Caribbean

Building applications in Jamaica surged to record levels in early 2026, but the government is pairing that activity with a new Category 5 building code and stronger enforcement powers. For developers and homeowners alike, the rules of construction are changing.

The 15th Caribbean Urban Forum closed in Kingston last week with a landmark declaration on resilience, land tenure, and urban governance. For Jamaica’s property sector, the implications are more immediate than they might appear.

Dominican investigators allege the murder suspect travelled to Jamaica by sea under a false identity before an intelligence-led operation tracked him to a property in Annotto Bay

Across the Caribbean, marinas, branded residences, vast resorts and public housing projects are transforming the landscape. The real question is who this new Caribbean is being built for.

The Cayman Islands real estate market delivered its strongest first half on record in 2026, with transaction value exceeding US$725 million across the first six months. The performance confirms robust international demand for Caribbean property and has implications for the wider regional market.

The Caribbean real estate market is valued at US$1.87 trillion and growing, yet Caribbean developers continue to face persistent difficulty securing viable development financing. The gap between market scale and available capital is one of the region’s most significant structural challenges and a direct contributor to housing undersupply across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

Buyer intent in the Barbados real estate market is shifting from holiday home purchases toward long-term residency and lifestyle relocation. The change reflects a broader evolution in Caribbean demand that rewards destinations with the infrastructure to support permanent residents, not just occasional visitors.

Two US-backed residential developments associated with TAJ, with a combined stated value exceeding US$500 million, are reported to be entering vertical construction in Guyana — the latest signal that the oil-fuelled Caribbean nation’s real estate market is rapidly maturing into a destination for large-scale institutional property development.

Global foreign direct investment rose 6% to US$1.6 trillion in 2025, but Caribbean small island developing states saw inflows fall by 2% to approximately US$7 billion. Jamaica bucked the regional trend with increased investment — but the findings of the 2026 Sustainable Development Report underscore how much ground the region must cover.

A newly listed beachfront estate in Lyford Cay, Nassau, entered the market at $39.95 million in July 2026, offering 175 feet of beach frontage and more than 11,000 square feet of interior space. The listing is the latest indicator of the sustained depth of demand at the top of the Caribbean luxury property market.

Two US-backed residential developments associated with TAJ are reported to be entering vertical construction in Guyana, with a combined stated value exceeding US$500 million. The projects signal a maturing private real estate market driven by oil wealth.

Proposed data centres requiring up to 300 megawatts of power in Trinidad and Tobago have sparked debate over electricity capacity, water demand, and whether national infrastructure can absorb investment at that scale.

Guyana is planning thousands of social homes to address a backlog of up to 78,000 housing applications, with significant implications for the Caribbean’s construction and mortgage markets.

Drought conditions in Puerto Rico have triggered water rationing that is affecting residential communities, construction sites, and the hospitality sector. The emergency raises wider questions about water security as a real estate risk across the Caribbean.

Road rehabilitation works under Jamaica’s SPARK programme have been completed along Seacrest Drive, delivering resurfaced carriageway and improved drainage to a residential corridor. The project reflects the direct link between public infrastructure investment and property market confidence.