Start with your preferred location, budget and intended use, then assess ownership rights, acquisition costs and management arrangements with appropriate local advice.
The Business Hub assists with property enquiries and introductions to local professionals who can help assess a proposed purchase.
Choosing a property location
Consider the practical details alongside the view. Access to shops and services, travel to the airport, maintenance arrangements and the character of the surrounding neighbourhood can make a significant difference to daily life.
A development or managed property may offer shared facilities, but those facilities come with contractual terms and continuing costs. Compare service charges, insurance, maintenance responsibilities and any restrictions on personal use or letting.
Legal checks before buying property
Before committing to a purchase, obtain independent advice on title and the seller's authority to transfer the interest being offered. The review should address any non-citizen landholding permission, planning status, existing charges and the terms of the purchase agreement.
Read more Show less
For a new development, examine completion obligations, payment stages and the position if the project is delayed. Establish whether the proposed interest is freehold, leasehold, a company interest or another form of ownership. Land arrangements in Barbuda require particular attention to the applicable legal framework and the specific rights being granted.
Acquisition and ownership costs
Ask your lawyer for a transaction-specific statement covering any non-citizen landholding licence and its fee, stamp duties, registration charges and professional fees.
Read more Show less
Establish which party pays each item and whether a claimed exemption applies to the precise transaction. Ownership costs may include property tax, insurance, maintenance and management or development charges. A future sale may also attract duties or other charges. Include these costs when comparing a property purchase with an alternative investment.
Approved real estate for citizenship by investment
The real estate route under the Citizenship by Investment Programme requires an eligible investment in an approved project. The published minimum is US$300,000, with a normal holding period of at least five years and applicable fees in addition.
Read more Show less
Confirm the specific project's approval and the eligibility of the transaction with the CIU. The 2024 Regulations limit a qualifying property or interest to one resale for use by another CIP applicant, after at least five years from its first use under the programme. The history of the particular interest therefore matters. An attractive property, a development-area designation or a seller's description is not sufficient evidence of programme eligibility.
Managing an investment
If you will be away from the islands, establish who will oversee the property, pay regular charges and respond to maintenance issues. Rental projections should take account of operating expenses, seasonal occupancy and the terms of any management agreement.
Read more Show less
Property values and rental returns are not guaranteed. A purchase should be assessed on its own merits, including the arrangements for an eventual sale.
Planning to live in the property? Explore residence and tax planning and our relocation guide.