Lifestyle

A Beginner’s Guide To Buying An Island

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Your dreams of owning a private island are more attainable than you think. It can be easy to believe you have to extremely wealthy or famous to even think about enjoying a private island somewhere in the tropics, but that is not always the case. Some islands cost as much as a house would. Finding an island for sale is about as simple as a quick Google search. All you need to do is some good research and you can be well on your way to owning your own private island.

Benefits Of Owning A Private Island

There are plenty of reasons why buying your own private island is a good idea. For one, you can truly unplug and get away from the crowds. When going on vacation, you do not want to deal with congestion on the beach or the roads. You do not want to deal with the feeling of being closed in or piled on top of other people because of all those crowds. When you have your own private island, it is exclusively yours and anyone else you decide to invite on that island with you. No more crowds, no more congested beaches. You can finally unplug and take some much needed time to yourself when you go on vacation.

Another benefit of purchasing a private island is you can have the option to construct your dream home. It is a blank canvas just waiting for you to create something new. Depending on where you purchase your island, you may need special permits from the government. Whether you are looking to build a permanent home or you are looking to build a place you can vacation to time and time again, your private island can be a start to building your dreams.

Last but certainly not least, purchasing a private island can be a great investment, especially if you are willing to develop it. Most empty islands have not been touched by anyone, so it may not have plumbing, water irrigation and electrical infrastructure. Once you develop that island, the possibilities are endless as it comes to the types of ways you can get a return on your investment.

Where To Find Islands For Sale

Now that you understand the benefits of purchasing a private island, the next step is to find out where to find islands for sale. You could look online to find private island websites. There you can do your own digging with the ability to filter listings by region, price, development type, island type, lifestyles and acres. If that option is going to take up too much time, you could also opt for hiring a realtor that specializes in private islands. They will be able to do a deeper search as well as access to listings that may not be visible to the public online.

Figuring Out The Cost

Owning your private island does not have to be as expensive as you think, though the reality is a lot of private islands are expensive. With that being said, that is not true for every island. If you are wondering about how much private island costs, the location plays a huge part in the price tag. If you are working with a budget less than $600,000 you will most likely find an island in Canada or the northern United States for that budget number whereas an island in the Caribbean can easily be anywhere between $1 million to $2 million.

To find an affordable private island, go to your favorite private island website and go to the site’s listings. Adjust your advanced search settings so you can filter and sort your listings by price. That can give you a rough estimate of the type of island and its region based on your budget.

Best Places To Buy

Determine what your personal tastes are and the lifestyle you would like to live while on the island. Be honest with yourself and your personality. Here are some of the best places to buy an island. Keep in mind, it all comes down to your personal tastes and what you are looking for when vacationing.

Bahama Islands

These are classic as this landscape is what comes to mind when we think of an island getaway. This is why these islands are such popular places to buy a private island. It is close to the U.S., taxation is low as there are no income tax and it is relatively easy to get to. There are plenty of Bahamas Islands for sale.

Fiji & French Polynesia

These two destinations are most popular among newlyweds because the islands here are breathtaking, with white as snow sand, coral lagoons, and clear blue water. Rightfully so, these islands are on the expensive side because of the islands’ beauty and location. If you wish to purchase an island in either one of these regions, this may take some patience and a thorough search.

Belize & Brazil

Islands in Central America and South America are beautiful and they are less expensive than those islands found in the Caribbean. The islands of Belize are engulfed with dense vegetation, are dispersed as sapphires close to the coast of the continent and are among the second largest coral reef on the planet. Brazil’s islands are enveloped in a dense rain forest with amazing beaches with crisp, white sand. Another perk of having an island in Brazil is its proximity to the mainland.

Thailand & Philippines

These islands in Southeast Asia are the best of both worlds. They are breathtakingly beautiful and are less expensive. The Phillippines has a large number of islands you can choose from and they range in size. Some are really big while others are small. Either way, the prices are very affordable. The same can be said about the islands in Thailand. Thailand islands are a great option for culture and paradise, which makes it a preferred destination for real estate.

Panama

Panama is gradually being developed, especially near the coast of its islands. Some of their beaches are white while others have cinnamon shades. One thing that makes Panama so attractive to the real estate market is because much of it has not been touched by humankind, so the possibilities are endless to what you can do and develop on the island.

Seychelles

Beaches in the Seychelles region are immaculate and beautiful as there are coral lagoons, coconut palms, white sand and clear waters. This region is most photographed in calendars and advertisements in magazines, making it a no-brainer when it comes to owning an island in this area.

Marshall Islands

These islands are the most remote and isolated on the planet. The Marshall Islands are great if you are looking for a place to totally escape from everything and everyone. The sand at the beaches is crisp and white while the waters are crystal clear, revealing coral lagoons beneath. To add to the breathtaking scenery, there is lush greenery with tropical flowers, trees and shrubs.

Choosing Your Island

Now that you have a pretty good idea of the different regions perfect for buying, it is time to pick your island. Consider the weather of the region, which country has jurisdiction on that island, how easy it is to get there, the extent of development, how easy or difficult it will be to develop the island, your ultimate goals with the island and how close to the mainland your island needs to be.

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