. We did not experience a "credit crisis". Another interesting contrast with the US real estate market is that we do not have an over abundance of inventory. We do not have neighbourhoods that are 50% or more in foreclosure. We have not seen a huge sell off of foreign or locally owned properties. We have enjoyed a relatively balanced supply and demand situation.

While I would be remiss in not mentioning a correction in pricing, all markets across the globe will, from time to time, experience some correction. This is healthy for the market and healthy for the economy as it allows the more prudent investors the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of home ownership in a slower market.

If you are interested in learning more about our market and it's dynamics I would be happy to discuss it with you. There is much to learn but one thing is for sure: There is no better time to get into the Bahamas real estate market!