1. Beginnings in Two Worlds
Though I was primarily raised in Greater London, my childhood was generously sprinkled with time in Jamaica—holidays and extended stays in my parents’ homeland where my cousin, Gregory Isaacs, would often serenade the evenings. Those early years grounded me in Jamaican soil, music, and culture, even as I grew up navigating the streets of London.
Back in the UK, Sundays were defined by the “rice and peas selection”—Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Toots & the Maytals. Pirate radio stations like Choice FM and Lightning Radio became our soundtrack in the '80s and '90s, voices of a culture that thrived despite not yet being embraced by mainstream Britain.
My childhood was pulsing with community. Monthly weddings, baby christenings at Afro-Caribbean community centers in Brixton, Stoke Newington, Islington… each event a celebration of identity and belonging. Games, laughter, entrepreneurship—London’s Black community wove resilience through the fabric of everyday life.
2. Cultural Milestones that Shaped Us
The '80s and '90s brought powerful moments of representation in UK media:
- 1982: The Voice newspaper launched, giving Black Britons a platform for news, aspiration, and advocacy.
- 1989–1994: Desmond’s, Britain’s first sitcom centered on a Black family, aired and changed British living rooms.
- 1991: The Real McCoy debuted, authentically showcasing Black British comedic talent.
- 1998: EastEnders welcomed its first Black family, the Carpenters (Tony and Kelvin), marking a step toward integrated representation.
Television felt alive: Tuesdays for Rights?, Wednesdays for Star Trek, Thursdays for Top of the Pops. When Shabba Ranks and Shaggy hit #1, we cheered because our stories were finally being heard—however late the party.
3. The Seeds of Change: 2008 and the First Thoughts of Investment
By 2008, amid the global financial crisis, I began to question the traditional path. Jobs were shaky; property values fell. I started thinking differently: could Jamaica offer something more durable, more soulful? It wasn’t escapism—it was curiosity and calculation mixed with a deep desire for quality of life.
By then, tales of Windrush and migration had long been woven into our family narrative. Yet the UK was a changing place—facing austerity, tightening public services, and growing concerns over personal well-being. That year planted the first seeds of what would become a decade-long move toward Jamaica.
4. The UK’s Turning Points: From Brexit to Systemic Strain
Brexit (2016)
The UK’s decision to leave the EU divided the country and sparked an undercurrent of uncertainty that still remains. Many of my London neighbors began questioning, “Is this still home?”
NHS Pressures & Cost-of-Living (2020–2024)
The cost-of-living crisis hit hard from 2021 onward—energy bills soared, housing costs ballooned, wages lagged. Inflation slowed, but prices stayed high. Nearly 45% of Brits admitted they were looking for better quality of life; 39%cited financial struggles; 37% wanted brighter skies .
Meanwhile, by 2023, over 7.4 million people were on NHS waiting lists, with fewer than 60% treated within the 18-week target . A&E waits crept upward: only 74% of cases seen within 4 hours in 2023—down from 90% in 2019. By 2024, 1.5 million patients endured waits of more than 12 hours .
Rising Crime & Safety Concerns
Between 2023 and 2024, violent crime in England and Wales rose nearly 10%, denting the peace many took for granted . London felt colder, more disconnected.
A Community Fading
The supermarkets displaced Afro-Caribbean shops; community centers fell silent; unions weakened. Traditional hubs—the real settings of my childhood—were vanishing. The feeling of belonging was fraying, leaving many of us seeking a different kind of home.
5. Personal Awakening in the Pandemic
Then came 2020. COVID‑19 paused the world and forced reflection. I watched London go quiet: empty trains, shuttered cafes, absence of community. Thoughts of Jamaica—its busy markets, natural warmth, deeper rhythms—began to circulate, no longer as fantasy but as an option.
Remote work cracked open the old commute, and I realized the UK wasn’t the only place with opportunity, structure, or professional purpose. Life here could be designed differently.
6. The Call of Jamaica: Culture, Opportunity, Healing
Jamaica isn’t perfect, but it is powerful.
Cultural Roots
Here, I hear tradition in cerasee tea rituals, soap bush remedies, and elders telling stories of resilience. I speak the language of ancestry, even as I grapple with bureaucracy and infrastructure. Jamaica is raw; it's resilient; it's real.
