BAHAMAS BUYERS GUIDE
How To Buy Bahamas Real Estate
Yes, non-Bahamians can buy property in The Bahamas. The registration or permit route depends on the acquisition. Start by defining your intended use, choosing a Bahamian attorney and building a full purchase budget.
You can start with the lifestyle you want. Then put the right people, budget and purchase process around it. Here is a practical route from first conversation to closing.
1. Define how you will use the property
Will this be a primary home, a place for part of the year, or a rental investment? Tell me your expected time on island, preferred surroundings and must-haves. Intended use matters when your attorney reviews the acquisition and any approvals.
2. Put your local team in place early
Work with a Bahamian attorney before committing. Ask for title and due-diligence checks, an itemised estimate of closing costs and a realistic timetable. If financing is involved, confirm the lender’s requirements for your residency and income circumstances before assuming a down payment or borrowing limit.
3. Confirm the registration or permit route
The International Persons Landholding Act provides registration and permit routes for acquisitions by non-Bahamians. Have your attorney identify the route for the specific property, ownership structure and intended use, and confirm current requirements before you sign.
4. Look beyond the asking price
Request written estimates for transfer taxes, legal work, inspections, insurance and ongoing ownership costs. Plan how funds will move, including bank documentation and timing. Verify any payment instructions directly with your attorney using a known phone number.
5. Plan your move separately from your purchase
Buying a home does not itself settle the immigration permissions needed for your plans. Confirm your residence and any work requirements with the Department of Immigration or a qualified adviser. Property decisions and relocation decisions should support each other.
Bring me your brief and travel dates. We can build a focused viewing itinerary and make sure the right questions reach the right professionals.
Your purchase, from brief to keys
Use this sequence to organise the conversation with your agent, attorney and lender. Some tasks run together; the contract and your advisers determine the deadlines.
- Set the brief: intended use, all-in budget, island preferences and travel dates.
- Check readiness: identify your purchasing entity, financing needs and the documents your advisers require.
- Shortlist and view: compare the home, its surroundings and annual running costs.
- Review the offer: discuss price, deposit arrangements, included items, conditions and dates with your attorney before committing.
- Complete due diligence: ask your attorney about title, boundaries, access, approvals and outstanding obligations; commission suitable independent inspections.
- Prepare closing: confirm the final statement, cleared funds, insurance start date and document-signing arrangements.
- Arrange handover: collect keys, utility information, warranties and management contacts. Confirm which registrations and records your attorney will complete.
What belongs in your all-in budget?
- Acquisition: purchase price, transaction taxes, legal work, inspections, survey and any financing costs.
- Annual ownership: property tax where applicable, insurance, association charges, utilities and management.
- Reserves: repairs, equipment replacement and unexpected work identified by inspection.
Request a dated, property-specific estimate. Ask who pays each item under the proposed contract. Avoid applying a single percentage to every purchase: the property, transaction and current rules need to be checked.
Questions to settle before signing
- What must happen before my deposit or other funds are released?
- Which title, survey, inspection and financing conditions should be addressed?
- Does my intended use require additional permissions or conflict with community rules?
- What happens if a condition is not met by the agreed date?
- Which documents can be signed remotely, and what authentication is required?
How long will the purchase take?
Ask for a timetable based on the actual property and contract. Financing, unresolved title questions, missing documents and any required approvals can affect the sequence. Before booking a move or promising rental dates, have your attorney identify the remaining dependencies.
Start with a useful first conversation
Send your preferred purchase range, expected time on island, whether you need financing, and three priorities you will not compromise on. For location choices, use the neighbourhood comparison guide. Before making an offer, read the five common buying mistakes.
Legal starting point: International Persons Landholding Act, sections 2–4. Reference checked 4 October 2026. This is general planning guidance; your Bahamian attorney should confirm the current requirements for your transaction.
