Trending
- Jamaica’s Housing Trap: More Money, Higher Prices, Same Struggle
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
- Holness Holds Party Ground as Jamaica Faces Housing Test
- Forex: $159.94 to One US Dollar
- Jamaica’s Housing Ladder: The Climb to Homeownership Gets Steeper
- Jamaica’s Housing Boom: Building Higher, Dreaming Harder
- Jamaica’s Housing Boom Meets a Hard Reality
- A Year After Melissa, Jamaica’s Churches Are Still Counting What They Lost
Jamaica Property & Housing Blog
News, analysis and practical guides on Jamaican property, housing, mortgages, renting, building and investing — updated every day.
Jamaica Property Market
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
![A Jamaican family settles into a new home, surrounded by moving boxes and the excitement of a fresh beginning. While the children embrace the moment with energy and curiosity, their parents carry the responsibilities and expectations that come with homeownership. The image captures both the joy of moving and the deeper reality of building a secure future, reflecting the hopes, sacrifices and financial commitments behind Jamaica’s dream of owning a home.]()
Jamaica’s pandemic property boom opened doors for some buyers and created expensive commitments for others. Years later, the real measure of homeownership may be less about rising prices than the lives people can afford to lead. - Court Keeps Little Dunn’s River Open Until Trial
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A St Ann’s Bay court has ordered the Urban Development Corporation not to block public access to Little Dunn’s River while a lawsuit over customary rights is heard. The corporation says it will comply but its lawyers plan to challenge the ruling. - Regulator to Put Hard Numbers on Melissa Insurance Claims
![Regulator to Put Hard Numbers on Melissa Insurance Claims]()
Insurers have paid more than J$54 billion on settled Hurricane Melissa claims, with homes far behind businesses. The Financial Services Commission plans to publish a verified picture of outstanding claims on 16 October. - Ocho Rios Container Puts Council Planning Under ScrutinyThe Integrity Commission found that a gaming lounge in a shipping container was placed on municipal land in Ocho Rios without permits, a lease or fees. The case shows the tension when councils act as both landlord and planning regulator.
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
Jamaica’s pandemic property boom opened doors for some buyers and created expensive commitments for others. Years later, the real measure of homeownership may be less about rising prices than the lives people can afford to lead. - Court Keeps Little Dunn’s River Open Until TrialA St Ann’s Bay court has ordered the Urban Development Corporation not to block public access to Little Dunn’s River while a lawsuit over customary rights is heard. The corporation says it will comply but its lawyers plan to challenge the ruling.
- Regulator to Put Hard Numbers on Melissa Insurance ClaimsInsurers have paid more than J$54 billion on settled Hurricane Melissa claims, with homes far behind businesses. The Financial Services Commission plans to publish a verified picture of outstanding claims on 16 October.
- Ocho Rios Container Puts Council Planning Under ScrutinyThe Integrity Commission found that a gaming lounge in a shipping container was placed on municipal land in Ocho Rios without permits, a lease or fees. The case shows the tension when councils act as both landlord and planning regulator.
- Backyard Graves Back in Focus as Trelawny Mayor Sounds AlarmFalmouth’s Mayor has urged Trelawny residents to stop backyard burials over water and drainage risks. Graves on private land can also affect valuations, sales and access to mortgages.
- J$54bn in Melissa Claims Paid, but Homes Got a FifthInsurers have paid J$54.35 billion on Hurricane Melissa claims, but only about a fifth of the property money has reached homeowners. The figures show how thinly Jamaica’s housing stock was insured when the storm struck.
- Saint Lucia Water Upgrade Targets 40,000 Customers as Contractor Decision NearsSaint Lucia’s Theobalds treatment plant is nearing a contractor decision for a CDF-backed upgrade serving more than 40,000 customers. Completion is targeted for December 2027.
- Montego Bay Unveils J$1.09bn Capital PlanMontego Bay has proposed J$1.086 billion in capital works, including urban renewal, market upgrades and flood alerts. Road repairs and infrastructure delivery remain key questions for St James residents.
- Is Jamaica Heading for a Housing Crash?Is Jamaica heading for a housing crash? New international forecasts offer perspective as local buyers confront rising property prices and affordability pressures.Editorial note: The Fannie Mae forecasts concern the United States. Jamaica-specific conclusions are presented as analysis, not as predictions derived from those forecasts. The article follows the supplied Jamaica Homes News editorial brief, with local housing supply and affordability placed at its centre.
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
- Court Keeps Little Dunn’s River Open Until Trial
- Regulator to Put Hard Numbers on Melissa Insurance Claims
- Ocho Rios Container Puts Council Planning Under Scrutiny
- Backyard Graves Back in Focus as Trelawny Mayor Sounds Alarm
- J$54bn in Melissa Claims Paid, but Homes Got a Fifth
- Saint Lucia Water Upgrade Targets 40,000 Customers as Contractor Decision Nears
- Montego Bay Unveils J$1.09bn Capital Plan
- Is Jamaica Heading for a Housing Crash?
