Roatan

-Honduras Shark Sanctuary
Approximately 73 million sharks are killed each year, mainly for ‘shark fin soup’, a delicacy in many Asian countries. Honduras has joined other countries making their waters into a permanent shark sanctuary. This is good news for more than just the sharks.

See it here on ‘YouTube’- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-mFBjKk31Q

Labels: Caribbean Islands, coral reefs, Honduras, roatan diving

For any that are interested the first ever copy of the Roatan E-Zine from Re/Max is now online.

Pay it a visit and pick your dream.

http://issuu.com/larrys32/docs/re_max_bay_islands_e-zine?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222

Labels: Caribbean Islands, offshore investments, Roatan/Retirement/Caribbean

In the past two months Roatan Bay Islands has really hit the radar screens of various publications.

Kiplingers.com has mentioned in as on of the 'Top Eight Places in the World' to retire

'Islands Magazine' has named Roatan as the 'Number One Island in the World' to retire on

And 'Ocean Home Magazine' has named 'Keyhole Bay' a great development here on Roatan as one of the 'Top 20 Developments in the World'.

If you are looking for that location that beats to a different drummer, democratic country, mostly English speaking, cool ocean breezes, white sand beaches and aqua waters you really should look into Roatan.

Labels: Caribbean Islands, Roatan Bay Islands Honduras, Roatan Honduras - retirement real estate

-Your “New” Real Estate Company on Roatan

As life does, it changes. This past month it changed for all of us at our real estate company. Roatan Real Estate has acquired the REMAX Franchise for the Bay Islands, which consolidates and combines the two companies. This is BIG NEWS for all of us and are very excited about the possibilities ahead. We will be combining the sales staffs of both REMAX and ‘Roatan Real Estate’ with myself and Janine Goben acting as the managing Brokers. We are now the largest and most experienced real estate brokerage in the entire country.

With the REMAX brand and almost 200 listings we will be able to fulfill the needs of every client interested in buying or selling property on the island. Add that to the MLS of the island and we are here for you!

For those of you who are familiar with the island the present REMAX location has closed in French Harbor and we have incorporated the REMAX name at our new REMAX company at the present ‘Roatan Real Estate’ location in Jackson Plaza in Mt. Pleasant, right next to HSBC Bank.

Please visit us when you are on the island at Jackson Plaza.

Labels: Caribbean Islands, International Golf Destinations, Roatan Cruise ships, Roatan Honduras, Roatan Honduras - retirement real estate

Avid Golfers this is a place you need to visit. A Pete Dye Design course with aqua blue Caribbean waters visible from 12 of 18 holes! Spectacular rolling hills with a TPC like island hole.

Nine holes of the Pete Dye design “Black Pearl” golf course are now open with completion of the course scheduled before the end of this summer. People now are able to play 18 teeing off from two different tees at each hole.

I believe at completion you will be able to view the ocean from eleven of the holes. This rolling hills, aqua views course will be one of the finest in the Caribbean.

The completion of several of the “Casita/Condos” should be within the next 30 to 45 days and this development
called “Pristine Bay” will be one spectacular operation.

I have three links on our site devoted to this operation and if this is an operation that interests you, you certainly should be on your list on “must sees” on your next visit-

The home sites are here- http://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing.php?id=421

Casita/Condos here- http://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing.php?id=420

The Marina Villas on this link- http://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing.php?id=584

Labels: Caribbean Islands, Caribbean Vacations, Real Estate Investment, Roatan Honduras, Roatan Honduras Golf Black Pearl Pete Dye Course

-Timing is Everything!
Last summer I announced that Roatan Real Estate would start a new program,
the “Discovery Investment Tour”. These are a great option for people who
wonder if this island is the right place for them. People who are
considering a vacation home, or maybe a retirement residence or maybe just
for an investment. These tours are a very positive way for you to spend a
great week on a tropical island, be part of a group of people who are also
wondering if this is the place for them and have a complete package of
information and qualified experts to answer any question you may have. This
type of tour has experts from all venues; an Attorney, Title Insurance
Personnel, Ex-Pats who have made the move before you, an Accountant, and
others. No pressure, no stress, just a great time on a tropical island for
you to get every question answered.

