#real estate in Jamaica

[jamaicahomescom]

Reimagining Jamaica’s Education: Building the Schools of the Future for STEM

[remaxelitejm]

Renting vs. Buying Property in Jamaica: Which Makes More Sense?

Buying a house in Jamaica is a dream of most people, but does it make more financial sense than renting a property in Jamaica? The response depends on a variety of requirements as well as personal preferences. Jamaica, with its gorgeous coastline, vibrant culture, and tropical surroundings, is a popular destination for residents as well as tourists wanting to invest in real estate. Whether you're searching for a holiday house, an apartment for sale in jamaica west indies for income source, or a long-term residence, the decision to rent or purchase property in Jamaica shouldn't be taken lightly. In this article, we'll look at the aspects you should think about while making this decision and balance both the advantages and drawbacks of both renting and owning real estate in Jamaica.

Renting Property in Jamaica

Pros of Renting:

Flexibility

Renting provides additional flexibility, which makes it suitable for those who want to experience the lifestyle of Jamaica without committing to a long-term lease. It is suitable for expatriates or individuals who plan to stay for a short period of time.

Reduced Responsibilities

As a renter, you are not responsible for the property's maintenance, repairs, or taxes. Typically, the landlord is responsible for these kinds of problems, relieving you of potential financial constraints.

Lower Initial Costs

Renting needs a smaller upfront sum of money than owning a residence. A substantial down payment or ongoing mortgage payments are not required.

Easier Relocation

When it comes time to leave Jamaica, ending a lease is easier and less complicated than selling a home.

Read More: Jamaica Real Estate Trends 2023: What You Need to Know

Cons of Renting:

There is no equity buildup

Renting does not enable you to build up equity in the property, which might be a disadvantage if you plan to make Jamaica your permanent home.

Rent Increases

Landlords might increase rent over time, which could make it more expensive in the future.

Buying Property in Jamaica

Pros of Buying:

Equity and Investment

Owning property in Jamaica allows you to build up equity over time. Real estate may be a long-term investment with potential for growth.

Housing Prices  are Constant

Your housing costs will be relatively stable if you have a fixed-rate mortgage, whereas rent might rise over time.

Personalization 

You have the ability as a property owner to make changes, renovations, or improvements to the property to suit your personal preferences and requirements.

Rental Income

If you don't live in Jamaica throughout the year, buying a home might give rental income while you aren't using it.

Cons of Buying

High start-up costs

Purchasing property in Jamaica often requires a substantial initial expense, which includes a down payment, closing expenses, and property taxes.

Maintenance Responsibility

You are responsible for maintenance, repairs, and property taxes as a property owner, which may be costly and time-consuming.

Market Fluctuations

Property values in Jamaica, like anywhere else, are susceptible to fluctuations. It is essential to plan for the potential that real estate prices will fall, affecting your investment.

Flexibility is limited

Purchasing a property is an investment for the future, and selling it may be a challenging endeavor, especially in a declining market.

Conclusion

The decision to rent or buy real estate in Jamaica is ultimately determined by your personal circumstances, goals, and financial situation. Renting provides flexibility and minimized initial costs, but it does not provide the opportunity for equity or long-term investment. Purchasing real estate allows you to create wealth, produce rental income, and have a secure living situation, but it demands a significant financial investment and increased responsibilities. Before making a decision, take on thorough study, look at your financial capacity, and consider your long-term goals. Consult with local Real Estate Agents Jamaica and carefully evaluate the benefits and drawbacks in order to make the best choice for your lifestyle in the beautiful Caribbean country of Jamaica.

[centuryjm21]

10 Reasons Why You Need a Real Estate Agent When Buying a Home in Jamaica

As the real estate market in Jamaica continues to evolve, the decision to work with a professional real estate agent when purchasing a home has become increasingly crucial. While scouring online listings for your dream property in Jamaica can be an exciting endeavor, having a knowledgeable agent by your side can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and successful home-buying experience and find suitable homes for sale in jamaica

With countless real estate agents operating across the country, finding the right one to match your needs and preferences can open up a world of benefits. In this blog, we'll explore the top 10 reasons why hiring a real estate agent is the best choice for first-time and seasoned home buyers in Jamaica.

Saving You Time: Real estate agents have access to a wealth of property listings and can quickly filter out options that don't align with your criteria, helping you avoid the frustration of sifting through unsuitable homes.

Securing a Better Deal: Experienced agents understand the nuances of the local real estate market and can negotiate on your behalf to ensure you get the best possible price for your dream property.

Leveraging Insider Connections: Real estate agents of century21 maintain extensive professional networks, granting you access to off-market properties and valuable insights that you may not be able to uncover on your own.

Expertise and Ethics: Real estate agents in Jamaica are bound by a strict code of ethics, ensuring they prioritize your interests and guide you through the complex home-buying process with their specialized knowledge and expertise.

Access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS): The MLS is a powerful tool used by real estate professionals to share information about available properties, giving you a comprehensive view of the market that online listings may not provide.

Staying Ahead of Market Trends: Agents closely monitor fluctuations in the real estate market, allowing them to advise you on the best time to make your purchase and capitalize on favorable conditions.

Highly Motivated to Find You a Home: Real estate agents in Jamaica are driven to find you the perfect property, as their success is directly tied to your satisfaction and the successful completion of the transaction.

Navigating Complex Transactions: From property inspections to mortgage approvals, real estate agents can guide you through every step of the home-buying process, ensuring you understand the intricacies and maintain control over the situation.

Intimate Local Knowledge: Agents possess in-depth knowledge of the neighborhoods, schools, amenities, and potential developments, helping you make an informed decision about the area that best suits your lifestyle and preferences.

No Risk to You: When working with a real estate agent in Jamaica, you don't incur any upfront costs – the seller typically covers the agent's fees, making their services a valuable asset in your home-buying journey.

By leveraging the expertise and resources of a skilled real estate agent, home buyers in Jamaica can navigate the real estate landscape with confidence, secure the property of their dreams, and enjoy a seamless and rewarding home-buying experience. Take the first step towards homeownership by connecting with the trusted professionals at Century21 Jamaica, your one-stop-shop for all your real estate needs.

