The largest of the 365 mostly uninhabited islands of the 120-mile Exuma archipelago, Great Exuma stretches effortlessly across the Tropic of Cancer about 300 miles off the coast of southern Florida and 130 miles southeast of Nassau, which It is the capital of the Bahamas. The gorgeously tropical Exumas average a comfortable 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit a day.
This summer was my day of discovery where I had the opportunity to visit this premier destination lifestyle opportunity. To my great pleasure, local developer and thirty-year resident Howard Obront, along with his trusted and loyal partner Shelton “Gulf” Morley, graciously extended me a tour of spectacular Exuma. As a man of all seasons, Gulf was great fun to have as a tour guide, boat captain, and storyteller.
Having participated in the development of the well-known February Point, Obront is now venturing into the latest gated community known as Oceania Heights.
Keeping in touch with the culture and tranquility of the island, Exuma has regulated that no more than 30% of the island can be developed, protecting the purity of the island and its good state of preservation for the future. Still, absolutely everything you need is at your fingertips. He certainly couldn’t think of anything else he might need and the absence of fast food chains certainly couldn’t hurt anyone. “If you don’t want anything, you have it. If you want to find something, you can find it,” Obront says knowingly as he sits down to share with me his past, his future, and his visions for the island and for Oceania Properties. His passion and welcoming personality are enough to open my mind to the possibilities of what this seventh heaven has to offer.
Highly respected among the Exuma population, Howard Obront has a vast knowledge of the comings and goings of the island. Celebrities like Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, and even Bill Gates have properties within the area. Johnny Depp is no stranger, as he stayed at one of Oceania Properties’ villas while filming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 3’. Even on my brief escape, a fellow passenger would surely have seen Reese Witherspoon enjoying seclusion with her family. For celebrities who experience the constant pressure of the paparazzi, as well as the many other stresses that accompany their careers, the islands are a refuge that allows them to have some much-needed peace of mind in their lives.
Doctors are found to be quick to congregate on Exuma as well. In fact, while the development is still in its early stages, by last count the six existing Luxury Hill Top Villas, with stunning panoramic ocean views, were found to be owned by doctors. Currently, another six magnificent custom villas are under construction, which are also for doctors. Also in a high-stress career, doctors from near and far seem to have discovered the secret to the peace and relaxation found on Exuma. Renowned Miami cardiologist and author of ‘The Reality Diet, Fighting Fat With Fibre,’ Dr. Steven A. Schnur of Mount Sinai Medical Center, spends his valuable free time relaxing with his wife and two children in Oceania Heights. “The people who are located here are among the friendliest and most welcoming in the world and they have chosen Exuma as the ideal place for their second home and eventual retirement,” says Obront with a smile on his face that translates into an unspoken trust in luxurious serenity. that’s Exuma.
Having a corporate or personal address in the gated community of Oceania Heights in the Bahamas not only provides opportunities to live an exclusive island lifestyle with world-class amenities, it also provides the opportunity to generate tax-free income through of the property appreciation, as well as the rental group program. As many investors know, real estate is a tangible asset, the value of which appreciates as you enjoy all the benefits of a vacation home. The July issue of ‘The Bahamas Investor’ states that in one of the islands the appreciation of the value of the condominiums is approximately $300,000.00 since the start date, and they have not yet been completed. A year ago a canal lot on Paradise Island sold for $1.5 million and is now selling for $2.2 million, an incredible $700,000.00 profit in one year. With the Bahamian tourism industry enjoying steady and sustained growth with more sophisticated resorts, more facilities and services, more and more investment opportunities are emerging, providing more reason to investigate the investment potential of the islands.
In the first edition of the Exuma Visitors Guide, Glenn S. Ferguson writes: “In the last five years, there has been a spectacular growth in real estate investment and development. The jewel in the crown is the $100 million development of Emerald Bay, the Premier Four Seasons Resort with 183 rooms and a golf course designed by Greg Norman.This development has resulted in real estate investment prices rising 45-60% per year, but you must act carefully quickly to ensure the best returns on investment.
