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| Caribbean Property Magazine Home / August 2008 / 'Living Your Dream While Finding a New Life ' | SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND  |
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AUGUST  2 0 0 8Issue 19
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| LIVING YOUR DREAM WHILE FINDING A NEW LIFE by Jan Hull My husband and I are now into our fifth year – no, not of marriage (that’s been 33!!) but into our fifth year of fantastic living in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. Where is that, you wonder? Please get out the atlas and start digging through, or should I show off my savoir-faire and say to ” Google it”? I’ll save you the trouble and tell you…the Turks and Caicos Island are one of the hidden gems in the Caribbean, just down from Bahamas and a 105 minute flight from Miami, USA. Our story of a search for the right island to settle in is a very common one, and could be yours, too, so I take this opportunity to tell our tale as it might help to guide some readers who are considering taking the plunge to relocate or invest in the Caribbean, and particularly to The Turks and Caicos Islands, In the early 1980’s we took our first plunge, and landed in Bermuda as young teachers. There we spent six idyllic years, and became attached to the island and to the Caribbean. Although we had been pre-warned by Bermuda officials before and after arrival - “and don’t get attached to the place, as you are only imported labour.” Well, we loved our life there but knew it could not be forever because of restrictions on non-Bermudians.  We stayed for six years as ‘imported labour’ and begrudgingly left to raise our new family on British soil so that we could buy our own home and apply for promotion within the education sector; two big restrictions on expats in Bermuda. We returned to the UK with toddler and a bump on board (our son was born four months later in an English hospital), and we then had eighteen long years struggling once again as teachers in the UK. We bored our long suffering friends with our wishing that we were somewhere else, warm and sunny and simple. We spent a few years planning and searching for that special place where we would relive our Bermuda experience. To compensate for the endless grey days in the UK, and to feel more alive, we visited Florida and ended up buying two villas. The plan was to sell holidays to the British and eventually, after building up a portfolio of property, to relocate to American soil. We had often visited the USA when we lived in Bermuda as a short flight took us to the bright lights of New York and all that shopping, and we liked it very much…but that was for short visits. In the end, the idea of home ownership and selling holidays was a disaster. Property managers in the USA did not deliver and we would spend many a summer over in the USA repairing, replacing light bulbs and cleaning pools and carpets - something we had been paying for each month as absentee owners. WE FOUND THE AMERICAN TAX SYSTEM BEWILDERING… We found the American tax system bewildering and the officials were not completely understanding of anyone who was not an American citizen. It was the first time that we experienced, first-hand, the isolationist notion that nothing exists outside the United States to the United States government. We were relieved to sell both properties after a worrying and stressful three years. The selling process was not as happy and straight forward as one sees on these TV shows. We vowed never to buy in USA again. Hitting 50 was a turning point for me…I started feeling on borrowed time and there I was still missing the dream, still feeling frustrated with bureaucracy and constant changes in the work place. Leisure time was ferrying the children to their respective clubs, music lessons and sleepovers, while fitting in the household chores and gardening.  The dream had to become a reality so with the grown children’s blessings, we sold, bought a modern “box” to rent out and packed four suitcases. On our departure day our son, then nineteen and at college, collected us and drove us to Heathrow. It was strange and somewhat sad, to look at the back of his head as I sat in the rear of the car. Wasn’t it only yesterday I marveled at his newborn head, so perfectly formed and so handsome? How quickly he had grown –up, and apart, becoming an independent, competent adult and a young man to be proud of. My mother’s anxiety brushed over me. Would he be safe without me? He would not have home to come to when he needed a roast Sunday lunch or a heart to heart about girlfriend troubles. His older sister was in the North of England and here he was in the South, with no-one. I reassured myself that many parents working abroad leave their younger offspring in boarding schools for months on end. My son was an adult and he could visit us as frequently as college holiday dates allowed. I felt better and the excitement came over me again. With some of the proceeds from the sale of Florida homes and the UK family home we purchased a new house in the South of England to keep as a nest egg. Then we bought a one bed apartment