Phone: 772-532-0010
Website: sorensenrealestate.com

Website: www.grahamrealestate.com
Email: gpgraham@grahamrealeste.com

Juicy Hill Sitting high atop a Bahamian hill, one would expect nothing less than stunning water vistas in all directions. Juicy Hill offers such a slice of the island life. Located on 2 acres, this ranch-style estate was inspired by a 17th century sugar plantation home on Guadeloupe. The 3 en-suite bedroom 4,000 sq. ft. main cottage is tucked away in the perfect spot to offer a serene escape, while the 1,500 sq. ft. wrap-around porch offers a myriad of places for a lazy afternoon with a summer novel. Prepare a meal in the chef’s kitchen, and then dine by the light of the setting sun in the screened area of the porch, which features 2 sitting areas and dining for 12. A small 1 en-suite bedroom guesthouse is situated just off the north porch. This spectacular property is an ideal setting from which to enjoy the island’s many tropical wonders.

Website: www.grahamrealestate.com
Email: gpgraham@grahamrealeste.com

Alexis G. Nihon is Vice-President of Anco Lands Ltd., a real estate development company located in Nassau, the Bahamas. Following a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English Literature at Canada’s McGill University, Nihon joined a private, Montreal-based company, Jesta Capital Corporation, as a financial analyst and property administrator. After honing his skills in the analysis, structuring and execution of acquisitions and divestitures of commercial real estate in North America and Europe, he joined Anco Lands in direct green-field development on the island of Abaco in the Bahamas. As the scale of this opportunity became increasingly evident, he decided to further his training with a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University before returning to Anco Lands as Vice-President of Development, a post he has held since 2008. He now oversees all areas of development and plays a central role in day-to-day operations of Serenity Point.

http://www.serenitypoint.com/

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1. Your family has a successful reputation for real estate development in Canada. How did you and your family get interested in the Bahamas?

My family has always had a foothold in both countries since my grandfather discovered the Bahamas in 1946 and made a home here. In 1962 he discovered Abaco, and saw great potential in its future. He purchased large swaths of land and hoped to begin developing some of them before he passed away. In the decades that followed his purchase, and particularly in the last decade, Abaco saw steady increases in tourism, development and infrastructure investment to the point where it is now the fastest growing island in the Bahamas other than New Providence, which hosts the capital, Nassau. My father managed our portfolios consistent growth from Canada until returning to the Bahamas full-time again to turn toward development.

2. Tell us a little bit about your vision for Serenity Point.

Serenity Point will be an intimate, high-end community on one of the most stunning beaches the Bahamas has to offer. Its location alone will make it stand apart from most other developments. Our idea is to create an elegant setting in which all of the modern amenities one would desire at home are at their fingertips in a breathtaking location, far removed from the outside world. The architectural style fuses a contemporary, openspace design with traditional elements of the Bahamian vernacular. Open plan concepts that maximize views and enhance the connection of the outdoors to the indoors are fused with historic and regional precedents specific to the Bahamas. Through our builder’s program, residents will be able to build their dream homes in an ideal setting, with a cost-stable turn-key solution at hand. For a unique lifestyle experience, the community will be situated adjacent to an authentic new harbour town, Schooner Bay Village, which is also currently under development and will offer scores of civic services and retail outlets such as schools, a post office, shops, inns, and restaurants. Our development is located in the prestigious and growing South Abaco region, which adds a strong investment incentive to buyers as well. Finally, Serenity Point will also be in short distance from all of the attractions that have made Abaco an increasingly coveted destination year after year.

3. There are a number of luxury developments under way on Abaco. How will Serenity Point differ?

Abaco is certainly unique in that there are a number of unabated developments taking place during this slower economic time. I would say of all the private, high-end communities on Abaco offering this scale of quality, we are the most intimate in terms of size, a real oasis to those who will call it home. Something I think the last few years have taught us is that bigger isn’t necessarily better. On the contrary, smaller, more integrated lifestyle communities have fared better, in terms of both experience and investment for end users. Additionally, Anco Lands holds a vast portfolio of land on Abaco and this is our primary development. We want to ensure that the reliability and longevity that has been associated with our name through decades of real estate development is delivered upon. No detail has gone unchecked. We want this community to represent a highly desirable location for second homeowners also searching for a sound investment in the Caribbean right now. To that end, we’re creating a very high-quality product with significant growth potential built into it. Our location in the growing South Abaco region, adjacent to the multi-faceted Schooner Bay Village and close to other high-end project such as the Delphi Lodge and the Ritz-Carlton Abaco Club further this appeal. Last, our home sites are fully serviced and ready to be built upon right now. Our infrastructure is virtually completed and we are now moving towards the aesthetic components of Serenity Point.

