Idyllic Island Life. Long known as a quaint fishing village, Spanish Wells, just off the north tip of mainland Eleuthera, has become a hot market for those looking for affordable vacation homes in a place where their children can roam free.
ELEUTHERA, The Bahamas (October 21, 2019) – For some, it’s hard to remember a time when you left home without locking doors, or had no concerns about leaving your phone, purse or wallet in your car while you dashed into the store to grab a container of ice cream. In fact, for many city dwellers, this type of worry-free living has never occurred in their lifetime.
And yet there are still places in 2019 where this carefree lifestyle is not only common, but the established standard.
“We have zero crime,” said Darrin Sands a Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty Estate Agent in Spanish Wells, a tightknit fishing community located on St. George’s Cay off the northern tip of mainland Eleuthera. “Children are still allowed to roam free on their bicycles. Parents don’t have to babysit them, holding their hand like in many parts of the U.S. Here, you never have to worry about anything being out of your sight. Everyone respects each other and each other’s property.”
If that sounds like Utopia to you, you’re not alone. Spanish Wells’ reputation for being an affordable, safe community where families can enjoy a peaceful holiday is putting the small island town on the map, attracting visitors from every corner of the globe. This past season, Sands said, visitors came from as far away as Switzerland to soak in the island’s slow, serene pace. Not to mention the home prices. Buyers looking for affordable, income-producing vacation homes are arriving in droves.
“This past season I’ve had 40 percent to 50 percent more showings, and a lot of walk-ins,” Sands said. “Three or four years ago I rarely had a walk-in.”
Sands added that while most interested buyers are arriving from the U.S., he’s seeing more and more visitors from Europe and Canada. A handful of visitors are also arriving from neighboring islands like Harbour Island and New Providence.
“We’ve shown property this season to people who have been going to Harbour Island for more than 20 years but now are just looking for a more economically-priced place where their grandchildren can walk to the beach,” he said.
While the average home price on Harbour Island is upward of $1.5M, homes in Spanish Wells more commonly fall in the range of $300,000 to $400,000.
“We don’t have big, fancy homes or resorts,” Sands said. “What keeps people coming back are our beaches, our values, our community.”
Those values have never been more apparent than these past couple of months when the Spanish Wells community came together to assist their neighbors in the Abaco cays hit hardest by Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 1. Due to their close proximity to Great Abaco (about 60 miles) boaters from Spanish Wells were among the first responders to offer their services for search and rescue missions. They also offered up their own boats as temporary shelters for evacuees.
“The people of Abaco were so helpful to us after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 when we had a great need, and we have been able to return the favor,” Sands said, who personally helped organize the community relief effort. “Our hope is that we can continue to serve their needs for years to come as they work toward recovery and rebuilding.”
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.
