Dart, one of the biggest developers in the Caribbean, has had a busy couple of years in the Cayman Islands, buying up land, beachfront, roads, hotels and restaurants on Grand Cayman. Now they have turned their attention on to the Sister Islands.
Most recently a large piece of forestland on the Little Cayman was bought back in March. Whereas on Grand Cayman the idea was to develop, the idea for Little Cayman is to preserve – for now.
The new purchase on Little Cayman will be held undeveloped for conservation with the possibility of creating a public hiking trail.
Previously Dart has bought hundreds of thousands of acres in remote areas around the globe for conservation, in Patagonia, Australia, New Zealand, U.S., Mexico, Jamaica, Canada and now Little Cayman. (more…)
Robert McCrimmon
July 15, 2016
BlogDart, Little Cayman
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Ocala Florida is conveniently located in the middle of three massive cosmopolitans, Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando. Ocala being so central you have access to State freeways, worldwide airports, shipping ports, attractions and resulting commerce.
The ease at which you can access recreational and leisure destinations make Ocala ideal for investment. Ocala has many tourist friendly parks and preserves, and the nearby coastlines give ample beach space.
Florida is known globally as the Sunshine State. The beautiful sunny skies and clean country air make cities like Ocala prime stops for retirees and vistors alike.
Today’s extremely affordable rates are a magnetic force drawing investor funds to Ocala and Marion County. Properties with the prospect of getting fantastic revenue are in great abundance throughout Ocala. (more…)
crownworld
June 8, 2016
BlogFlorida, investment, Ocala, USA
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Dart Group continued with there busy year and confirm it will buy Paradise Villas resort and Hungry Iguana restaurant on Little Cayman.
This will be Dart’s first project on the Sister Islands, and they have reassured people that it will keep in the style of the island.
“We share the widely held view that Little Cayman’s charm comes from its quaintness and unspoiled nature. We intend to help preserve that character for this and future generations,” said Mark VanDevelde, chief executive officer of Dart Realty.
Paradise Villas is the only 100% Oceanfront Resort on Little Cayman, and a popular accommodation spot for dive tourists exploring the islands Bloody Bay Marine Park. The villas are also part of TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame for obtaining Certificate of Excellence for 5 years in a row.
The Hungry Iguana bar and restaurant is one of only a few nightsports on the island and serves as a de facto airport departure and arrival lounge. The ‘Iggy’ also has the only true waterfront dining on the Island. (more…)
Robert McCrimmon
June 8, 2016
BlogDart Reality, Hungry Iguana, Little Cayman, Paradise Villas, Redevelopment
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The West Ocala Community Redevelopment Area will see $60 million pumped into the area over the next 30 years. The program will bring upgrades and aesthetic improvements that the area has needed for decades.
“I believe that the West Ocala is long overdue, and although it will be slow moving in the beginning, it will allow the compounding of dollars to help towards future projects,” Ocala City Council President Jim Hilty wrote in an email.
Over the next three decades the funds will be aimed at projects including beautification of the State Road 40, Pine Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, State Road 200 and U.S. 27 gateway corridors through West Ocala; upgrades in the historical section; and more housing development in the formerly blighted Busbee Quarters area now known as Phoenix Heights.
These redevelopments come at a good time for Ocala, with house prices finally starting to increase. According to the latest report from Ocala/Marion County Association of Realtors, there has been a 15.6 percent boost on the price of an average single-family home from the previous year.
Moving forward, the city is feeling very positive and hopeful about the proposed changes and improvements. Efforts will be made to reach out to the current residents of the area for their insight and input in order to make Busbee Quarters as great as possible. Nothing but positive change is anticipated for West Ocala.
CrownWorld offer an opportunity to purchase building plots which have full and irrevocable planning permission for residential family homes to be developed on a secure gated subdivision in Ocala. Buyers can confidently take advantage of the upturn in the US real estate market as prices begin to rise but yet still invest in the precious commodity of land. For more information please go to our contact page or email info@crownworld.com and leave your details.
crownworld
May 25, 2016
BlogFlorida, Marion County, Ocala, Redevelopment
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The Cayman Islands tourism department is seeking a 5-year plan that will help relieve the key attraction, Seven Mile Beach, and spread growing visitor numbers across Grand Cayman.
George Town has dramatically changed over the past three decades, and Seven Mile Beach is loosing its appeal as more and more people come to the island and overcrowd the iconic beach.
The strategy over the past couple years has been to focus on visitor growth. Now that the 300,000 targets has been met and surpassed that focus now shifts to managing that growth in a sustainable way.
“It is not just about numbers anymore. It is also our ability to handle that volume.” Said Director of Tourism Rosa Harris. “Developers will have their ideas for what they want to do, but we need our own vision for the type of development we want to encourage.” (more…)
Jason Pickthall
May 19, 2016
BlogCayman, Grand Cayman, Seven Mile Beach, tourism
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A limited liability company arrangement has been approved by lawmakers as a new type of business vehicle for the local financial services industry in the Cayman Islands.
