Beach Homes from $95,000 in the Affordable Caribbean

Today, we’re continuing with our Caribbean theme…

Earlier this week, I highlighted the monthly issue of Real Estate Trend Alert about a crisis investment destination where you can get Caribbean island condos from insanely low prices like $15,000.

(Read more on that here.)

(Read more on that here.)

Today, I’m going to highlight another part of the Caribbean…one I’ve scouted several times and where you can also find amazing value real estate—the island of Roatan.

The Caribbean is one of the world’s most evocative destinations, conjuring images of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and swaying palm trees. Real estate near a Caribbean beach can be among the most expensive on the planet. Bargains on the Caribbean are rare…but Roatan is different.

Roatan is part of Honduras in the western Caribbean. The island boasts stunning beaches and a near-perfect tropical climate, with average high temperatures ranging from 77 F to 90 F throughout the year. This makes it a popular destination with tourists and snowbirds from North America.

It’s also home to the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere, so it attracts snorkeling and diving enthusiasts from across the world. And it’s easy to get to, with direct flight connections to cities across the U.S. and Canada including Houston, Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Denver, and Toronto.

I first scouted the island in 2006. Since then, I’ve kept it firmly on my radar…

Roatan has seen ups and downs as a real estate market. When I visited in the mid-2000s, I found a market screaming “bubble!” New projects were poorly thought out, overpriced and underfinanced. Everyone thought they could make a buck developing or selling real estate there.

This was prior to the global financial crisis. When I returned in 2010, none of the planned projects I visited on my last trip had materialized. Some never even got off the ground. Others started…and then stalled. According to one estimation, by 2010, prices on Roatan had fallen by 40% from their pre-financial crisis peak.

Well over a decade later, prices in Roatan have yet to fully recover, though they have been trending upward of late. The upshot is you can still find homes there at very affordable prices.

One of the reasons property remains so affordable in Roatan is that the island is part of Honduras, a politically unstable country with high levels of crime. That said, Roatan has always been insulated to a large degree from the turmoil on the mainland and has for many decades been a safe place to visit and own real estate.

We’re long overdue for a scouting trip to Roatan. It’s something I plan to add to our itinerary.

Before then, my researchers have been digging into recent developments on Roatan and the kinds of listings you’ll see there. Today, I wanted to share some of those listings with you… (Note, we haven’t visited these properties or done any due diligence on them.)

A Condo Close to the Beach near Roatan’s Main Tourist Area for $170,000

A popular place for foreigners to buy real estate in Roatan is West End. This area is in the northwestern part of the island. For a long time, it was a small fishing village, but today it’s a thriving tourist hub, home to numerous restaurants and dive shops.

This is also where most of Roatan’s nightlife can be found and where the more developed infrastructure is. As a result, prices here are some of the most expensive on the island, though they’re still affordable by Caribbean standards.

My team found this two-bedroom condo close to West End and within walking distance of the ocean. It’s listed for $170,000 and residents have access to a small, shared swimming pool, and barbecue area.

Located on the second floor of a community building, this nearly 900-square-foot unit is also just 10 minutes from the international airport and near a supermarket and the dining and nightlife of West End. As an added bonus, the building’s exterior is currently being upgraded, and residents have easy access to a nearby beach with a private dock.

Island-Style Casita Surrounded by Nature for $189,000

Move away from West End and the major tourist areas and you’ll get more bang for your buck.

This two-bedroom island-style casita is on the market for $189,000. The casita sits on a 4,800-square-foot plot of land, meaning you could create a spacious garden or potentially expand the property further if you wish.

This part of the island is peaceful and calm, nobody is in a rush, and you won’t see many tourists either. The house is close to some excellent fly-fishing spots. Tarpon, bonefish, and permit can all be caught from the waters close to this house.

Modern Bungalow in a Master-Planned Community

Built in just 2022, this one-bedroom bungalow is within a new gated, master-planned community called Diamond Rock Resort.

The community is on the less touristy eastern side of the island. And it’s just a four-minute drive from one of the island’s most stunning beaches, Camp Bay Beach.

Camp Bay Beach is a hidden white-sand beach that most tourists never see. It’s secluded and peaceful, somewhere you can eat mangos straight off the tree.

A One-Bedroom Condo with Sea-Views for Under $100,000

This one-bedroom condo is set within Duna Residences in St. John’s Bay, also on the less populated east side of Roatan.

St. John’s Bay is first large-scale project deployed by Próspera, a private city and special economic zone launched on Roatan. The city was set up as an autonomous zone with its own fiscal, regulatory, and legal architecture, though it has recently been in dispute with the Honduran government. (You can learn more about the controversial Próspera project in this video report by Business Insider.)

St. John’s Bay boasts amenities including an on-site restaurant and private beach access. There are also numerous biking trials and running paths around the grounds, as well as high-speed internet and a co-working space featuring three floors of offices with floor-to-ceiling windows. The condo is listed for sale at $95,000.

Luxury Three-Bedroom House You Might Have Seen on TV

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, then how about this three-bedroom house a stone’s throw from the beach listed for sale at $599,000?

The property spans over three acres and boasts 350 feet of pristine shoreline, with breathtaking views of Cow & Calf Cays. It’s also been showcased on both Caribbean Life and House Hunters International TV shows.

The home is in one of the most fascinating parts of Roatan, Port Royal, which was once a popular spot for pirates due to its remote location, protected harbor, and a surrounding reef system that made it easy to defend.

In the 1600s, Port Royal was a haven for Dutch, British, and French outlaws who were trying to avoid the Spanish forces that controlled much of the Caribbean and Central America. The town witnessed numerous battles and changed hands between British and Spanish multiple times until the 1800s.

In the early 1960s, writer Robin Moore (known for The French Connection) and treasure hunter Howard Jennings traveled to Port Royal. They brought metal detectors and old naval maps from the British Museum, hoping to find pirate treasure.

While clearing parts of the jungle, Robin and Howard found the remains of an old fort that had been hidden for decades. Better still, they discovered a treasure chest filled with gold and silver.

Fighting the urge to flee with their treasure, they stayed on to continue the search. Incredibly, they found another wooden box, this one containing gold nuggets and 65 pounds of silver bars.

They managed to smuggle their haul out of the country to Jamaica and later wrote a book called The Treasure Hunter, which features the supposed location of several still-undiscovered treasure hoards.

From this house in the heart of Port Royal, you’d be in the perfect spot for treasure hunting, snorkeling, swimming, or just relaxing on the terrace taking in the incredible view.

Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert

P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Cheap Dream Home Instagram account.