Jamaica grabs attention as top option for second home in real estate rankings

Jamaica grabs attention as top option for second home in real estate rankings

Jamaica has edged out Italy as the most popular real estate search outside of the United States (US), says President of the Realtors Association of Jamaica (RAJ), Edwin Wint.

The development coincides with Jamaica’s addition to the US-based National Association of Realtors (NAR) database last year. Since then, local realtors say, interest in the destination from persons searching for second homes and returning residents has escalated.

Through the formal relationship with NAR, local properties are added to listings viewed on Realtor.com, which displays information in 12 languages and reaches some 80 countries.

The latest rankings show Jamaica at number one of countries most searched outside of the US, followed by Mexico, Italy, Costa Rica, The Bahamas, France, Spain, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Switzerland to round out the top. The site quoted data from a research arm, which made its report in April.

Wint says RAJ’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is shown on the NAR’s portal and that Jamaica has been the most searched destination outside of the US for the past five months.

“Previous to that we were second to Italy,” he said.

Howard Johnson of Johnson Benjamin & Associates and chairman of the RAJ Multiple Listing Service credited the searches to the listing service.

“My opinion is that we have one of the most developed, successful and organised MLSes in the region; it syndicates many attractive listings to the large real estate portal. In addition, Jamaica is a popular destination for second homes,” said Johnson.