4. Can you describe some of the Amenities Serenity Point will feature?

Serenity Point is located on one of the narrowest points of Great Abaco island, with some of the highest elevations available, offering ocean views to the east and the west. On the eastern side lies the stunning Schooner Bay Beach. On the western side are the marls, shallow waters known for some of the best bone-fishing in the Caribbean. Within this setting, Serenity Point will be a private, gated community situated at the heart of Schooner Bay Beach. Residents will have access to a full-service beach club anchored by an ocean view infinity pool, tennis courts with player facilities, a solar powered golf cart with each home site, and an extensive array of luxe concierge services ranging from private chefs and child care services to diving and island-hopping expeditions. Direct,
adjacent access to a host of amenities at neighboring Schooner Bay Village will also be of tremendous value to residents.

5. Many Ocean Home readers own yachts. How would Serenity Point appeal to them?

Abaco is known as the sailing and boating capital of the Bahamas. The island is famously known for having more boat slips than hotel rooms, and is home to a vibrant marina culture. With hundreds of unpopulated cays, 130 miles of naturally protected waters, and some of the best fishing on the planet, Abaco is considered by many to be nothing short of a boater’s paradise. Marsh Harbour, the nearby capital of Abaco, is a bustling marina and offers full-service for yachts of every size. Residents will also be able to anchor their yachts off Serenity Point’s Schooner Bay, and bring their tenders in to the Schooner Bay marina, where a service will be offered to transport them to the marls for fishing. We anticipate a lot of boating activity at Schooner Bay. I would say to yachters, regardless of whether or not they’re interested in a home at Serenity Point, to definitely take a look at what Abaco has to offer in this capacity.

6. For the sake of the environment, so many new communities are featuring green technology. Will Serenity Point?

Absolutely. This is something we feel strongly about and we’ve made great efforts to incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly elements in the community. Our Club House will be solar powered, as will the golf carts we are contributing to each home site. Our landscaping incorporates a significant amount of drought-tolerant indigenous flora. Beyond this, we’ve built a low-impact irrigation system designed for efficient water use, and are in the process of building three rain water holding tanks for the community that will collectively hold up to one hundred thousand gallons of water. Our design guidelines also mandate design techniques that significantly reduce energy use and encourage water preservation, such as a 25 thousand gallon rainwater tank for each home site. Residents will also benefit from sustainable practices at neighboring Schooner Bay Village, such as an organic farmer’s market and an abundance of green space. Attention to the environment amongst developers in Abaco is another factor that has differentiated the island from others over the last several years, receiving notable mention from the prime minister himself.

7. What are some of the reasons American and Canadians would find Serenity Point an attractive investment?

Abaco is now factually the fastest growing island in the Bahamas, other than the capital, Nassau, which has 20 times the population. In 2009 it took the lead in having the busiest airport, with the most flights, and has a rapidly expanding port served by 5 freighters from Florida alone. The island has shown significant year over year increases in visitors despite the economic downturn and Abaco today has the highest number of repeat visitors in all of the Bahamas. While the Bahamas and the Caribbean overall have suffered as a result of the economy, Abaco has shown far more resilience than other islands, so much so that it is now commonly referred to within the Bahamas as “the future”. Its close proximity to the Florida coast, two international airports, larger land mass, stunning natural attractions, and modern infrastructure account for part of this assessment. But it also has to do with the significant amount of public and private investment that continues to fuel growth in Abaco to this day. As an example, the government just commenced construction of a new 100 million dollar power facility, and announced that construction of a new 39,000 square foot airport terminal would also begin this year. In the private sphere, self-financed, mixed-use anchor developments such as Discovery Lands’ Baker’s Bay Ocean and Golf Club, and the Lindroth Development company’s Schooner Bay Village are forging ahead with construction and sales. Unlike other islands, the developments taking place in Abaco are generally more lifestyle oriented and less environmentally intrusive, accounting for stronger demand. Given the continued growth on Abaco, which will no doubt increase as the economy continues to mend, current real estate prices offer tremendous opportunity to those with the means to buy. Serenity Point is situated in a particularly promising region, South Abaco, which has seen considerable expansion over the last several years, pioneered by the Ritz-Carlton Abaco club. Finally, as a large landholding company, it is in our longterm interest to participate in the generation of growth in Abaco, particularly in certain regions. To that extent, we are offering substantial value in our pricing model. I think all of these factors combined provide a compelling investment incentive to buyers. Our challenge is to pierce through all of the disingenuous marketing currently out there to connect with seasoned investors looking for a genuine opportunity. I haven’t touched on the fact that there is no income, inheritance or capital gains tax for residents of the Bahamas, which can be of benefit to buyers who would seek residency status, granted with a property purchase of $500k or more.

