Whether you earn passive income as a property manager or decide to start a new life on this island paradise, the payoffs are equally appealing.

Owning real estate in St. Maarten is a breeze. You’ll be amazed at the ease of the closing process and the low closing costs. Plus, you won’t have to pay any real estate tax, capital gains or room tax. In addition, the shopping is duty free. You also have the option of producing a passive income in St. Maarten by purchasing a property and entering into a rental/management agreement with Lighthouse Realty.

Why St. Maarten is Investor-Friendly

• No annual real estate taxes.
• No capital gains taxes for residents.
• The Dutch side, Sint Maarten, has become a leading destination in the property market with more and more developments being constructed. There are high-rise flats and waterfront communities, all of which are popular to investors.
• On the Dutch side, grocery stores and other businesses typically have prices expressed in Netherlands Antilles Florins (NAF), which is the local currency known as “Guilders.”
• All businesses gladly accept Euros and U.S. dollars.
• Duty free shopping.
• Modern international airport provides easy access, with daily flights from U.S. and Europe.
• St. Maarten has a vibrant commerce and tourism industry: The port is always bustling with activity and the business district is economically prosperous.

Interesting Facts About St. Maarten

• St. Maarten is only 37 square miles. It’s located in the Caribbean — east of the Virgin Islands and just south of Anguilla.
• The average temperature is 85ºF / 29.4ºC.
• The warm climate makes it ideal for golf, tennis, hiking, biking and horseback riding.
• Water sports are a favorite, such as: wind surfing, sailing, diving, snorkeling and jet skiing.
• There are 37 different secluded white sand beaches.
• There are more than 400 restaurants.
• There are numerous bars, nightclubs and casinos (Dutch side only) to choose from.
• There are many modern harbors and marina facilities.
• There are nearly 200 nationalities that live peacefully together on the island.
• The southern part of the island, the “Dutch side” is officially known as “Sint Maarten” and is 41 kmÇ/16 square miles. The northern part of the island is the French side and is known as Saint Martin. It’s 54 kmÇ/21 square miles. These two sides have peacefully co-existed for 350 years.
• It’s the smallest island in the world divided between two different nations.
• On Oct. 10, 2010, the Dutch side became an independent country within the Dutch Kingdom, but its relations with the “French side” remained unchanged. The French side has always been part of France.
• Although two different countries control this island, there is no real “border crossing.” Instead, only monuments and signs delineate the border. More than 350 years ago the two countries decided that residents of either country should be able to easily travel from one side of the border to the other.
• The official language on the southern portion of the island is Dutch, but almost everyone speaks English. Spanish is widely spoken as well.
• The native language on the French side is, you guessed it, French. This side of the island has the same guiding laws as France.
• The French side consists of the Northern two-thirds of the island. It’s governed by the neighboring island of Guadeloupe, and is more European than the Dutch.