[homes-in-jamaica-for-sale]

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Buy Property in Jamaica

Jamaica with beautiful sceneries, ethnic people, and warm weather was always a desired place for many people. However, beyond its appeal as a tourist destination, what is revealed here is that real estate investments in this stunning island cannot be purchased at a better time than now. Below are several strong arguments why everyone should consider homes in Jamaica for sale at the moment.

1. Growing Real Estate Market

Jamaica real estate industry remains stable for the changes in the global real estate markets. As the need for properties to live in, work in, and invest in rises especially in populous tourism focused regions of Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios, the capital gains would likely be quite stellar. The current generation of investors is also beginning to consider Jamaica as a long-term investment opportunity; this, therefore, is the right time to make an investment in a property.

2. Favorable Exchange Rates

To potential foreign purchasers, current exchange rates are advantageous, hence the best time to invest in Jamaican real estate. It is estimated that many overseas investors in places like the United States and Canada are experiencing the novelty of being able to take their dollars and effectively buy far more. This can result in cost savings proportional to market price trends, where this market has long suffered inflated prices.

3. Attractive Financing Options

The Jamaican government and the local financial institutions are now trying to kick-start the stagnant economy by offering one form of incentive package or the other to of the property purchase. Interest rates remain relatively low; and favourable financing packages can be negotiated for by both residents and foreigners. Also, with mortgage products specifically marketed to cater for international buyers the entry hurdles have never been lower.

4. Thriving Tourism Sector

Tourism in Jamaica is still, very prosperous to this date the island continues to welcome millions of tourists annually. The flow of tourists increases significantly, which explains the high demand for rent thus making it a good investment sector. Having a piece of property on the beach, with room for modifications that allow it to operate as a vacation rental, is far more than a source of passive income; it means access to your PERSONAL paradise on earth. Under current conditions favourable for tourism development, the market for rentals is projected to expand further.

5. Culture and Economy

Politically and economically Jamaica has made a lot of progress over the recent past. Today the government is putting considerable efforts to improve the business climate and increase confidence of investors. This stability complemented by the historic cultural and natural resources of this island make Jamaica an attractive destination for property investment. There is a kind of solidarity; the Jamaicans are friendly people and this fact contributes to the exotic appeal of the island.

6. Lifestyle Appeal

Housing for Investments in Jamaica goes beyond the financial and investment aspect but its lifestyle as well. Overall, the island is amazing since it incorporates the two best things: pleasure and culture. Peaceful beach fronts, explore mountain ranges, and sumptuous food amongothers are what Jamaica has to offer when it comes to quality lifestyle. Living or owning property here affords you an exclusive piece of the sunshine state where you can retire to, whether as vacation home or abode.

Conclusion:

So it is true, the current is the best time to invest in Jamaican real estate with a growing market, a favorable exchange rate, various attractive financing opportunities, and a booming tourism industry, and the island’s stability has been upgraded. Whether you seek a Caribbean vacation home or an investment property or simply a residence in the sun, Caribbean Homes presents an opportunity for investment with a fun way of life. There will never be a better opportunity to make your dream of owning a home in this lively island come through!

[homes-to-rent-in-caribbean]

Discovering Paradise: The Rise of Luxury Home Rentals in the Caribbean

Introduction:

The Caribbean is widely known as paradise, and it is slowly turning into paradise for those searching for luxury Homes to rent in Caribbean. Since more clients seek narrow, niche, and premium experiences, the requirement for luxury houses to rent within the Caribbean is trending. These luxurious properties include beachfront villas with a great view and tropical houses that provide modern renters with comfortable houses for rent, nature seclusion, and luxury. Whether people are planning a short vacation or going for an extended holiday in the Caribbean, interest in owning a home there or rental homes for rent is steadily increasing which makes it an ideal ground for the luxury rental business.

A New Trend: A Growing Need for High-End Leaseholds in the Caribbean

The Caribbean destination has been popular with travelers due to the beautiful sandy beaches, azure waters, and rich ethnic background. However, a new trend is emerging: the desire to invest in more quality housing units to let out to the increasing number of people, who want to live in this warm belt. With people being worked more from home and clients’ need for differentiated tourism, today’s renters expect modern comfortable spaces to stay in, which are beneath a star at the same time.

It has altered the perception that comes with vacationing since people can work remotely. No longer are luxurious rentals simply fantasies of two-week, or one-month vacations; they are now treated as liveable options. People and households are seeking properties that can be regarded both as recreational property and a temporary residence. 

Diverse Luxury Offerings

In the Caribbean, there is a wide variety in the type of luxury rental available depending on the one considers fitting his/her needs. It can be ranging from a luxurious villa overlooking the sea to a trendy urban apartment or a countryside mansion hidden behind the greenery curtain. Available properties are fully fitted with luxurious services, inclusive of private swimming pool, a private cook, and direct beach access. 

Getting to the crux of the matter, what has changed is the savvier and heavier investment in luxury rentals.

The need for upscale rentals has seen property owners and real estate developers embrace the construction of expensive homes all over the Caribbean. Instead, most are remodeling old buildings or developing new ones built solely for Class A rental properties. This investment trend not only increases the uniquity of the real estate in the respective regions but proactively fosters employment with the development of construction, hotel, and service industries. Furthermore, with improvement in the FDI, Caribbean countries are also experiencing growth in visitors renting quality accommodation for their holidays or business purposes.

Advantages of Moving to Luxury Homes for Rent

Indeed, renting a luxury home in the Caribbean has the following advantages. First of all, it is the chance to plunge into the cultural experience of being a resident of a luxurious apartment. Most of the luxury rentals are situated in strategic positions to provide easy access to other attractions, good restaurants, and other leisure activities. 

Conclusion:

The increasing need for luxury accommodations to Homes to rent in Caribbean shows that several modern travelers have changed their minds about their vacations and longer stays. Combined with an incredible variety of products and services; luxurious facilities; and the best tropical experience, the area attracts many people interested in luxury vacations. Such companies as Carib Homes are among the recent firms that have gone online to offer great opportunities for renting spacious and prestigious houses. This time proving that the Caribbean will only become further entrenched as the ultimate location for luxurious living and as the perfect place to find the perfect home for any homeowner hoping to find paradise.

