According to Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, 2018 was another healthy year for luxury residential real estate sales with the company’s list price averaging $1.55 million and sales prices averaging $1.4 million.
“Overall, 2018 was a strong year for sales with a slight increase over the 2017 performance,” said Lana Rademaker, Chief Brokerage Officer for the company, noting that there has been a significant increase in demand for homes in the Family Islands. “Markets like Hope Town, Harbour Island, Kamalame Cay, Treasure Cay and Spanish Wells are ideal entry markets into The Bahamas. People come down for holidays and end up returning as buyers.”
Rademaker added that the uptick in visitors and buyers in both Nassau and the Family Island markets can be partially credited to the increased number of direct flights into these markets from the U.S. and Canada. Major carriers such as American Airlines, Air Canada, JetBlue and Delta offer daily flights to The Bahamas and recently announced direct flights from Chicago and Houston to Nassau will offer even more opportunities for easy access to The Bahamas.
“The enviable lifestyle of The Bahamas has always been a major attractor to buyers in addition to the fact that we’re an English-speaking country with a stable economy,” Rademaker said. “And now with even more direct flights to our islands, people are able to get here more conveniently and frequently, making our country a strong choice for those who want to own a vacation home just one flight away.”
Another factor is the growing demand for unique resort-style residential properties such as those found on Kamalame Cay, which is about a 20-minute flight from Nassau.
“We are constantly striving to stay ahead of market trends and seek out distinctive opportunities for our clients,” Rademaker said. “I am proud to announce that one of our top agents, Vanessa Ansell, participated in seven transactions on Kamalame Cay this past year, making it one of the most active periods in the history of the luxury resort. Through her strategic marketing and carefully cultivated relationships, Vanessa has positioned herself as the go-to real estate advisor for Kamalame Cay.”
To further accommodate and more fully service this ever-increasing market activity, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty expanded their sales team with the addition of two new agents in 2018. In December, the company also opened a new office location on Harbour Island next to the popular Piggly Wiggly food store on King Street, the island’s main thoroughfare.
“Nurturing ongoing client relationships is our number one priority as a company,” Rademaker said. “The more visible we are in the markets we serve, and the more knowledgeable our agents are, the more value we can provide to people whether they are current, past or future clients.”
The company’s ongoing mission to continually seek out ways to better serve their clients was further augmented when the firm hosted a four-day NINJA Selling Conference for their entire company at the Grand Hyatt Convention Center at the Baha Mar Resort in October 2018.
“The conference was an incredible experience,” Rademaker said. “Our entire company gathered together for four days to focus on expanding our knowledge and skills as real estate professionals. Designed to help agents capitalize on their strengths, conquer their goals and transform their business, the content of the NINJA Selling Conference aligned perfectly with our company’s culture.”
New developments like BahaMar, GoldWynn, the Pointe and the soon-to-be redeveloped Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island are also providing exciting new opportunities for buyers in the country’s capital.
“The great thing about The Bahamas is that we’re constantly growing and progressing as a country,” Rademaker said. “There is always new and fresh inventory to explore, which makes it a very exciting market to live in, work in and invest in.”
About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 10 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, Albany and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2305 or info @SIRbahamas.com.
About Sotheby’s International Realty
The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 970 offices in 72 countries and territories worldwide. Each office is independently owned and operated.
