Location, Location, Location: Nevis, West Indies

Bob Morris

01/01/2004

When Christopher Columbus spotted this eight-mile-long island in 1493, he mistook its cloud-shrouded mountains for icy peaks and named it Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows). Nevis has been beguiling and delighting visitors ever since with its lush hills and valleys, sandy beaches and a cosmopolitan demeanor that belies its small size. Together with its sister island of St. Kitts, located about three miles northwest across a channel known as the Narrows, it is a constitutional monarchy and part of the British Commonwealth.

U.S. statesman Alexander Hamilton was born on Nevis, and the site of his former home in Charlestown, the cozy capital, is now a museum. At the height of British colonial expansion, Admiral Horatio Nelson was stationed in Nevis and married a local woman, Fanny Nisbet. The site of their 1787 wedding, the lovingly restored Montpelier Plantation Inn, is one of several historic inns. Built in 1740 and meticulously restored, the Hermitage Plantation Inn is one of the oldest wooden houses still in use in the Caribbean.  (Click image to enlarge)

With less than 10,000 residents, only one city of note and no stoplights, it takes about an hour to drive around the island on its major paved road. The opening of the 196-room Four Seasons Resort Nevis in 1991, home to a Robert Trent Jones II par-71 course, set Nevis’ course as a refined destination. Think St. Bart’s without the glitz. Diana sought refuge on Nevis when she split with Prince Charles, and in recent years it has become increasingly attractive to island home buyers. Among those who own a villa on Nevis is U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.  (Click image to enlarge)

Amenities/recreation: Known as the “Queen of the Caribees,” Nevis is also home to the “sport of kings.” The Nevis Turf & Jockey Club offers a dozen horse races a year at palm-lined Indian Castle Race Track, overlooking the sea with views of the islands of Redonda and Montserrat. In addition to such watery diversions as snorkeling, scuba diving, sport-fishing and sailing, Nevis is a paradise for hikers. The more adventurous can hire a guide to help them climb 3,232-foot Mt. Nevis. Other guides lead birding and natural history tours. 

Real estate: It is relatively easy for foreigners to buy a home. There are some limitations when it comes to purchasing undeveloped land—foreigners are allowed to buy only one-half acre each, or one acre per couple. This rule does not apply to established homes, so it would be possible, for example, to buy an existing house on a three-acre tract. Once foreigners have an agreement for sale, they must apply for an Alien Landholder’s License, which takes about a month and costs 10 percent of the purchase price. At closing, there is also a 6 percent stamp tax. After that, annual property taxes are negligible. If buyers spend $150,000 or more on a house, they are eligible to buy Nevis passports, which will cost $35,000 per couple. (Click image to enlarge)

Some of the island’s most stunning custom homes and homesites are found at the Four Seasons Resort Estate, which offers lots larger than those typically allowed for foreigners. A 1.2-acre corner lot in Mahogany Hill Estates, with ocean views, is about $250,000. Custom home lots in Belmont Estates, ranging from 1.89 to 2.25 acres, start at $540,000.

The Four Seasons offers distinctive enclaves with duplex villas or turnkey custom homes inspired by the elegance of British West Indian colonial design. Steps from Pinney’s Beach and the resort amenities, the Villas of Palm Groves offer two- or three-bedroom detached villas from $700,000. Four-bedroom villas in Mahogany Hill Estates (top) and Belmont Estates start at $950,000. Sunset Hill has villas from $680,000. Owners can rent their properties through the resort, and are eligible to join the Resort Club for golf, tennis, spa and social privileges. Annual membership is $4,000.

Elsewhere on the island, the Cliffdwellers development offers hillside lots and homes starting at $250,000. Built 200 years ago, Dasents Estate is set on a six-acre former sugar plantation with three homes, including one in a converted windmill that is offered at $1 million through Sotheby’s International Realty.

Realtor 101:
Suzanne Gordon, Sugar Mill Realty
869.469.1093
limehill@caribsurf.com

Maria Consolino Caines and Shirley Lowe, Four Seasons Resort Estates
869.469.1199
salefsre@caribsurf.com

It is recommended that foreigners hire a local attorney to help with license applications.
Leonora Walwyn
869.469.1402
walwynbn@caribsurf.com, specializes in real estate.

More information:
Nevis Tourism Authority
866.469.7550
www.nevisisland.com