SHOULD FOREIGNERS INVEST IN ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN REAL ESTATE?
Have you been thinking about making a big change and buying real estate in the Caribbean?
If this is the case, you should look into investing in a property in St. Maarten/St. Maarten.
This unique island has a Dutch side that makes up part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a French side that is a French overseas collectivity.
Buying a home in St. Maarten or St. Martin allows foreigners to enjoy a European lifestyle and amenities while indulging in all of the beauty and tropical weather that only a Caribbean island can offer.
For more information about foreign investing in St. Maarten/St. Martin property, get in touch with the real estate experts at St. Maarten Investments (SMI).
We have been in the Estate business St. Maarten and St. Martin since 1993, as we are fully licensed to be real estate brokers on both sides of the island.
Our team speaks English, French, Italian, and Dutch.
When you’re ready to invest in real estate in St. Maarten or St. Martin,
contact the well-qualified team at SMI.
ARE FOREIGNERS ALLOWED TO INVEST IN PROPERTY IN ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN?
Yes, foreigners are allowed to invest in property in St. Maarten and in St. Martin.
This is unlike many other Caribbean islands that have restrictions on foreign real estate investors.
The process of purchasing real estate is relatively simple on both sides of the island when working with skilled local professionals. Your real estate broker will be able to guide you to local banks, Mortgage brokers triadlci.com, and a notary public or lawyer.
There are three types of property ownership available when investing in St. Maarten real estate:
fee simple, government long lease, and private long lease.
For more information about the different types of ownership deeds available on the Dutch side, please see our blog post titled, “Can Foreigners Buy Real Estate in St. Maarten?”
When investing in St. Martin properties ( French side) however, there is only one ownership type, fee simple.
It is important to note that while the real estate purchase documents are completed in English on the Dutch side, they are completed in French in St. Martin, but an English translation can be provided upon request.
Overall, foreign investment in St. Maarten and St. Martin are definitely encouraged.
Local notaries or lawyers can help you make the most of your real estate investment by finding applicable tax incentives.
WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN ST. MAARTEN?
In addition to the great weather and beautiful landscape, there are many other benefits associated with investing in St. Maarten real estate.
For starters, although St. Maarten is a more laid-back tropical island, it has one of the busiest international airports in the Caribbean.
Princess Juliana International Airport connects the island to Canada, USA, South America, and Europe. From St. Maarten, it is possible to get a non-stop or one-stop flight to many popular destinations.
For more about the perks of island life in St. Maarten, please check out this blog post.
When investing in St. Maarten real estate, one of the best benefits is paying less taxes.
There are no annual property taxes when investing in St. Maarten real estate.
St. Maarten is an ideal island for a vacation property to earn additional income through short-term rentals.
When using your St. Maarten investment property as a short-term rental, tax breaks are available.
Another benefit of investing in St. Maarten is that because of the higher real estate turnaround (compared to St. Martin),
you are more likely to find the property of your dreams.
Once you’ve purchased real estate in St. Maarten, you can then also apply for your residency permit.
WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN ST. MARTIN?
Although St. Maarten and St. Martin share the same climate, there are other exceptional benefits associated with investing in St. Martin real estate.
If done correctly, an investment in St. Martin property could help you pay less in income taxes.
France has been promoting its overseas territories by offering special tax incentives, and with the right guidance, those investing in St. Martin real estate can take full advantage of these financial benefits.
Essentially, buying a home in St. Martin affords you the same benefits as if you had invested in a property in France, one of them being that you can earn French residency status.
Additionally, the French side of the island is home to some of the island’s most beautiful beaches, including Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, Happy Bay, Anse Marcel and Orient Bay.
You can also find great restaurants, often buzzing with house music and beach club vibes on several St. Martin beaches.
If you enjoy festivals, the annual SXM Festival is held at venues throughout St. Martin.
For international air travel, investors in St. Martin will still need to use Princess Juliana International Airport but for regional air travel, L’Espérance Airport, located in Grand-Case, can be used.
Travel between both sides of the island is easy and there is no border control.
When you invest in St. Martin real estate, you can live in tranquility but take a short drive to the Dutch side to enjoy a wider range of restaurants, casinos, and exciting nightlife.
St. Martin has some of the most exclusive neighborhoods and luxurious villas on the island because of the strict building requirements that prevent overdevelopment.
When investing in St. Martin, you’ll discover that there is more untouched land and nature to enjoy because of this lack of overdevelopment.
ARE YOU READY TO INVEST IN ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN REAL ESTATE?
If you’re ready to take the leap and invest in St. Maarten or St. Martin, don’t hesitate! Investors are recognizing the potential of this unique island and it’s becoming increasingly more popular with digital nomads.
For more information about investing in St. Maarten and St. Martin and to get your real estate search started, contact the SMI team.
With 30 years of experience and an extensive real estate catalog, we can help you invest wisely in St. Maarten and St. Martin. What are you waiting for?
Let the SMI team help you discover the St. Maarten/St. Martin investment property you’ve been dreaming of! Call or email us today! USA 1 631 415 5783 – + 1 721 587 0247