National Colony Realty

Friday was a very exciting day for the staff at NCR as we hopped aboard the ferry (TCI Ferry Services, Caribbean Crusin) at the Heaven down dock and headed for the island of North Caicos. Only costing us a mere $30 round trip we set sail for a half hour ride on our adventure for the day. We had a rental car waiting for us at the dock; which is the North Caicos Yacht Club mariner, and drove from North to Middle Caicos at which time we had lunch at Daniel’s cafe before we began putting up real estate signs on our beach front properties in Bambarra.

The day was filled with many activities including; a visit to the Blue Horizon Resort, Mudjin Harbour (attached are some photos) and Bambarra beach, and still had time for friendly conversations with the locals in the community. We then made a few stops in North Caicos, to the High School, Whitby beach and a guest house in Whitby, Land and Surveys department, Flamingo Lake (Oh! the many flamingo in one place) and Monkey Hills Subdivision before heading back to Providenciales on the afternoon boat.

Overall, the day was great. Between the humorous ride over the cause way to Middle Caicos and the many spectacular sceneries, we could not ask for a better day. Still we managed to accomplish what we set forth to do i.e. putting up real estate signs on our listings on North and Middle Caicos. (Click on an image to enlarge)

Sole ownership of a dream vacation home has some competition these days…fractionalizing.  I recently visited two beautiful homes here in Turks and Caicos that Elite Destination Homes is using to do just that.

Fractionalizing your property allows you to maintain ownership of your dream home, while monetizing a part of its equity. It can also help you reduce the overhead and worries of ownership — and possibly even generate revenue. 

Essentially these specialists in fractionalizing can put together a small private ownership group to acquire available shares of your home. They may join you as a partner, managing your property and providing all the owner services expected, or will have a representative on island to take care of your needs before and during your stay.  You can have your personal things in an owners lock up to be put out for you only when you are using your home, eliminating the feeling of a rental property.

It may not be the right option for you but certainly worth a look for some discerning buyers!

Karen Shaw

View

Thompson cove is a residential community located on the North Shore of Providenciales, just west of Turtle Cove Marina. It consists of 180 acres of residential land and has a canal system in the middle that affords a safe harbor for residents and their boats, and access to the beach in two locations and again a beautiful view of the North Shore from the many hilltop properties.  Its beachfront properties are all approximately 2 acres in size with approximately 150ft of beach frontage.

The desirable area of Thompson Cove can also boast of having many high end homes in this area. As stated previously it is zoned residential and hence restricted to a single family development which includes a main house and guest house and there is a home owners association in place to protect the owner’s investment.  

Examples of homes in the area is Villa Amoure, Villa Palmera, Sage House and the one loft community; which was envisioned by the developer of the Grace Bay Club a successful development on our popular Grace Bay Beach.

“According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.” (Wikipedia, The free Encyclopedia)

Fortunately, here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the shadow of the groundhog is not a big concern because as it is the winter months in places like Canada and the likes we are experiencing tropical sunny weather, and have the option of relaxing on our pristine Long Bay beach. Some residents sometimes say “we do not have seasons” because the weather is practically the same all year round.

But to you who are layered with clothes, and praying for a shorter winter season we say ‘happy Groundhog day’ from National Colony Realty.

Vernica

Our newspapers and television stations are reporting that the game show Wheel of Fortune was here, this past week in the Turks and Caicos to host a segment of their world famous show which will be aired June 2010.

The show was hosted at our beautiful Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort & Spa property on Providenciales. You will be able to view many clips taken around the Beaches property as well as be able to win prizes when the show airs on television.

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort & Spa is one of our all-inclusive resorts on island and cater to the family. When you think of this property, think of the world class water world slides, friendly staff, pristine white beaches, buffet and the likes.

Today we are sitting in our office brainstorming on how to get ready for the season and have decided what we need to is go to the beach!  Why not?  How else can we get jazzed up about our islands and it’s great beaches like those in Middle Caicos that rival the best in the world? 

The short ferry ride will take us to North Caicos first where we will stop and visit our listings there, and then drive over the new causeway to Middle which has made this sister island so accessible (and desirable as beachfront land is still affordable for many).

With any luck we will have time left over to navigate part of the caves that are also a highlight for any visitor to the Turks and Caicos Islands…hmm…well maybe not all of us!!!!!!

Visit again next week where we will report on our trip.

Karen Shaw

I was thinking about the TV show House Hunters International, and thought about the show piece that National Colony Realty did in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and thought that it would be a good idea to have ‘Land hunters international’.

There are many people who are looking for the right piece of land to build that ideal project development and even as an investment property and I thought such a show would be a good idea for aspiring land hunters to be able to see. For me, I am more fascinated over land as I am a lover of nature. And for National Colony Realty we specialize in land sales and see how important it is to purchase the right piece of land, and hence I think that this concept is a good idea. Let me have your thoughts.

Pigeon peas soup is a local dish that we prepare in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I particularly like it because of the flavor that the dry peas give the soup. There is nothing like having it made in TCI but here is the method for cooking it. Give it a try.

• Boil your pigeon peas - the dried one is preferred because of the flavor it gives and it also gives the soup a thicker broth.
• Meanwhile, scowl your pig tail in a separate pot, to take away the salt if it is salt pig tail, also by scowling the pig tail, it prevents the meat from taking away from the colour of the soup broth when completed. Take the opportunity to remove any unnecessary fat at the same time.
• Once the peas is boiled, you can add your pig tail, and any other meat that you want in the soup. Also your onions and sweet peppers and the likes can be added. Make sure it is boiled until the meat is cooked to how you want it.
• You can then add your plantains, cassavas, dumplings (any extra you want) and season to taste. - These ingredients are added at the last because they are easy to done. Once they are cooked to your liking, start taking up food.

Simple, but tasty. I look forward to my mother going to her farm during the week because it means the possibility of pigeon peas soup. Even though our islands are developed we do have farming still taking place on Providenciales, North Caicos and Middle Caicos. Farming is a part of our culture in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Vernica

Parrot Cay one of the private islands in the Turks and Caicos is a secluded 1000 acre tropical paradise, comprising of a long stretch of white pristine beach and turquoise water. Parrot Cay is home to many famous stars and have hosted a number of private wedding ceremonies.

At the Parrot Cay Resort, residence are entitled to an array of amenities, which includes spa treatment from their award winning holistic spa, health-giving cuisine and beach houses with private pools to name a few.

This resort was awarded by Travel and Leisure as the world’s best hotel spa. Parrot Cay is one of the Turks and Caicos Island private island retreat that you can enjoy as an owner as your vacation property or even as a visitor.

Listed are some articles about the Turks and Caicos Islands, they are informative as well as interesting. I thought I would share them with you.

• Life in the Turks and Caicos. Click here.
• Affordable Caribbean: Turks and Caicos
• Its a buyers market. Click here

Enjoy and give your feedback about the articles if you wish.