- Drought Puts Jamaica’s Trucked Water Trade Under Scrutiny
- Trelawny Opens Amnesty for Unapproved Buildings
- J$500m Repair Grants Open for Storm-Hit Shops
- Jamaica Plans Water Overhaul for 28 Towns
- Property Week: Buyers Push Back as Jamaica’s Housing Pressures Mount
More: Jamaica Property Market →
Mortgages & the NHT
- BOJ Raised Rates. Does That Mean Your Jamaican Mortgage Is Next?
![A mother and child carry moving boxes into their new home, capturing the optimism of a fresh start and the importance of creating housing that families can genuinely afford, access and build a future in.]()
KINGSTON, Jamaica — When Bank of Jamaica raises interest rates, a familiar fear quickly follows: mortgages are about to become more expensive. It sounds logical. BOJ raises its policy rate, commercial banks raise mortgage rates, buyers lose purchasing power and - Jamaica’s Next Housing Problem: What Happens When the Mortgage Outlives the Paycheque?
![An elderly Jamaican woman’s deeply lined, weathered hands carefully place a coin into a bright yellow piggy bank, capturing the quiet financial pressure facing people who may enter retirement still paying for housing. The dark grey surroundings and aged hands contrast sharply with the cheerful yellow piggy bank, symbolising the difficult balance between limited retirement income, rising living costs and the need to keep saving for security later in life.]()
Longer mortgage terms, later home purchases and rising property prices could leave more Jamaicans paying for housing well into retirement, while lifelong renters face an even harder calculation. - Britain Is Panicking at 5% Mortgages. In Jamaica, 5% Can Look Cheap
![Britain’s mortgage shock shows what happens when cheap borrowing disappears. UK homeowners moving from rates near 1 per cent to around 5 per cent face sharply higher repayments, while Jamaican borrowers have long operated in a market where 6 per cent can look comparatively low.]()
KINGSTON, Jamaica — British homeowners are being warned of a mortgage reckoning as borrowers who secured extraordinarily cheap loans around 1 per cent five years ago prepare to refinance at rates closer to 5 per cent. For Jamaica, there is - BOJ Raises Policy Rate to 6% as Inflation Pressure Builds
![BOJ]()
Bank of Jamaica has raised its policy rate by 50 basis points to 6.0 per cent, with potential implications for mortgages and property finance.
- BOJ Raised Rates. Does That Mean Your Jamaican Mortgage Is Next?KINGSTON, Jamaica — When Bank of Jamaica raises interest rates, a familiar fear quickly follows: mortgages are about to become
- Jamaica’s Next Housing Problem: What Happens When the Mortgage Outlives the Paycheque?Longer mortgage terms, later home purchases and rising property prices could leave more Jamaicans paying for housing well into retirement, while lifelong renters face an even harder calculation.
- Britain Is Panicking at 5% Mortgages. In Jamaica, 5% Can Look CheapKINGSTON, Jamaica — British homeowners are being warned of a mortgage reckoning as borrowers who secured extraordinarily cheap loans around
- BOJ Raises Policy Rate to 6% as Inflation Pressure BuildsBank of Jamaica has raised its policy rate by 50 basis points to 6.0 per cent, with potential implications for mortgages and property finance.
- Jamaican Buyers Still Want Homes, But Not at Any PriceJamaica’s housing market is producing an unusual contradiction in 2026. Mortgage lending is growing, demand for homes remains strong, diaspora
- You Can’t Control Mortgage Rates, But Jamaican Homebuyers Have More Power Than They ThinkFor Jamaicans trying to buy a home in 2026, the conversation about affordability can sometimes feel as though it begins
- Want a Mortgage in Jamaica? The Costliest Saving Mistake May Be WaitingFive or ten years can make an enormous difference to the deposit sitting between a renter and the front door of a first home
- Jamaica’s Retirement Housing Clock Is TickingA British study has exposed a growing fear about paying rent and mortgages after work ends. Jamaica may face an even sharper version of the same problem.
- Cheaper Mortgages Abroad Test Jamaica’s Own Affordability GapNationwide, Britain’s largest building society, is cutting mortgage rates across a range of products to offer what it calls the
- BOJ Raised Rates. Does That Mean Your Jamaican Mortgage Is Next?
- Jamaica’s Next Housing Problem: What Happens When the Mortgage Outlives the Paycheque?
