New Report: Caribbean UHNW Population Grows As Demand For Luxury Homes Rises

LONDON, June 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Caribbean ultra high net worth (UHNW) population increased by 2.1% last year on the strength of a resurgent regional economy and attractive luxury real estate property markets, which saw sales rising by over 11% globally, according to a new report released today.

The Wealth-X Caribbean Wealth & Investment Report 2015 shows that there are over 1,155 UHNW individuals (defined as those with at least US$30 million in assets) living in the Caribbean, more than 67% of whom have relocated from another country. The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada are the top three countries the ultra wealthy have relocated from.

The report also shows that government incentive programmes and new buyers are fuelling interest in the region as a prime residential resort destination. Several Caribbean nations have begun offering programmes to incentivise property buying. Barbados, for instance, introduced a special entry and residence permit in 2014 that allows foreign nationals who invest US$2 million into Barbados real estate to establish residency.

Below are other key findings from the report:

• Worldwide, residences owned by UHNW individuals increased in value by 8% in 2014, according to the UHNW Residential Real Estate Index.
• As UHNW individuals age and look to pass on their wealth, their need for wealth preservation will grow, increasing the demand for residency in favourable tax climates.
• UHNW individuals in China and Russia, while younger and more likely to have self-made wealth, are looking to buy luxury real estate for second homes, favouring economically and politically stable locations.
• While Caribbean luxury real estate values remain 10-15% below their 2008 highs, prime residential real estate sales increased more than 10% in 2014.

Wealth-X President David Friedman commented: "This study shows that resurgent luxury real estate markets in the Caribbean, and specifically Barbardos, are in prime position to take advantage of long-term growth trends in global UHNW demand for real estate."

NFP is a Knowledge Partner for the report.

Download the report here.

About Wealth-X
Wealth-X is the global authority on wealth intelligence, providing sales, marketing, strategy and compliance solutions to clients in the financial services, luxury, not-for-profit and education sectors. Its award-winning research and thought leadership are regularly cited by the world's media such as CNBC, Financial Times, Thomson Reuters and BBC. Wealth-X has more than 250 staff in 10 locations, including Singapore, London and New York. (www.wealthx.com)

About NFP
At NFP Corp., our solutions and expertise are matched only by our personal commitment to each client's goals. We are a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides employee benefits, property & casualty, retirement, and individual insurance and wealth management solutions. Our registered investment adviser and broker-dealer empowers independent financial advisors with integrated technology, subject matter expertise and a suite of customized services.

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SOURCE Wealth-X

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