Come and visit our home in Montserrat
The following is a series of questions from a person in Montreal -- and my answers. With his permission I am sharing. My answers are in caps...no I was not yelling -- it was a text only message, and with a 90 degree temp., I am too hot to rewrite.
Hello Anne-Marie,
Thank you for replying so rapidly.
I have read your blog and this feel reassuring. I have been looking for a Caribbean villa for a little while and it is very difficult to get the real answers. Your blog has answered most of my concerns.
My idea of rental is only because I will not be retired for another 10 years. So it would make sense to rent it as a luxury villa, if possible. My idea was to offer the villa with cook, maid etc. One of the problem, while being far away, is to find someone on the island to manage it... Not easy task. Perhaps you have some suggestions about if this is a good idea or not.
MAID COMES AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE VILLA. USUALLY 2 OR 3 DAYS BUT THAT'S UP TO TENANT AND THEY PAY EXTRA FOR ADDITIONAL DAYS. WHEN WE DID RENTAL (FULL TIME - WE WENT OFF ISLAND FOR A FEW YEARS), WE USED AN AGENT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. I THINK WHEN YOU COME AND MAKE FRIENDS, IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER. THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE MANAGING OUR RENTAL ARE LONG-TIME MONTSERRAT RESIDENTS, HAVE THEIR OWN CLIENTELE AND ARE EXTREMELY GOOD.
You are right when you mention on your blog that Monserrat doesn't even appear when we make a research about caribbean island. I guess it is a blessing since the properties are better priced... For now...!!!
YES, PROPERTY PRICES ARE VERY LOW COMPARED TO SIMILAR PROPERTIES ON OTHER ISLANDS. THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE OF OUR VOLCANO (WHICH REALLY EXISTS IN THE BACKGROUND OF OUR LIFE - NOT MUCH BOTHER MOST OF THE TIME) AND THE MISINFORMATION THE MEDIA PUT OUT ABOUT MONTSERRAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE ISLAND HAS BEEN TOTALLY EVACUATED -- NOT TRUE, NEVER WAS. THIS MEANS THAT IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL INCOME YOU ALSO HAVE POTENTIAL FOR CAPITAL GAINS.
When you mention that the property is worth 495K, does it mean that you will not depart of it under that price?
NO. MY HUSBAND HAS A MEDICAL SITUATION THAT REQUIRES US TO BE CLOSER TO CERTAIN FACILITIES. WE ARE MOTIVATED SELLERS. THE AUCTION SEEMS LIKE A GOOD OPTION, HOWEVER, UNTIL A FIRST BID IS PLACED BY A QUALIFIED BIDDER, WE CAN CONSIDER AND NEGOTIATE AN OFFER.
I am very happy to hear about the security of the island. This is a must.
FORGOT TO MENTION THAT OUR GATE IS WIRED FOR AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GATE-OPENER. WE HAD 3 DOGS AND WE TRIED TO KEEP THEM ON THE PROPERTY.
One other thing, is there a tennis court available close to the villa?
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE - ABOUT 5 MIN - NEAR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL AND THERE USED TO BE ONE BY THE BEACH - I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS OPERATIONAL OR NOT.
I lived on the beach in Cancun when a hurricane came and that was very scary. How do you manage to control your fear when a hurricane come? Do you go in a shelter? 2005 was crazy and they predict that 2006 could be harder.
WE WENT THROUGH HURRICANE HUGO IN THIS HOUSE. THE DOWNSTAIRS (BEDROOM, BATH, STUDIO) IS BUILT LIKE A HURRICANE SHELTER WITH THE CONCERETE WALLS, LARGE BARN DOORS AND A CONCRETE SLAB CEILING (FLOOR TO MASTER BEDROOM SUITE ABOVE). WE WERE TOTALLY SAFE, MUCH BETTER THAN MOST SHELTER WITH THE WOOD ROOFS THAT FLY AWAY. YOU JUST LOAD UP ON WATER, CANNED FOOD AND ---TOILET PAPER. ACTUALLY, IT WAS AWESOME: WITHIN 48 HOURS THE ROADS WERE CLEARED AND WE COULD ACCESS FOOD. MANY PEOPLE CAME TO USE OUR POOL FOR BATHING AND WE EVENTUALLY USED IT TO DO LAUNDRY. ALSO WE ARE 500' SO NO FEAR OF FLOODS, SURGES OR OTHER NASTY THINGS.
Do you feel your house could sustain a class 5 hurricane?
YEP, THAT'S WHAT HUGO WAS AND WE HAD A DIRECT HIT. MAYBE YOU CAN STILL FIND SOME INFO ABOUT IT ONLINE. IT WAS QUITE TRAUMATIC, BUT A MEDICAL TEAM CAME IN FROM GUADELOUPE AND WE ALL MANAGED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAD NO LOOTING AT ALL.
What is the "bugs" situations? lot's of mosquitoes? Is it very humid?
NO. MOSQUITOS GROW IN STAGNANT WATER AND EVERYONE IS CAREFUL ABOUT POTTED PLANTS, ETC. THE HOUSE IS COMPLETELY SCREENED SO BUGS ARE NOT AN ISSUE.
How about the cost of living? food, etc?
I GUESS THAT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE. THERE IS LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DEPENDING ON SEASON AND A BOAT BRINGS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM DOMINICA WEEKLY. THERE ARE SEVERAL SUPERMARKETS (TINY ONES BY UP-NORTH STANDARDS) THAT BRING IN MEAT, VEGETABLES, ETC. FROM THE USA. BUT DON'T EXPECT THE KIND OF SHOPPING YOU FIND UP-NORTH. MOST OF US BRING NECESSARY SUPPLIES WITH US - FOR EXAMPLE I BRING DOWN MY PC EXPRESSO AND DECAF EXPRESSO COFFEE AND A FEW OTHER THINGS I USE AND THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE HERE. PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD IT GO SHOPPING IN ANTIGUA ONCE A MONTH OR SO. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT DIFFICULT - GET TOGETHER WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND CHARTER THERE AND BACK.
You mentionned that you have clear spring water. Does it come only by gravity or you have a pump?
IT'S PART OF THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PUMPED OR NOT, BUT I WOULD THINK SO. THERE ARE SPRINGS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THEY FILL THE WATER TANKS.
You mentionned a long term rental that generates 32K. Is that an estimate or you have people ready to rent it?
READY TO RENT AND THEY PAY UTILTIES.
Are the revenues taxed in Montserrat?
YES AND NO ...DEPENDS ON HOW YOU ARRANGE IT. BUT OF COURSE YOU WOULD DEDUCT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS AGAINST ANY REVENUE ON YOUR OWN TAX RETURN (INCLUDING THE TAXES), SUCH AS DEPRECIATION, ETC.
DID I MENTION SOMEWHERE THAT OUR POPERTY TAXES ARE ABOUT US$250 / YEAR???
So many questions... Thank you for your time... Denis
NO PROBLEM, DENIS. IT'S A PLEASURE. MONTSERRAT IS NOT CANCUN (I WAS THERE IN 1963) BUT THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. IF YOU HAVE AN ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT YOU WILL LOVE IT. IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE, BUT EVERY DAY WHEN I WAKE UP TO A VIEW OF THE BLUE CARIBBEAN, I KNOW IT'S VERY MUCH WORTH IT.
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Montserrat, Caribbean