- Britain Is Panicking at 5% Mortgages. In Jamaica, 5% Can Look Cheap
- BOJ Raises Policy Rate to 6% as Inflation Pressure Builds
- Jamaican Buyers Still Want Homes, But Not at Any Price
- You Can’t Control Mortgage Rates, But Jamaican Homebuyers Have More Power Than They Think
- Want a Mortgage in Jamaica? The Costliest Saving Mistake May Be Waiting
- Jamaica’s Retirement Housing Clock Is Ticking
- Cheaper Mortgages Abroad Test Jamaica’s Own Affordability Gap
- When Global Crises Strike Mortgages, Jamaica Feels It Too
- A Lender’s Bet on 2026: What Jamaica Can Learn from Cautious Optimism
- When Cheap Rates Don’t Last: A Caution for Jamaican Borrowers
- A Rental Market Under Strain: Lessons from the UK’s Buy-to-Let Rate War
- When Fixed Rates Jump, the Variable Option Looks Different
Renting in Jamaica
- Jamaica’s J$40,000 Rental Crisis
![A Jamaican homeowner looks on with concern as the pressures of property ownership, rising costs and an uncertain housing market begin to hit home.]()
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Jamaican earning the national minimum wage of J$17,000 for a 40 hour week makes roughly J$73,700 a month before deductions. Put that worker into Jamaica’s rental market and the numbers become uncomfortable very quickly. A J$40,000 - J$40,000 and Invisible: Jamaica’s Rental Market Has a Problem No One Wants to Admit
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There is an uncomfortable truth about Jamaica’s property market. If you are looking for a house or apartment renting for J$250,000 or J$300,000 a month, there is a reasonable chance that a real estate professional will be willing to invest - Owner, Operator, Occupant: Who Is Responsible in Jamaica’s Changing Rental Market?
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England’s new Renters’ Rights regime is about to make landlord registration a much bigger part of renting. But what happens when the property owner is not actually the person renting rooms or homes to the people living there? Consider Peter. - Higher Landlord Costs Could Push Jamaican Rents Up
![A worried couple confront the growing financial pressures of renting, as housing costs continue to test household budgets across Jamaica.]()
The next squeeze on Jamaican renters may begin somewhere they rarely look, not with the monthly rent notice, but with the cost of owning and maintaining the property itself. Jamaica is not facing the same landlord tax changes currently causing
- Jamaica’s J$40,000 Rental CrisisKINGSTON, Jamaica — A Jamaican earning the national minimum wage of J$17,000 for a 40 hour week makes roughly J$73,700
- J$40,000 and Invisible: Jamaica’s Rental Market Has a Problem No One Wants to AdmitThere is an uncomfortable truth about Jamaica’s property market. If you are looking for a house or apartment renting for
- Owner, Operator, Occupant: Who Is Responsible in Jamaica’s Changing Rental Market?England’s new Renters’ Rights regime is about to make landlord registration a much bigger part of renting. But what happens
- Higher Landlord Costs Could Push Jamaican Rents UpThe next squeeze on Jamaican renters may begin somewhere they rarely look, not with the monthly rent notice, but with
- $29-Million Waste Holding Station Opens in Westmoreland to Speed Up Garbage CollectionA new $29-million NSWMA holding station at George’s Plain, Westmoreland, will let garbage trucks offload locally instead of driving to Retirement, St James, easing the post-hurricane backlog.
- When the Dream Stay Turns into an Airbnb NightmareA public complaint by former Miss Jamaica Universe April Jackson raises wider questions about what happens when a short-term rental dispute overwhelms the holiday itself
- 53 Cottages on Church Land: A Chattanooga Congregation’s Ground Lease Is First Under a New Zoning ProgrammeA Chattanooga Baptist church will ground-lease its land for 53 rental cottages for seniors and families, the first project under the city’s new flexible zoning programme, with construction due in 2027.
- Talks Begin on Reopening Alpart Refinery, With First Phase Targeted for June 2027The Government is in talks with Alpart’s operator on restarting the Nain refinery in St Elizabeth, with a first phase estimated at US$490 million targeted for completion by June 2027.
- Jamaica’s Rental Property Boom Comes With a WarningKINGSTON, Jamaica — At first glance, the calculation appears irresistible. Buy an apartment in Kingston, rent it to a professional
- Jamaica’s J$40,000 Rental Crisis
- J$40,000 and Invisible: Jamaica’s Rental Market Has a Problem No One Wants to Admit
- Owner, Operator, Occupant: Who Is Responsible in Jamaica’s Changing Rental Market?
- Higher Landlord Costs Could Push Jamaican Rents Up
- $29-Million Waste Holding Station Opens in Westmoreland to Speed Up Garbage Collection
- When the Dream Stay Turns into an Airbnb Nightmare
- 53 Cottages on Church Land: A Chattanooga Congregation’s Ground Lease Is First Under a New Zoning Programme
- Talks Begin on Reopening Alpart Refinery, With First Phase Targeted for June 2027
- Jamaica’s Rental Property Boom Comes With a Warning
- Could You Afford to Rent After Retirement?