Well as luck would have it, we scheduled one soon after the economic trauma
worldwide. Obviously not much we could do with that one except maybe plan
another. We did and wham, political events. We canceled. Well now it is time
to plan ahead. They say third time is the charm. February 22, 2009 is the
date we have set for the next one. It basically is the perfect time of the
year for this. Winter is brutal north of the Mason/Dixon line, the holidays
are over, it is absolutely gorgeous here. Add in that Valentines Day is the
week before and we are set for the PERFECT time of the year for this.

We basically arrange everything for you on this end except the flight. You
will have complete freedom to enjoy and learn. Go here for an overview of
the tour - http://roatan-realestate.com/roatan-investment-tours.php If
you have questions feel free to contact us at realty-inquiries@roatan-realestate.com Plan ahead folks, this is the perfect trip at the perfect time of year. What is the worst case scenario a great week on a tropical island basking in the sun and getting away from the winter? Sounds pretty good to my. How about you?

Labels: Caribbean Islands, Honduras, Real Estate Investment, retirement Homes, Roatan, Roatan/Retirement/Caribbean, Tropical Caribbean - Roatan Bay Islands

Real Estate Overview
An Overview is always a tough thing to do especially in the economic and political times we are in. The market certainly has changed here. There is far more of a Buyer’s market than in several years and there are a fair amount of very good deals floating around. My experience year to date is that there seems to be more Buyer’s interested in homes versus condos and home sites than previous years and budgets are tighter meaning that the lower end of the market
seems to be where most of the closings are. Being a cash market for the most part we really have no foreclosure or short sales, though there are some motivated sellers.

Pristine Bay/Black Pearl, the new Pete Dye design golf course community seems to be all but unaffected by anything that happens in the world and continues to move forward in their progress. Their new island hole is all but completed and there are people already doing some practice drives on the driving range.
Take a look here fro some updated photos just days old. The pre-construction stage of the new marina villas are impressive and value priced. Dye Designs are the top golf designer in the world with almost 300 courses. Pete Dye is one of only four designers in the world to be in the World Gold Hall of Fame. One very impressive place they are building here-
http://roatan-realestate.com/listing.php?id=418

Overall at this point in time I believe the market is stable. There is no doubt that overall prices have decreased, people are more motivated to take offers that would not have been considered a year or two ago and if you are looking this is the best time in several years to look and invest at Roatan. It seems that the “pundits” are saying that the economy is turning around worldwide. Prices low, value high.

Labels: Baby Boomer Investment South of the Border, Caribbean Islands, Honduras, Investment Alternatives. More fun than a monthly statement., Pristine Bay and the Pete Dye Black Pearl Gold Course

Starting at only $348,000 for a top of the line Condo on the Golf Course!

"Black Pearl" the Pete Dye Design Golf Course under construction on the island has released it's Marian Villas Condos Phase for sale.

These units will have views of the Marina/Golf Course and are both value priced and professionally managed by a top of the line rental management company, ( http://www.lancaster.com/properties.htm ). Rental income projections available upon request.
http://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing.php?id=584

This has all the pieces of the puzzle for Investment, retirement, income and price. Pre-construction pricing.

New and updated complete Development PDF available upon request. (large file).

larry-schl@roatan-realestate.com

Labels: Baby Boomer Investment South, Caribbean Islands, Roatan Honduras Golf Black Pearl Pete Dye Course

The following is a recap of a political forum put on by a group called "Island Friends" as detailed by it's President Judith Alred regarding one political parties take on the island and it's plans for the future.

