Oceania Properties – Own a Piece of Paradise
The Great Exuma, the largest of the 365 mostly uninhabited islands of the 120-mile Exuma Archipelago, stretches effortlessly across the Tropic of Cancer about 300 miles off the coast of southern Florida and 130 miles southeast of Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas. The superbly tropical Exumas average a comfortable 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit a day.
This summer was my day of discovery where I had the opportunity to visit the lifestyle opportunity of this premiere destination. To my pleasure, local developer and resident for thirty years, Howard Obront, graciously gave me a tour of the spectacular Exuma, along with his loyal and trustworthy comrade Shelton “Gulf” Morley. As a man of all seasons, Gulf was a lot of fun having as a tour guide, boat captain, and storyteller.
Having participated in the development of the well-known February Point, Obront is now venturing into the last gated community known as Oceania Heights.
Keeping in touch with the culture and tranquility of the island, Exuma has regulated that no more than 30% of the island can be developed, protecting the purity and conservation status of the islands for the future. Still, absolutely everything you need is at your fingertips. He certainly couldn’t think of anything else he might need and the absence of fast food chains certainly couldn’t hurt anyone. “If you don’t want anything, you have it. If you want to find something, you can,” Obront says consciously as he sits down to share with me his past, his future, and his visions for the island and Oceania Properties. His passion and welcoming personality are enough to open my mind to the possibilities of what this seventh heaven has to offer.
Highly respected among the Exuma population, Howard Obront has vast knowledge of the island’s comings and goings. Celebrities like Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, and even Bill Gates own property within the area. Johnny Depp is no stranger, as he stayed in one of the Oceania Properties villas while filming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 3’. Even in my brief escape, a fellow traveler would surely have seen Reese Witherspoon enjoying the isolation with her family. For celebrities who experience constant pressure from the paparazzi, as well as the many other stresses that accompany their careers, the islands are a haven that allows much-needed tranquility in their lives.
Doctors are also rapidly flocking to Exuma. In fact, although development is still in its early stages, at the latest count, all six existing Luxury Hill Top Villas, with stunning panoramic ocean views, were found to be owned by doctors. Currently, another six magnificent custom real estate villas are being built, which are also for doctors. Also in a high-stress career, doctors from near and far seem to have discovered the secret of peace and relaxation found in Exuma. Renowned Miami cardiologist and author of ‘The Reality Diet, Fighting Fat With Fiber,’ Dr. Steven A. Schnur of Mount Sinai Medical Center, spends his valuable free time relaxing with his wife and two children in Oceania Heights. “The people who position themselves here are among the friendliest and most neighboring in the world and have chosen Exuma as the ideal place for their second home and eventual retirement,” says Obront with a smile on his face that translates into unspoken confidence. in luxurious serenity. that’s Exuma.
Having a corporate or personal address in the gated community of Oceania Heights, in The Bahamas, not only provides opportunities to live an exclusive lifestyle on the island with world-class amenities, but also provides the opportunity to generate tax-free income through the property appreciation and pool rental program. As many investors know, real appreciation is a tangible asset, appreciating in value as you enjoy all the benefits of a vacation home. The July issue of ‘The Bahamas Investor’ states that in one of the islands the appreciation of the values of the condominiums is approximately $ 300,000.00 from the start date, and they have not yet been completed. A year ago, a canal lot on Paradise Island sold for $ 1.5 million and is now selling for $ 2.2 million, a staggering $ 700,000.00 profit in one year. With the Bahamas tourism industry enjoying steady and sustained growth with more sophisticated resorts, more facilities and services, more and more investment opportunities are emerging, giving more reason to investigate the islands’ investment potential.
In the first issue of the Exuma Visitor Guide, Glenn S. Ferguson writes, “In the past five years, there has been dramatic growth in real estate investment and development. The Jewel in the Crown is the first complex in $ 100 million Emerald Bay development Four Seasons Resort with 183 rooms and a Greg Norman designed golf course. This development has resulted in an increase in real estate investment prices of between 45% and 60% annually, but should act quickly to ensure the best returns on investment. “
As the world’s leading tax haven, the Bahamas offers the perfect investment opportunity as there are no personal, corporate, income, capital gains, inheritance, gift, or estate taxes. Easy access to major world markets, political stability, security and economic opportunity are a reality of business in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Since 1977, the Bahamian dollar has been pegged 1 to 1 to the US dollar and the two are used interchangeably across the island. In fact, I found that whenever I had to pay with Bahamian currency, they usually gave me US currency as change.