- The School List Is Also a Property Map
- Jamaica Took Most of Airbnb.org’s Caribbean Emergency Housing Nights
- Grotto Tenants in Barbados Say Sewage and Leaks Have Made Homes Unsafe
- New Prime Minister, Rent Controls in the Air, and a Market Barely Breathing. Britain’s Housing Month in Full
Looking for property rather than property news? Search homes, land, rentals and Wanted Ads across all 14 parishes.
Buying a Home
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
![A Jamaican family settles into a new home, surrounded by moving boxes and the excitement of a fresh beginning. While the children embrace the moment with energy and curiosity, their parents carry the responsibilities and expectations that come with homeownership. The image captures both the joy of moving and the deeper reality of building a secure future, reflecting the hopes, sacrifices and financial commitments behind Jamaica’s dream of owning a home.]()
Jamaica’s pandemic property boom opened doors for some buyers and created expensive commitments for others. Years later, the real measure of homeownership may be less about rising prices than the lives people can afford to lead. - Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before Signing
![Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before Signing]()
As Jamaica prepares to mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a veteran engineer is urging home buyers to check sites, approvals and structural reports before committing. Insurance gaps exposed by Hurricane Melissa add weight to the advice. - The Deposit Is No Longer Jamaica’s Biggest Homeownership Problem
![Saving for a home starts with one small step, but every dollar brings the goal a little closer.]()
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Britain has a new answer to one of homeownership’s oldest problems. What happens when someone earns enough to pay a mortgage, but cannot save the enormous lump sum needed to get one? The British Government’s proposed Your - Cash Doesn’t Win Every House Anymore
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KINGSTON, Jamaica — For years, there has been an almost automatic assumption in Jamaican real estate that the buyer with cash holds the strongest hand. No mortgage approval. No waiting on a lender. No valuation holding up financing. No nervous
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That FollowedJamaica’s pandemic property boom opened doors for some buyers and created expensive commitments for others. Years later, the real measure of homeownership may be less about rising prices than the lives people can afford to lead.
- Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before SigningAs Jamaica prepares to mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a veteran engineer is urging home buyers to check sites, approvals and structural reports before committing. Insurance gaps exposed by Hurricane Melissa add weight to the advice.
- The Deposit Is No Longer Jamaica’s Biggest Homeownership Problem
![Saving for a home starts with one small step, but every dollar brings the goal a little closer.]()
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Britain has a new answer to one of homeownership’s oldest problems. What happens when someone earns enough - Cash Doesn’t Win Every House AnymoreKINGSTON, Jamaica — For years, there has been an almost automatic assumption in Jamaican real estate that the buyer with
- Property Week: Buyers Push Back as Jamaica’s Housing Pressures MountKINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s property market is sending mixed signals. Buyers are gaining negotiating power in Kingston and St Andrew.
- Letter of the Day: Who Can Actually Afford to Buy a Home in Jamaica Anymore?Dear Editor, I have been looking for a home in Jamaica for more than a year, and the experience has
- Homebuyers look beyond Kingston for real valueJamaica’s housing market may be approaching a subtle but important change in what buyers consider a good location, as affordability
- What It Really Costs to Buy a Home in JamaicaHigher loan limits and reduced interest rates may improve affordability, but buyers still face deposits, legal fees, surveys and other costs that can add millions to a purchase
- $91-Million Solar-Powered Water System Brings Supply to 1,000 Clarendon ResidentsRural Water Supply Limited has commissioned a $91-million solar-powered water system at Bunkers Hill, Clarendon, serving about 1,000 residents, with a larger Brandon Hill upgrade under way.
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
- Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before Signing
- The Deposit Is No Longer Jamaica’s Biggest Homeownership Problem
- Cash Doesn’t Win Every House Anymore
- Property Week: Buyers Push Back as Jamaica’s Housing Pressures Mount
- Letter of the Day: Who Can Actually Afford to Buy a Home in Jamaica Anymore?
