So you’re thinking of owning property in the following bmi destinations?
We present a few facts and figures to assess the investment potential

Words:
Graham Norwood

Antigua

Eric Clapton and Giorgio Armani may have staked their claim here some
time ago, but to many, Antigua remains unknown territory.

If you are looking for a new-build apartment, those under
construction around the most-developed part of the beautiful island,
Jolly Harbour, start at £180,000 through Prestigious Properties
[+44 (0)20 8812 4734; www.prestigious-properties.co.uk].

At the more exclusive Nonsuch Bay area, you can expect to pay
£238,000 for apartments through Robson Barnes [+44 (0)1483 242
491; www.robsonbarnes.com]
in a private gated development that will have a clubhouse, tennis courts and direct access to one of the eastern Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches.

Palma de Mallorca



Palma de Mallorca, capital city of the Balearic island, is bucking the
slowdown in the rest of Spain’s property market. Stricter building controls
mean Mallorca is not as cheap as the mainland: apartments start at
£140,000 and move upwards rapidly, and if you’re after a villa with views,
it will also come with a seven-figure price tag. However, as Mark Stucklin
of Spanish Property Insight (www.spanishpropertyinsight.com) points out:
“In return you get some of the best investment prospects in Spain.”

Furthermore, as Jan Westwood of The Property Finders, a buying
agency [+44 (0)1908 218753; www.thepropertyfinders.com] explains: “Palma, in particular, has an excellent rental market as it’s only 10
minutes from the airport and a popular city break.”

Barbados



Barbados has long been a favourite with
celebrities – Gary Lineker, Cilla Black, Cliff
Richard and “Freddie” flintoff all own
properties here. But the good news is that
now you no longer have to be super-rich to
buy a place in the sun. The Barbadian dollar
is tied to the US dollar, which recently hit a
26-year low against the pound. The result?
Properties on one of the world’s most
beautiful islands are now (relatively) cheap.

Of course you can spend up to £20 million on mansions sitting on prime beaches, but
a few hundred yards inland, or on some up-and-coming coastal areas, prices are
much lower. New apartments at King’s Beach Village near Sandy Lane, the most famous
address on Barbados, sell from £132,000 [Savills International, +44 (0)20 7016 3740;
www.savills.co.uk/abroad]. Meanwhile, twobedroom
houses at Maynard’s Point in St Peter – think palm trees and sandy beaches
– start from £179,000 [Knight Frank, +44 (0)20 7629 8171; www.knightfrank.com].