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is an internationally leading offshore banking center with more than 400 banks. Second in the world only after London in the number of financial institutions it owns, Nassau is renowned for its laws guaranteeing bank confidentiality. The Bahamas are trusted by individuals and corporations around the world. Of the 15,000 companies registered in The Bahamas, more than 90% are foreign. Money, in The Bahamas, is accessible and discreet.
The Bahamas has been named “the best financial center in the western hemisphere” by the global magazine The Banker, the Minister of Financial Services and Investments, the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson revealed this in February 2006. Furthermore, “In addition to the United States of America and Canada, we have the highest standard of living in the hemisphere,” says H.E. Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Now voted one of the top three international destinations in the world by The Washington Post, the island of Great Exuma, Bahamas, is attracting attention not only from the international media, but also from major resort developers, such as the Four Seasons Resort. in Emerald Bay. Still, the only sounds you’ll hear as you walk through Oceania Heights are songbirds, waves crashing on the shore, and the gentle breeze whispering through the palm trees. This paradise within a paradise truly captures the elegance of luxury living while maintaining an exclusivity that is intangible.
With all the amenities of a first-class resort, Oceania Heights offers a welcome escape from the hectic pace of everyday life, while offering all the comforts of home. The Alexandria rental and real estate contact “Zandy” Turtle exceeded our expectations by making sure our villa was stocked with fresh fruits, drinks and flowers. It was wonderful! As I walked out of my bedroom French doors onto the secluded terrace of my villa, I became aware of the luxurious privacy and unsurpassed ocean views. The comfort of such peace and quiet seemed invaluable to me.
When evening came we dined in beautiful places like The Four Seasons or the ever popular Coconut Cove, which offered a beautiful view of the beach, the pool bar and the sunset on the Atlantic Ocean. Pam, the owner of Coconut Cove, was more than hospitable in offering traditional Bahamian fare such as blackened grouper or roast lamb, as well as traditional American lobster, pizza, and ‘cowboy’ steak. Without hesitation, I would have to recommend the shrimp cocktail, if nothing else.
“Deep sea fishing is great here,” says Howard Obront’s brother and Miami trial attorney Curt Obront, who joined us one night for dinner. A frequent visitor to Exuma, Curt enjoys his time spear fishing the reefs for his lobster dinner or bone fishing on one of the many nearby plains. If you like fresh seafood, this would be the way to get it. However, if you’re not adventurous enough to catch it on your own, you can watch your fresh conch salad being made along the Stocking Island shoreline. This was an experience in itself for me.
Beyond exquisite restaurants and secluded beaches, Oceania Properties offers a fabulous tennis club with well-lit courts so you can play at any time of the day or night. Plus, the state-of-the-art gym will help you keep up with your workout and grooming routine. Oceania Properties’ front doors, operated by courteous security staff, maintain a sense of privacy and security, though you can rest easy knowing that this island maintains a zero percent crime rate. Oceania Heights guests and residents also enjoy special access to the Greg Norman-designed golf course and full-service spa at the Four Seasons Resort. From daily housekeeping services to 24-hour security for your peace of mind, Oceania Properties “offers everything, including the things you would forget to ask for,” says Obront.
Surrounded by culture, beauty and genuine hospitality, the island seemed to radiate a certain “energy”. When it came time to go home, I could see why so many choose to make Oceania Heights their home away from home.
It has been noted that when Christopher Columbus landed on the island years ago, he was captivated by the friendly smiles and accommodating people. Even today, this way of life on Exuma remains constant. With visions of rolling hills and spectacular panoramic views hidden safe in my memory, I look forward to my return when I can relive those memories.
For profit or pleasure, many of the world’s leading professionals have chosen to invest in this tax-free island paradise and once you’ve been there, even for a moment, it’s very clear why.