Grand Bahama Realtors Say Demand For Homes And Rentals Is Picking Up

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – For years, Grand Bahama’s real estate market has been stagnant, but local experts say that’s changing thanks to major projects like the Shipyard expansion and Carnival’s new Celebration Key development.

Now, buyers, sellers, and renters are being warned: finding a place to live on the island is no longer easy. Listings are disappearing fast, with some realtors calling it the biggest surge in nearly 20 years. Investors are moving quickly, hoping to capitalize on the rising market.

Deanna Battello, Managing Director of Mosko Realty, says rentals are particularly in high demand.

Deanna Battello – Managing Director, Mosko Realty
“In the rent range between $800 and $1,200, there’s a shortage of supply. What’s available is being snapped up, especially by medical students looking for affordable housing.”

Catherine Macleay of HG Christie Real Estate agrees, noting that short-term rentals are booming even as banks make it tougher for some buyers.

Catherine Macleay – Realtor, HG Christie Real Estate
“We tend to get the end product because most renters go through Airbnb first; we’re the last choice when their other options fall through.”

Longtime realtor Ina Simmons says the price shift is impossible to ignore.

Ina Simmons – Realtor, James Sarles Realty
“Studios and one-bedroom apartments under $1,000 a month are drying up quickly, a clear change from a few years ago.”

So who’s driving the surge? Battello says it’s a healthy mix of Bahamians and expatriates, with many buyers from New Providence flocking to Grand Bahama as the Nassau market heats up.

Deanna Battello
“We have a lot of Bahamians purchasing here because the real estate market in Nassau has taken off.”

The message from these experts is clear: the market is heating up, and for anyone thinking of buying, the time to act may be now.