Montego Bay, St James, 23 June 2026
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has urged Jamaicans overseas to buy homes in the island’s private real estate market. He argued that their purchases would boost the economy and leave the National Housing Trust (NHT) freer to concentrate on housing for lower-income families.
He made the appeal on Tuesday, 16 June, when he addressed the opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay. The conference was held under the theme of empowering the diaspora to help rebuild a climate-resilient Jamaica.
A first home or a second
Mr Holness, who also holds the housing portfolio, told delegates that the local housing market is growing quickly, especially on the private side. He asked overseas Jamaicans to treat buying property at home as both a sound personal investment and a way of contributing to national development, whether they want a second home or a first.
More capital from abroad flowing into real estate would, he suggested, help to drive economic growth. It would sit alongside the remittances, charitable giving and investment in productive sectors that the diaspora already provides.
Addressing old fears
The Prime Minister acknowledged the painful experiences of some overseas Jamaicans who sent money home to build and lost it to dishonest people. He said he had read many such accounts. His argument was that a more mature private housing market now gives buyers safer options than managing a self-build from a distance.
If more diaspora buyers turn to private developers, he said, the NHT could put more of its effort into low-income and affordable housing.
What it means for buyers
For Jamaicans abroad, the message is that buying a finished or developer-built home may carry less risk than funding construction from overseas. It still pays to do the groundwork: check the developer’s record, confirm the title, use an independent attorney, and visit the site or send someone you trust before paying anything.
Local buyers may watch the shift with mixed feelings. More diaspora money could speed up private construction and ease pressure on public housing schemes. However, strong overseas demand could also add to competition for homes in popular areas.
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