By Dean Jones — Founder, Jamaica Homes
When asked recently whether people would still be interested in buying homes in Jamaica after another difficult hurricane season, one subscriber didn’t even pause.
“No way!”, they said.
It was an honest, instinctive reaction — one rooted in frustration, fatigue, and fear. Insurance costs are sky-high, interest rates remain steep, and climate risks loom large. But after a brief silence, when reminded of Jamaica’s unmatched culture, people, and resilience, their tone shifted:
“Well... I guess people will still come. They always do.”
That exchange captures the truth about Jamaica: a nation that bends but doesn’t break, that rebuilds after every blow, and that somehow finds rhythm again after every storm.
A Nation of Resilience
Let’s be clear — the Caribbean has never been easy ground. Hurricanes don’t ask permission; they arrive with fury. Earthquakes shake the ground beneath us. And now, climate change is intensifying every threat we face.
Yet, history tells the same story every time. From Gilbert in 1988 to Ivan in 2004, Dean in 2007, Sandy in 2012, and Beryl in 2024, Jamaica has faced devastation and rebounded with remarkable speed.
Markets reopen. Music returns. Life goes on.
That isn’t luck — it’s resilience, the kind only Jamaicans understand.
Other countries call it disaster management. Jamaicans call it “getting on wid life.”
The Real Question Isn’t Should You Invest in Jamaica — It’s Why Wouldn’t You?
Every country faces risk.
China has floods and smog. Florida gets battered by storms year after year. The Caribbean lives with seismic activity.
But amid global uncertainty, Jamaica continues to offer what no other market can: a rich culture, steady tourism growth, a vibrant diaspora network, and land that remains both finite and valuable.
Land doesn’t come back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone — or as Jamaicans say,
“Once it gone, it cyaah come back.”
But Here’s the Catch — Change Must Come
While Jamaica remains one of the region’s most attractive destinations for real estate investment, there’s no denying the challenges.
Insurance is prohibitively expensive — often between US$150 to US$200 per month or more for a modest property. For retirees or working families, that’s simply unsustainable.
“What pensioner can afford that?” Jones asks.
“Something must give. If Jamaica wants to keep attracting investors and protect homeowners, the industry needs serious reform.”
That reform, he says, must begin with building standards, insurance regulation, and disaster readiness.
“We need to stop cutting corners and start building for the next generation, not the next quarter,” he adds.
“Jamaica has to be rebuilt the right way — stronger, smarter, and fairer. That message needs to be hammered home.”
The Cost of Inaction
If Jamaica were to face a string of major storms in a single year — particularly one that directly strikes Kingston — the impact could be catastrophic.
It would test not just our infrastructure, but our economy, housing market, and national will.
And the truth is, we are not ready.
The government must treat resilience as a matter of national security, not bureaucracy. Developers must be held accountable to proper standards. Homeowners must have access to fair insurance, affordable financing, and education on property protection.
The diaspora, which continues to invest heavily in Jamaican real estate, also needs confidence — that their money is secure, their land is protected, and their homes can withstand what’s coming.
“Rebuilding Jamaica isn’t just local work — it’s global duty,” Jones says.
“The diaspora has always believed in this island. But belief needs to be matched with action.”
Returnees Deserve Better
Another major factor in Jamaica’s future lies with returnees — Jamaicans abroad who want to come home after years of working and saving overseas.
“They come back full of hope, but too often, they’re met with red tape, inflated costs, and poor systems,” Jones explains. “We have to do better by them.”
He adds that returnees are not charity cases — they are investors, job creators, and community builders.
Supporting them isn’t sentiment — it’s smart economics.
The Human Factor
While global headlines often focus on Jamaica’s risks, few recognise its greatest resource — its people.
From construction workers patching roads hours after a storm, to shop owners reopening businesses on generator power, to families sharing food and shelter when everything else is lost — Jamaica’s strength is human, not structural.
That’s what investors need to understand.
Jamaica doesn’t just rebuild; it reinvents itself.
The Way Forward
Jones, whose platform Jamaica Homes now connects over 20,000 subscribers worldwide, says the message is clear:
“People will keep investing in Jamaica. That’s not the issue. The issue is whether we’re building a Jamaica that deserves that investment.”
He believes the path forward requires three things:
- Reform in insurance and finance to make property ownership sustainable.
- Modernised building codes that reflect climate realities.
- A cultural shift — seeing resilience not as reaction, but preparation.
If those steps are taken, Jamaica can lead the region in climate-smart housing and sustainable development.
A Call to Action
“Let’s not wait until the next hurricane to act,” Jones says.
“We don’t need to fear the next storm — we just need to be ready for it.”
Because in the end, the truth remains what it has always been:
Jamaica has weathered everything thrown at it — and still stands.
So when people say “No way” to investing in Jamaica, Jones just smiles.
Because he knows, sooner or later, they’ll change their minds.
They always do.
And by the time they do, the price gone up.
Dean Jones is the Founder of Jamaica Homes, one of the leading voices in Jamaican real estate, serving over 20,000 subscribers locally and abroad.
Read the full editorial at: jamaica-homes.com/2025/11/03/is-jamaica-still-a-place-worth-investing-in/
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research or seek professional guidance before making any real estate or financial decisions. Jamaica Homes provides general information for educational purposes and assumes no responsibility for individual investment outcomes.