Buying in Barbados
Acquire with clarity.
Whether you are based on the island or purchasing from Toronto, New York or London, we guide every stage of the acquisition with discretion, rigour and a clear account of the costs.
Resident buyers
Purchasing on the island
Barbados has no public multiple listing service. The most suitable homes are frequently secured through relationships rather than a search portal.
We begin by establishing your requirements, your timeline and a realistic budget, then search across the island's brokerages and private sellers for properties that genuinely fit. Because Barbadian agents co-operate on sales, your search is never limited to a single firm's inventory.
Every property we show you comes with a candid assessment: how its price compares with recent sales, what it will require in maintenance or improvement, and how the neighbourhood lives across the seasons.
If you intend to finance your purchase, we recommend securing a pre-approval from your bank or credit union at the outset. It defines your true budget and strengthens your position when you make an offer.
International buyers
Purchasing from Canada, the United States or overseas
Our approach is shaped by more than a decade in the Canadian real estate market. We understand how North American buyers expect a transaction to proceed, and where Barbados practice differs.
Consultation
We establish your objectives, budget, timing and method of purchase. A holiday residence, a retirement home, an income property and a permanent relocation each lead to different parishes and property types.
Shortlist and viewings
Viewings in person, or live video walkthroughs when travel is not yet practical, so you assess each property in full rather than through its most flattering angles.
Offer and agreement for sale
Once terms are agreed, the seller's attorney prepares an agreement for sale and the buyer pays a deposit, normally 10% of the price, with the balance due on completion.
Legal review and exchange control
Your own Barbados attorney examines the title and manages the conveyance. Non-resident purchasers remit the price in foreign currency and register it with the Central Bank of Barbados under exchange control, which preserves the right to repatriate proceeds on a future sale. Exchange control permission for the purchase itself follows, and is usually readily obtained once the funds are registered.
Completion
The balance is paid, the conveyance is completed and recorded, and the keys are handed over.
Beyond completion
For owners who will not be in residence year-round, our property management service maintains the home and, if you wish, rents it on your behalf.
Transaction costs
What a purchase costs
In Barbados the principal government charges on a sale customarily fall to the seller. The buyer's main costs are legal fees and, where applicable, financing.
| Cost | Customarily paid by |
|---|---|
| Property transfer tax and stamp duty | Seller |
| Agent's commission | Seller |
| Buyer's attorney, on the statutory fee scale, plus 17.5% VAT | Buyer |
| A proportionate share of the year's land tax | Buyer |
| Mortgage and bank fees, where financing | Buyer |
These are customary arrangements rather than legal or tax advice; your attorney will confirm the precise figures for your transaction. The Barbados dollar is pegged at BDS$2 to US$1, and prices are frequently quoted in both currencies.
Complimentary guide
The international buyer's guide to Barbados
The acquisition process, the costs and a practical checklist, in a single document.