Photo Credit: @Hugo Allard.

Purchasing in St. Barthélemy

Acquisition of property on the island of St. Barthélemy is open to individuals and entities without the prerequisite of residency in St. Barthélemy or France

Selecting the correct representative:

Navigating St. Barthélemy's exclusive real estate market may require patience due to its luxury niche, and often low inventory. As a potential purchaser, begin by selecting the correct professional Real Estate Agency with a proven track record for representing their client’s best interest. Often times, the ideal property may not be openly advertised, making it important for us to fully understand your budget and specific requirements. With this information we can bring you all available opportunities, both advertised and confidential.

We also recommend engaging St Barth Sotheby's International Realty under a "Mandat de Recherche" (buyers broker contract). This will simplify the process for you by placing your needs in the hands of a single trusted representative. Leveraging our exprtise, extensive local network, and relationships with other island agencies, we will source the top opportunities to meet your needs. There is no up-front cost as our compensation is contingent upon successfully securing and negotiating a transaction on your behalf.

The Purchasing Process:

Upon identifying the perfect property, we will assist you to draft an offer to purchase—this is a concise document detailing the price and any specific conditions of your offer. Once accepted and signed by the seller, a Notaire, who is a specialized real estate attorney licensed in France to clear title, is engaged to draft a comprehensive purchase and sale agreement, including agreed-upon terms and a closing date. A 10% deposit is typically delivered into the Notaire's escrow account upon signing the agreement, and deducted from the total due at closing. An average transaction timeline spans 60-120 days following the signature so as to fulfill all closing requirements. A buyer need not be present, and may choose to award power of attorney to a representative on their behalf.

Associated Costs:

It is important to note that St. Barthélemy does NOT have an annual Real Estate Tax. At the time of purchase, the purchaser is responsible for one-time cost, inclusive of a transfer tax and Notaire's fees, which total approximately 6% of the purchase price. This amount will be calculated and outlined in the purchase and sale agreement by the Notaire. The real estate agency fees are included in the final sale price, and any applicable capital gains taxes are at the responsibility of the seller.