Finding The Lot
Buying seafront property in Jamaica Finding oceanfront property is not always easy to do. Finding oceanfront property in your price range is even harder. Finding oceanfront property in the Caribbean in your price range is actually not impossible. It also helps if you know someone who knows someone. In a nutshell that’s how we found our property on the edge of the Caribbean Sea in Brighton, Westmoreland, Jamaica. It’s who you know!
As I recall, the husband – Papa Poo – was arguing with a local Jamaican that there was no oceanfront property in the area for sale. The local man and dear friend, Waba, was trying to tell him that there was an acre he knew about but Papa Poo argued that there wasn’t anything on the sea for sale. I do not know why he thought there was nothing for sale.
He was wrong, wrong, wrong. Waba drove us past the little church on the corner and down the seaside road to the lot next door to his brother Roxy’s house. A treed jungle is what we saw.
And the sparkling Caribbean Sea was across from the overgrown lot.
This property is located in Brighton, Westmoreland, Jamaica which is a small fishing village. It is located on the low cliffs about 20 minutes south of Negril.
Traffic is sparse, local traffic mainly. There is the occasional tour bus. And the adventurous tourists who rent a scooter in Negril and drive out trying to experience the real Jamaica. Sea traffic is limited to local fishing boats, the occasional sailboat and a regular cargo ship far off in the horizon. We are fortunate that there is not the constant noise of motor boats and traffic.
It is very peaceful – tranquil – soothing. A place where I can find my inner peace.
Back to the lot. It looks like a jungle of twisted overgrown trees from the road. Waba guides us in and we stepped over a fallen sea grape tree and pushed ahead, a slight incline up, but now completed draped in a jungle of overgrown trees. The ground was squishy soft, thick with leaves and compost, overgrown vines and prickly plants.
We stopped when we came upon an opening in the canopy and there it was – a lime tree full of limes. Impressive. It’s hard to explain what happened next but Ill try.
When I stopped and stood beside the lime tree I had visions, pictures, a rolling video going through my brain of the possibilities this piece of paradise could provide. I saw how the resort should look, how it faced the sea, the swimming pool (actually the pool looked different in my head). It’s weird because this all happened in seconds. I guess I knew at that moment this property had potential. It spoke to me and I needed to listen.
We went a little further and met Sheba, the neighbor Roxy’s Doberman. She was so friendly with us, like she was welcoming us to the neighbourhood and Sheba does not like most people. Meeting Sheba this first time we stepped onto the property was another significant event because she became our guard dog, but that’s another story.
Papa Poo was extremely excited about the property. He loved the ancient trees, the fact that it gradually rose up and had a high point and we could see the sparkling Caribbean Sea and feel the warm sea breeze.
We have found a piece of paradise – this diamond in the rough – a Jewel – soon to be our Jewel. Soon to become Villa Jewel on the Rocks.
What did we do next? Did we buy it? Why did we buy it?
One thing for sure, do not argue with a local about land for sale because you may become their neighbour.
‘You already have within you everything you need to turn your dreams into reality.’ Wallace D. Wattles
Until next time Cdp