WRITTEN by JOHN MORRIS
How to make your island dreams a reality
Real estate on Roatan is booming…
Dating back to the 1960s, the island has been a draw for scuba divers due to the fantastic array of marine life found here on this hemisphere’s largest barrier reef… the second largest in the world.
Today with more and more cruise ships adding Roatan to their ports of call… and featured shows on the ever popular HGTV series “Caribbean Life”…
Roatan has been discovered.
With its ease of attainment, more and more people are inquiring about our little paradise, and rightfully so.
Most have never even heard about Roatan and are curious to learn what it’s like to vacation here and they wonder…
Is it a retirement destination… or the perfect “great escape”?
I am far from political, but it is a different North America now than what I left behind ten years ago and frankly, it does not seem to be getting better.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-American, just very content with my decision to pack it up and go.
Now back to the questions…
I do not claim to have all the answers but perhaps I can satisfy your curiosity… and point you in the right direction regarding your concerns and desires.
No one has all the answers although some might think they do. Remember that Roatan is populated by a wide range of folks from all walks of life so you can be sure that opinions are all over the board.
Best to do your own research and keep an open mind.
So, first question is… where do you start?
Buckle up your seatbelts, put on your helmet, pour a glass of wine (not necessarily in that order) and sign up for Facebook, if you have not already done so.
As mentioned in an earlier blog, Facebook is our official news source on the island.
There are many pages created by island residents where you can ask questions, research previous queries and explore various website links.
And by the way, you can even listen to an English-speaking online radio station.
My mother always said there are no stupid questions but…
Be prepared for the island’s class clowns if the answer to your inquiry is the least bit obvious. Thank goodness not everyone is serious here… you know who you are!
Facebook’s Roatan pages cover just about every subject but two of the most popular for general questions are Roatan Discussion Group and Ask Anything Roatan.
This is where you can get mostly honest answers to anything you want to know. Both of these pages are easy to join and extremely active.
Okay, so now you like what you are reading… next step?
Visit the island.
Accommodations abound for every budget and tour operators galore are just waiting to show off their beautiful island.
Personally, I prefer to set a client up with Alex, a driver and good friend of ours for years. He is much less ‘touristy’ in his approach and shares the island simply as he sees it.
Roatan may be fairly small but trust me, there is a lot to see and it varies from east to west, not only in topography but also in what the French call “je ne sais quoi”… a quality you find pleasing but you can’t quite describe it.
Basically what I’m trying to say is… you need to get a feel for the island.
After your visit, if you can’t stop thinking and daydreaming about Roatan… make plans to return and book a vacation rental. It’s the perfect way to understand what island living is all about – shopping and cooking for yourself, finding your basic needs, entertainment and creature comforts outside of a resort environment.
Step three…
Look for a long term rental but note that this can be challenging at certain times of the year…
Or hook up with a reputable real estate agent if you feel ready to make the move.
Buying on Roatan is safe and secure – the Roatan MLS abides by the ethics of North America. In fact, it is much easier than you might think… which explains our large and ever growing expat community.
Can you imagine if there was a Jeopardy show dedicated only to topics about Roatan?
I’ll bet you all would play!
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