As the world’s leading tax haven, The Bahamas offers the perfect investment opportunity as there are no personal, corporate, income, capital gains, estate, gift or inheritance taxes. Easy access to major world markets, political stability, security, and economic opportunity are business realities in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Since 1977, the Bahamian dollar has been pegged 1-to-1 to the US dollar and the two are used interchangeably throughout the island. In fact, I found that whenever I had to pay with Bahamian currency, I was usually given US currency as change.
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is a leading international banking center abroad with more than 400 banks. Second in the world after London in the number of financial institutions it owns, Nassau is known for its laws guaranteeing banking confidentiality. The Bahamas is trusted by individuals and corporations from around the world. Of the approximately 15,000 companies registered in The Bahamas, more than 90% are foreign. Money, in the Bahamas, is accessible and discreet.
The Bahamas has been named “the best financial center in the Western Hemisphere” by The Banker world magazine, the Minister of Financial Services and Investments, the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson revealed in February 2006. Furthermore, “Apart from the United States of America and Canada, we have the highest standard of living in the hemisphere,” states Hon. Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Now voted one of the top three international destinations in the world by The Washington Post, the island of Great Exuma, Bahamas is attracting attention not only from the international media, but also from major resort developers such as Four Seasons Resort in Emerald Bay. Still, the only sounds you’ll hear as you walk through Oceania Heights are birdsong, waves crashing on the shore, and gentle breezes rustling through the palm trees. This paradise within a paradise truly captures the elegance of luxury living while maintaining an exclusivity that is intangible.
With all the amenities of a first-class resort, Oceania Heights offers a welcome escape from the hectic pace of everyday life, while offering all the comforts of home. Rental and Real Estate Contact Alexandria “Zandy” Turtle exceeded our expectations by making sure our villa was stocked with fresh fruit, beverages, and flowers. It was wonderful! As I walked out the French doors of my bedroom onto the secluded terrace of my villa, I realized the luxurious privacy and unparalleled ocean views. The comfort of such peace and quiet seemed invaluable to me.
When evening came, we dined at beautiful places like The Four Seasons or the ever popular Coconut Cove, which offered a beautiful view of the beach, a swim-up bar, and the Atlantic Ocean sunset. Coconut Cove owner Pam was more than hospitable, offering conventional Bahamian fare such as blackened halibut or roast lamb, as well as traditional American lobster, pizza and cowboy steak. Without hesitation, I would have to recommend the shrimp cocktail, if nothing else.
“Deep sea fishing is great here,” says Howard Obront’s brother and Miami trial attorney, Curt Obront, who joined us for dinner one night. A frequent visitor to Exuma, Curt enjoys his time spearfishing the reefs for his lobster dinner or bonefishing from one of the many nearby flats. If you like fresh seafood, this would be the way to get it. However, if you’re not adventurous enough to catch it on your own, you can watch your fresh snail salad being prepared along the Stocking Island shoreline. This was an experience in itself for me.
Beyond the exquisite restaurants and secluded beaches, Oceania Properties offers a fabulous tennis club with well-lit courts to allow play at any time of the day or night. Plus, the state-of-the-art fitness center will help you keep up with your fitness and self-care regimen. Manned by courteous security staff, Oceania Properties’ front gates maintain a sense of privacy and security, yet you can rest easy knowing this island maintains a zero percent crime rate. Guests and residents of Oceania Heights also enjoy special access to the Greg Norman-designed golf course and full-service spa at the Four Seasons Resort. From daily housekeeping services to 24-hour security for your peace of mind, Oceania Properties “offers everything, even things you’d forget to ask for,” says Obront.
Surrounded by culture, beauty and genuine hospitality, the island seemed to exude a certain “energy”. When it was time to return home, I could see why so many choose to make Oceania Heights their home away from home.
It has been noted that when Christopher Columbus landed on the island years ago he fell in love with the friendly smiles and accommodating people. Even today, this way of life on Exuma remains constant. With visions of rolling hills and spectacular panoramic views locked in my memory, I look forward to my return when I can relive those memories.
For profit or pleasure, many of the world’s top professionals have chosen to invest in this tax-free island paradise and once you’ve been there, even for a moment, it’s abundantly clear why.
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