Article Surfing Archive

Have you dreamed of owning a beach house in the Bahamas but assumed only a mogul could afford one? If so, the bargains below will show you otherwise. In order to maintain objectivity, I have not included any properties in which I have a personal interest. Selections were based solely on exceptional value. For more information on a property, email me for the name of the relevant broker.

Great Abaco: 15 Acres with 630 Feet of Oceanfront

With scores of uninhabited cays and extraordinary fishing, yachtsmen consider the Abacos to be among the world's finest cruising grounds. This parcel has 630' of oceanfront on the Sea of Abaco, including a stretch of beach. For all of you yachtsmen, there is sheltered anchorage of 20' depth in front of the property. One-acre harbor-front lots in the area routinely sell for $400,000. The subdivided retail value of this 15-acre parcel, therefore, is in the $5 million range. The asking price? $1.2 million.

Berry Islands: Four Bedroom Beachfront House

Before I wrote this article, I would have told you it was impossible to buy a beautifully maintained and landscaped four-bedroom house right on a secluded beach for under $1 million. Not only do I stand corrected, I stand double-corrected. This house on Sugar Beach, Great Harbour Cay, comes with two beachfront lots, for a total of 185' of beach frontage and almost an acre of land. The price? $790,000. And if that's too much for you, sell off the extra lot. There's one on the market nearby for $300,000.

Berry Islands: Almost-on-the-Beach Lot for the Price of an SUV

This quarter-acre lot on Great Harbour Cay is right across the street from a beautiful white-powder beach. The sticker price of the lot is $45,000. Ocean and sunset views are included at no extra charge-a bonus you're not likely to get with the SUV.

Cat Island: Beachfront Lot at Half the Price

Fifty miles long and with a population of 1600, Cat Island is a place for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of, for example, rural North Dakota. Cat has miles of deserted, pink-sand beaches, and you can buy 100' on one of them for $179,900. How is that possible? This quarter-acre lot is actually 150' back from the sea, but the parcel in front is a reserve that can never be developed. Walk right across it to the beach.

Eleuthera: Four Bedroom Duplex Overlooking the Atlantic

With sixty miles of beaches and only a few dozen hotel rooms, Eleuthera is a paradise for beach lovers who enjoy privacy and unspoiled natural beauty. Coral Reef is a two-story house on an elevated lot directly across the street from the Atlantic Ocean. Each floor consists of a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment with a bright, modern interior and an open plan. Coral Reef, which was built in 1986, would cost at least $400,000 to build today, not including the price of the land. The asking price for the property is $250,000.

Freeport/Lucaya: Canal-Front Home for Half the Price

Fortune Bay is a stylish canal-front community a few minutes by car from the shops and restaurants of Port Lucaya. A typical three-bedroom house with a pool would sell for $1.2 million. The house I found for you has four bedrooms and sits on an oversized half-acre lot with 120' of canal frontage. The kitchen and baths need updating, but the overall condition is excellent. $100,000 for interior upgrades and a pool would turn this into a million-dollar house. The asking price? $625,000.

Nassau: New Three-Bedroom Townhouse for $249,000

I had to put this price in the headline or no one would believe it. Renaissance East is a small gated development of a dozen 2 ' story townhouses with a pool. The units have three bedrooms (including a large loft), 2 ' baths, private patios, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. Construction on the islands costs upwards of $200 per foot and these townhouses have 1300 square feet of living space. There are only three units left, so I guess I'm not the only one who can divide $249,000 by 1300.

North Eleuthera: Private Island

Just because David Copperfield has a private island in the Bahamas doesn't mean you can't afford one, too. Located off the northeast coast of Eleuthera near Harbour Island, this 3.5-acre retreat is surrounded on three sides by deep water and on the fourth by a beach. A concrete pier and a wooden dock are already in place. Electricity comes from the main Eleuthera grid. David Copperfield paid $45 million for his island. The price for yours? $1.5 million.