Caribe point’s the way

Today’s property investors leave no stone unturned when it comes to investing in what they believe is the next big region.

Best known within the diving community, the Bay Islands off of the coast of Honduras has recently come out from under its stone, revealing huge appeal for investors.

Bridge Property International is pleased to be able to present…exclusively within the UK and Ireland…the Oceano Village Resort in Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras.

Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands with probably the most to offer in terms of all round beauty, it also has the most vibrant property market.

Coxen Hole, French Harbour, West End and Oak Ridge are the traditional areas of interest for people looking to buy, however a new location has arrived and deservedly so.

Oceano Village Resort is be developed in the Caribe Point region of Roatan in the southwest of the Caribbean. Dan Jenkins explains.

"For me, the ultimate challenge as an architect and town planner is to make 'paradise' equal to or better than it was before I got there -- and that's from an environmental, aesthetic and social point of view," says Jenkins. To that end, Oceano will become a vibrant community that blends into the magical setting.

A total of 686 units will eventually be built, each unique and distinct with far-ranging styles and prices to ensure a diversity of people and a variety of architectural designs to enhance the community and provide vibrancy.

To be successful, the community "must be walkable with no shopping centres and narrow streets," like you find in Garrison Woods, says Jenkins.

Oceano will have a "little main street" with shops, restaurants and services, and "the different types of architecture will create the feeling of variety and diversity, creating interest when you walk the street," he says.

Four distinct building styles -- each with a tropical bent -- will give the homes their distinct individuality.

Jenkins says these include "British Colonial, similar to the architecture found in areas such as Bermuda and the Bahamas; Stick Victorian, which is a Key West style with siding and verandas; romantic island (or cabana beach home) style, with thatched roofs over real ones and pods and breezeways connecting the different rooms that give an outdoor feeling to the homes; and Art Moderne, which is similar to the styles found in South Beach and Miami."

Cabana beach homes -- a private courtyard as well as lush vegetation, a six-foot stone wall and an elegant water fountain. The main building is to be built from wood, stone and glass, with open ceilings and exposed wooden rafters. These are starting at $599,900 US.

South Beach condos (Art Moderne) -- clean lines of white, carved stucco with flat roofs, abundant terraces and opening glass walls. Prices start at $299,900 US.

White sand villas (British Colonial) -- spacious verandas, substantial Doric columns and semi-private plunge pools. The villas are priced from $459,000 US.

Village Green condos (stick Victorian) -- close to gourmet restaurants and cafes, a world-class dive centre, as well as a boat dock and shaded gardens. It also has a tree-lined park, shaded streets and a community pool. The units range from $189,900 to $245,000 US.

Each house type will not only include lots with single-family homes, but also duplex, four-plex and condo apartments.

Each comes completely landscaped and furnished with high-end, custom-crafted furnishings. Once the retail street is built, it will also contain housing units above the shops.

The goal of the development is to create a community with a "net-zero" approach to environmental sustainability, meaning no non-renewable resources are taken from or return to nature.

"We have an environmental management plan," he says. "We're basically trying to close the loop on all the basic systems, including water, energy and waste. Our 10-year plan is to generate enough energy on-site, not only to use in the homes and air conditioning, but even for vehicles."

Homes will have features that include concrete construction, the use of renewable, tropical hardwood for furnishings, and designs that allow for cooling through natural breezes and cross ventilation.

"The whole environmental side of going to paradise is to create a model that people will copy that will be sustainable and honour these very special, treasured places the resorts are in," says Jenkins.

PROJECT: Oceano Luxury Seaside Village, a master-planned community on 41 hectares. Several different types of housing units and single-family lots will be available, including a duplex, four-plexes and a 20-unit condominium in the first phase. Construction is expected to start in August, with first move-ins by summer of 2008.

LOCATION: On Oceano Bay in Roatan, the largest Bay Island in the southwest Caribbean. It's about 55 kilometres off the north coast of Honduras. The project will have a total of 686 housing units by completion, as well as a hotel, restaurants, shops and services.

DEVELOPER: Dan Jenkins of Jenkins and Associates Architecture of Calgary.

PRICES: Will range anywhere from $189,900 to $2.6 million US.

For further information, visit bridgepropertyinternational.com.