condominium overlooking a marina, close to beach and restaurants on the island of Providenciales in TheTurks and Caicos Islands. Right off it was a bit weird for us, as condominium living is alien to the British and we were slightly nervous of communal living and management companies as well. Our worries were unfounded and we enjoy a well managed environment with beautifully landscaped gardens. It was a wise move as it gave us an opportunity to have instant contact with people around us and to easily make friends. Providenciales is the most developed of all the inhabited islands in the Turks and Caicos, boasting fine restaurants, beautiful homes and condominium complexes, many on the stunning Grace Bay Beach. The Government is keen to ensure that interest and investment is shared amongst all the islands in the group and so Grand Turk has seen massive growth with the building of a new cruise ship terminal and North Caicos and Middle Caicos have now been joined by a causeway which opened last year. North Caicos also boasts a large new airport and deep harbour marina. As Turks and Caicos is a tax free, British territory where there is no restrictions on expats buying homes or land, we felt confident that our investment was sound. And, indeed, it has been a wise investment for us. We came with about one year’s money to live on, if we were careful, and figured -what would we need money for anyway when we had love, sun and sand! And, no work!!  We both found work outside of the education field. It was very exciting to think that at our age, employers would even consider us as assets to their companies. Ageism does not exist here in Turks and Caicos, which is refreshing and inspiring. And it is the sort of place, that when one is least expecting it, an opportunity arises. We have continued to stay on island and have thoroughly enjoyed being employed for the past four years. I am a sales associate with a newly formed real estate company on island and just love my work, as real estate has always been an area of great interest to me. I was accepted as a member of the Turks and Caicos Realtor Association and so I am authorised to show any property for sale. | ||
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| Helping others realize their aspirations has been so rewarding to me as we have guided others in buying and selling many a house over the years. I found that if I was imaginative in my approach I’d have lots of business and satisfied customers as well. To get things going, my husband built a website for me so I’m easy to find! And I always offer prospective buyers an individual attentive service coupled with plenty of local knowledge from all viewpoints which enables them to make knowledgeable decisions. Having bought, sold, rented and tenanted all over the island, there is little I have not experienced firsthand and I use that knowledge to help my customers. Also, it helps that there is no fee attached for my services and no time limit on how long I spend searching for that perfect property. Discovering ones true calling, no matter how late in life one discovers it, brings a fresh energy and perspective to ones life. I find that I am always eager to match people with homes, land, an investment property that best suits their requirements so I have a completely unbiased approach to what’s on the market and lots of energy to give to the task at hand. . I have begun regular blogging reports on my web site for viewers to receive up-to-date real estate news, sometimes I write from the same day. I particularly like this facility as it’s like writing to all my friends all over the world. This is helpful when the postal service is erratic and unreliable (we get Christmas cards in March, posted in November but laugh off these minor irritants as part of the charm of living on a little island). Of course, my e-mail is my lifeline to the outside world…that is the one service I cannot do without. THE SUN DOESN’T STOP SHINING, AND THE PEOPLE DO NOT STOP COMING. The sun doesn’t stop shining and the people do not stop coming. They disembark from planes scowling with stress and leave with huge smiles. Life here is simple and stress free. I sometimes have to remind myself how carefree it is when I am working with clients from other countries.  Visitors rave about the beauty of the beaches and the brilliant turquoise of the sea. They dive, eat at fine restaurants, fish, snorkel, take boats and have picnics out to little islands …and wish they did not have to go home so early. This relaxed place is infectious as it is easy to feel very much right at home. Living here fulltime I am the envy of my clients and many return to their overseas homes to work out their relocation strategies and back they come within months. Our children and their partners arrive every Christmas for the traditional family get- together and we are blessed they want to be here and not on the ski slopes with their friends. Our overseas friends happily come and go. Our newly made local friends come and go as well. That’s what happens on islands where the labour force is made up of experienced, trained workers on contracts to help the locals manage the overwhelming amount of business that has formed. However, we plan to hang in and enjoy our simple life where the postal system is erratic and life is leisurely. And, the economy keeps booming here. The construction and real estate industries continue to flourish so much, that people who have been here just a few short years comment on how they wish they had bought two or three years ago.  