[homes-for-sale-in-caribbean]

The Complete Home Purchase Checklist Every Buyer Needs

Introduction:

More often than not, purchasing a home can be said to be one of the biggest decisions and investments that people have to make in their lifetime. Seeing Homes for sale in Caribbean is exciting but the process is one that is best pursued with caution and requisite strategizing. To guide you through this process as to make it less painful. 

Below is a perfect checklist, that any homebuyer should consider:

Determine Your Budget 

Budgeting for Housing Costs: To figure out how much you can afford to spend on housing, you must add up all of your monthly bills, income, and debts. Rent or mortgage expenses should ideally not take up more than one-third of your total monthly income.

Accounting for Other Expenses: When planning your home budget, don't forget to account for additional charges such as property taxes, insurance, utilities (such as heat and electricity), and maintenance fees. These prices are in addition to rent or mortgage.

Start House Hunting 

Knowing what you are searching for, proceed to search for homes that match your requirements. Search the various online real estate marketing tools, go for open houses, and liaise with a real estate who is conversant with the region. Remember that there’s an ideal house and everyone cannot have a perfect house with everything one wants or needs, thus one might have to compromise. 

Find an agent 

A real estate agent is therefore very useful during the process of home buying. They know the current inventory available, know the market better, and they can bargain for you. Select an agent who has had experience with the area that you have your sights set on, and with whom can work with smoothly.

Make an Offer

After settling on a place that suits your needs it is now time to bid. Your agent will advise you on how much you can offer in the house depending on the prevailing market rates of similar houses. Some back and forth is expected here, and if your bid is not taken right away, that’s okay. 

Close the Deal 

The end of the process of obtaining a home is the closing. This is where you will set your signature on all the relevant documentation, pay the final expenses which are often referred to as the closing costs, and finally be considered to be a fully-fledged owner of the house or building that you are buying. This process is coordinated by your real estate agent and your lender so that no hitches are encountered. 

Settling into the New Place 

Congratulations! You have gone through the process of purchasing homes. Now it is time to take possession of the home, arrange your new house, and appreciate the home that you have worked and struggled to have. That’s right, don’t forget about such things as replacing the door locks, arranging for utility connections, and meeting your neighbors. 

Conclusion

Homes for sale in Caribbean and buying is a very important decision that a person can make, however, it is not impossible to do it once you know what measures to take. By following this Caribhomes checklist, you are sure on the right track to the home of your dreams for you and your family. Happy house hunting!

[x-b-s]

Interview with a Kingston realtor

[beardedmrbean]

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation is running out of cash and nearing its end "unless something changes dramatically," according to a new report. 

The Free Press, an independent news organization founded by former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss, on Tuesday published a scathing deep dive into the "scrappy start-up that struck gold in 2020" headlined "BLM Collected Over $90 Million in Donations. Where Did It Go?"

"Capitalizing on the lucrative opportunities afforded to them as high-profile progressives, the three celebrity founders moved on, leaving the operation to wither in the hands of deputies who, sadly, turned on each other. A remarkable spate of legal trouble, brushes with law enforcement, and tangles with the Internal Revenue Service have all but spelled the death of the enterprise that you probably know best as Black Lives Matter," Free Press reporter Sean Patrick Cooper wrote. 

"The spectacular rise and fall of BLM has surprisingly little in common with earlier civil rights campaigns, other than, perhaps, good intentions," he continued. "How BLM’s leaders exploited George Floyd’s murder to raise millions that they then put into their own pockets more closely resembles the stories of famous grifters like Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos or Sam Bankman-Fried’s foray into ‘effective altruism.’"  

Cooper noted that in 2020, at the height of activism related to the death of George Floyd, corporations "revved up their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and threw millions of dollars at BLM" but four years later "DEI programs are in retreat" and the left cares more about Israel than police reform. 

"And BLM four years later? It looks like little more than a hustle," Cooper wrote. 

He feels the "latest proof" is that Sir Maejor Page, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page, a former leader of the Atlanta area BLM chapter, was sentenced to 3-and-a-half years in federal prison for money laundering and wire fraud earlier this month. 

LEFT-WING ACTIVIST ALLEGEDLY DEFRAUDED $450G USING 'BLACK LIVES MATTER OF GREATER ATLANTA' FACEBOOK PAGE

But Page isn’t the only former BLM leader to face unflattering accusations. 

"For years, local chapters have fought national parent BLM organizations in disputes over who actually represents the movement and are thus the rightful heirs to tens of millions of dollars in donations. You’ll note that I mentioned parent organizations. There are actually two of them: BLM Global Network Foundation and BLM Grassroots. The latter was formed in 2019 as an umbrella organization of local chapters of the group and is co-directed by Melina Abdullah. Since then, media reports have accused Abdullah and other chapter leaders of using Grassroots’ coffers to pay for vacations to Jamaica and her own personal expenses. (She hasn’t been charged with a crime," Cooper wrote. 

"Abdullah has denied the allegations, but at least $8.7 million in donations is unaccounted for. The answer to where the money went may come soon," he continued. "California attorney general Rob Bonta has demanded that Grassroots turn over delinquent tax filings and late fees before Sunday, October 27. If it doesn’t, the organization’s tax-exempt status will be revoked."

The Free Press report declared that "charting the entire implosion of BLM is a confusing, chaotic endeavor," made even more confusing by legal disputes between BLM Global and BLM Grassroots. It detailed how BLM Global founders acquired a Los Angeles mansion, another mansion in Canada billed as a "transfeminist, queer affirming space politically aligned with supporting Black liberation work across Canada," and additional real estate including a Georgia property big enough for a private runway. 

Cooper reported that co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who has long denied misusing funds, also paid several friends and relatives hundreds of thousands of dollars for things like security "services." 

