ReMax Elite

The Hampshire in Kingston, Jamaica.

‘The Hampshire’, in less than a week of its official ground-breaking, saw approximately 97% of the units sold.
According to veteran RE/MAX Elite Realtor, Anya Levy, this is not only an indication of the thriving Jamaican real estate market but the quality of the product and the strength of the location, developers, builders and pricing point which she described as the “sweet spot”. Buyers of ‘The Hampshire’ comprised mostly first time home owners and investors. ‘The Hampshire’ located at 9 Musgrave Avenue, in the Golden Triangle, one of Kingston’s prime residential areas. ‘The complex is strategically set in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica’s thriving commercial hub. Such a location promises superb dining, comfortable shopping, easy, hassle-free commuting and world-class entertainment.

Anya Levy of RE/Max elite

“Now is the time to plan out not just traffic flow, not just water and sewage infrastructure but let us have a plan for the security of the New Kingston area because with the regeneration of the area we can now build with security in mind,” Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness stressed, at the groundbreaking ceremony of the developemnt. Holness further urged private investors to tap into the development of underutilized assets across Jamaica in a bid to foster economic growth by increasing the productivity of unused lands and infrastructures. He commended Guardian Life Limited on their bold move to develop the idle land. President of Guardian Life, Eric Hosin, who was present at the ground-breaking ceremony said the decision to venture into real estate development has been “well considered and well timed”. The eco- friendly apartment complex will sit on 1.23 acres of land.
“You can’t beat real estate, you can’t go wrong with this product,” Anya Levy said in an interview with ICInsider.com, as she explained that investors bought into ‘The Hampshire’ because the risk is nominal and that she has a lot of confidence in the development.
Completion of the development is scheduled for November 2018, comprises 66 units ranging from ‘super studios’ to single bedroom units with double bathrooms with sizes ranging from 706 to 1,020 square feet spanning across 6 floors. Some amenities the apartment complex will house include a rooftop recreational area with a pool and gym, 24- hour security, a coded main entrance, elevators, a standby generator, generous parking, a back-up water supply system and provision for air conditioner installations. The average property price in the area ‘The Hampshire’ is being developed, ranges between US$122,149 and US$220,000. The selling price for units start at US$144,950 (J$18.8 million) just under J$26,500 per square foot.
Developers of the complex are Guardian Life with architectural works by Michael Lake & Associates, contractors Matalon Homes.

Cement developments

Carib Cement silos.

There is some amount of excitement in the air, regarding developments in the Jamaican economy. Many investors are interpreting see the change signaling meaningful growth that will lead to increased demand for cement as developers increase their building activities to meet a growing demand for housing and commercial space.
According to Anya Levy of ReMax Elite realtors, demand is extremely high for space to accommodate Business Outsourcing Operations as foreign operations fall in love with the opportunities Jamaica is offering. The problem she states, is that the demand is mostly for 30-60,000 square foot space that is currently is in short supply. In a number of cases, existing commercial space is being converted to meet demand. But it is not only in the commercial arena that there is demand she states.
There are lots of residential units coming on stream. The Millsborough area in Kingston, is slated she says for some major developments for Townhouses in the US$500-600,000 price range. More units are expected that will be similar to the high rise 20 South building going up on South Avenue in Kingston, with another slated to be constructed next door to it. The story does not end there, Levy states that a number of units to be built in the country largest city, will be slated for the short term rental market.
All of this means more demand for cement. Investors expect, the country’s sole cement plant to benefit from the surge in demand that is expected to flow form these new developments as well as the office complexes to be built by Grace Kennedy and the Ministry of foreign affairs in downtown Kingston. Added to the list is the build out of 5,000 hotel rooms in the western side of the island and the many other smaller developments that are planned or started. It may be more than all of that, Levy intimated that she understands that a price increase is on the cards for cement.

Investors are keeping keen eyes on the operations of Caribbean Cement, with great expectations for a major rise in the stock price in 2017 with the company having cut cost and expected to reap increased sales from increased demand in the local economy with increased exports also expected. Against this background the RMOD arm of the Jamaica Stock Exchange wrote to the Company formally on Thursday, March 9, 2017, requesting their response for the reasons of an increase in “contracted” lease payment to Trinidad Cement and the increase in raw materials and consumables costs that rose by 33 percent and seems out of line with the increase in the sales.
The 2015 accounts show that US$22,500,000 (J$2,700,675,000) was due in lease payments in 2016. At an exchange rate of $128.44:US$1 the amount expensed in 2016 was $3,323,635,000 or US$25,876,946. The amount seems to conflict with the reduction by US$22,500,000 of the remaining lease commitment outstanding from US$66,500,000 to US$44,000,000 at the end of 2016.
According to information provided to IC Insider.com, the company who had promised a response by March 20, now indicates that a response is drafted for sign off by management.