Untapped Real Estate Potential
Like the Windrush generation in London, Jamaicans have long viewed property as generational wealth. In neighborhoods like Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Mandeville—and even in the cottages of St. Ann—your money stretches differently. Often people hold multiple properties; real estate is more than shelter—it’s identity, legacy, and foundation.
Superstars like Lennox Lewis and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson understood this—planting roots here with investment and passion.
Community & Opportunity
Jamaica offers something rare: a chance to build. The system is broken in places—but that invites change. Here’s a country ripe for innovation and rooted in communal spirit. Unlike the UK’s individualism, the Jamaican way is intertwined.
7. Real Estate in Jamaica: Crafting Tomorrow
“Real estate isn’t just property — it’s people.”
— Dean Jones
As a realtor associate, helping families—local and returnee—find their place in Jamaica has been more than professional: it’s personal. I’ve watched investors reclaim generational homes, seen communities rebuilt, and held keys to future hope.
The housing market here moves at a different pace. There’s value in renovating, repurposing, and reimagining spaces. Whether you’re after sea view villas or mountain-side retreats, Jamaica offers land, atmosphere, and heart in ways the UK can’t match—at least not now.
8. Three Voices from the Journey
Here are three new quotes from our conversations:
“Moving to Jamaica wasn’t an escape — it was a return to something I always carried inside.”
— Dean Jones
“In Jamaica, you’re investing in land, spirit, connection. It’s not just ROI — it’s ROI of the soul.”
— Dean Jones
“Yes, I love the UK’s art, its schools, its wit. But sometimes home isn’t where you started — it’s where you finish growing.”
— Dean Jones
9. Numbers & Nuances: Migration Trends
Despite headlines, migration isn’t mass exodus—it’s deliberate movement. Between June 2023–June 2024, 479,000people left the UK, of whom 79,000 were British citizens—down from 98,000 in 2023 and well beneath 157,000 in early 2020 .
For many, including me, moving isn’t fleeing—it’s choosing. Choosing community, purpose, environment.
10. London, Jamaica, and Identity
I’m not the Dean Jones who played cricket; I am the Dean Jones who understands cricket’s rhythms because my dad coached it. I’m a Black man who grew up in London’s Black-centered energy. I’m a Jamaicophile who’s spent lifetimes—literal and emotional—between two homes.
I cherish the UK: its humour, its heritage, its creativity. I still watch EastEnders on Tuesdays. I carry memories of pirate radio and heroically crashing into a red leather A‑ball while wearing pads at age seven. But more than that, I carry the knowledge that this season of my life—today—is Jamaican.
11. What It Means to Move Now
Are you:
- Yearning for sun, greenery, food that grows in your backyard?
- Tired of delayed appointments, package waits, and state strain?
- Wanting a community that laughs together, grows together, builds together?
Then Jamaica might just be calling you, too.
Remote work is possible. Culturally, people are receptive. Physically, the switch is healthy—diet, outdoor living, vitamin D, slower pace.
Yes, there are challenges—customs, water pressure, remote licenses. But in that friction lies transformation. Here, opportunity isn’t just earned—it’s engaged.
12. Final Reflection: Seasons of Life
I’ve collected degrees from world-renowned institutions. I’ve built careers in design and real estate. But in this season of life, I listen to a deeper heartbeat:
“Move when you feel the world shrinking. Shift when you feel your soul stretching.”
For me, that rhythm led from London’s drizzle to Jamaica’s sun. From community centers in London to villages in St. Ann. From considering retirement in the Caribbean to building in my 40s. It wasn’t an impulse—it was a crescendo.
13. Let’s Write Your Next Season Together
🏠 Thinking of a move?
Let’s talk about real estate—investment, relocation, lifestyle.
📞 Call me at 1‑876‑418‑2524
📧 Email via Jamaica Homes
🌐 Visit go.jm.live for insights and listings
Key Takeaways
- Balance matters: I love the UK, but now I live in Jamaica.
- Quality over comfort: Here, you trade some speed for space, sun, community.
- Real estate is identity: It's not just about price—it's about belonging.
- Your season is yours: Maybe it's Jamaica. Maybe it's elsewhere. But this isn't running—it's choosing.
Because home isn’t always where you’re born—sometimes, it’s where you begin again.
Disclaimer: This post is based on personal experiences and general real estate insights. It is not financial, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making property investment decisions.