The bill will make Cayman the first Caribbean overseas territory to implement a limited liability company, or LLC, arrangement.
“It is certainly a very exciting development for the financial services industry,” Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton told Legislative Assembly. “In five years, this legislation … will be viewed as an iconic product in the Cayman Islands.”
The Limited Liability Companies Law will “complement,” not replace, existing Cayman Islands business vehicles, he said. The designation allows the LLC firm to use the quicker, “more flexible” accounting rules of a partnership but provide a legal designation of an entity as a corporation. It is essentially a mix of Cayman’s current rules for an exempted company and an exempted limited partnership. (more…)
Robert McCrimmon
May 17, 2016
Blogbusiness, Cayman Islands, Finance
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Cayman islands attract high-quality clientele through having a sophisticated and robust financial services industry at the heart of its economy. The result of this is that other business can flourish from its strong foundation.
By not solely relying on the tourism industry, like many Caribbean islands, the diversification and strengthening of the economy lead to a much more sustainable future.
Amidst increased consumer and investor confidence Cayman Islands property market is now gaining momentum. Property transactions are picking up and residential property construction is improving considerably.
The number of single-family home sales has increased from US$18,308,833.16 to US$44,910,332.77, which is a 30 percent increase. This represents a 145 percent increase of the value of these properties sold. (more…)
Robert McCrimmon
April 29, 2016
BlogCayman, economy, property, real estate
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The ultra-luxury sector of the residential market is really starting to establish itself and confirms that international investors are seeing real value in Cayman real estate product.
There has been remarkable recent activity in the $3 million and higher market in high-end residential homes.
The market in this case appears to be made up of both local buyers and those from overseas looking to have their own space while they live here, either temporarily for a few months of the year, or permanently.
During the last nine months, the market has been extremely buoyant. The buyer’s market of the last few years is giving way to a seller’s.
Growth is centred along Seven Mile Beach for condominiums, and Cayman Kai, on the island’s north, for single-family homes. (more…)
Jason Pickthall
April 21, 2016
BlogCaribbean, Cayman Islands, Cayman Kai, financial services, global transparency, international investors, M&A market, market, property market, real estate, residential, Seven Mile Beach, ultra luxury
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In 2010, during the height of the global recession, the volume of Cayman’s property transfers dropped to $300 million, six years on it is safe to say that Cayman has recovered. In the past year Cayman has seen property transfers grow 11 percent to a total volume of CI$600 million, beating 2008s high of $560 million.
Tourists numbers and spends have also been on the increase with cruise ship tourists spending approximately $100 per day. A total of 1.7 million arrived on the island, up from 1.6 million the previous year, but still short of the record 1.9 million in 2006.
People flying into Cayman hit a 15 year high as air arrivals topped out at 385,378 during 2015. More than 80 percent of arrivals came form the United States or Canada, 9 percent from Europe and the rest traveled from elsewhere.
There’s also plenty of public and private money being spent across the island, with renovations to the cruise port in the early stages and upgrades to the airport currently underway. Health City is expanding medical tourism, and has announced a $25 million capital investment program this year. Cayman Enterprise City is scheduled to start work on two $25 million gateway buildings, kicking off a 20 year, $300 million project to build a Special Economic Zone. (more…)
Robert McCrimmon
March 15, 2016
BlogBarefoot Beach, Beach Bay, Cayman, Cayman Enterprise City, Dart, economy, Frank Sound, Health City, Ironwood, land sales, property, Special Economic Zone, tourist
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A Dart Realty affiliate will pay the Cayman Government US$14,574,000 for the conversion of leasehold to freehold on the 280-acre former North Sound Golf Course.
As it stands the land is subject to a 99-year-lease that has 75 years left. Negotiations of the freehold transfer began in 2011 with both the government and Dart Realty having appraisals done on the value of converting the land from leasehold to freehold.
Conversion of the lease will have to be finalised in accordance with the requirements of the Governor (Vesting of Lands) Law, but the deal has been done in principal.
This is the latest of a number of Dart Realty projects. Last Wednesday (January 27 2016) Dart Realty Ltd. celebrated the official opening of its new Camana Bay LEED® Gold certified 86,000 square foot office building.
The building at 18 Forum Lane will minimise energy use through their shade-on-shade design, rooftop solar panels and thoughtfully designed landscaping to offer ample shade. (more…)
Robert McCrimmon
February 2, 2016
BlogCamana Bay, Cayman Government, Dart Realty, freehold, Grand Cayman, Kimpton, Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, leasehold, LEED Gold certified, luxury residence, North Sound Golf Course, Seven Mile Beach
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