Unique Homes Blog

St. Maarten and St. Martin may share the same name and the same island, but the two are quite different. Nevertheless, along with St. Barthélemy, they are jewels of the Caribbean.

By Roger Grody

The Caribbean island of St. Martin has a split personality, as the northern half (St. Martin) is French, while the southern portion of the 37-square-mile land mass (St. Maarten) is Dutch. Peyton Cromwell of RE/MAX Island Properties reports that Dutch St. Maarten is a cosmopolitan place with nightclubs and casinos, while its French counterpart is more laid-back. “St. Maarten is distinguished by its diversity of amenities and diversity of population,” says Island Real Estate Team’s Arun Jagtiani, noting that 90 different nationalities are represented there.

Cromwell explains that St. Maarten, home to Princess Juliana International Airport, is also critical to the prosperity of nearby St. Barthélemy, whose ultra-luxe lifestyle is not conducive to jumbo jets or cruise liners. A playground of the rich and famous, the 8-square-mile island of St. Barths is popular with professional athletes, supermodels and Russian billionaires willing to pay a premium for exclusivity.
As a result, its property values are more than twice those of St. Maarten. RE/MAX Island Properties’ David VanderNoot explains that Americans, who comprised 80 percent of St. Barths buyers just five years ago, are rapidly being displaced by a more global clientele.

Dutch St. Maarten is particularly attractive to investors because it imposes no property or capital gains taxes, unlike the French side of the island. Because properties are priced in U.S. dollars, it is also enticing to Europeans who benefit from a favorable exchange rate. Beachfront condominiums can be purchased for as little as $800,000, while freestanding waterfront homes require an investment of at least $2 million, according to Jagtiani. In contrast, beachfront villas on St. Barths begin at $15 million and ascend to well more than $50 million, according to VanderNoot.

To get more perspective on the St. Martin/St. Maarten market, Unique Homes asked the experts for even more in-depth information. Here’s what they had to add:

“We are currently in a relatively flat market, due to global economic conditions, but that creates extraordinary opportunities to invest in a world-renowned resort destination with favorable tax policies. It’s like a surfer out at sea, waiting for the next wave to come…and while you’re waiting, you’re still in paradise!”
—Arun Jagtiani, Island Real Estate Team

“Dutch St. Maarten is like the Singapore of the Caribbean, with its nightclubs, casinos and restaurants…it’s a cosmopolitan 24-hour island. St. Barths is the Monaco of the Caribbean, with its incredible level of service and celebrity clientele. It maintains a high quality of life with low densities and no cruise ships…you feel so relaxed when you’re there.”
—Peyton Cromwell, RE/MAX Island Properties

“In St. Barths, the very high-end villas are always in demand, but mid-priced properties—in St. Barths that means $3 million to $6 million—have adjusted and are down 15-to-25 percent from their heights. Therefore, this would be an excellent time for American buyers to consider the island, which is in a class by itself.”
—David VanderNoot, RE/MAX Island Properties

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