8. Can you tell us a little about the Builder’s Program?
The Builder’s Program is designed to make the process of building your dream home in a foreign country as seamless and hassle free as possible. We have partnered with a renowned Architectural firm, Chancey Design Partnership, to offer residents schematic and interior designs of homes built specifically for these sites. Owners can tailor these according to their tastes or start with a fresh palette to design their ideal homes. Either way, a cost-stable, turn-key solution is available to buyers. Should they wish to work with others, we have a list of pre-approved architects and builders who will work with them every step of the way to design and construct their vision. Owners may also choose their own team for building according to our architectural guidelines, which protect the visual integrity of the entire community but leave plenty of room for personal taste.

9. There are only 24 Oceanfront and ocean view home sites in total. What are the price ranges of each site as well as availability?

Prices for ridge lots start at 500k, with hill top lots starting at 750k, and beach front lots starting at 850k. Our official opening is on March 6th, at which point a full marketing and sales effort will begin. At this point we have a number of reservations secured simply by word of mouth, which we feel is a pretty good sign of things to come. With the worst of the economic downturn now behind us, we’re confident that what we are offering will appeal to buyers looking for significant value, strong appreciation potential and, of course, a glorious lifestyle.

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·     Beach and ocean front villas and apartments for sale on freehold basis
·     Rental programme available with 24 hour concierge and butler facilities
·     Beach Club with casual open air dining and elegant fine dining restaurant
·     Signature spa with ridge-top salas, beauty salon, gym, pilates and yoga studios
·     Prices from $575,000 upwards

TEL: +1 268 464 4028   EMAIL: rufus@tamarind-hills.com
WEB: www.tamarind-hills.com

Stepping out of your beachfront estate right onto pristine white sands and wading into gentle rolling surf might be high on anyone’s list of priorities when it comes to planning a Hawaiian vacation. But not if you’re the President of the United States. And not if you’re staying at Oahu’s Paradise Point.

“There’s a beach on the Marine base where they have privacy that they like to go to,” says Paradise Point owner David Zimel about the First Family. “It’s a crime that they can’t go out to the beach in front of their house.”

View the complete photo gallery of the Obama Winter White House below:

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Paparazzi aside, President Barack Obama and his family have been content to call this corner of the world their home during the past two winter holiday seasons, prompting Zimel to dub this private estate on Kailua Beach the “Obama Winter White House.” One look around and it’s no surprise that the President and his family chose to return to this same spot one year after a photo of his leisurely ocean swim here made headlines across the globe.

Located on 4.5 acres on the windward eastern shore of Oahu, just 20 minutes from Honolulu, Paradise Point is a gated, island plantation-style retreat comprised of two structures—a guest house and Plantation Estate—marked by exquisite luxuries and unmatched scenery.

Just beyond the seven-foot lava rock walls that protect the estate from the nearby road, a sprawling courtyard welcomes visitors with lush vegetation, a lagoon-style pool, tropical waterfalls, and a lavish island spa. Here is where Hawaiian tradition and modern amenities unite.

Spread out over 7,000 square feet, the Obama Winter White House features five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, a three-car garage, a media room with a 60-inch flat-screen TV with speakers embedded in laser-carved mahogany leaves, and a centralized Lutron lighting system. Details like the etched windows, stained glass, natural stone tiling, and African mahogany carvings set the scene for the ultimate in presidential and Hawaiian relaxation.

“It’s incredibly peaceful and self-contained,” says Zimel. “The President gets to download here. Rarely can he do that anywhere else. The only time he leaves is when he speaks publicly or goes to Kailua with the family.”

