St. Ann: Location, Location, Location

04 August 2023

St. Ann: Location, Location, Location

St. Ann, Jamaica’s Garden Parish, known for its exceptional flora and fauna and natural beauty, houses some of Jamaica’s most famed and scenic attractions, activities, eateries, entertainment, and beaches on the sought-after north coast of beautiful Jamaica. Tourists travel far and wide to visit local gems such as Mystic Mountain, Dunn’s River Falls, Blue Hole, and Dolphin Cove. In recent years, St Ann has seen a lot of expansion in their real estate market on both a residential and commercial level. Here are four reasons why St. Ann is an ideal location for real estate investment:

1. Real Estate Expansion and Significant Property Appreciation

In recent years, St. Ann has seen a major shift in the expansion of their real estate market on both a residential and commercial level. Ocho Rios has everything! From majestic beaches and rivers, to an exuberant nightlife and fine dining and major shopping and business centers. As the major resort town becomes oversubscribed, we’ve seen an influx in development in neighboring towns such as Drax Hall. In recent years, a plethora of enterprises has opened for business – such as medical centers, car dealerships, and restaurants. The multi-national franchise, Starbucks even recently invested J$60 million to launch the Caribbean’s first drive-through coffee store in Drax Hall. The first of its kind! This has been complemented by a substantial rise in modern residential developments across St. Ann. As a result, older residential properties in areas such as Priory and Drax Hall have increased by as much as 60% within the last eight (8) years alone!

2. Improved Infrastructure and Central Location

The completion of the Jamaica North-South Highway in 2016 has drastically facilitated the mobility of persons traveling to St. Ann. The highway has more than halved the previous two-hour drive between Kingston and the north-shore town of Ocho Rios, a journey that before, was through a winding gorge, with a choke point at a centuries-old, lower stone bridge that crosses a frequently dangerous river. The trip has now been reborn as an efficient and safe voyage, that provides superb sights! St. Ann is perfectly positioned in the center of the north coast and is now easily accessible from anywhere in the country, including all major cities and airports. It now takes an hour and 35 minutes to traverse both airports in Montego Bay and Kingston from Ocho Rios. Activity in the parish has also grown significantly as Kingstonians have since coined the term “Ochi Run” since the execution of the highway. Infrastructure continues to be improved and maintained within the parish as the government spearheads the investment of approximately J$124 billion (US$800 million) to build a new four-lane highway from Rose Hall in Montego Bay to Mammee Bay, St. Ann. Upon completion, this will bypass congestion-prone spots at Priory, Runway Bay, and Discovery Bay in St. Ann.

3. World-Renown Travel Destination

Jamaica remains one of the most sought-after cruise destinations with diverse tourism products and experiences as well as some of the biggest and best ports. Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Ocho Rios has emerged as the number one port in the country, having contributed forty percent (40%) of total visitor arrivals in 2019. And in January 2020, of the 227,200 stopover arrivals visiting Jamaica, 22% of them stayed in Ocho Rios, second to Montego Bay, which welcomed 37% of the tourists. Many of these visitors, don’t want to be cooped up in hotel rooms and opt to lease gated apartments and homes in the area, spending upwards of US$100 per night. They also spend a significant portion, visiting local attractions and service centers. And let’s not forget our Jamaican partygoers, who come out in droves to celebrate Easter weekend and Jamaican Independence partying in St. Ann, sparing no Airbnb available. A great deal of these tourists and Jamaicans opt to purchase investment or second properties in St. Ann, so they too can enjoy the St. Ann lifestyle in the comfort of their own homes, while benefiting from the prosperous rental market when they are away.

4. Beaches, Natural Attractions, and Beauty

Part of what makes St. Ann such a popular international destination is its charm, fantastic resorts, and of course beautiful shores that bring together a mountainous tropical rainforest with the Caribbean Sea! St. Ann, home to some of the country’s most majestic waterfalls, relaxing rivers, and glistening turquoise waters creates a peaceful yet vibrant aura and getaway for both international and local persons. As homebuyers yearn to be a part of a secure community with ease of mind, neighborhoods in St. Ann continue to be a top choice.

The most important factor when considering real estate investment is location, location, location. St. Ann’s real estate market has been growing as one of the country’s most ideal locations due to the parish’s exquisite natural beauty, ease of access and mobility, and its successful real estate market that caters to a record number of tourists and traffic.

Contributed by:
Tianna Porter
Marketing and Sales Officer