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Abaco

Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

Despite Destruction of Hurricane Dorian, Hope Town’s Warm, Friendly ‘Hometown Feel’ Continues to Be a Draw for Home Buyers

Sunny Beaches, Warm People. Despite the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, properties like Two Rock Reef (above) in Hope Town continue to appeal to homebuyers who have been visiting Hope Town for decades, and who appreciate the friendly people and incomparable beauty of Abaco.

 

Hope Town, The Bahamas (February 18, 2020) – From local hangouts like Abaco Inn and Firefly Sunset Resort to endless miles of pristine white sand beaches, Hope Town’s unique charm and congenial vibe has attracted people from around the world for decades. Even now, in the midst of post-Hurricane Dorian rebuilding and restoration, the Abaco town most famous for its trademark red candy-striped lighthouse continues to attract visitors and second and third homebuyers.

“Most of the buyers I have been working with since Hurricane Dorian are people who are here, on the ground,” said Jane Patterson, an estate agent in the Hope Town office of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty. “They’re people who have been coming here for years and have a true love for Hope Town.”

Patterson said that immediately following the storm, people weren’t as enthusiastic about the prospect of purchasing storm-damaged homes. However, as second homeowners returned to the island to check on their homes, they saw the restoration efforts taking place and experienced firsthand the resilient spirit of the community.

“We’re taking it day-by-day, but progress is happening,” she said. “Our beaches are beautiful, people are friendly, and everyone wants to come back. There are more and more people out there who are up for a project; who just want to be a part of this incredible community and are up for the adventure.”

And with homes selling at about 50% of pre-Dorian prices, interest has been so high that Patterson has put six homes under contract since December and has listed two new properties on the North and South Ends of Elbow Cay.

“I am constantly getting emails from people asking about the status of Hope Town and Abaco in general,” Patterson said. “Abaco isn’t desolate like they’re saying. Certain parts of Abaco are fine. And here in Hope Town, resorts and restaurants are reopening the closer we get to season. Right now, we’re looking at having a season in June or July.”

As of January, Abaco Inn and Turtle Hill are accepting guests and Firefly Sunset Resort is looking toward a March reopening.

“Everyone wants to come back and visit,” Patterson said. “Abaco is not going to go away.”

 

About Sotheby’s International Realty

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 1,000 offices in 72 countries and territories worldwide.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

 

 About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

 Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 10 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, Albany and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2305 or Info@SIRbahamas.com.

February 18, 2020 by
Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

MORE THAN 2,500 DONORS CONTRIBUTE TO HURRICANE DORIAN RELIEF THROUGH DAMIANOS SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AND ITS AFFILIATES

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty Guana Cay office overlooking the harbour

 

NASSAU, The Bahamas (Oct. 18, 2019) — In the seven weeks since Hurricane Dorian made landfall in Abaco on Sept. 1 and Grand Bahama on Sept. 2, more than 2,500 donors have contributed toward hurricane relief efforts through funds set up by Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty and its affiliates.

“Although it’s hard to believe it’s been more than a month and a half since Dorian struck The Bahamas, the generosity of our clients and the Sotheby’s International Realty network has been powerful and touching,” said Lana Rademaker, Chief Brokerage Officer for Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s going to be a while before restoration efforts are fully complete, and this ongoing support goes a long way toward helping, not only financially, but as a morale booster for our friends, family and colleagues who are just digging into the rebuilding process.”

In addition to the donations being received from all over the world, Rademaker said that every Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty team member has contributed in their own way whether by dedicating time, money or their own personal resources toward relief efforts.

“The Bahamas is such a tight knit community that there really isn’t anybody who was not impacted by the storm, whether directly or indirectly,” Rademaker said. “So, for those of us who escaped the brunt of the storm here in Nassau, there was nothing to do but jump in and offer help in whatever way possible. I cannot be prouder of our team and what they’ve achieved in the aftermath of such a historic natural disaster.”

Among the truly astounding accomplishments have been:

  • A website set up that provided ongoing updates on missing people immediately following the storm
  • Creating an organization that immediately found housing for 600 evacuees and continues to source rentals for the displaced;
  • Search-and-rescue missions from Nassau and Spanish Wells, transporting humans and animals to safety and providing temporary shelter on boats for evacuees and volunteers.
  • Providing aid and assistance to the children displaced by the storm, many of whom were left without parents.

“I can’t say enough about the work that our team has been doing,” Rademaker said. “Our company’s mission has always been to provide the best, most professional service we can to our clients, but going through this tragic event has proven to me that our team goes above and beyond in every imaginable way.”