The President and Mrs. Obama sleep in the master bedroom suite, which includes a therapy tub that looks directly out onto Kailua Beach, while their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, share a room that is separated from the rest of the house and overlooks the pool. But even if you’re the leader of the free world, a vacation on Hawaii’s coast means getting outside and enjoying the tropical breezes. That’s where the covered lanai comes into play.

“This is Michelle Obama’s favorite reading space,” says Zimel. Surrounded by coconut trees and well outfitted with an outdoor bar, refrigerator, sink, and TV, the lanai’s privacy and amenities are only part of the draw. The flow of the nearby waterfall can be adjusted to suit any mood, and the surrounding native vegetation and coconut trees can be illuminated at the touch of a button.

“At night, if you want to be wowed, you turn on the pool lights and the tree lights, then adjust the tiki torches. It’s like you’ve died and gone to heaven,” Zimel says. It’s also where the Obamas enjoy dinner every so often—a catered affair with their own private chef. Add to that the sound of the ocean wafting over your shoulder and the waterfall trickling nearby, along with the smell of the hibiscus flowers in the garden, and it suddenly becomes apparent as to why the Obamas chose this location out of all the places in the world to spend their winter vacation.

History also played a role in bringing the Obamas back to Hawaii. The President spent his early years attending nearby Punahou School and swimming in the waters of Kailua Beach with his grandfather. While he did return several times since his youth, it wasn’t until a good friend showed him Paradise Point that sealed the deal. In the winter of 2008, the family stayed in the Plantation Estate for the first time.

“The Obamas didn’t want to leave,” Zimel says of their first visit. “They knew they had a lot of work ahead of them, and so I believe that’s why they wanted to come back.”

The history of Paradise Point dates much farther back than 2008, however. Kailua Beach itself is considered to be the birthplace of the Hawaiian people. In the 16th century, Kailua became the political and social focal point for Hawaiian royalty, thanks to its crops of sugarcane, rice, and taro. In the 1800s, a New England missionary named Samuel Castle came to Kailua to establish a school for local children. Castle’s success in the sugar industry allowed him to purchase large tracts of land in the Kailua basin, as well as the area now known as Paradise Point.

These days, the Castle name has been overshadowed by the Obamas, but it doesn’t seem to be ruffling any feathers. When the First Family comes to town, business booms. Located just five minutes from the estate, the town of Kailua is home to 50,000 permanent residents and a quaint shopping district full of restaurants and stores, including one called Island Snow, where the Obamas regularly visit for shaved ice. There’s even an item on the menu called the “Snowbama.”

When not visiting the town of Kailua, the President often takes a drive four minutes up the road to the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, where he regularly works out and where the family can share some downtime away from the public eye at the private beach. With several golf courses nearby, as well as options for surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, and other water sports, there’s certainly plenty to keep anyone busy. But at the end of the day, it’s the tranquility of the oceanfront setting and the luxuries of the home that appeal to the Obamas.

“I’ve heard people say it’s like you’re at a lavish hotel, only it’s all yours,” says Zimel. “Every time you walk up and down the white sand beach of Kailua Bay, you keep pinching yourself, saying, ‘How can this be so quiet and so peaceful?’ It feels too good to be true there.”

Rates for renting the Obama Winter White House start at $3,000 per night, but for a cool $8.9 million, anyone can scoop up this slice of heaven all for themselves. Paradise Point Estates, 866-702-6565, paradisepointestates.com.

A complete workout in just 4 minutes a day, the QuickGym is for those select few who seek life’s peak experiences. It provides a unique workout that is intense, invigorating, and silky smooth. It guides your body through compound isokinetic movements that involve every major muscle group in the upper and lower body. For muscle development, cardio conditioning, and flexibility.

$14,615
Call 818-504-6450 or order online
www.quickgym.com

Since 1975, FITT and its team of artisans have been dedicated to producing the world’s finest high performance, hyper-plush, private digital cinemas for a most discerning clientele around the world. The company is the nation’s one-and-only multi-licensed architectural and design firm focused purely on this niche business.  With 35 years in the industry, FITT has become one of the most sought-after companies in the field and has worked with a plethora of movie, TV, and sports celebrities, dignitaries, and bon vivants. “What we do is not for everyone,” explains CEO Jeffrey Smith.  “But it is for a select few, all of whom can agree that our personal cinema is the most unique and most expensive room per square foot in their home.”

