The process of buying a private island is similar in many ways to buying a house, only the cost is much higher. When you are considering whether to buy a house you check the general condition, the foundation, if it has humidity or if there are termites. Buying an island is similar, but there are many more things to consider and, in most cases, the island buyer has no experience on which to base his judgment, other than a simple emotional attachment. When evaluating the amount of money you will have to spend to buy a private island, it is essential that you keep the following possible problems in mind.
Steps
Step 1. Decide on the cost
It goes without saying that the larger your budget, the better the island you will be able to buy, but some people have unrealistic expectations of what they can buy. It is best to spend as much as possible to buy the island itself, even if it means waiting until you have the money to develop it later. Saving money immediately will generally lead you to get an island of lesser value and once purchased and developed you will not be able to change your mind. It is better to have a more inviting island than to buy a worse quality island just to save money.
Step 2. Decide on the location
The location of an island is one of the most influential factors in the purchase decision of most buyers. It is very important that you keep this in mind when purchasing. You are not simply buying an island, you are also "buying" its entire environment, what is around it and the view. It would be better if there was a nearby village where to get supplies and an airport close at hand, for example. In other words, what makes the purchase of an island plausible is the set of infrastructures to which one has access. Some islands are close to villages, which is great for procuring goods and personnel, but on the other hand it lacks privacy. Furthermore, more remote islands offer complete privacy but lack accessibility. An island in the middle of the ocean usually doesn't have a great view, while those located in the bays offer both refuge and great views. In addition, the more remote islands that are less sheltered are more exposed to bad weather and rough seas.
Step 3. Make sure there is a stable source of drinking water
You will find that water is the most important element of living on an island, and also the second most important factor in the choice of purchase. In general, the smaller the island, the less water there is. This is also true in the other sense, except for rocky islands (even extended ones of this type have problems producing water). Each island has several possible sources of drinking water: for example, you can look for a spring or an aquifer high enough to dig a well. If a well already exists, have it checked to make sure it is functional - this can be done by draining the well with a pump and seeing how many minutes it takes for it to fill again. The amount of water you can extract from a well this way will give you a value of cubic meters of water. However, in the tropics water is not a big deal as a good rainwater tank can provide enough water for the dry season by accumulating it during the monsoon season and the occasional rains.
The reservoir can be filled from the well, thus preventing the well from drying out and the aquifers from being damaged. Find out about the average annual rainfall. The estimated amount of annual water needed to live on an island not full time is between 115 m3 and 380 m3, which translates into about 1000 mm of annual rainfall. Technology can also help and state-of-the-art desalination plants, suitable for a normal home, cost only € 15,000. It should be noted that desalinated drinking water can create what is called the "Lens Effect": it means that a sandy island up to one meter above sea level can host an aquifer 3 or 4 times the height of the it isolates as the fresh water pushes the salty water out forming a lens-shaped aquifer under the island. Another factor to consider is that if your island is close enough to a water source on the mainland or on another larger island, you can arrange to create a pipe even a few kilometers long if the water is between the two extremes. it's not too deep.
Step 4. Choose one that has a nice climate
The islands can be divided into three climatic categories: temperate, Mediterranean and tropical. In general, islands with a tropical climate are located between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn - this explains why the term tropical. The Mediterranean ones can be described as those found in areas with high temperatures but with low rainfall, which is typical of the islands of the Mediterranean, the Canaries, Bermuda, Bahamas etc. Temperates are basically those found in generally cold areas such as Northern Europe, Canada, and the United States. You should think carefully about which climate to prefer, each has its pros and cons and while many people love the tropics, some find the humidity and temperatures too oppressive. Some may consider temperates as their own idea of hell while others adore the passing of the seasons and the variety this produces. Obviously the Mediterranean climate produces the best balance of heat without the high humidity and rainfall of the tropics. Always remember that the weather on the first day you visit an island may not be that island's typical weather on a daily basis - the weather may be out of the ordinary, both for better or for worse. You should ask the locals - in particular, fishermen know a lot about the climate - about the weather, the typical season and the weather cycles of the island and the surrounding area. Oceanic islands are prone to flooding, storms, droughts, strong currents, and seasonal tidal variations. Islands found in lakes are the least prone to problems because they have no tides or large storms, but they can be subject to seasonal variations in water level if it is an artificial lake. Islands in rivers can be affected by floods and droughts. Ask the local authorities for information on the historical minimum and maximum levels of the river. By talking to the locals you can get anecdotes related to the topic. Islands found in shallow bays and estuaries are prone to tidal variations and access to these islands can be really problematic at low tide. The islands far from the coast also go through the usual tidal cycles and are the most prone to bad weather conditions.