BLM HAS LEFT BLACK AMERICANS WORSE OFF SINCE THE MOVEMENT BEGAN, EXPERTS SAY

"But lately, donations to BLM Global have gone from a torrent to a trickle. In the fiscal year that ended in June 2023, BLM Global collected $4.6 million while spending $10.8 million, according to its federal filings. And while it still has $25 million in assets, its cash is dwindling. Unless something changes dramatically, the end is likely nigh," Cooper wrote. 

"Maybe, if the founders had been as committed to social justice as to enriching themselves, BLM could have enjoyed a long life as a progressive institution," he added. "But it wasn’t to be."

Cullors did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She has long denied any wrongdoing related to misusing funds. 

Black Lives Matter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

[darkmaga-returns]

This Man Helped Kamala Harris. Then He Mysteriously Died.

Kamala Harris' Dark Secret - the Mystery Of Her Mentor-Rival's Death

By Yoichi Shimatsu

This memoir/essay is about the root causes of the black diaspora from San Francisco initiated by Mayor Dianne Feinstein’s crew and her “hit woman” Kamala Harris, the city prosecutor then of “Indian origin”. Over two decades during the gay invasion of SF, a narrow-focus campaign waged an urban cleansing program to arrest and imprison black youth for the purpose of bankrupting their low-income families, who were then forced out of their homes in the Western Addition and Fillmore districts in a diaspora that led them to remote isolated villages to start over again in the barren, hot and inhospitable Mojave Desert region. I know because I’ve been a decade-long resident of SF and earlier lived in Palmdale near Edwards Air Base, and still keep track of the decline of that arid region. This isn’t abstract social theory, it’s a home-grown reality. And it's advance warning to the young black journalists and sorority sisters who have been denied the truth of their heroine presidential candidate, once again being hustled by the political manipulators and the PR hacks..

Before cheerleading and volunteering for candidate Kamala Harris, black journalists and sorority members need to become aware of her murky background as a relentless prosecutor and persecutor of low-income African American and Asian families forced out of their homes in San Francisco to make way for the influx of decadent white gays - all just to line the pockets of the Democrat cronies of Dianne Feinstein from appreciative Jewish-dominated real estate insiders. At the time, her ruthless operation to arrest vulnerable black youths exploited as runners by Cartel-linked thugs accounted for millions, indeed billions in campaign donations and monetary gifts to the politically correct “race neutral” city leaders, their flunky police chiefs and insider lawyers for the drug lords, including defense attorney Willie Brown, the suitor and then lover of Ms. Kamala - which on the streets rendered her nickname Kamel Toe. At the time, everyone assumed her ruthless quest to imprison black kids was possible because her high-tone mother was from the elitist caste in India. Her black father, then a science student, who was an immigrant student from Jamaica (the capital of the notoriously crazed and lethal dope-smuggling “:posse(s)”, was never mentioned in the local Hearst press. Buyer Beware! Because her avid supports are next to be sold out - for a price.

[magnetictapedatastorage]

theres a bit of grafitti up on a rooftop near jamaica station that says "when the dark turns to day and i have no say" its been there for Years. something like 3 million people have probably seen it at this point. i don't hate grafitti. like i get the vibe, a lack of control. but who ever had a say in linear time. why say that in particular. and more surprisingly, why has nobody else touched the area since ~2021? it's an otherwise blank white wall, close to the train tracks and yet a place where you wouldn't be hit by a train. it could be that the grafitti was done in 2020, the trough of commuter ridership, the least number of witnesses, etc. maybe it was calculated. but it's odd for sure. seems like nearly free real estate. the next 20 feet have someone practicing the same small tag over and over. could be the same person.

[jamaicahomescom]

Imagining Jamaica 2035: The Future of Real Estate, Coastal Living, and Urban Transformation

[remaxelitejm]

Apartments for Sale in Kingston, Jamaica

Remax Elite Jamaica can help you find the best apartments for sale in Kingston, Jamaica. Our extensive listings provide a wide range of apartments in this vibrant capital city. We have solutions to fit every lifestyle and budget, from modest studio flats to huge family homes. Let us assist you in finding the appropriate Kingston apartment and making the exciting city your new home.

[centuryjm21]

Tips for Successful Investing in Rental Properties in Jamaica

As the real estate market in Jamaica continues to thrive, with homes for sale in Jamaica and Jamaica houses attracting investors from near and far, the opportunity to build wealth through rental property investments has never been more enticing. Whether you're eyeing a cozy studio apartment or a sprawling beachfront villa in one of Jamaica's vibrant communities, investing in Jamaica real estate can be a savvy financial move - but it's not without its challenges.

At 21st Century Real Estate, we've helped countless clients navigate the ins and outs of becoming successful Jamaica real estate investors. From finding the perfect Silverbrook Apartments or homes for sale in Jamaica to maximizing your rental income and managing tenants, we've compiled our top tips to set you up for success in the world of Jamaican rental property investment.

Location, Location, Location

When it comes to rental property investments, location is arguably the most important factor to consider. Look for neighborhoods in high-demand areas with low vacancy rates, good schools, and easy access to amenities like shopping, dining, and public transportation. In Jamaica, popular areas like Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios are always in high demand for both long-term rentals and short-term vacation rentals.

Do Your Due Diligence

Before purchasing any Jamaica houses or homes for sale in Jamaica, it's crucial to do your homework. Research average rental rates, occupancy rates, and operating expenses for similar properties in the area. Hiring a professional inspector to assess the condition of the home can also help you avoid costly surprises down the line. Don't forget to factor in additional costs like property management fees, insurance, and potential renovations or upgrades.

Crunch the Numbers

Once you've identified a promising property, it's time to run the numbers. Determine your projected rental income, operating expenses, and expected cash flow to ensure the investment aligns with your financial goals. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a property that will generate a monthly cash flow of at least 1% of the purchase price. This will help you cover your mortgage, taxes, insurance, and other costs while leaving room for a healthy profit.

Leverage Your Equity

If you already own a home in Jamaica or elsewhere, you may be able to use the equity in that property to finance the purchase of a rental property. This can be an effective way to grow your real estate portfolio without having to come up with a large down payment upfront. Just be sure to carefully consider the risks and speak with a financial advisor before tapping into your home equity.