ISLAND FRIENDS FORUM JANUARY 2009
At last week‚s Island Friend's Forum, National Party candidates Julio
Galindo (Mayor) and Romeo Silvestri, (Congressman) surprised us by
addressing issues known to be serious problems. In the USA, we have become
accustomed to hearing platitudes and wrangling over inconsequential issues.
Their frustrations were evident as they described the problems they see on
Roatan they say haven't been addressed, „Because, Julio and Romeo said,
Of the present administration's "Don't care" attitude. Romeo spoke of tourism being the number one business on the island and how it needs to be dealt with as such. The first imperative, they said, is the establishment of a government with authority and a plan, so as not to live
with arbitrary decision making. They described Zolitur as a work in
progress, but which needs funding money for its effective administration.
„By December this year we should have two cruises ship docks functioning,
bringing thousands of visitors each month, and we're not ready,‰ Romeo
said. „No planning for water, traffic control, personnel training, and not
one item to sell made on the island.‰ They mentioned problems with children
on the streets and the collapse of the school system with teachers who are
required to teach 200 days, not even in the classroom for 100 days.
Julio said that American Airlines has been considering a Miami-Roatan route
but are unable to come because of the unacceptable conditions at our
government hospital. „We need an urgent-care and fully equipped facility
with at least 75 beds, as required by American Airlines.

Jobs and education are the answers to crime, they advocated. Julio said,
We know where the stolen goods are sold, we know where the drugs are being
sold, we see the young children on the streets, yet nothing is done about
it. He told of many of the same thieves, caught over and over, brought
into the jail and released the next day. He spoke of the extreme poverty in
some areas, something not seen by him until more recently. The dumps could
be alleviated since we produce enough garbage combined with La Ceiba's
garbage to be sold to El Salvador, Julio said.

They explained that the purpose of the Zolitur census was to first register
native born Bay Islanders as well as permanent residents - those who can
document five years as a legal resident. Once these carnets are issued,
there will be a method to limit the number of non-residents employed
locally. Employers will be required to hire documented persons thus
providing a means to insure that persons earning income here are also
contributing to their local community. The need for job training was also
discussed and it was estimated that the current unemployment rate stands at
about 40% on Roatan. Julio told many stories of what he described as waste, neglect,
indifference, and corruption. He said over and over, „This has to change
for the island to become stable and to flourish.‰ He also stated that the
municipal government now receives around Lps.93 million per year. With
these funds and with the potential funding of Pepe Lobo‚s (presidential
candidate) help, Julio said that he could begin to accomplish the changes
needed. This came after stressing the need for a 20 year master plan;
something they insist will be the basis of their administration and can be
used as a model and guide for future administrations.
Both candidates spoke of their desire to form an advisory board consisting
of ex-pat residents in order to tap the underutilized talent here on
Roatan. As Julio described, „There are many with talents and expertise such
as engineers, community planners, environmental experts, computer gurus,
social workers, and medically trained persons that are presently being
overlooked.‰ They spoke of a paradox; foreign investment was welcomed, yet
outside knowledge is turned away.

During the discussion, they stated that tourism is currently the economic
engine of the island and with the present administration there has been no
accountability in solving the island‚s problems. „We must have
accountability, Julio and Romeo said. Both candidates say we must have
leaders who have a vested interest in solving problems, because otherwise
why would they be seeking office. Both of these men are in the tourism
business, and this, they stated is what motivates them to work toward the
best interests for the island economy and its people. Most importantly, tourism must be planned and protected, as well as promoted. They feel their vested interest in tourism is also in the best interest of the island. They said, „This makes us ideal for the job of
mayor of Roatan Municipality and Bay Islands congressman lobbying for local
interests at the national government level in Tegucigalpa.

During my introduction, I stated that the purpose of the Island Friends
Forums is the encouragement of thinking together. Island Friends does not
endorse political parties or candidates. We believe that open forums are an
opportunity to inform and enter into discussions, sharing information with
those who want to learn more about island doings, connecting the
communities together, and help those who want to take action.
Tuesday, February 10th Forum ˆ Liberal Party candidates Dale Jackson
(Mayor) and Dorn Ebanks (Congressman) ˆ at Plaza Mar Restaurant.
Sincerely,
Judith Allred
www.islandfriendsroatan.com

Labels: Caribbean Islands, Roatan Honduras