St Lucia has a stable economic and political environment with a high probability of price appreciation over the next ten years. It was the only CARICOM country to be nominated by the World Bank in 2007 as one of the top 30 countries in which to invest.

Whilst the island shares many of the same advantages, property prices in St Lucia are currently 30-40% lower than those in Barbados. Recent developments in St Lucia have sold out, such as Cap Maison, and there is an active resale market.

Across the island property prices have increased by 15%-20% over the last two years and are projected to remain on an upward curve for the next five years.

Although the island has witnessed a significant rise in sympathetic developments over the last five years, the island is both unspoiled and underdeveloped. Several new super-brand hotel groups are coming to the island such as The Viceroy Hotel Group, Raffles, Ritz-Carlton, Rock Resorts and Banyan Tree.

Over development on St Lucia is unlikely as the Government, in power since December 2006, is vetting new development proposals very carefully to avoid the high density of saturation levels experienced in other Caribbean islands, especially on the coast. Additionally St Lucia is in a fairly unique position in the Caribbean, with so much of its coastal land in public ownership, through the The Queens Chain law, thereby allowing greater government control over the planning of new beachfront development.

Glenconner Beach is set apart from other property on the island in three elements: properties are freehold; located on the beach; and within a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site environment.

St Lucia offers very favourable tax concessions for purchasers. There is no Capital Gains tax, no Inheritance Tax, no Repatriation Tax, Death Duties or Estate Tax.

The Property Purchase Process

The property purchasing procedure in St Lucia is similar to that in the UK, with the exception of the Alien's Landholding Licence. Non-residents wanting to buy land in St Lucia must first acquire an Aliens' Landholding Licence. Laws were recently changed in St Lucia to make this process quicker and more flexible.

Residency is not needed to St Lucia if you do not intend to stay more than seven weeks. However it is possible to apply for residency, which the government will consider on a case by case basis.

The Queens Chain Law

In St Lucia the land adjacent to a beach is owned by the government and forms The Queen's Chain. This is a rule whereby the land extending 60 French 'pas' (French feet) or 57m inland for the sea's high water mark can neither be privately owned nor developed upon, except for military purposes. This is due to a historic decree, the "Cinqunate Pas du Roi". The Queen's Chain extends around St Lucia's coast, except where there are large towns or where the land adjacent to the beach is freehold. As a result, no development will ever be permitted in front of the properties at Glenconner Beach, which are the specific distance from the shore.

"What sets Glenconner Beach apart from other property on the island lies in three elements: properties are freehold; located on the beach; and within a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site environment."