You step out of your condo in shorts and sunglasses. It’s 8 a.m. Another sun-drenched morning in the Caribbean…
The day begins with a leisurely walk to your favorite beach. One that lies only a few paces from your door. The temperature is perfect. The fine, white sand soft under your feet.
You walk alongside a line of palm trees, then down the beach, close to the azure sea, gazing out at the spotless horizon as your toes touch the warm water.
This is paradise…
The Caribbean is home to some of the best beaches in the world. But in the right destinations here, buying a home here can cost less than you might think…
In the afternoon, you’ll dive at a nearby reef. (You used to go to the gym but have found there are more enjoyable ways to stay fit.)
You pass the French bakery and continue to a café that serves some of the finest local cuisine. You never thought you’d ditch your morning croissant, but you’ve come to love the spicy Jamaican callaloo omelet that’s served here. The leafy green callaloo is lightly steamed and then fried with onions, garlic, scotch bonnet, scallion and thyme. The result is healthy and delicious.
Friendly staff take your order in English, the language spoken by everyone here. You’re shown to a table with a beach view so you can continue to admire the sea.
As you sip your coffee, you think how lucky you are to own a home here…
Life in the Caribbean can nothing short of incredible. But owning a home on a sun-drenched island in this part of the world can seem out of reach. After all, the Caribbean is synonymous with luxury…high-end resorts, private islands worth millions of dollars, sea-view mansions that are equivalent in value to the GDP of a small country.
But it is actually possible to buy a beach home on a budget in attractive destinations here. And often these destinations are in places that are English-speaking…the result of a long colonial legacy left by the British who once controlled many parts of the Caribbean.
I asked my team to look for listings of affordable homes on English-speaking Caribbean islands. Here’s what they found…
Roatan, Honduras
Listing Price: $139,900
This one-bed, one-bath apartment on Roatan lies in a tranquil community but is close to everything you need. Listing here.
Roatan, in the western Caribbean, is part of Honduras. The largest of the Bay Islands, it boasts incredible beaches and lush rainforest. You can also snorkel in the turquoise waters surrounding the world’s second largest coral reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.
Though it’s the most popular tourist destination in Honduras, Roatan still remains under the radar for many. That’s even though most of Roatan’s native inhabitants speak English as their first language. The combined result is that it can be an excellent place to have a beach home.
We found this one-bed, one-bath condo on the west end of the island. Popular tourist spots West End and West Bay are within walking distance. Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport is also nearby.
This listing is in Jardines de Catalina, a serene residential community. Here you have the best of both worlds: a tranquil retreat from the bustle of modern life, plus all the amenities you need within easy reach. This condo has a kitchen/living area with a dining table and comes fully furnished… It also has a generous balcony surrounded by tropical foliage.
The listing price is $139,900 and you’ll see more details here.
Corozal District, Belize
Listing Price: $119,000
This charming tropical home is the perfect place to entertain guests, or simply unwind. Listing here.
With Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east, Belize is the only official English-speaking country in Central America.
A place rich in colonial history, Belize has an abundance of plant and animal life, including monkeys, snakes and armadillos. It is also the least densely populated country in Central America. The perfect place to relax and unwind on a quiet beach.
This two-bed, two-bath home is in Corozal, Belize’s most northern district, once known only for its sugar industry. Today the region’s economy is more diversified, with a growing tourism industry. It’s easy to see why. There’s plenty to do here, from swimming to exploring the ancient Maya ruins at Santa Rita.
This colorful property consists of two cottages connected by an elevated deck. The construction is wood and the grounds are surrounded by lush vegetation. It also has 300 square feet of outdoor decking, making this an ideal place to entertain guests and there’s room to add a third bedroom. Plus, you’re only a five-minute drive from the beach.
The listing price is $119,900 and you’ll find more details here.
Nonsuch Bay, Antigua
Listing Price: £157,840 ($199,337)
This one-bed, one-bath condo in Antigua is nestled within a luxury resort with a private beach and four swimming pools. Listing here.
Antigua is the largest island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It contains one of the largest deep water, protected harbors in the Eastern Caribbean at English Harbour. Antigua was colonized by the British in the 1600s and only gained full independence in 1981. It remains part of the Commonwealth and English is the country’s official language.
Antigua has 365 beaches so you can explore a new one every day of the year. You can also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nelson’s Dockyard, where yachting and sailing events are held throughout the year.
We found this listing for a one-bed, one-bath condo in the Nonsuch Bay Resort, a luxury private resort consisting of a variety of apartments, villas, and suites. The resort boasts four swimming pools, restaurants, bars, a boat dock, and a private beach, as well as gorgeous, manicured grounds.
This condo comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a large, open-plan living room, and a bathroom with a jacuzzi. You can dine on a private terrace overlooking the grounds and sea.
The listing price is £157,840 ($199,337). Find more information here.
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Listing Price: $388,000
This St. Croix condo offers stunning views of the sea and nearby Buck Island. Listing here.
Purchased by the U.S. from Denmark in 1917, the U.S. Virgin Islands are a popular tourist destination for Americans, who can travel here without a passport. Adding to the convenience of it being English speaking, the U.S. dollar is used here too.
St. Croix is the largest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands. Here you will find rum distilleries and colorful, European-influenced architecture, a relic of the island’s history as part of the Danish West Indies. On the north of the island is Coakley Bay, a place of pristine beaches and calm, warm waters.
We found this two-bed, two-bath condo with unobstructed views of nearby Buck Island from both bedrooms. The property boasts a spacious open-plan living area/kitchen. It gets sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon, perfect for a midday nap. You have access to a pool and go a few paces farther and you’ll reach the sea.
It’s listed for $388,000. Find more details in the listing here.
We’ve found some incredible bargains on islands around the Caribbean, but there’s no doubt that the area is well-known for luxury. So, if you have a few million to spend, you can find something really impressive.
Here’s something from the top end of the market…
Dunmore Town, The Bahamas
Listing Price: $8,400,000
Villa Iridescence offers stunning views both east and west. Listing here.
The Bahamas is one of the world’s premier travel destinations. An archipelago of over 3,000 islands, lying southeast of Florida and north of Cuba, the Bahamas is famed for its turquoise waters and flawless beaches.
You’ll need deep pockets to snap up a prime beach house here. Especially a mansion on beautiful Harbour Island, which lies off the eastern coast of the much larger Eleuthera Island.
Harbour Island is only half a mile wide, runs 3.25 miles north to south, and has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
Cars aren’t needed on the island. Golf carts are the transportation of choice. Rent one for a fun way to explore the island. You can also go horseback riding on nearby Pink Sand Beach.
This stunning six-bed, six-bath property, called Villa Iridescence, is set on an acre of land and has a total of 4,000 square feet of living space. It consists of a main house with four covered patios and two cottages, all accessed via a winding driveway. Orchids and hundreds of other flowering plants and native trees abound in the elevated garden.
Nestled on a ridge, Villa Iridescence’s elevation means you have views of both the sea to the east and the bay to the west.
And the price? A cool $8.4 million.
You can see the full listing here.
Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. If you’re interested in any of these listings you should hire an attorney and do your own due diligence. We haven’t done any due diligence on them.
P.P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Cheap Dream Home Instagram account.
