NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In today’s economic climate, the media has put a lot of focus on short sales. While the foreclosure process is a fairly well understood practice, the short sale process is not and people are left wondering what they are, said Rachel Pinder, principle broker at Island Living Real Estate.

According to realtor.org, a short sale is when a lender agrees to accept a mortgage payoff amount that is less than what is owed to facilitate a sale of the property by a financially distressed owner. The lender forgives the remaining balance of the loan.

“Short sales can be a very big hassle, but the up side is getting a property for a substantial discount,” said Pinder, who specializes in Bahamas beach rentals and Bahamas relocation. “However, the process should not be taken on alone. Buyers will need the assistance of an experienced agent who has a good track record with short sales.”

For buyers looking to purchase a second or third property, a short sale may be the perfect match, said the villa rental professional. This type of buyer typically has no move-in deadline, which is best when dealing with short sales, as the process can take anywhere from three to 12 months to close.

(more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Inevitably, when people visit the Islands of The Bahamas, they have such a wonderful time in our sub-tropical climate conditions, they do not want to leave, said Rachel Pinder principle broker at Island Living Real Estate, which specializes in Bahamas relocation.

“As soon as they return home, they start planning their next trip and can only dream about living here someday,” said Pinder. “The fortunate ones, or the people close to retirement, start thinking about how they can own a piece of paradise. But for others it’s just a dream, at least they think it is.”

Buying a home in another country isn’t out of reach for people who understand the process, said the condo rentals expert.
(more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Imagine spending the holidays surrounded by sparkling blue water and powder white sand. A place where ‘snow day’ is a foreign term because in this subtropical climate the temperature never drops below 65 in the winter.

Now imagine owning a little piece of this magical place. It’s possible, says Rachel Pinder, principle broker at Island Living Real Estate, because this place is the Bahamas.

“If you are thinking about buying a second home, you are not alone,” said Pinder, who specializes in Bahamas rentals and real estate for sale. “The main reason for second home ownership and even seasonal migration, is physical comfort – escape from winter’s cold and summer’s heat. And the Bahamas is the perfect place for that. In terms of second homes, the Bahamas offers unparalleled accessibility and luxury than many neighboring islands.”

(more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – With a large number of investment properties available today, many people find themselves wondering where to begin. For those investors looking for opportunities outside their area, state or even country, now is the time to truly understand how a professional real estate agent can help you.

Rachel Pinder, principle broker at Island Living Real Estate, a Nassau rental and real estate agency specializing in Bahamas home rental opportunities, says when you are thinking about buying an investment property, you need to ask yourself the following: do you have the time, energy and resources to accomplish this yourself?.

“If you found yourself answering no to any of those questions, you should to turn to a local agent in the area you are looking to buy,” Pinder says. “A local agent can make the whole process of purchasing a villa rental in the Bahamas more manageable with the knowledge, experience and contacts you need for your investment.”
(more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The editors at ISLANDS recently named the Top 5 Islands for Families, which include The Bahamas, Maui, Sicily, St. Thomas and Fiji.

“It’s no surprise to me that The Bahamas was rated among the top five islands for families,” said Rachel Pinder, principle broker of Island Living, an agency specializing in Bahamas homes for sale. “Residents of The Bahamas can enjoy all the benefits of city life, yet still be just a short distance away from seclusion on the outer islands.”

The islands of The Bahamas offer some of the best living and working conditions in the world. Modern infrastructure combined with an excellent climate, public and private schools, and a high standard of living add up to an unparalleled “vacation” lifestyle on these sub-tropical islands.

As a business location, The Bahamas offer proximity to the world’s largest markets, combined with effective air and sea transport, modern amenities and freedom from taxes and duties.

For housing, there is a huge selection of properties – everything from low-income starter homes on Grand Bahama Islands and Nassau apartments for rent, to million-dollar beachside villas and canal side properties. (more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Island Living Real Estate’s listing manager has become an estate agent.

Gina Knowles joined the team September 2008 to manage Island Living’s listings, and now she wants to venture into the real estate business, says Rachel Pinder, principle broker of the Nassau rentals and real estate agency.

Knowles’ new title is listing agent.
“Gina is honest, cooperative, open-minded and perseveres in what she undertakes,” says Pinder, who also is villa rental specialist. “After working in this field for the past three years, she felt it would benefit the company if she had a license. I have to agree.” (more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The green movement has brought lots of more environmentally friendly options to the forefront when it comes to homes, and in the Bahamas, there is a great deal of talk about harnessing the sun’s energy to power homes.
Power in the Bahamas can pose challenges, and homeowners increasingly are considering the sun as a remedy.

“We’re learning more and more about the viability of solar energy to power homes,” says Rachel Pinder, principle broker of Island Living Real Estate, an agency that specializes in Bahamas rental houses and real estate listings. “Even for people who own Bahama rentals, solar energy might be worth considering.” (more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS— The Nassau, Bahamas condo rental experts at Island Living Real Estate have created a list of five simple steps to take, which will help ensure your rental process goes smoothly and your Nassau apartments for rent generate an income.

They are:

1.    Use an Agency
Particularly if you live outside the Bahamas, hiring an agency to oversee the rental process can help make sure your Bahamas rental homes are rented without a great deal of effort on your part, says Rachel Pinder, principle broker of Island Living Real Estate, an agency that specializes in Nassau homes for rent and real estate listings.

An agent is responsible for handling all of the management aspects of rental properties, from marketing and advertising to maintenance and screening applicants, Pinder says. (more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – There are lots of nuances that go into listing and selling a property, which is why we always recommend that you hire a Bahamas real estate agent when it’s time to sell your home.

After you put your listing in the hands of the right Nassau Realtor, you still have some say-so in how the listing is handled, which means there are some steps you can take to avoid mistakes along the way. That is why we’ve compiled this list of five common mistakes to avoid when you have Bahamas real estate for sale. (more…)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- It is common knowledge that Island Living Real Estate has offered real estate services including listings of Bahamas homes for sale, but did you know the agency also offers management of Bahamas rental property?

Our Bahamas real estate agency has offered this valuable service for more than 15 years, said Rachel Pinder, principle broker of Island Living, an agency that specializes in Nassau, Bahamas real estate, as well as other listings throughout the islands. (more…)