Step 5. Check for accessibility
Accessibility is one of the main factors in choosing an island and directly depends on what hassles and travel times you are willing to endure. It also depends on how experienced you are with sailing and how familiar you are with the ocean, as the only way (other than parachuting) to get to an island is by ship / boat. Travel time is influenced by the type of boat, its engine, and of course the seasonal weather conditions. You have to take into account that no matter how sheltered an island may be, you will still have to face the rough sea. If you are the type of person who prefers less travel, you will find that generally the closer an island is to a town, the more expensive it is.
Step 6. Decide how you want to develop the island
The development you plan for the island is very important when choosing what kind of island you want to buy.
- Small islands. For example, if you just want to build a small vacation home, a 1-5 hectare (2.5 - 12 acre) island should suffice.
- Medium Islands: If you want to build a bigger house and maybe a few guest cottages, a 5-10 hectare (12 - 24 acre) island might be more suitable.
- Big Islands: If you are planning to build a small resort instead, then you can't go below 10-15 hectares (24 - 37 acres). If you want to build a village or hotel, then you need to consider at least an island of 15-20 hectares (37 - 48 acres), and you will need at least 6-10 hectares (14-24 acres) of cleared land to build. The type of construction and how isolated the island is will also affect the price for the development. In general you can expect to pay 30% more of the construction costs for an island project than for the same project on the mainland: the construction cost is higher because all materials and workers have to be transported to the island.
Step 7. Check the stability of the island
Take into account the solidity and stability of the island with respect to the ground and the seabed. Choose an island with good anchorage as, without it, it would be practically impossible to land on the island (or even worse, you could get stuck there without being able to go back). A good dock should be sheltered from prevailing winds, have a sandy bottom to keep the boat steady and have direct access to the deep water beach, without rocks or corals. If you have no experience with boats, ask the captain who transports you to the island for an opinion. Most of the islands have some mooring, but the quality can vary a lot. A good island should have a gently sloping sandy beach with good access without, or through a gap in the coral and be sheltered from prevailing winds. However, a mooring dock and / or a service boat can solve the problem. The ideal island should both be sheltered and have a good place to disembark. It is therefore important to see the island during both low and high tide.
Step 8. Check its topography
Islands can range from perfectly flat Caribbean-style islands to mountainous and rocky cliffs. If you have a preference it is important to tell the broker that you have contacted the type of island you want. Most of the islands are not flat and on what are called mainland islands (which are the tops of submerged hills) there is only a small area of flat land. In general, the flat land area on a mainland island is approximately 10-12% of the total area of the island and must be taken into account when planning future development.
Step 9. Discover its beaches:
Find out where the beaches are. In most of the islands the beach covers only a portion of the island, it is very rare to find an island with sand all around 360 degrees. This means that the location of the beach is important. The beach is generally located on the opposite side of the direction in which the prevailing winds blow, offering a well-sheltered anchorage point. Most people prefer the island to have a west facing beach so they can watch the sunset, but if this is not possible there can always be hills or spikes that offer a good location to watch the sunset. Although a west-facing beach is ideal, the sunset only lasts 30 minutes a day, so this shouldn't be a deterrent when you're considering an island. The quality of the sand is another major factor that many people dwell on, dreaming. The quality of the sand depends on two things: the degree of fineness and the whiteness. How fine the sand is is more important than color: fine brown sand is preferable to white but coarse and rough sand - it may not look that good but it is much softer underfoot and one of the joys of living on an island. is to walk barefoot on the beach at sunrise or sunset in search of shells. Another important factor to consider is whether the beach is flat or goes down quickly, and whether it is sandy or rocky. Obviously the ideal beach is made of very fine sand that slowly descends into deep water, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. If you have an important preference you should inform your agent so that he can take it into account.
