Search for properties for sale in St Lucia

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Featured properties

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    CAS 019 FAIRVIEW VILLA

    Gros Islet, St Lucia

    $395,000
    (approx. £242,302)
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    MOR 013

    , St Lucia

    $560,000
    (approx. £343,516)
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    BEA 007 L

    Beausejour, St Lucia

    $68,049
    (approx. £41,743)
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    CAP 052 L

    Cap Estate, St Lucia

    $112,360
    (approx. £68,924)

Guide to buying a property in St Lucia

A carat or two less bling than some Caribbean islands, St Lucia is the archetypal laid-back tropical paradise. Its forests, mountains, beaches and friendly people would reward a longer visit. It’s usually Barbados that steals the limelight for celebrity gossip in the Caribbean. But tongues were wagging in St Lucia when the island’s long-time resident celebrity, the late Lord Glenconner, left his multi-million pound St Lucian estate hidden away in the Piton mountains to his “servant”, Kent Adonai. He is far from the only foreigner, however, to seize upon St Lucia as a place to lead a discreet life surrounded by immense beauty - the latest is cricketer Andrew Strauss. If you want to be seen on the Caribbean circuit, you head to St Barts or Barbados – and pay double the price or more. If you’re after complete escape, you go somewhere tiny like Nevis. But for those who feel other islands are over-developed or over-priced, there is St Lucia, where you tuck yourself away and stare at the ocean, but nip out to some dramatically-located, friendly local bar, on the beach or suspended at the top of a rainforest, for a rum punch.The natural charms of Caribbean islands like St Lucia speak for themselves, but many buyers have held off from buying – as they have everywhere in the world – due to economic precariousness at home and abroad. Now the St Lucian government is keen to lure people to the island to see what it has to offer. The number of flights to St Lucia is on the rise and many developments offer investment perks such as a 10-year exemption from income tax.Due to the island’s natural geography, there just isn’t much building going on and the island will never become over-developed – there aren’t that many sites left to build on. 

Hotspots

Traditionally the most popular areas for buyers have been in the north-west, around Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay and the major cruise port and capital, Castries. On The Landings, the largest private marina development on the island, prices start from $550,000 for high-end homes. Away from the resorts you can find historic colonial houses set in acres of ground with plenty of privacy for under £500,000.Then an upmarket little enclave of development evolved at the northern tip, at the Cap Estate, plus further south in the area around the Piton peaks, a beautiful World Heritage Site.Sugar Beach, situated in the island’s prime position between The Pitons – next to Lord Glenconner’s former home – is set in a tropical valley that drops down to a small beach. Its faded old cottages have been turned into chic villas on a resort run by the trendy Tides hotel, the sea views are exquisite and prices for two-bedroom villas now start at £1.5 million. Then there's Freedom Bay, Andrew Strauss's development, where you can buy fractions of a villa. If you would rather not be on a resort, you can buy some wonderful, big detached houses with similarly stunning views for far less, such as a classically Caribbean-style villa overlooking the sea in the south of the island. The south is more rural and local in feel; comparatively undeveloped and uncommercial. For others keen to escape a resort community and get value for money, close to the capital Castries and overlooking the city and harbour, you can find historic colonial houses set in acres of grounds with palms and mature hardwood trees, or elevated houses with views, sea breezes, space and privacy for under £500,000.

Buying process

Apart from the need to obtain an Alien Landholding Licence (see below) buying in St Lucia is reasonably simple, but does require the services of a lawyer. The buyer and seller each sign the Agreement For Sale, which details the terms of the sale. At the same time, the buyer pays a 10 per cent deposit, usually into an escrow account. The Deed of Sale is prepared when all searches have been done, which the buyer signs in person (or the lawyer signs if the buyer has granted them power of attorney) to take possession of the property. At the same time the balance of the purchase price is paid along with other fees and taxes.Prior to the elections held in November 2011, there were pledges of an introduction of an economic citizenship programme, which would give property investors full residency status if they invest around $350,000 or more – watch this space! 

Buying costs

Stamp Duty is two per cent on the purchase costs and legal fees are around three to five per cent of the purchase price - though some may accept less in the current economic circumstances. There is also 10 per cent tax for non-residents when they come to sell. 

Buyer beware:

All overseas buyers must apply for an Alien Landholding Licence, which costs an application fee of EC$1,500, plus another EC$5,000 (EC$10,000 if it covers more than an acre of land) when it is granted. It also requires having fingerprints taken in the UK, character and police references, and the whole process can take up to four months.With thanks to Cardea Consultants and Brown & Co

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