- Homebuyers look beyond Kingston for real value
- What It Really Costs to Buy a Home in Jamaica
- $91-Million Solar-Powered Water System Brings Supply to 1,000 Clarendon Residents
- Housing Supply Cannot Remain a Slogan
- Jamaica’s Year End Property Window Is Still Open
- 700 Homes Break Ground at Bernard Lodge
- Montego Bay Bypass 90 Per Cent Done and Due for Completion This Month
- When Jamaica Ruled the Dial
Property Investment
- London Villa Manager Makes Jamaica a Main Growth Target
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Bocobay, a London based vacation rental company managing about 400 homes in four countries, says Jamaica is one of its two main targets for growth, with a 43 unit St Ann development among its projects. The expansion comes as tighter rules for short-term rentals remain on the national agenda. - Jamaica’s Biggest Power Tender Slips to Year End
![Photo by Diego Vivanco]()
Jamaica’s 300 megawatt renewable energy and 150 megawatt battery storage tender is now expected before the end of 2026, months later than first planned, with implications for the 2030 renewables target. - Jamaica’s Gun Law Fight Is Also a Property Story: Why Security Matters to Returning Residents and Investors
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As defence lawyers withdraw services over Jamaica’s 15-year mandatory firearm sentences, the argument reaches far beyond the courtroom. For returning residents, homeowners and investors, perceptions of safety can influence where people buy, what they are prepared to pay and whether they invest at all. - AI Could Reshape Jamaica’s Tourism Map
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Kingston, Jamaica, 23 September 2026 Artificial intelligence could soon influence much more than how visitors discover Jamaica. It may increasingly help decide which hotel they book, which restaurant they visit, which attraction appears on their itinerary and, potentially, which Jamaican
- London Villa Manager Makes Jamaica a Main Growth TargetBocobay, a London based vacation rental company managing about 400 homes in four countries, says Jamaica is one of its two main targets for growth, with a 43 unit St Ann development among its projects. The expansion comes as tighter rules for short-term rentals remain on the national agenda.
- Jamaica’s Biggest Power Tender Slips to Year EndJamaica’s 300 megawatt renewable energy and 150 megawatt battery storage tender is now expected before the end of 2026, months later than first planned, with implications for the 2030 renewables target.
- Jamaica’s Gun Law Fight Is Also a Property Story: Why Security Matters to Returning Residents and InvestorsAs defence lawyers withdraw services over Jamaica’s 15-year mandatory firearm sentences, the argument reaches far beyond the courtroom. For returning residents, homeowners and investors, perceptions of safety can influence where people buy, what they are prepared to pay and whether they invest at all.
- AI Could Reshape Jamaica’s Tourism MapKingston, Jamaica, 23 September 2026 Artificial intelligence could soon influence much more than how visitors discover Jamaica. It may increasingly
- Royalton Reopens Five Jamaica Resorts After Major UpgradesRoyalton has reopened five Jamaican resorts across Negril and Montego Bay following major renovations, restoring significant tourism property to operation. A sixth Jamaica resort is already planned for summer 2027 as hotel investment continues across the island.
- Putting Their Money Where Their Beliefs Are: Is Jamaica Ready for Values Based Investing?Jamaicans have long been comfortable allowing faith to influence how they live, give and spend. The more difficult question is whether those beliefs should also influence where their savings, pensions and investments end up.
- Faith Was Never Meant to Keep Jamaicans PoorChristianity, money and why decolonising the Jamaican mind must include learning how to build wealth
- Who Gets to Own a Piece of Jamaica?The demolition of homes at Cooper’s Pen in Trelawny has reopened a difficult question that sits beneath Jamaica’s housing debate:
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026JAPEX 2026 drew 416 delegates to Ocho Rios as post-Melissa hotels pitch their comebacks, with renovation spending going toward both room count and local-facing amenities.
- London Villa Manager Makes Jamaica a Main Growth Target
- Jamaica’s Biggest Power Tender Slips to Year End
- Jamaica’s Gun Law Fight Is Also a Property Story: Why Security Matters to Returning Residents and Investors
- AI Could Reshape Jamaica’s Tourism Map
- Royalton Reopens Five Jamaica Resorts After Major Upgrades
- Putting Their Money Where Their Beliefs Are: Is Jamaica Ready for Values Based Investing?
- Faith Was Never Meant to Keep Jamaicans Poor
- Who Gets to Own a Piece of Jamaica?
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026
- Talks Begin on Reopening Alpart Refinery, With First Phase Targeted for June 2027
- Two Churches Bought, One for About $50,000: A Quebec Entrepreneur Plans to Turn Them Into Homes
- When Jamaica Ruled the Dial
Buy, rent, build: Jamaica Homes guides
- How to Buy a House in Jamaica: Step by Step
- Buying a Home?
- First Home?
- Mortgage Ready?
- How the NHT works — and what changed
- What it really costs to buy a home
- Is buying off-plan safe?
- Is building cheaper than buying?
- Family land: why it’s a legal risk
- Selling? What you may pay instead of CGT
- Is buy-to-let a thing in Jamaica?
