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Turks & Caicos is a tiny British Dependent Territory at the southern
end of the Bahamas chain of islands, relatively unknown until recent years.
With a selection of luxury beachfront resorts, great beaches and amenities
the Turks and Caicos is attracting all sorts of well-known people (Bruce
Willis; Donna Karan; Keith Richards; Cindy Crawford; and a host of others
have visited or bought second homes in the islands). If you haven't
heard of it yet keep your eyes and ears open.
The Turks and
Caicos has (by default rather than design) a number of advantages which
have been catalysts in making the jurisdiction the fastest growing economy
in the Caribbean and a hot-bed of international real estate interest.
Those advantages include the following:
It has the
US Dollar as its currency, making it (and the British Virgin Islands) the
most convenient non-US destinations in the Caribbean for US visitors.
1. It is English
speaking - you will also hear French, Spanish and other languages, but
the official language is English.
2. It is not
"touristy" - you will not be pursued by people asking you to buy whatever
they are selling, crime rates are very low comparatively speaking.
3. It
is a British Dependent Territory and one of the last vestiges of the British
Empire. Although the locally elected Government has a high degree of autonomy
in relation to internal matters TCI has a Governor appointed by the Queen
who has wide ranging powers, particularly in relation to matters of an
international nature. This has proven to be a major attraction for
property investors who value UK oversight and the stability that it brings.
4. It has a
common law court system with appeal ultimately to the Privy Council in
the UK. Again the tie to the UK on matters of law enforcement is
very appealing and familiar to investors who are themselves from common
law jurisdictions (e.g. USA, Canada, UK, etc.).
5. It has some
of the best white sand beaches anywhere - Condé Nast consistently
rate Grace Bay's ten mile beach in the world's top 10. North Caicos,
Middle Caicos, Pine Cay and Grand Turk also have great beaches.
6. It is a
well known scuba-diving destination with some of the best wall-diving in
the world and great visibility (due in part to the fact that they are a
limestone outcrop in the ocean with very little topsoil run-off).
7. It has excellent
fishing - inshore sport fishermen will find bonefish, snapper and jacks
while deep sea fishing enthusiasts can expect marlin, wahoo and tuna.
8. It has a
number of elegant resorts along Grace Bay beach and a variety of fine dining
principally on the island of Providenciales. Although Providenciales is
now quite developed the islands offer lots of choices for travelers looking
to find an older, statelier Caribbean. Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt
Cay still have a colonial feel and the remnants of the Bermudian salt-raking
industry are still clearly visible.
9. The Planning
Department has under the guidance of successive governments implemented
a policy of up-market and low density development on commercial beachfront
properties with generous set-backs from high watermark adding to the sense
of space and dictating the quality of visitor to the islands. This
is not a destination where you will see 20 storey buildings crouching uncomfortably
on the beach.
10. Has no
direct taxation of income - Government's revenues are generated indirectly
by land transfer tax, tourism related taxation and import duties. If you've
ever dreamed of a vacation hideaway that rewards you with consistent tax-free
income, an island retirement, commercial investments or mere land speculation,
look no further than the Turks & Caicos Islands.
11. It has
great telecommunications through several providers.
12. There are
no restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate - if you like it and
can afford it, you can purchase absolute freehold title regardless of whether
you are a resident or not.
13. It has
a fully registered land system which means that details of ownership are
clearly recorded in a public register. The land register for each parcel
of land in the Turks & Caicos also indicates whether there are charges
secured against the property, the absence or otherwise of easements, restrictive
agreements, rights of way and so forth. The Crown guarantees registered
absolute title, so title insurance is unnecessary.
Small wonder
that sophisticated travelers and real estate developers and investors have
been flocking to our shores.
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