Just as movies are a form of artistic expression, so too are the theaters in which they are viewed.  With this in mind, FITT always places an emphasis on its client’s design objectives, and promises to transform their visions—regardless of how fantastical they may be—into stunning realities. With a 32,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Miami that offers in-house millwork and upholstery services to include its own line of CineLounger® Motion Seating, no task is too large for this highly trained team of theatre artisans.

With FITT’s unrivalled all-inclusive services, it comes as no surprise that the company is recruited to travel all over the world for their installation projects, which generally take anywhere from four to six months to complete, a small time span considering all of the materials that must be transported, installed, and executed on site with perfection.  Costs of theater rooms range from $150,000 to upwards of $500,000 with a few passing the million dollar mark, and are filled with quality craftsmanship and details making them worth every penny. Upon completion of a project, FITT goes so far as printing tickets emblazoned with the name of the client’s theater for the “opening night” screening.

With its unparalleled artistry and design, state-of-the-art electronics, superior quality and service, and quick turnaround time, FITT is “just the ticket” needed to elevate any residence to opulent new heights.  800-305-7545

First Impressions Theme Theatres, Inc.
12564 NE 14 Ave.
North Miami, FL 33161
305.891.6121 / 800.305.7545
www.cineloungers.com

Many 13-year-old girls dream about becoming models, but Jennifer Clark lived it. She and her identical twin sister were in Wrigley’s famous Doublemint ad campaign in the 1980s. While she probably didn’t realize it then, the experience opened her eyes to the concept of realizing one’s potential. It’s a philosophy that serves her well as the founder of the interior design firm Shop Maudlin in La Jolla and as the resident of a beach house in that same neighborhood.

About a decade after the commercial, Clark went house hunting with her husband. At the time, his career as a pro beach volleyball player dictated being near the water. Regardless, “We knew we liked it and hoped to live there one day,” Clark says of the beach. When they discovered a four-bedroom, three-bath ocean view house in La Jolla, Clark was convinced it was the one. As a designer, she was honing her skills in seeing the potential in everything from a single room to an empty home, and this house had great potential. Only one other home adjoined theirs at the high end of the street, which meant that “regardless of how built-up the neighborhood becomes, it will never ruin our view.”

The harshness of the saltwater environment takes its toll on a façade, but Clark wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s imperfect, as are a lot of my furnishings, but it creates a warmth,” she says, adding that it has “character.” Clark, her husband, and their three boys, three cats, and three dogs live among similarly worn, funky items. There’s a carousel rocking horse from Argentina, antique telephones, French coffee grinders, carved Black Forest horns and, of course, shells from the local beach. “It’s warm and homey without being…too sweet,” Clark says. –By Diane M. Byrne

In one of the Northeast’s most spectacular historic replication projects to date, Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island—the Atlantic Ocean-facing, post-Civil War hotel that closed in 2002 after decades of structural damage—has been dismantled and elegantly rebuilt with some stunning new additions.

Connecticut-based Centerbrook Architects and Planners are responsible for the new design of the legendary seaside hotel, replicating the historic canary yellow façade while incorporating two new wings: the north wing, which contains hotel rooms and residential units; and the east wing, comprised of residential units and dug into the hillside running parallel to the beach.

“By 1908, the hotel had reached its pinnacle, its heyday as a grand hotel, its iconic look. We used photographs from this era to replicate the historic kernel exactly,” says Jeff Riley, Centerbrook’s founding principal and lead project architect.

“Over the years, the hotel had been renovated and elongated, and in the new design, we pulled it back to its original length. The notable French Mansard tower seen in a 1908 photo had been removed and replaced; we restored it.”

Careful attention to original architectural elements lend accuracy and old-world glamour to the new 152,660-square-foot luxury hotel, which opens its doors in June. These elements include dozens of cornices, balustrades, railings, and Doric and Ionic columns, which combine with the more than 5,000 artifacts taken from the original structure, such as balconies, the reception desk, an elevator cab, and even a phone booth.

Because the new Ocean House is almost 50,000 square feet larger than the original, attention was paid to maintain the natural beauty and small-town feel of the private Watch Hill community. “Our challenge was to make a bigger hotel look like a smaller hotel and to meet modern codes and standards while staying true to the original,” Riley says. “We left the historic kernel standing proud.” Centerbrook Architects and Planners, 860-767-0175, centerbrook.com; Ocean House, 401-315-5599, oceanhouseri.com. –By Deborah Geiger.