- Moving back to Jamaica: the reality
Housing in Focus
- Jamaica’s Housing Trap: More Money, Higher Prices, Same Struggle
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Jamaica’s J$11.62 billion Greater Bernard Lodge development comes as the Government acknowledges that higher mortgage limits can fuel property prices. Can building more homes finally make ownership affordable? - Drought Could Cost Jamaica Over J$35 Billion, Economist Warns
![Drought Could Cost Jamaica Over J$35 Billion, Economist Warns]()
An economist estimates that Jamaica’s drought could cost the economy more than J$35 billion, as forecasters see little relief before the dry season. The water shortage is now weighing on construction, small businesses and the running costs of homes. - NaRRA Under Scrutiny as Builders Ask Where the Plan Is
![A satirical illustration captures growing questions surrounding Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Melissa reconstruction efforts, as the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) faces calls for greater clarity over its plans and priorities. Represented as a government building in a business suit, the authority clutches an uncertain reconstruction plan while Jamaican builders and contractors look towards an unfinished structure covered in question marks. Damaged homes, scattered building materials and hurricane-affected communities form the backdrop, highlighting the enormous task of rebuilding. The cartoon reflects concerns about coordination, construction timelines, industry participation and the need for a clear, publicly understood strategy to turn national recovery commitments into tangible progress.]()
The Government has defended the pay of NaRRA’s chief executive after a row over the authority’s office lease. Builders and the Opposition are now pressing for oversight and published plans for western Jamaica. - Tenure and Unpaid Balances Slow Jamaica’s Social Housing
![Tenure and Unpaid Balances Slow Jamaica’s Social Housing]()
Land problems are holding back approvals under the New Social Housing Programme, while occupants of Housing Agency of Jamaica schemes owe about J$2.3 billion, leaving some titles undelivered, a parliamentary committee has heard.
- Jamaica’s Housing Trap: More Money, Higher Prices, Same StruggleJamaica’s J$11.62 billion Greater Bernard Lodge development comes as the Government acknowledges that higher mortgage limits can fuel property prices. Can building more homes finally make ownership affordable?
- Drought Could Cost Jamaica Over J$35 Billion, Economist WarnsAn economist estimates that Jamaica’s drought could cost the economy more than J$35 billion, as forecasters see little relief before the dry season. The water shortage is now weighing on construction, small businesses and the running costs of homes.
- NaRRA Under Scrutiny as Builders Ask Where the Plan IsThe Government has defended the pay of NaRRA’s chief executive after a row over the authority’s office lease. Builders and the Opposition are now pressing for oversight and published plans for western Jamaica.
- Tenure and Unpaid Balances Slow Jamaica’s Social HousingLand problems are holding back approvals under the New Social Housing Programme, while occupants of Housing Agency of Jamaica schemes owe about J$2.3 billion, leaving some titles undelivered, a parliamentary committee has heard.
- Opposition Wants NHT Cash to Fix Informal SettlementsThe Opposition’s housing spokesman wants at least 30 per cent of the annual NHT transfer to the budget ring-fenced for upgrading Jamaica’s informal settlements, as Montego Bay’s mayor calls for stronger local planning powers.
- The House You Love Could Become the House You Struggle to Live In
![Breathtaking Jamaican villa sprawling across 1 acre of lush land, characterized by expansive openings, large triangular windows, and a spacious external platform that seamlessly wraps around the house. A majestic circular pool surrounds the home, its gentle curves mirroring the natural beauty of the surroundings. S]()
Should you renovate your Jamaican family home or move as retirement approaches? Explore the financial, practical and emotional decisions behind ageing comfortably in Jamaica. - Emergency Homes Shift Toward Permanent OwnershipJamaica is redesigning emergency housing so temporary shelter can lead to permanent homes, serviced communities and secure land ownership after Hurricane Melissa.
- Homes Up. Jobs Where?KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is building a new north coast. Thousands of homes are rising across St Mary, St Ann,
- Jamaica Pushes Climate Resilient Homes After MelissaJamaica is placing greater emphasis on climate resilient housing as post Melissa rebuilding sharpens focus on stronger homes, safer locations and better infrastructure.
- Jamaica’s Housing Trap: More Money, Higher Prices, Same Struggle
- Drought Could Cost Jamaica Over J$35 Billion, Economist Warns
- NaRRA Under Scrutiny as Builders Ask Where the Plan Is
- Tenure and Unpaid Balances Slow Jamaica’s Social Housing
- Opposition Wants NHT Cash to Fix Informal Settlements
- The House You Love Could Become the House You Struggle to Live In
- Emergency Homes Shift Toward Permanent Ownership
- Homes Up. Jobs Where?
- Jamaica Pushes Climate Resilient Homes After Melissa
- Jamaica’s Housing Challenge Is Bigger Than Supply
- Housing Push Targets Affordability and Land Tenure
- Building in Hazard Zones Puts Homes at Risk
- Sean Wants J$42 Million for His House. Jamaica’s Buyers Have Another Number in Mind
- Holness Urges Jamaicans to Build With Climate Risk in Mind
Building & Design
- Four New Hospitals Put NaRRA to the TestCabinet has approved new climate resilient hospitals for Black River, Falmouth, Hanover and Kingston, with the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority set to help deliver them. No costs have been announced and several sites are still being finalised.
