BUYING A PROPERTY
Seaside Realty Inc, is pleased to let you know that we do not charge our clients for sourcing property options, arranging viewings and accompanying our clients to viewings. We also assist our clients with answering any questions they may have, setting up appointments with valuers, surveyors, bankers, engineers, architects, landscapers and interior designers all FREE OF COST!
FIRST REGISTER WITH SEASIDE REALTY INC.
Our experienced agents will need as much information as possible about the type of property you are looking for and will do their very best to find your ideal home.
IF A MORTGAGE IS NEEDED
It is advisable to get a mortgage agreed in principle as early as possible, as this always helps to speed up your mortgage application
VIEWINGS
Viewings are conducted by appointment. Our staff are happy to work after hours and on weekends as well. This is of course if it is suitable to the home owner.
NEXT STEP IS MAKING AN OFFER
Once you have found a suitable property, we will put your offer forward to the owner immediately. Any offer is subject to a contract being signed. There are no legal obligations on either side until a contract is signed.
LEGALITIES
A local Attorney will be required to handle the legal work involved. Should you not have a specific Attorney, Seaside Realty Inc would be happy to suggest one of those which we have worked closely with over the years.
SHOULD THE SALE BE AGREED
Should your offer be accepted, you will need to instruct your Attorney to proceed. At this stage we will try to agree on an exchange and completion date. This is also the time to instruct your mortgage broker to proceed with your mortgage application and make arrangements for a Valuation.
A CONTRACT WILL THEN BE DRAFTED
This is drawn up by the sellers Attorney and sent to your Attorney, who will raise some preliminary enquiries and make a Land Registry search
THEN COMES THE CONTRACT APPROVAL
Once results of the local search and answers to the preliminary enquiries are received, the draft contract is approved by your Attorney providing there are no further enquiries
IF GETTING A MORTGAGE, THEN COMES THE FORMAL MORTGAGE OFFER
This document will be sent to your Attorney for you to sign. Once signed and returned your mortgage is in place, and you are ready to exchange contracts
EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS
The contract is signed by you and the vendor. The deposit which is usually 10% of the purchase price is paid by the purchaser's Attorney and the completion date is usually set at this time.
NOW COMES THE COMPLETION
This generally takes approximately 12 -24 weeks after exchange of contracts, depending on each parties personal requirements. The balance which is usually 90% is now transferred from your Attorney to the vendor's Attorney.
YOUR ATTORNEY’S ROLE IN THE PURCHASING PROCESS
1. Once you have chosen the attorney that will be acting on your behalf, you need to confirm with them what their fee will be. Attorney fees are usually based on the agreed price of the property.
2. The next step would be to formally engage your attorney by signing and returning their engagement letter. If you are overseas, this can be done by email. Then you will be asked to send them the retainer fee, as well as the 10% deposit of the purchase price. If overseas this can be wired to an agreed account. Note that the deposit does not get sent to the vendor until you have signed the agreement, however, it is very helpful to your attorney as it demonstrates to the vendor that you are serious.
3. Your attorney then advises the vendor that they are representing you. The vendor’s attorney will then send the standard agreement copies of the title deeds for your attorney to review to insure proper historical ownership of the property.
4. A date of completion is then agreed upon with the vendor. It is very important that you ensure that this date gives you enough time to receive money that you may be borrowing.
5. The agreement will then be sent to you by courier and you have to sign it in the presence of a notary public and return it to your attorney.
6. When your attorney receives this agreement it will be forwarded to the vendor’s attorney together with the 10 % deposit.
7. Various procedures take place to make sure that there are not mortgages or other liens on the property.
8. Arrangements are then made to have the boundaries of the property officially pointed out to you or your agent by a Land Surveyor if so required.
9. The balance of the purchase money must then be sent to your attorney at least 3 weeks prior the agreed date for completion.
COSTS INCURRED BY THE PURCHASER
There is no Property Transfer Tax for buyers.
Buyers Legal Fees - Approx. 2 – 2.5% of the purchase price (plus 17.5% VAT).
1% stamp duty
OFF SHORE MORTGAGES
Local Mortgage Repayment Time - Up to 30 Years or until the borrower reaches 65 years of age.
Non-National mortgage Down Payment - Usually between 30 to 50%
Non-National Mortgage Repayment Time - A maximum of 15 years
Mortgage Commitment Fee and Negotiation Fee - Ranges from 0.5% to 3%.
Life Insurance - Required if you need a mortgage.
Annual Property Insurance - 0.4% for a residence, 0.6% for commercial and 0.9% for hotels. Other things such as location, value and use of the property can affect these rates.
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:
1. There are no restrictions to non-nationals purchasing a property in Barbados.
2. There are some procedures regarding foreign currency being brought into the island, as well as non-national mortgages. They all need to be registered with the Central Bank of Barbados
3. There is no Capital Gains Tax in Barbados. Investors are not charged for the appreciation in the value of their property.
CHECK LIST:
LAND TAX
HOW LAND TAX IS WORKED OUT;
Improved Land (for Residential purposes)
*Please note that tax on improved land is calculated on the improved value of the land
Improved Land (for Non-Residential purposes)
Vacant Land
*Please note that tax on vacant land is calculated on the site value of the land.