Pearl of the Caribbean: a Retirement Paradise
Enjoying in excess of 340 days of sunshine a year and with temperatures only fluctuating by about 4ºC during the entire year, the Caribbean island gem of Isla Margarita is considered a paradise by all those who visit and all those lucky enough to reside on the island. Located off the northern shores of Venezuela, outside the hurricane belt and well within the Caribbean’s inimitably desirable waters, this once lesser-known tropical island is rapidly becoming a tax-free tourism and retirement hotspot with Britons, Northern Europeans and Americans.
Now directly accessible from the UK, Britons in particular are warming to the charms of Isla Margarita as it represents the complete antidote to all that is wrong with Great Britain! With a healthy economy bolstered by rapidly advancing tourism, with western amenities, advanced infrastructure, stunning white sandy beaches and a tantalising tropical landscape, Isla Margarita truly represents a paradise-like setting for those in search of a home away from home abroad.
As a less well-known and therefore less developed Caribbean destination, Isla Margarita has emerging market status, meaning that it offers an affordable entry point for those looking for Caribbean property – and there are many other incentives in place currently to invite, encourage and entice strong levels of investment commitment as well. For example, anyone thinking about moving to live on Isla Margarita will quickly learn of its tax and duty free environment, of its transparent property ownership laws, the ease of immigration and the far lower costs of day-to-day living on the island compared to those in the US, UK and the rest of the Caribbean.
Unlike other South and Central American nations, the authorities on Isla Margarita want to make it as open and welcome a country as they can for overseas retirees for example. You can contrast this with Panama which has recently placed much stricter restrictions on those who want to own a home in the nation and benefit from its tax efficient and affluent economy. Where once one could buy an affordable home in Panama and obtain residency status with proof of only a low monthly income, nowadays there is a high minimum property price imposed upon foreign buyers who also have to prove a far stronger source of foreign generated monthly income before they will be granted residency status.
According to Mark Andrew, MD of Emerging Earth, experts on all aspects of buying a property and relocating to Isla Margarita: “It’s absolutely in the island’s best interests to attract growing numbers of Western citizens. These people raise awareness of the island internationally, they encourage greater investment and they are genuinely made to feel welcome. Because the prices for everything from property to food, from medical care to furniture are so much more affordable on the island too, this, together with Isla Margarita’s tax-free status, is leading more and more Britons in particular to establish a new home on the island. As the British economic climate becomes as miserable as its actual climate, so more Britons are looking for a haven where the weather is as glorious as the lifestyle – and for such individuals, the now easily accessible island of Isla Margarita makes perfect sense.”
Whether you’re ready to retire or you’re looking for a bolt hole in the sun, you’re after a secure investment choice or somewhere you can call home, there are five star, fabulous residential communities being developed on the island which you can retire to, live in, profit from or simply sit on until you’re ready to relocate to paradise! One such community is the Caracola Beach and Spa Resort. Situated on the beach on the outskirts of the island’s main city, the resort comprises of a variety of apartments and duplexes with stunning views of the beautiful Caribbean ocean, and the resort development boasts excellent facilities such as restaurants, bars, swimming pools, chill-out areas, a spa, gymnasium, beauty salon, high end retail outlets and beautifully landscaped gardens. All apartments are 1 or 2 bedroom and have air conditioning, are spacious with large terraces,come fully furnished and with a guaranteed rental return of 7% pa net for 10 years for those who want to purchase a property as an investment. An investment purchase is also SIPP qualifying and offers tax efficient freehold ownership options. Prices start from just €79,000/ £63,000, and for more information please contact Emerging Earth on 0845 604 1208 or visit www.EmergingEarth.com.