Buying a House in St Lucia – The Ultimate Guide
We put together this guide for investors considering buying a house in St Lucia.
Whether you are thinking of investing in a home in St Lucia primarily as a vacation home on one of the world’s most beautiful islands for you and your family or as an investment with the potential to provide you with additional income via the flourishing rental market, this guide is intended to cover all aspects of acquiring a house from finding homes for sale in St Lucia through to the details of the purchase process.
The ultimate guide to buying a house in St Lucia
Contents
Is Buying a House in St Lucia a Good Idea?
How Much Does it Cost to Buy a House in St Lucia?
Can Foreigners Own Houses in St Lucia?
Where are the Best Places to Buy a House in St Lucia?
How Do you Buy a House in St Lucia?
Getting a Mortgage in St Lucia
Investment Opportunities – Explore House for Sale in St Lucia
Is Buying a House in St Lucia a Good Idea?
Purchasing real estate in St Lucia offers investors the opportunity to own a slice of a destination which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. A magnificent mountainous interior covered in rainforest, cascading waterfalls and rushing rivers descends to white and golden sand beaches and the beautiful warm blue waters of the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Besides breathtaking natural beauty, there are many other appealing factors to buying a house in St Lucia. For one, property prices compares very favourably to many other parts of the region so you could own a home in the Caribbean for much less than on other islands.
For lifestyle buyers in search of a vacation home, St Lucia offers a wide range of activities and entertainment from an 18-hole championship golf course, water sports, reefs ideal for diving and snorkelling, good dining and shopping options and cultural events such as annual music festivals to enjoy.
For investors with an eye on income-generating opportunities, St Lucia makes just as much sense. As one of the region’s leading vacation and honeymoon destinations, the island’s tourism industry is booming and the number of overseas visitors has been steadily rising in recent years. In 2019, for example, the number of stayover visitors increased by 7.1% to surpass 400,000 for the first time on record. The ever-increasing flow of tourists offers home owners lucrative opportunities to generate a significant Return on Investment via the rental market.
With interest in real estate in St Lucia steadily increasing, home owners are also set to benefit from rising property values.
How Much Does it Cost to Buy a House in St Lucia?
The cost of houses in St Lucia varies according to various factors such as location, size and perceived value.
Prices range from approximately US £300,000 to $400,000 for a more affordable villa in areas such as Monchy, Trouya, Vigie and parts of Rodney Bay up to US $6 to $9 million dollars for luxury houses in the most prestigious settings such as elevated spots overlooking the magnificent Pitons and the finest homes at the top end of the range in exclusive Cap Estate.
Land surrounding the beaches tend to be owned by large hotels so homes in a direct beachfront position are very rare. Prices for beachfront homes for sale in St Lucia reflect this scarcity with prices starting in the region of US $8 million.
Can Foreigners Own a House in St Lucia?
Yes, foreign nationals can buy houses in St Lucia. The Government of St Lucia welcomes foreign investment and there are no restrictions on foreign buyers owning a house in St Lucia.
Foreign buyers need to apply for an Alien Land Holding Licence (ALHL) for which there is a non-refundable application fee of EC $5,400 plus license fee. The cost of the license fee varies according to the size of the land from EC $5,000 to EC $50,000 (100 acres +).
A house can be purchased in the name of an individual or a corporation which can offer tax benefits and accelerate the sales process.
Where are the Best Places to Buy a House in St Lucia?
That depends very much on your personal preferences and objectives.
The exclusive community of Cap Estate in the north of the island has long been one of the most prestigious and popular places to own a house in St Lucia.
For sailing fans, spectacular Marigot Bay could be ideal. The slopes which surround the bay on 3 sides are the setting for some lovely villas offering stunning views and proximity to the mega yacht marina.
Luxury lovers, look no further than the resorts overlooking the exquisite Pitons which offer iconic views of St Lucia’s most famous landmark as well as use of world-class resort amenities and beautiful beaches.
For those in search of quiet and tranquility, the Vieux Fort area is a great choice and convenient to access the international airport.
How Do you Buy a House in St Lucia?
Buying property in St Lucia is a relatively straight-forward process. Below we have outlined the typical process in the case of a new construction house.
Once a buyer has found a property he/she wishes to purchase and his/her offer has been accepted by the seller, the buyer should engage a reliable local law firm to draw up a purchase agreement and conduct due diligence.
The purchase agreement will outline the details of the transaction including the agreed price and payment terms. The buyer will typically be required to make payment of a 10% deposit to secure the property.
The local law firm will also assist non-nationals to for an Alien Landholding License. Fees for the License are as follows:
- Up to 1 acre: EC $5,000
- 1 to 10 acres: EC $10,000
- 10 to 20 acres: EC $20,000
- 20 to 50 acres: EC $30,000
- 50 to 100 acres: EC $40,000
- Over 100 acres: EC $50,000
For more detail on the purchase process, please see our guide to buying property in St Lucia.
Getting a Mortgage in St Lucia?
It is possible to buy a house in St Lucia with cash or a mortgage, however, please note that, in the case of new construction houses, cash buyers – in particular those paying up front – may benefit from a discount on the asking price.
Several reputable local banks and international banks offer mortgages to foreign buyers. Banks may lend you up to 60% of the property’s value.
As you would expect at home, upon receipt of your application the financial institution will conduct typical checks to assess your suitability for a mortgage.
Should your application be approved, you should expect interest rates to be a little higher than in the USA, Canada or Europe. Mortgage terms tend to be in the region of 15 to 20 years.
Investment Opportunities – Explore Houses for Sale in St Lucia
Ready to begin your search for houses for sale in St Lucia?
To find investment opportunities from across the island from Cap Estate, Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay to Soufriere and Vieux Fort, explore homes for sale in St Lucia on our website.
Contact 7th Heaven Properties, the Luxury Caribbean Property Specialist, to explore investment opportunities in St Lucia in more detail and to discuss your specific requirements.