WELCOMING Clients to your home  is the single most important part of selling your property…especially when those visitors are potential buyers.

A strong and vibrant real estate industry requires a broad range of ancillary services. Home décor and furnishings is one of the retail businesses that supports and is supported by real estate. Grand Cayman has numerous furniture and home décor stores for fitting out your Cayman real estate purchase.

A new retail operation is being developed in George Town via a long-term lease with the Cayman government. The George Town Craft Market will be redeveloped by one of Cayman’s leading duty free retailers, Magnum Jewelers. Magnum will lease the existing property, which belongs to the crown, and finance the complete renovation and build-out to turn the market into a premium tourist shopping location. As part of the agreement, Magnum is required to provide space for the Sunrise centre, the government’s advocacy and training program for adults with disabilities. The partnership between the government and Magnum will be beneficial to both sides. The government will receive rent and will reduce its operating costs for the Sunrise Centre. Government also will not have to plan, finance or manage the redevelopment. Magnum, in turn, will get a high profile location in the heart of George Town’s busy shopping district. Plans are for Magnum and Thompson Development to replace the existing one-storey building with a new structure. This project admirably blends three important concerns. Firstly, local crafts, much sought after by visitors, will get an expanded outlet. Secondly, Magnum will open another retail store front, an economic and tourism boost. And thirdly, the Sunrise Centre will get new office space at no cost. This innovative model - retail business directly supporting community concerns – is good for Cayman. Perhaps other projects will follow on this model.

 DRASTICALLY REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE!  "Hummingbird" is the Perfect home  for those that enjoy boating as there is a concrete slip with concrete boat ramp. There is also a two car garage/boat storage garage. Located across the street from Rum Point and only minutes down  the canal to the North Sound. Priced 20% below any other canal front home on the island. This cozy beach  cottage has lots of potential!  Contact info@caymanluxuryproperty.com for more information!  A virtual tour can be seen at; http://youtu.be/MxB68dQ6Tik

The official start of the hurricane season (June1) is still a couple of months away. But we are glad to hear the predicition that this year's forecast is for a quiet season. The experts at Colorado Statue University (ironically, this inland institution is among the leading forecasters) are predicting only 2 major hurricanes of 111+ mph winds for the Caribbean.

The announcement of plans for an expansion to the Cayman Brac airport is welcome news to the real estate industry in the Cayman Islands. Cayman Brac is one of the two smaller “sister islands” to Grand Cayman. The Brac (as locals call it) and Little Cayman are snapshots of time gone by, where residents (and tourists too) ride their bicycles down the middle of the quiet two-lane roads, vast tracts of land are still undeveloped and a simpler pace and rhythm of life prevail. The Brac relies heavily on scuba diving tourism, but also appeals to tourists and even Grand Cayman residents who want the feeling of getting away from it all to spend long hours idling on the porch.

This week's Cayman Property News under the sun focuses on - the proposed George Town Boardwalk. Taking inspiration from existing boardwalks in Havana, Miami, New York & Paris this boardwalk links downtown George Town to Seven Mile Beach and is sure to excite tourists & locals alike.

We wrote recently about green construction in the Cayman Islands and have since learned that the new Government Office Accommodation Building (GOAB) has received Silver certification from LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

We can all attest to the natural beauty, charm and allure the islands bring us, the exceptional weather, diverse offering of restaurants sure to please even the most disconcerting palate, as well as a host of entertainment and business offerings easily accessible to ensure you can conduct business with ease while meeting all of your pleasure and vacation demands during your stay in Cayman.

New home construction in the Cayman Islands adheres to strict local standards that are designed to take tropical weather, including hurricanes, into account. The local standards are derived from best practices in Florida which have been fine-tuned over many decades by government authorities with input from industry.