Touring a New Home in the Caribbean with a San Francisco Designer

[wpvideo 2ZdDXJPp]While on the Caribbean Dutch island of Bonaire, I spent time researching the local real estate market and looking for its similarities and differences to our real estate market here in San Francisco. This was intriguing and fun. One of the best connections was to a couple who own a local restaurant, Wils, in Kralendijk. Their names are Sue and Wil Heemskerk. They were gracious, generous and fun to visit with in the restaurant and later at their new home which is in its final stages of completion. This was a fasinating comparison of the local and international similarities and differences in everything from land ownership to materials acquisition on an island.

On Bonaire, the government promotes home ownership by providing residents and Dutch citizens with cheap long term land leases with the stipulation that a home be built within 5 years. These deals are available on certain government owned land tracks. This has some similarity to the local San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and its work in the market place with government owned property. Outside these tracts of land are privately owned parcels that transfer to the new owner as we’re accustomed.

What seemed to be the biggest issues for constructing a new home were securing the materials. There is a large tax on anything coming onto the island…(think of door hardware, fixtures, etc.). And, finding skilled labor for quality construction and high-end finishes is spotty.

Watch the video as Wil and Sue walk through the house with San Francisco interior designer, Sanders Pitman of Sanders Pitman Designs (415-255-6452).