I have some more thoughts re Jamaica and real estate. As I’ve said before, I don’t think there’s a ‘bubble’, so to speak. When I’m done driving.

Hard to organize so I’ll just share as they come up. (1) for many reasons, our assets locally are undervalued. It was so with the stock market, and it’s realizing ‘fair’ value benefited many, including me (to a much lesser extent) and its undervalued now post-COVID for while

The NASDAQ etc have recovered, the JSE is yet to. It’s a buying time, and if you feel you missed the boat, now is as good a time as any. If you happen to invest for a goal and hit it, then sell and pay for the goal. Told the story of my client and the house and well he’s happy

Despite his initial protestations. That’s why I’m the Advisor and he’s not. Thankfully he listened, because others didn’t. Life. Anyway (2) out real estate is undervalued. The fact of the matter is, a Jamaica with crime <750 per annum would see asset prices double overnight

Remember. This is still a country with a stable political environment, fair foreign exchange access etc. Yes, criminality is rampant, and corruption is a problem, but if the former is managed and systems continue to be implemented, they will be behind us eventually. There was a

time when lawyers weren’t debarred etc with the regularity we are seeing now. So whilst slow, things are changing. My contention - don’t wait until all are in place to invest, for one would be priced out the market then. Think of Monaco and London etc.

Anyhow, what’s happening now is that people are starting to invest in the space. Returns () have to justify the asset. Meaning, look on Trafalagar Road, up until maybe 6 months ago, there was a bar and car lot on the corner with Braemar I think . Where else in the world would

one see that, unless it was a premium bar and club?! The monthly income has to justify the value, or else, it’ll be sold. Or should have been. But it was there for YEARS. Shoutouts to the Deck. IYKYK. Prime real estate eh? Of course, it seems like nothing to us, because I’ve been

patronizing and passing there for years, but think about it, there’s a Spanish Court Conference Facility across the road, and behind the new thing going where the Deck is (I won’t say, just wait) are two blocks where a one bdr unit is going for $300K USD. 10 years ago that was a

parking lot and ball field. As I said at the start, our assets were undervalued because of social ills. That does not cause the inherent value to fall, on the contrary, it means the market price is yet to catch up. It’s starting to now. Regrettably, earnings for the average

person are yet to. It means that it will happen, but there are other things required for that to happen and that one won’t be the subject of a free unfortunately . But is a USD $300K apartment that unusual in a big city? Probably not. You can see the sea from a lot of the

area. And I can tell you for a fact that the business activity in Kingston, especially by foreigners does not justify real estate prices. So it’s undervalued, rather than overpriced. I go further, one will say Kingston isn’t Jamaica, and that’s 100% correct. So the wave I think

will involve rural development. I believe infrastructure will have to lead the way and all will follow. I was very encouraged by that article I shared this morning and I hope more happens. My political involvement (like other things before) take me around the island regularly and

I see the value. Remember however, that while real estate in London is expensive, but it’s more cost-efficient outside of it. The point would hold for properties in Kingston proper and the ‘suburbs’, so to speak. My approach, like in all other things, is value. Wherever it is

That’s where I’ll be. I completely lost my train of thought but hopefully it’ll come back soon. What I’ll part with, is to ask whether one will wait until Jamaica is Monaco to buy a piece of the rock. I do think one may find a deal but I think that the momentum is strong

another indicator, for me, is the Stock Market and the pace of listings. Capital Markets drive economies. Look around the world, it’s just a factor. Access to capital facilitates growth and expansion which lead to GDP Growth. But coming back to the location, Pankhurst penthouse

Is circa $600K USD - good money. The new tower beside 20 South. There’s a much larger house in Cherry Garden going for $500K. So what does one want? Proximity or size? It’s all about perspective and

Think about it, that’s New Kingston and the Golden Triangle I guess. What of Downtown Kingston? Downtown has Parliament and what will eventually be Government Square, the JSE, Digicel, GraceKennedy, Ports, the airport and a ton of things. What will that be valued in a decade?

I say all that to say, I don’t believe real estate is overvalued. On the contrary, and having spent the last few months learning about things, I think it’s undervalued. The key however, like everything else, it to find value and grab it. Blessings

I forgot to mention, there are well-to-do Jamaicans overseas, and even less than well-to-do, who would think nothing of spending $30 million + on a unit.
They probably do, in actuality.