Build a Reliable Team

Successful rental property investors know that they can't do it all alone. Surround yourself with a team of trusted professionals, including a knowledgeable real estate agent, a skilled property manager, a reliable contractor, and a savvy accountant. These experts can help you navigate the complexities of property acquisition, tenant management, maintenance, and tax planning.

Embrace Technology

In the 21st century, technology has revolutionized the way we manage rental properties. From online listing platforms and virtual tours to automated rent collection and maintenance tracking, there are countless tools and apps that can streamline your operations and save you time and money. Embrace these technological advancements to maximize the efficiency of your rental properties.

Screen Tenants Thoroughly

One of the most critical aspects of rental property investment is finding and retaining high-quality tenants. Take the time to thoroughly screen applicants, checking their credit history, employment status, and references. This can help you avoid the headaches of late payments, property damage, and evictions down the line.

Maintain the Property

Keeping your rental properties in top condition is essential for attracting and retaining tenants, as well as preserving the value of your investment. Develop a proactive maintenance plan and budget for regular upgrades and repairs. By staying on top of property maintenance, you can minimize costly issues and ensure your tenants are happy and comfortable.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Even the most carefully planned rental property investments can encounter unexpected challenges, from natural disasters to tenant disputes. Build up a financial cushion to cover vacancies, repairs, and other unforeseen expenses. Additionally, ensure you have the appropriate insurance coverage in place to protect your investment and your tenants.

Stay Informed and Adaptable

The real estate market is constantly evolving, and successful rental property investors know how to adapt to changing conditions. Stay informed about market trends, new legislation, and industry best practices. Be willing to adjust your strategies as needed to maximize your returns and ensure the long-term viability of your investments.

By following these tips and leveraging the expertise of the 21st Century Real Estate team, you can navigate the world of rental property investment in Jamaica with confidence. Whether you're looking to add a cozy Silverbrook Apartments unit to your portfolio or a sprawling beachfront villa, the opportunities for building wealth through Jamaican real estate are abundant. So why wait? Start your journey to becoming a successful rental property investor today.

[siliconpalms]

Caribbean Real Estate Showdown: Grand Cayman vs. Jamaica vs. Barbados

The Caribbean offers a diverse array of real estate opportunities, each island with its own unique charm and investment potential. Among the most popular destinations for property buyers are Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Barbados. But when it comes to price, location, and return on investment, how do these islands stack up against each other? Let’s dive into a comparison of real estate prices across…

[cutebutstilltoughxoxo]

Toronto - gentrification of Eglinton West

under the false promise of a subway system being built (which was later revealed to be a streetcar that just runs partially underground) Eglinton Avenue has been left in disarray for nearly 14 years.

This has lead to displacement of residents, forced closure of businesses, gridlock and un-forseeable event such as the 2020 lockdowns taking a toll on businesses/significant spaces

Eglinton West is considered "prime real estate" specifically the struggling Little Jamaica stretch and many developers have had their eye on turning the entire stretch into condos. Eglinton Avenue could've been saved if the city declared it an official protected neighborhood like China Town sadly it was only declared as such after a decade of construction impacted businesses

[jeremiekroubodagnini]

THE ROCKET-LIKE RISE OF LEE SCRATCH PERRY INTO THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD

© Reggae.fr / On The Roots Kevin Buret  - 2016.

Lee Perry: A Pop Artist

Altogether dancer, singer, musician, producer, eccentric, visionary, shaman and genius, Lee “Scratch” Perry is to Jamaican music, some would say, what Sun Ra is to free jazz, George Clinton to funk or Salvador Dali to painting. Born in 1936, in the small town of Kendal in Jamaica, Lee “Scratch” Perry participated in a concrete way in each of the important stages of the history of Jamaican music. A true pillar of reggae and dub, his innovations have left their mark on many other musical genres around the world, including: US rap; UK punk, jungle, ambient and trip-hop; Japanese electronic music; without forgetting European techno and avant-garde music. Today, Lee Perry is no longer of this world, in the flesh at least. He died late August 2021 at the age of 85. Nevertheless, his name unquestionably stays in vogue. It is still on the lips of pop stars like the Rolling Stones, The Orb, The Roots and Major Lazer, and we can also gradually hear it spreading in the contemporary art world.

The Black Ark: Sound and Image

Lee Perry always evolved into a very personal visual universe, starting with his legendary home recording studio, the Black Ark, at the origin of the most innovative sounds of the second half of the 1970s in Jamaica. Originally thought to be a sort of sanctuary for Rastafarians, the Black Ark was a very confusing place, whose walls were covered in cryptic inscriptions and floors served as dumping grounds for installations and other DIY projects, all of them being zanier than the next �� a sculpture was even embedded inside one of the walls, says his ex-wife, Pauline Morrison, in People Funny Boy written by David Katz (2000: 324).

© Adrian Boot, circa 1977/ 1979. Part of JKD’s private photo collection.

This Baroque environment was part of the eccentric personality of the genius producer, embodied in an increasingly extravagant look and outfits over the ages: during his final years, he used to dye his hair and beard yellow, green of even pink, and he was decked out in completely fantastical clothes, personalised with pins and other fanciful objects. And when he was not wearing his famous golden baseball cap, adorned with glittering CDs, badges or religious illustrations, he was wearing a Native American feathered war bonnet or a wizard hat.

© Lee Scratch Perry painting in his studio in Switzerland (Blue Ark), 2018. Photo: Lorenzo Bernet. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

© Lee Scratch Perry wearing his wizard hat in his studio in Switzerland (Blue Ark), 2019. Photo: Lorenzo Bernet. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

It is more than clear Lee “Scratch” Perry was an artist with a capital A, a complete, total, full-time artist who did not switch to Rainford Hugh Perry (his real name) in private and who did not lock himself into a single box: the one of music. He did not play a role, he lived through his art full-time and was attracted as much to sounds as to visuals. Indeed, the latter played a significant role in his galaxy, in his symbolism, in his perception of the world. According to Perry himself, the image was the preferred channel for conveying messages (often subliminal), it was therefore necessary for him to be wary of them and to be able to reappropriate them. In some way, it can enable us to understand his involvement (conscious or unconscious) in the visual arts, which by the way was not recent. Indeed, reading his brilliant biography written by David Katz, we can easily realize that Perry had always been interested in his physical and cultural environment, the objects that surrounded him as well as the pop culture into which he loved to dig.

