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John Contantakis - Nassau Estate Agent

John is an amiable, hardworking and successful sales agent. As a result of his likeable nature and expertise John thrives on his numerous referrals and relationships. The youngest of five children, John was born in Nassau, Bahamas, attended school at St. Andrews and then went on to Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada.  

Growing up John worked in the family's hotel and the hospitality industry became second nature. This innate knowledge and enjoyment of working with people led John into other successful business ventures including a pizzeria and a sports pub, as well as, multiple retail stores that John ran with his wife Charlotte.  

A decision to sell the business provided John with a real estate transaction that generated the desire to become an Estate Agent himself. John's relationships within the community and business arena make him a sought after source for insights and advice for both residential and commercial real estate. Outside of the industry, John is a devoted husband and father to two sons and an active member of a locally popular band, 'Modern Vintage', which is sought after for high profile events and functions.  

Whether it is fishing, playing music, travelling with his family, or participating in his church and parish community John's enjoyment of meeting people is evident. John's honest, open nature and his commitment to ethics and being 'a man of his word' have earned him admiration among his peers and notably an award for being 'The Agent His Fellow Agents Would Most Like To Work With.'

Commitment, Integrity and Productivity have led John Constantakis to both personal and professional success. If you are interested in working with an agent who is genuinely committed to assisting his clients in finding their ideal property contact John today!

John can be contacted at the Nassau office: (242) 322 1041 Cell: (242) 424 8669 or email: jconstantakis@hgchristie.com.  

HGC Keeping you Informed

"Taking the Temperature of the Bahamian Real Estate Market"

Part Two of a Two Part Series 

by Dwayne Wallas

The first part of this two-part series was published in the 2011 January issue of the Bahamas Real Estate Review.  

In that segment, I began a discussion and analysis of information I had generated utilizing the Bahamas MLS.

 Below is the chart I had compiled previously discussed:

A few additional points that I would like to bring forth from this table, is that I was able to glean based on information contained within the MLS is that the average price of a home (both asking and selling) has risen dramatically over the past 3 years. In 2008, the average price paid of all homes purchased within the Bahamas was $430,739. The total average price paid for a home in the Bahamas in 2009 was $612,776 and in 2010 it rose drastically to $816,843. It is evident that the upper end of the market, the savvy/experienced sellers and buyers of high-end luxury homes, have chosen to embrace the MLS. I expect that now the MLS is fully entrenched in the profession, the average price per home will potentially see further adjustment. An initial decline in the average price is plausible as this platform allows for accurate and correct pricing for current markets. More sellers and buyers in the median and lower market segments are coming to recognize the value of the MLS. Ultimately, this transparent and virtual market will provide stability and an increasing demand from sellers insisting that they property is listed on it for optimum exposure and expedient transaction opportunities.

I have compiled one more chart based on figures from 2010 for our review.  

Volume of Sales by Month: 

According to the information supplied by the Bahamas MLS, in terms of sales volume, the year 2010 started out with a bang as you can see from the chart above. However, the activity began a volatile roller coaster ride during the fall months though to the end of the year. By sheer volume of sales, 2009 saw 70 homes sold around the Bahamas, but in 2010 there were only 59 homes sold, a drop of 15% showed that the real estate market in the Bahamas was not out of the woods.

Therefore, if selling a home in 2011 be prepared to receive competitive offers and expectations of negotiation. If you are buying, all signs indicate that without a doubt now is the time to buy - don't wait. All indicators are definitely showing signs of the real estate market heating up, and remember over the past three years new development has taken somewhat of a hiatus, therefore as confidence returns and the inventory shrinks, prices are sure to increase.

While the United States, and almost all other countries in the world, has had more statistics on the housing market than you can shake a stick at, here in the Bahamas there has historically been none at all. However, thanks to the herculean efforts of the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) over the past 3 years, the Bahamian land profession can now boast of having a real and useable Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  It has been a long road in coming and without a doubt the MLS is here to stay. It is an invaluable tool for agents & brokers, providing dynamic, always up-to-date real-time information accessible anywhere. For sellers, it ensures that their property is gaining maximum exposure and for buyers it provides a one-stop shop to see listings all in one place and not have to check every different real estate company.

Looking forward, try to get past the stigma & fear pervading business and investment decisions. Keep a keen eye for opportunities and focus on historical data that shows it is only a matter of time till we see better days. Then contact your HG Christie estate agent today and allow our skills, insights, and access to solid information via the Bahamas MLS assist you in realizing your real estate aspirations.  

Jump in!  The temperature is fine!  

HGC Tips 

10 Ways to Sell Your Home Faster

A few basic elements can make the difference between a quick home sale and a frustrating ordeal. A few experts in the Real Estate Industry offer invaluable advice to speed up your sale:

1. Finish the "honey do" list - Just about every homeowner has a string of little repairs that need to be done.  This is the time to check off those items.   

2. "De-Clutter" - Too much stuff makes rooms look smaller and focuses buyers' attention on your possessions rather than the home you're trying to sell. That's why many professional stagers recommend removing as much as a third of your things to better show off rooms and closets.

3. Depersonalize and neutralize - The first items that should go in those packing boxes: family photos, collections and just about anything else that says "you." That means neutral shades if you need to repaint walls or replace carpets. "Buyers have a hard enough time envisioning how their stuff will look on your walls; by neutralizing your decor, you can help give them the blank canvas they need to imagine your house as theirs."

4. Clean like a fiend - We are talking 'Q-Tip clean'. Some experts recommend taking a cotton swab to faucets and fixtures, scouring fingerprints from all the switch plates, shining windows until they're spotless and vacuuming up every last dog hair from the baseboards. "You should be able to eat off the kitchen floor, the bathroom floor."