Step 10. Analyze existing infrastructure
An island with buildings usually needs a stable keeper to take care of the plants and keep the structures clean. Building infrastructure on an island is more expensive than on land as all materials and workers have to be transported by boat. Many islands are virgin islands - completely natural, untouched by human hands and devoid of any structure. In this case, there is nothing to consider aside from the island's potential. However, if the island already has existing infrastructure such as a resort or residence, then a thorough check of the condition and quality of that infrastructure is highly recommended before purchasing. If you are buying an island with structures already built, make sure the buildings have all government permits and possibly bring an architect or building inspector with you to give an independent opinion on the value and quality of the structures, and on any damage or repairs. necessary.
Step 11. Hire caretakers
A good custodian is the most important thing you can do to protect such a large investment. Since an island is, in fact, isolated, it is difficult to protect it when you are not there and in case you are away for a quick visit, or you only go to the island in a certain season, a caretaker provides indispensable protection. Most owners of the wealthier islands hire full-time caretakers (there's even a newsletter called the Caretaker Gazette), while others pay local fishermen to keep an eye on their properties. Islands in the heavily trafficked Caribbean are more prone to crime than those completely off-the-beaten path, especially if they have air traffic that is a little too friendly to possible intruders. Aside from defending the property from intruders and squatters, the caretaker can keep facilities and equipment in order, making sure they are kept in good condition. This is especially important in the tropics where monsoons can cause serious damage to structures in a very short period if regular maintenance is not done. While you are on the island the caretaker can also work as a gardener, mechanic and receive shipments for you from the villages. It is generally good to take a couple of them.
Step 12. Review the services available on the island
A first consideration to make when buying an island concerns communication. An island is separated from the mainland, so communications are vital, both for safety and emergency situations, and for ordinary life. It is extremely rare for a lonely island to have usual services such as water, electricity, telephone line or TV reception. In most cases you will need to be self-sufficient in water and electricity, so this goes into the cost of your development costs. However, the island may reach TV reception or have access to cell phone signal. Having access to the cell phone network means that communication can be achieved cheaply and fairly easily. In many cases the cellular network can be used to access the Internet. It is a good idea to bring a cell phone, a small radio and a small TV when visiting islands that are potential purchases to see how good the signal is. Even a weak signal can be reinforced with an antenna, and telephone, television, Internet and radio are all relatively cheap to obtain nowadays with satellite technology, so don't worry if these services can't be obtained from the mainland.
Step 13. Never ignore legal land ownership issues
Know your property rights. In many countries, island ownership is only valid up to the high tide mark, so with the beaches below that limit belonging to the government. In general, this means that you own the island but cannot build or modify anything below the high tide mark and therefore the beaches may not belong to you. When buying islands in foreign countries you should consult a lawyer to do a complete check of the island's documentation. Upon inspection find out if anyone is living on the island and if they have a legal right to stay there. Squatters can be a problem and great care should be taken to ensure they are not present before the deal is completed.
Advice
- A critical consideration when purchasing an equipped island is the evaluation of the quality of the dock. Getting to and from the island is entirely dependent on the dock or mooring, and great care should be taken in examining the age of the dock, the method of construction and the current condition. A poorly constructed, old, or damaged dock can require a complete rebuild or costly repairs. Building and repairing a pier can be one of the most expensive activities you need to take care of when buying or developing an island. Get an expert to accompany you to make an assessment. In many countries there are very few regulations regarding the construction of a pier, but still ask what local permits are required to build one.
- Make sure you understand the maximum level the water can reach. This information is essential for building structures and homes. If you build too close to the beach, they can get flooded often.