Even in the late 1950s, long before he began his musical career, when he worked in construction in Negril and drove bulldozers, Perry focused his attention on the noises associated with construction work and the energies of machines as they came into conflict with nature, one can read in People Funny Boy. He even reported an almost supernatural experience, resulting in his departure from this seaside resort located at the far western part of Jamaica to the capital Kingston in the early 1960s: “I get an overload from throwing stones down there for maybe two weeks. I started making positive connection with stones, by throwing stones to stones I start to hear sounds. When the stones clash I hear the thunder clash, and I hear lightening flash, and I hear words, and I don’t know where the words them coming from. These words send me to King-stone: to Kingston” (2000: 8).

Until the end of his life, stones occupied a pre-eminent place in his resolutely mystical universe. He regularly collected them, piled them up, carried them to various places, and even cooked them in a pot on the fire. In the late 1970s, that is precisely what happened, says Pauline Morrison, in their home in Washington Gardens, Kingston, which also housed his legendary recording studio.

“Pauline has claimed she was preparing a meal one afternoon when she noticed an odd smell coming from the kitchen. When she checked the pot, she found that Scratch had emptied the simmering contents into the mud of the yard, substituting a pan full of rocks in their place on the fire” (2000: 324). “If you see our house, this guy write all kind of shit on the wall, on the fence…” (2000: 323). And the Jamaican singer, Vicky Nelson, added, “my foot would be in paint, I would get rocks and all those nature things” (2000: 345).

As Pauline Morrison and Vicky Nelson suggest, Lee Perry also paid a great importance to writing and painting at the time of Black Ark. We must indeed go back very far in time to understand the links he developed with the visual arts and everything encompassed by this generic term: calligraphy, graffiti, assemblages, collages, installations, and painting among others. In short, everything that would make up his artistic inventory alongside his music. Lee “Scratch” Perry had always been a compulsive sketcher and graffiti artist, feeling a certain need to fill, if not to say overload, empty surfaces. From the end of the 1970s onwards, he even seemed to pay as much attention to the decoration of his studio as to musical production at times.

"Jean-Michel Basquiat himself called him a significant source of inspiration for his paintings"

Moreover, it is not surprising that at that time Lee Perry also commissioned art from Rastafarian artist Jah Wise to decorate the Black Ark. Indeed, he had the walls surrounding the studio decorated with huge, multicoloured murals painted by Robert Van Campbell aka Jah Wise.  A portrait of Haile Selassie was placed just above the door so that all would have to ‘bow’ to Jah upon entering or leaving; to the left of his head was Selassie in his feline form as the Conquering Lion of Judah.  Another wall had a life-size mural of the Super Ape, tree and spliff in hand, while the inside of the studio depicted African ancestors in chains and Rastafarian tri-colour flags.  As time passed, such images would be altered and re-cast as Perry sought to express different concepts; like the music that was coming from inside the studio, its illustrated walls would seldom remain static.  He also erected a sign with a ��Management Order’ by the front gate, proclaiming that the premises included the site of a private house where women and children lived; all who sought to enter were to wait for official permission and once inside, were to refrain from using indecent language. (In People Funny Boy, French edition, 2012: 476-477).

© Adrian Boot, 1978. Lee Perry and his son, Mark (aka Omar), at the Black Ark. In the background there is a glimpse of the “Super Ape” painting done by Jah Wise. Part of JKD’s private photo collection.  

Lee “Scratch” Perry outside Black Ark Studios, Jamaica, 1977, premium footage from  the Don Letts Archive available on YouTube.

All things considered, Lee Perry’s artistic source of creation originated far away back in time and widely developed during the seething cultural period of the Black Ark. Back in the 1970s, Lee Perry was already considering himself as a multi-disciplinary Artist and was already in contact with avant-garde people not only from Jamaica but also from England (Don Letts, John Lydon from the Sex Pistols, The Clash etc.).

After the Black Ark was destroyed by fire on one morning in the summer of 1983, Lee Perry experienced a very long period of exile, first in England, then in Switzerland where he moved out at the end of the 1980s with his new and last wife, a sultry queen of the Zurich nightlife, born Mireille Ruegg, only daughter of a couple of Swiss restaurateurs, who would become his manager. It was then that he started to show more and more interest in art, in a more professional way shall we say, the collections of four-handed paintings executed with British visual artist, Peter Harris, first between 2007 and 2009, then between 2014 and 2015, constituting a very good illustration of the extent of his pictorial work.

The Meeting with British Visual Artist Peter Harris

“How does a 40-year-old white British artist meet up with a 70-year-old black shaman from Jamaica and make a real connection? I am not a Rastafarian black man from the ghettos of Trench Town, I am a lower middle class Catholic son of an absent submariner father who moved from place to place and, as a consequence, has no ‘roots’ to speak of. This has led to a lifetime of what I suspect will be an unachievable search for home. I have lived through a series of popular culture ‘father figures’ who have been inspirational guides such as Bob Dylan, Francis Bacon, Johnny Rotten and Picasso, and Lee is one I’ve been lucky enough to meet in person. […] Lee’s experience and understanding - or “overstanding” - of Babylon is very different to my version of it.  Lee’s version of Babylon might come from the Rasta’s view of western society as being corrupt, a world of ‘politricks’ and oppressors of Rastafarians. My version of Babylon is also about a society that oppresses our lives, but it is more about the unrelenting trajectory of existence.  It might go something like this: birth, school, dreams, peer pressure, music, drugs for fun, student loans, love, jobs, depression, pressure, holidays, insecurity, mortgage, drugs for escaping, children, stress, peer pressure, cars, responsibilities, doubts, reality, panic attacks, bills, new clothes. In it but not of it, pets, vet bills, gym, mid-life crisis, new haircuts, hair loss, beer bellies, guilt, cigarettes, alcohol, food, cancer, medicine, pensions, fear, death” (interview conducted with Peter Harris by JKD, 2014).