For those interested in making donations, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty will continue to accept donations via PayPal. The link for PayPal Donations can be accessed here: https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/transfer/homepage/pay

 

The link for GoFundMe Donations can be made here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hurricane-relief-for-elbow-cay-amp-marsh-harbour

 

The link for Ranfurly Homes For Children Donations can be accessed here: https://ranfurlyhome.org/support-ranfurly/donation/

 

The link for Baark Donations can be accessed here: http://www.baarkbahamas.com/donate-2/

 

About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

 Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 10 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, Albany and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2305 or info @SIRbahamas.com.

 

About Sotheby’s International Realty

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 970 offices in 72 countries and territories worldwide.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

October 18, 2019 by
Damianos Realty

Getting to Know The Bahamas Islands

Welcome to The Bahamas Islands. The Bahamas, or the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as its formally known, is an archipelago consisting of 700 islands and cays in the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the most well-known Bahamas islands are New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island), Abaco, Andros, Exuma and Eleuthera.

Cerulean waters, tranquil breezes and some of the most pristine beaches in the world are characteristics many would use to describe the beautiful Bahamas islands. While these natural amenities are among the top reasons people cite for traveling or moving to The Bahamas, these are only a few of the wonders that you’ll find when island-hopping or when looking for the ideal location for buying a second home or investment property in The Bahamas. Below we’ve taken a moment to outline some of the larger Bahamas islands, and offer some of our personal tips on what makes each island so unique and special.

New Providence

Home to Nassau and Paradise Island, New Providence is probably the most well-known of the Bahamas islands and cays. As the island where the majority of the population of The Bahamas resides, New Providence is a popular stop for cruise ships and a vacation destination for tourists looking to explore world-renowned luxury resorts such as Atlantis, Baha Mar and The Ocean Club. In addition to being home to some of the most high-end hotels and private luxury real estate in the country, Nassau is famous for its immaculate beaches, its offshore coral reefs, its world-class diving and snorkeling and historical landmarks like The Queen’s Staircase, Fort Charlotte and Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation.

The Abacos

Known as a boating and sailing paradise, the Abacos are approximately 80 miles east of South Florida. Making up the 120-mile-long chain of islands are top boating and fishing destinations like Great Abaco and Little Abaco;  Walker’s Cay (and its sister island Grand Cay);  Spanish Cay and Green Turtle Cay, with its settlement of New Plymouth; Great Guana Cay, private Scotland Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Elbow Cay, with its settlement of Hope Town; and, Tilloo Cay and Lubbers Quarters. In addition to boating and fishing, Abaco offers championship golfing at The Abaco Club at Winding Bay Bahama Beach Club in Treasure Cay and Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club on Guana Cay, as well as some of the best snorkeling and diving among the The Bahamas islands.

Andros

The largest of The Bahamas islands, Andros has an area greater than all other 700 Bahamas islands combined and is among the least explored islands of The Bahamas. Its population of just 10,000 spread across 2,300 square miles of tropical foliage, mahogany and pine forests, and lush mangroves means guests of luxury resorts such as Kamalame Cay are treated to some of the most unspoiled beaches and waters the country has to offer. The Great Andros Barrier Reef , measuring 190 miles, is the third largest fringing barrier reef in the world. It drops to about eight feet on the island side and approximately 6,000 feet in the Tongue of the Ocean.

Exuma Cays

Perhaps best known to tourists as the Bahamas island chain that is home to Pig Beach and the famous swimming pigs, the Exumas form a 90-mile chain of  365 islands and cays, and also includes some of the globe’s most stunning luxury resorts like Grand Isle Resort and Spa on Grand Exuma, Lumina Point Resort & Spa on Stocking Island and Sandals Emerald Bay. In addition to luxury resorts, the Exumas offer some of the most stunning private property available on the real estate market including Blue Island, Sampson Cay Saddleback Cay and Pipe Cay.

Eleuthera

Comprised of mainland Eleuthera, which includes Governors Harbour, Gregory Town and Palmetto Point and neighboring  Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, Eleuthera is possibly the most diverse of The Bahamas island chains. Its eastern side faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its western side faces the Great Bahama Bank, making for breathtaking natural wonders such as the spectacular The Glass Window Bridge and The Queen’s Bath. The topography of the island varies from wide rolling pink sand beaches to large outcrops of ancient coral reefs.

About Sotheby’s International Realty
The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 950 offices in 69 countries and territories worldwide. Each office is independently owned and operated.

About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 11 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2035 or info.Bahamas@SIR.com.

July 17, 2018 by