- Ocho Rios Container Puts Council Planning Under ScrutinyThe Integrity Commission found that a gaming lounge in a shipping container was placed on municipal land in Ocho Rios without permits, a lease or fees. The case shows the tension when councils act as both landlord and planning regulator.
- Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before Signing
![Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before Signing]()
As Jamaica prepares to mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a veteran engineer is urging home buyers to check sites, approvals and structural reports before committing. Insurance gaps exposed by Hurricane Melissa add weight to the advice. - Trelawny Opens Amnesty for Unapproved Buildings
![Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor C. Junior Gager (left), addresses the Trelawny Municipal Corporation’s regular monthly meeting on Thursday. Seated beside him is the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer.]()
The Trelawny Municipal Corporation has opened a four-month amnesty, running to 31 January 2027, for owners of buildings put up without approved plans, joining a string of parishes pushing homeowners to regularise before enforcement.
- Four New Hospitals Put NaRRA to the TestCabinet has approved new climate resilient hospitals for Black River, Falmouth, Hanover and Kingston, with the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority set to help deliver them. No costs have been announced and several sites are still being finalised.
- Ocho Rios Container Puts Council Planning Under ScrutinyThe Integrity Commission found that a gaming lounge in a shipping container was placed on municipal land in Ocho Rios without permits, a lease or fees. The case shows the tension when councils act as both landlord and planning regulator.
- Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before SigningAs Jamaica prepares to mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a veteran engineer is urging home buyers to check sites, approvals and structural reports before committing. Insurance gaps exposed by Hurricane Melissa add weight to the advice.
- Trelawny Opens Amnesty for Unapproved BuildingsThe Trelawny Municipal Corporation has opened a four-month amnesty, running to 31 January 2027, for owners of buildings put up without approved plans, joining a string of parishes pushing homeowners to regularise before enforcement.
- Jamaica’s Rebuild Could Reshape the Construction MarketKingston, Jamaica, 7 October 2026 Jamaica is preparing for a sharp increase in construction activity as hurricane reconstruction moves into
- Spanish Town’s Cathedral Is a Glorious MuddleRebuilt after a hurricane in 1714 and altered for two centuries since, the Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega is a lesson in how Jamaicans build, patch and endure. It deserves to be looked at properly, flaws and all.
- Montego Bay Waterfront Set for Major RedesignGovernment plans could reshape Freeport, the Hip Strip and one of Jamaica’s most valuable urban property corridors
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026JAPEX 2026 drew 416 delegates to Ocho Rios as post-Melissa hotels pitch their comebacks, with renovation spending going toward both room count and local-facing amenities.
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026JAPEX 2026 drew 416 delegates to Ocho Rios as post-Melissa hotels pitch their comebacks, with renovation spending going toward both room count and local-facing amenities.
- Four New Hospitals Put NaRRA to the Test
- Ocho Rios Container Puts Council Planning Under Scrutiny
- Buyers Urged to Check Disaster Resilience Before Signing
- Trelawny Opens Amnesty for Unapproved Buildings
- Jamaica’s Rebuild Could Reshape the Construction Market
- Spanish Town’s Cathedral Is a Glorious Muddle
- Montego Bay Waterfront Set for Major Redesign
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026
- Closed Hotels Pitch Their Comeback at JAPEX 2026
- Why the Jamaican Dollar Matters More to Your Build Than Your Mortgage Rate
- Why the Jamaican Dollar Matters More to Your Build Than Your Mortgage Rate
- $91-Million Solar-Powered Water System Brings Supply to 1,000 Clarendon Residents
- Why the Jamaican Dollar Matters More to Your Build Than Your Mortgage Rate
- Heroes Park Redevelopment Nears Construction as UDC Wraps Up Consultations
Diaspora & Returning Residents
- Free Movement Turns One, With Jamaica Still on the Sidelines
![planes on airport runway view through a porthole]()
CARICOM says 939 nationals were processed in the first ten months of full free movement between Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Jamaica has not yet joined, even as its own rebuild faces a shortage of skilled workers. - From Injustice to Stage
![Passengers aboard the Empire Windrush, whose 1948 arrival in Britain came to symbolise the Windrush generation and the enduring contribution of Caribbean people to modern British life.]()
A compensation payment arising from one of Britain’s most damaging immigration scandals is being turned into something its recipient never lived to see: an opportunity for a new generation of Caribbean voices to be heard. The Windrush Prize for British - Returning to Jamaica? Why Britain’s Changing State Pension Could Matter More Than You Think
![Illustration: Retirement savings set against Westminster, highlighting the financial pressures, pension choices and cross-border considerations facing people planning for later life in the UK and abroad.]()
A quiet change taking place in Britain’s pension system could have surprisingly important consequences for thousands of Jamaicans who have spent part of their working lives in the United Kingdom and intend to retire back home. New figures reported in - The AI Bubble May Burst. The Revolution Will Remain
![A young boy explores the possibilities of early computing beneath portraits of Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder and Marcus Garvey, as one generation’s strange new technology quietly becomes the foundation of the next.]()
From peenie wallies and vinyl records to Google and artificial intelligence, technology has repeatedly changed ordinary life without asking permission. The evidence suggests that AI is both an investment bubble and a genuine revolution.
