This is a Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing Property at The Peninsula. It gives you most of the information necessary to make an informed decision. Antigua, while small, has many professionals working with property and in the property field. Architects, Engineers, Builders and Lawyers are readily available. Kindly be aware of all the following :

Acquisition Considerations:

1. To purchase property in Antigua, Non-Citizens need to apply for a license which costs 5% of the purchase price.
2. For Non-Citizens, there is a non-speculation law covering the purchase of land. You are obliged to comply with the details of the non-citizen’s license including the allowed time required to commence and complete building.
3. The buyer pays government transfer fees of 2.5%.
4. Rates and property taxes are based on land area and rental value and are assessed by the Land Officer at Inland Revenue.
5. For Non-Residents there is a 25% withholding fee tax. Your Property Manager will inform you on how to deal with this.
6. The majority of property is freehold. Leaseholds are rare and usually held by the Crown.
7. Legal costs vary between 1% and 2% depending on property value. Purchasers are encouraged to engage the services of a lawyer to handle the conveyance.
8. Properties are registered at the Land Registry. Your Lawyer will search the title for and charges of encumbrances. There may be Restrictive Covenants registered against property. These will be mainly in gated communities or Developments.
9. There is no title insurance in Antigua and Barbuda.
10. Property Management fees are usually 10% but are negotiable based on work and your expectations. Rental commissions are 8.33% of the value of the lease. For short term rentals these will vary from 10% to 30% depending on the property and services provided.
11. Insurance cover is approximately 2.0% of the insured risk; deductible of 2% includes earthquakes & named storms.
12. Bank financing is available. Mortgage interest rates in Antigua are fairly high compared with the US & Europe.
13. Houses are usually serviced with a septic tank.
14. Water cisterns are required and by law must be at a minimum 10 Imperial Gallons for each sq. ft. of roof area.
15. The government supply of electricity and water is generally good and reliable. Many homes have a backup generator and can obtain water either from the mains water supply or by trucking to replenish the cistern supply.
16. Telephone, Cell telephones, Cable or wireless TV and Internet Broadband are generally good. Like the rest of the world are not necessarily keeping up to expectations due in large part by an ever increasing user base the result of population growth and increased tourism.