In February 2005, Lee “Scratch” Perry responded positively to a request from Peter Harris who wanted him to be in a film he was working on, called Higher Powers.  “I wanted different sorts of people who represented different kinds of higher powers,” Harris explains, “almost archetypal people.  It might be a powerful gangster outside the law or a police chief, to someone with a spiritual higher power, or someone who totally doesn’t believe in higher powers.  For the creative higher powers, or the visionary people, I thought of Ken Russell and Lee Perry” (2012: 898).

The concept was an appealing one for Perry, so permission was granted for Harris to film him at home on February 14th. The British visual artist interviewed him on various themes such as: destiny, faith, redemption, luck, love, doubt, etc. He then returned to London to edit the results. Subsequently, Peter Harris planned further filming sessions with Perry for the same film project. On October 1, 2007, Peter Harris' film, Higher Powers, was screened for the first time at the Lüneburg Art Hall in Germany. Perry appeared in the company of such controversial personalities as former gangster Dave Courtney, gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, Conservative politician Boris Johnson, Reverend Joanna Jepson (who has campaigned against the use of abortion for “eugenic reasons”), paranormal spoon-bender Uri Geller, Tibetan Buddhist monk Akong Tulku Rinpoche, and conspiracy theorist David Icke (2012: 910). Some years earlier, Harris had approached performers such as David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux and members of the Stranglers, for ideas that he could turn into paintings; with a similar concept in mind, Harris returned to Switzerland in November 2007 to make a series of collaborative drawings with Lee Perry, ultimately inducting Perry into the world of fine arts. 

“I’d done a Self-Portraits by Proxy series before,” Harris explains, “in which every person who had affected my life and influenced me, I asked for an idea, and then made that idea into a painting, but with Lee, it was a bit different.  I called him up and said, ‘I’ve got these themes from the film, and I want you to give me the first image that comes into your head’; I’d say, ‘Luck,’ or whatever, and he would come up with some mad image, and I’d make it a drawing.  Then I took all the drawings to his place in Switzerland, and he said we should cut them up; he was remixing them, like a record, taking something from one drawing and placing it with another, and it was more like a ceremony, or an Obeah ritual, so he spent a lot of time trying on different hats and costumes, as if he was getting into character.  We started work at seven, and worked right through till four in the morning, and he had one CD that was just on repeat the whole time” (2012: 911).

On September 10th, Perry performed a special live dub set at London’s Tabernacle, with Adrian Sherwood at the mixing desk and live video animation behind him, as the climax of the “Higher Powers” art exhibition arranged by Peter Harris, which showcased the drawings the pair had produced in 2007, as well as a number of collaborative paintings they made together in Switzerland on August 15th 2009.  The artwork dealt with typical Perry themes, such as social injustice, religious dogma, the unequal distribution of wealth, sex, and personal vengeance; some of the paintings bore the man’s handprints and footprints as well, while both paintings and drawings were marked by Perry’s declamatory graffiti (2012: 920). Images of the painting sessions carried out jointly by Peter Harris and Lee Perry in 2007 and 2009 as well as footages from the Tabernacle exhibition are viewable in the documentary, Lee Scratch Perry's Vision of Paradise, directed by Volker Schaner in 2015, an excellent film which also retraces the unusual trajectory of Lee Perry and clearly reflects the great part that art played in his daily life.

Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise by Volker Schaner.

And as for the hundred works of art that the two artists made together between 2014 and 2015, they draw their inspiration from the Bible, from the Book of Revelation in particular.“With its tales of evil deeds, redemption and the apocalypse. It is rich in imagery, metaphor and parables. A parable is not a literal thing. It would not make sense to our modern minds, informed by readily available facts, to take it so. Language and visual language are vehicles for getting at some ‘truth’ as truth is often inexpressible” (interview conducted with Peter Harris by JKD, 2014).

This meeting with Peter Harris was clearly a step forward for Lee Perry into the world of contemporary art.

“Ja Pay” © Peter Harris and Lee “Scratch” Perry, biro pen and permanent marker pen on paper, 42 x 42 cm, 2007.

“Zis Is Black Ark” © Peter Harris and Lee “Scratch” Perry, collage, biro and pencil on paper, 42 x 42 cm, 2007.

“Judgement Com Yow” © Peter Harris and Lee “Scratch” Perry, marker pen, oil, acrylic paint on canvas, 123 x 109 cm, 2009.

“Super Ape” © Peter Harris and Lee “Scratch” Perry, biro pen, marker pen, felt tip and gold leaf paint on paper, 30 x 42 cm, 2014-2015.

“Super Man in Space” © Peter Harris and Lee “Scratch” Perry, biro pen, marker pen, felt tip and gold leaf paint on paper, 30 x 42 cm, 2014-2015.  

The Rise of Lee Perry into the Contemporary Art World

A contemporary artist status confirmed by his induction into the Pantheon of sculptures made by Xavier Veilhan - using a 3D scanner - and held simultaneously in New York and Paris in the spring of 2015. During this double exhibition organised around music and simply named “Music”, the French visual artist wanted to pay tribute to the great music producers who had been shaping the soundtrack of our time, including Philippe Zdar, Pharrell Williams, Quincy Jones, Daft Punk, Rick Rubin, Brian Eno and Lee “Scratch” Perry. The latter therefore appeared in this impressive list of geniuses (around twenty in total), whose collectors are now snapping up statues made from a range of varied materials (from wood to metal through polyurethane resin).

“Lee Scratch Perry”, © Xavier Veilhan, “Music” exhibition, aluminium-filled polyurethane resin, plywood, acrylic paint, varnish, 122,5 x 62 x 86 cm, 2015.