- Free Movement Turns One, With Jamaica Still on the SidelinesCARICOM says 939 nationals were processed in the first ten months of full free movement between Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Jamaica has not yet joined, even as its own rebuild faces a shortage of skilled workers.
- From Injustice to StageA compensation payment arising from one of Britain’s most damaging immigration scandals is being turned into something its recipient never
- Returning to Jamaica? Why Britain’s Changing State Pension Could Matter More Than You ThinkA quiet change taking place in Britain’s pension system could have surprisingly important consequences for thousands of Jamaicans who have
- The AI Bubble May Burst. The Revolution Will RemainFrom peenie wallies and vinyl records to Google and artificial intelligence, technology has repeatedly changed ordinary life without asking permission. The evidence suggests that AI is both an investment bubble and a genuine revolution.
- A Florida Adventist Church Writes a Cheque to Rebuild a Church Melissa Destroyed in Western JamaicaRestore a Child and the Palm Springs SDA Church in Florida presented a cheque to the West Jamaica Conference to keep rebuilding an Adventist church destroyed by Hurricane Melissa, as mission teams returned to help children and families.
- As US Mortgage Rates Climb Again, Jamaica’s Diaspora Buyers Feel It TooKingston, Jamaica, 18 August 2026. Mortgage rates in the United States ticked higher again this week, with the average 30-year
- Retrology Comes HomeIn Priory, classic cars, polished hospitality and a powerful returnee presence turned an all-white celebration into something larger: a portrait of the Jamaica being built by those who stayed, those who left and those who came home.
- Investor Residency Plan Inches Forward, Four Years Behind ScheduleDraft immigration law changes for Jamaica’s investor residency programme are being vetted, but the scheme is over four years late and key terms remain undisclosed.
- Single Father and Twins Get New Concrete Home in Flanker After MelissaTheodore Notise and his twin sons have moved into a concrete home in Flanker, St James, the first of ten being built by the GrassROOTS Community Foundation after Hurricane Melissa.
- Free Movement Turns One, With Jamaica Still on the Sidelines
- From Injustice to Stage
- Returning to Jamaica? Why Britain’s Changing State Pension Could Matter More Than You Think
- The AI Bubble May Burst. The Revolution Will Remain
- A Florida Adventist Church Writes a Cheque to Rebuild a Church Melissa Destroyed in Western Jamaica
- As US Mortgage Rates Climb Again, Jamaica’s Diaspora Buyers Feel It Too
- Retrology Comes Home
- Investor Residency Plan Inches Forward, Four Years Behind Schedule
- Single Father and Twins Get New Concrete Home in Flanker After Melissa
- UK Asking Prices Fall 1% in July: What Britain’s Cooling Market Means for the Diaspora
- Rhythms of Resilience: Bob Marley and the Soul of a Jamaica Rising from Ruin
- Before the Rock Could Be Claimed: Jamaica’s Century of Striving for Garvey’s Vision
- Brixton to Montego Bay
- Jamaica in 2026: Murder Rate, Tourism Records, and the Geopolitics of a Nation at a Crossroads
More: Diaspora & Returning Residents →
About the Jamaica Homes Blog
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Latest headlines
- Jamaica’s Housing Trap: More Money, Higher Prices, Same Struggle
- The Homes We Bought, the Prices We Paid and the Regrets That Followed
- Holness Holds Party Ground as Jamaica Faces Housing Test
- Forex: $159.94 to One US Dollar
- Jamaica’s Housing Ladder: The Climb to Homeownership Gets Steeper
- Jamaica’s Housing Boom: Building Higher, Dreaming Harder
- Jamaica’s Housing Boom Meets a Hard Reality
- A Year After Melissa, Jamaica’s Churches Are Still Counting What They Lost
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Selling your property
- Backyard Graves Back in Focus as Trelawny Mayor Sounds Alarm
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Jamaica Homes News brings you the latest Jamaican news, property, business, tourism, development and community stories from across the island. Discover the people, places and developments shaping Jamaica today, with timely news and local insight you can trust.
Your source for the real estate news.
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