It’s Back to Business!

The Roatan airport opens to international travel August 17th!

Happy Friday! We have some good news to share today. Our airport is reopening to international flights and Government services have resumed – which means we can get back to business closing real estate deals! While there are still several key details to clarify, the Governer of Roatan, Dino Silvestri, announced this morning that the first international flight to the island will resume with American Airlines on Saturday, August 22nd. Our airport has implemented and tested biosecurity measures and will resume domestic flights on August 10th and open to International flights beginning August 17th. Currently, there are discussions with the Central Government to finalize the requirements and protocols for travelers to Roatan as well as what the local curfew and circulation guidelines will be for residents.An official release from the Central Government is expected over the next several days to communicate requirements to travelers visiting the island. It is believed that international passengers will need to take a Rapid Test before travel and upload the results to a virtual platform prior to departing, plus bring the physical paperwork to present to immigration officials upon arrival. The Galaxy Wave ferry operating between Roatan and La Ceiba hasn’t announced their date to resume operations, but are working on implementing biosecurity measures and should restart service soon.

Business as ‘almost’ usual

This week we had an offer accepted for our client on a condo at Infinity Bay and it has been officially placed under contract. We are working hard to finalize closings on deals that have been pending during the lockdown and closures. If you have been anxiously waiting to return or visit Roatan, we look forward to welcoming you soon! We are thrilled that Roatan real estate is moving again!

For those not ready to travel yet, just let us know if you would like us to view a listing on your behalf and send you a personalized video walk-through tour. You can also join us for a live call, so we can answer any questions that you may have about the property ‘on the spot.’

As expected we saw the market trends since our island went into lockdown on March 15th carry forward throughout the month of May.  COVID-19 and related social distancing precautions, restricted movement, and closed borders continued to impact the Roatan real estate market.

However, given the momentum and elasticity of the Roatan Real Estate market going into this pandemic, we are confident that it will recover quickly. We feel this will occur once we are assured it is safe to reduce the social distancing measures and when international flights return to our island.

The light is already emerging at the end of the pandemic tunnel. New listings have recently been added to the market, there have been some sales completed via electronic signings in addition to other listings going under contract. Roatan still isn’t overdeveloped and remains the ‘hidden’ gem of the Caribbean. There is plenty of affordable land for sale, making our island very desirable to foreign investors.

If you’re eager to start seeing properties, we will be able to welcome you soon. In the meantime, send us a message and let us know what features you are looking for and we will send you a hand-picked list of suitable listings. 

While the coronavirus has added a few additional complications to selling a home, it certainly isn’t impossible, thanks in part to virtual viewings and electronic signings. And, if you’re planning on selling your home soon, there may just be a silver lining to the current lockdowns.

The disruption has caused some home buyer’s to pause their plans, but not all homeowners have that luxury. For people that recently purchased a home pre-lockdown and have closing contingencies dependent on their current home selling, as well as divorcing couples and even deceased estates – there are a number of reasons why many people are actively looking to buy or sell a home.

Anyone that has previously listed their home for sale, understands the scramble to prepare their home for the market. A silver lining of the current pandemic is that many of us now have an abundance of time on our hands.

Here are some ways to take advantage of the lockdown to get prepared and prioritize the presentation of your home. 

Refresh landscaping – First impressions are critical, so refreshing your landscaping should be a priority. Prune any bushes, trim trees, weed your garden and plant some flowers for a burst of color to help make your home inviting.

Do repairs – In a buyer’s market, it’s vital that your home is in the best possible condition. If you have a leaky roof, cracked window, broken step or anything else in need of repair, do it now.

Exterior focus – If the outside of your home looks sloppy, buyers will assume that you’ve neglected the inside as well. Pressure wash your exterior walls, clean out the gutters and wash your windows. A simple way to make a great impression in the Roatan realty world? To make your home more welcoming, give your front door a new coat of paint and consider replacing your worn welcome mat, mailbox or faded house numbers.

Declutter – Buyers want to visualize their belongings in your home. Declutter each room by removing unnecessary knick-knacks, extra furniture or other items that may overwhelm a room.

Organize storage – You want your closets  and drawers to create a more spacious look. Messy closets are misleading and make your storage space appear small.

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