British Airways flies in direct on Sundays via Nassau, so it is not as though we don’t get the European visitor, it is just that they seem to have no taken advantage of the tremendous opportunity that awaits them here. And as far as flying in to our little gem of an island, it could not be easier as flights from the USA consists of several American carriers daily from New York, Atlanta, Boston, North Carolina (Charlotte) and American Airlines arrives several times a day from Miami. Private jets fly in every day and the enlarged private jet airport appears full with ever increasing bigger planes. So the truth of the matter is, although we have over one hundred nationalities here, the British are under-represented as residents…maybe they too succumbed to the draw of Florida, as it is a popular destination. Another fact about Provo, and Turks and Caicos is that we are not a cheap destination as our properties are considered very high end and world class as are all of the associated tourism services. It is a pristine and laid back, yet fairly high class, destination. Usually clients will ask me, why invest in TCI? Well, several reasons: • Buying is an easy process, has enriched our day to day living and with the passing of time, so fast these days, we are fortunate that life is unpredictable. We know that there are others out there who are feeling just like we felt way back when…discouraged and exhausted, and/or just looking for that reason to change their lives, so we hope this article may inspire some to take the plunge. And, as I tell most everyone…you too can do it if we did. And, if it doesn’t work out, you can say you had a much extended holiday and that you are now feeling very relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world and whatever it throws at you. For those of you who do make it to our beautiful Providenciales, we hope to meet you. Give us a call or email us and we will be happy to help you feel right at home. Author: Jan Hull was a teacher for twenty five years in many different schools in Bermuda and the United Kingdom. She and her husband of thirty-three years have two grown children. Longing to return to the Caribbean, Jan and her husband follow their heart and their dreams, and while doing so, discovered a new life on Turks and Caicos four years ago. | ||
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| It was in 1999 when I first set foot on Pine Cay. I was intrigued by the tales of Pine Cay - an eccentric, exclusive and environmentally friendly community……was this a retreat for wealthy lost hippies from the 1960’s I wondered? It was certainly worth an investigation! ---> Read More | ||
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| Tobago, a mere 30 minute flight from Port of Spain, offers an entirely different experience from that of the principal island of Trinidad. Compared to Port of Spain, it`s very low-key, more laid back, easy-going and unspoiled. ---> Read More | ||
| March 2008 | ||
| Tobago: Lush Landscapes and Laid Back Lifestyle | ||
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| February 2008 | ||
| Pine Cay: A Private Haven in the Turks & Caicos | ||
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| January 2008 | ||
| Turks & Caicos: An Elite Island Group | ||
| In the past few years, Turks & Caicos has phenomenally skyrocketed into the luxury travel space, as one of the most popular destinations for honeymooners, affluent jet-setters and celebrities to bunker down in for rest and relaxation and as well, to invest time and interest in the high-end resort offerings,and luxury real estate. ---> Read More | ||
| January 2008 | ||
| Tourism: Creating a Matchless Experience | ||
| The Turks & Caicos is a spectacular island group which in recent years has evolved in to a world-class destination. To ensure that its visitors experience is as matchless as the destination and its upscale product, Turks & Caicos has implemented a multi-phased customer service program to instill the highest quality service standards in its tourism workforce. ---> Read More | ||
| December 2007 | ||
| Private Island Community Homes for Sale | ||
| A rare opportunity now exists to own property on this very exclusive private island, where membership approval is a requirement before one may proceed to purchase property. Both beachfront property and interior lots are on the market, giving the buyer the opportunity to design and build your dream cottage, second home or retirement home. If building is not to your taste, check out the wide variety of existing homes that are also on the market. All lots, homes and location offer a wide range of prices. ---> Read More | ||
| April 2007 | ||
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| June 0 | ||
| Turks and Caicos Islands Real Estates | ||
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