5. Banish Odors - You'll need to banish suspect smells as well; you don't want your house to become known in real-estate circles as "the cat pee place." If your pets have had one too many accidents, you may need to replace the affected carpet and padding and have the underlying floor sealed. If you're not sure how your place smells, get your least tactful friend to take a few whiffs and tell you the honest truth.

6. Stage the rooms - Stand in the doorway to find each room's focal point, and use furniture placement to highlight that. The back of your sofa shouldn't block the view of the fireplace, for example, and the dining room table shouldn't be sharing space with a stair climber. Remove any extraneous pieces of furniture, but you may be able to "repurpose" them in another room. A wingback chair that's crowding the family room might help create a nice reading nook in the master bedroom.

7. Tend to the floors - Keeping them spotless won't help if they're dated, worn or impossibly stained. You shouldn't spend a fortune installing hardwood or tile, though, since you're unlikely to recoup the cost. Look for compromises that can improve the home's appearance without busting your wallet. Carpets should be steam-cleaned to see if they're salvageable. If not, you may be able to reduce the costs of replacement by offering to do some of the work, such as removing the old carpet and moving furniture. Banish scatter rugs, Schwarz advised. Little rugs add to the visual clutter and can be dangerous besides.

8. Kick up the curb appeal - By now, you probably realize the garden gnomes are a no-no. But you may not realize how many sales you're losing before potential buyers even get to the front door. "Most people will start their search for a home on the Internet. "Your front landscaping needs to be in perfect condition."

9. Set the right price - You may think you are just testing the market with a high price tag, but buyers may assume your unreasonable and move on. The goal should be a fair price -- something that's reasonable given the price of other homes in your area. "Buyers who are actively searching for a fairly-priced home, will pounce on what they perceive is fair value."

10. Pick the right publicist - You will want an agent who can really sell. That means somebody who knows your neighborhood intimately and who's enthusiastic about your home like an HG Christie Agent is.

Don't miss these exciting events!   

Mar 3 - Mar 5
3rd National Agribusiness Expo
The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources presents the 3rd National Agribusiness Expo that features an array of Bahamian food products and craft including a wide variety of vegetables, meats, marine products, pastries, preserves, ornamentals and handicrafts. Expo also promises cooking demonstrations and culinary competitions.

Mar 3 - Mar 5
Town Hall Meeting: "Masters in Social Work"
The School of Social Work at Barry University and the College of The Bahamas hosts a Town Hall Meeting for the Masters in Social Work degree programme in the Executive Boardroom of the Michael Eldon complex. 6pm-8pm on Thurs, Mar 3. 10am-12pm on Sat, Mar 5. T: 397-2601/2 E: swisdom@cob.edu.bs

Mar 4 - Friday
Silent Auction & Bingo Night
The January "Gems" Birthday Club of Christ the King Parish hosts an exciting evening with a Silent Auction & Bingo, 6:30pm in Christ the King Parish Hall. Prizes include Gift Certificates, Phone Cards, dinner for Two, Kitchenware, Original Artwork, and a grand prize of a laptop. Entry fee: $5, includes five game tickets. Refreshments also on sale. Proceeds in aid of Parish Hall Renovations. T: 525-0653 or 328-8639 E: orichgirl@hotmail.com

Mar 5 - Saturday
69th Annual Red Cross Fair
The Bahamas Red Cross hosts its 69th annual fair under "Ready to Respond", 12pm-until on the Lower Grounds of Government House. Enjoy a day of fun-filled family entertainment.

Mar 12 - Saturday
"True Friends" Dance Part 2
Party Central presents "True Friends" dance part 2, the black and yellow edition, 7pm at St John's auditorium. Music provided by Selecta Flam Boi and DJ Blaze, DJ Crank, OneTime, DJ Spuddy and Gold. Cost: $10/in advance; $15/at the door.

Mar 17 - Mar 19
Family Law Caribbean Regional Conference
The Council of Legal Education, Eugene Dupuch Law School hosts the International Society of Family Law Caribbean Regional Conference under the theme "The Legal and Social Consequences of the Disintegration and Reintegration of Families". More than 40 distinguished jurists, legal scholars, psychologists, social workers and educators from around the world present papers on matters such as marriage and divorce, cohabitation, property distribution and ethical issues, among others. Cost: $400/includes conference materials, breakfast, lunch and snacks. E: HThompsonAhye@edls.edu.bs See http://www.law2.byu.edu

Mar 19 - Mar 20
Kennel Club 30th Annual International Dog Show
The Bahamas Kennel Club hosts the 30th annual International Dog Show and Trials, 8am-4pm daily on the Bahamas Food Services grounds. T: 393-1360 See http://www.bahamaskennelclub.org

Mar 20 - Mar 23
World Conference of Banking Institutes
The Bahamas Institution of Financial Services presents the 19th World Conference of Banking Institutes at Atlantis, Paradise Island, under the theme "Creating a Progressive Financial Services Environment: Trust, Accountability, Competence and Innovation". Topics to be discussed include Rebuilding Trust, Trust and Accountability, A Brazilian Prospective on International Estate Planning, and The Resilience of Canadian Financial Institutions. http://www.bifs-bahamas.com

Mar 27 - Sunday
23rd Annual Bahamas Bridal Show
Buttons Bridal and Formal Wear presents the 23rd annual Bahamas Bridal Show under the theme "To Love and Cherish", 12pm at the Wyndham Nassau Resort. Have your ultimate wedding experience with a trade show, fashion show, food, cake, champagne and a chance to win a dream wedding. Cost: $35 and $45. T: 327-8896. See http://www.buttonsformalwear.com