What followed was a portrait (on paper this time) dedicated to him by the monthly art French magazine, Beaux-Arts, in 2017, on the occasion of the exhibition “Jamaica Jamaica!” held at the Paris Philharmonic (April 4-August 13, 2017), where the above-mentioned statue created by Xavier Veilhan was moreover exhibited.

© article published on 23 May 2017 by Magali Lesauvage in Beaux-Arts.

Lee Perry made the front cover of other art magazines, such as the Italian biannual, Kaleidoscope, in 2020-2021.

© Kaleidoscope, number 37, 2020-2021.

Finally, alongside all this, Lee Perry's visual artworks have been the subjects of numerous personal and group exhibitions around the world, starting with his very first solo exhibition held at the Californian gallery Dem Passwords from November 13 to December 11, 2010 under the name “Secret Education”.

© Dem Passwords, « Secret Education » exhibition, 2010.

Three other solo exhibitions were organised by this same gallery in 2013 (“Repent Americans” from April 20 to June 15), 2014 (“The Death of Baphomet” from August 29 to October 11) and 2016 (“Judgment Repentance God Order” from June 16 to July 30).

"these many art exhibitions around the world have coincided with the new curatorial team responsible for the visual estate of Lee “Scratch” Perry and headed by Lorenzo Bernet (...) this new, fresh and dynamic curatorial team seems to come up with creative and innovative ideas"

In that same year, Lee Perry also did an art show in New York, from June 29 to July 29, 2016 as part of a collective exhibition entitled “A Being in the World” and held at Salon 94 on the lower east side of Manhattan. His pieces of work were thus exhibited alongside those of a very heterogeneous panel of artists, including the African-American self-taught artist and former slave, Bill Traylor (1854-1949), and Maia Ruth Lee (born in 1983 in South Korea).

© Dem Passwords, « Judgement Repentance God Order » exhibition, 2016.

Then, Lee Perry multiplied international shows: at the Swiss Institute in New York in 2019, at the 2021 São Paulo Bienal, at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome in 2022, and at the Cabinet Gallery in London as well as at the 2023 Art Cologne international art fair, just to name a few. In total, Lee Perry actively took part in no less than fifteen international exhibitions between 2016 and 2023, and almost half of them in the last couple of years, which is the guarantee of a rocket-like rise on the contemporary art scene. Regarding this latter point, it is crucial to emphasize that these many art exhibitions around the world have coincided with the new curatorial team responsible for the visual estate of Lee “Scratch” Perry and headed by Lorenzo Bernet, a Zurich-based gallerist, curator and art dealer who is also the man behind the suns.works gallery. Therefore, it might be no exaggeration to say that this art world rocket rise relates to this new, fresh and dynamic curatorial team that seems to come up with creative and innovative ideas.

“Flood Sun” © Lee Scratch Perry, collage, markers and acrylic on wooden board, 60 x 100 cm, 2020. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

“Genesis” © Lee Scratch Perry, collage and acrylic on paper, 70 x 50 cm, 2020. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

“Pisces and Aries (Yin Yang)” © Lee Scratch Perry, collage and acrylic on canvas, 170 x 140 cm, 2020. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

It is also important to underline the presence of some of his drawings, paintings, collages and other installations in the collections of art aficionados like Sir Raymond Douglas Davies aka Ray Davies (former songwriter and lead vocalist for the legendary British rock band the Kinks), English record producer Adrian Sherwood (Coldcut, Depeche Mode, Primal Scream, Sinéad O'Connor, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Dennis Bovell), Mexican producer, remixer and composer Camilo Lara, and the British artist couple formed by Tim Noble and Sue Webster, as well as prestigious institutions such as the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht (NL). Others should soon be included in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Jamaica as well as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington which currently investigates, along with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Afrofuturist expression through art, music, and activism among others: an exhibition (March 23, 2023 – August 18, 2024) in which Lee “Scratch” Perry appears next to avant-garde jazz legend Sun Ra and the leader of African American Funkadelic style George Clinton - the threesome being tied to raw, original and pioneering Black aesthetic forms. And again, one owes this real tour de force to the new curatorial team headed by Lorenzo Bernet!

“Blue Ark (studio view)” © Lee Scratch Perry, 2016-2021. Photo: Camille Spiller. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

“Blue Ark with TV Sculpture (studio view)” © Lee Scratch Perry, 2016-2021. Photo: Camille Spiller. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

“Blue Ark (studio view)” © Lee Scratch Perry, 2016-2021. Photo: Claude Barrault. Courtesy: The Visual Estate of Lee Scratch Perry / suns.works.

Last but not least, the resale of some of his artworks at auctions needs to be mentioned too, let alone the fact that Jean-Michel Basquiat himself called him a significant source of inspiration for his paintings, according to multi-disciplinary artist Lee Jaffe as well as the Gagosian Quarterly (Winter 2021 Issue).

A whole set of signals which suggests a more than bright future for Lee “Scratch” Perry in the modern and contemporary art world.

“Vanity Struck Me in My Tooth”, © Lee Jaffe in collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic on Cibachrome print, 203 x 122 cm, 1983.

“Avenge” © Peter Harris and Lee “Scratch” Perry, marker pen, oil, acrylic paint on canvas, 124 x 95 cm, 2009. This work of art has been bought by Adrian Sherwood; it can be seen in the video below shot in 2022 in the deck-out living room of the producer.

Horace Andy : Tiny Desk (Home) Concert.

Books :

People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee “Scratch” Perry, David Katz, 2000, Canongate Books, 538 pages.  

Lee “Scratch” Perry: People Funny Boy, David Katz, 2012, Camion Blanc, 990 pages (French edition).

 People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee “Scratch” Perry, David Katz, 2021, Orion Publishing Group Limited, 688 pages (revised and expanded English edition).

Lee Scratch Perry: Black Ark, Andreas Koller & Lorenzo Bernet (Ed.), publication expected in July 2024, Edition Patrick Fey, 600 pages (500 illustrations).

Films :

Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise, Volker Schaner, 2015, 100 min.

This article is the English, revised and expanded version of my paper published on Reggae.fr on 30 November 2023. © Jérémie Kroubo Dagnini (JKD).