TL;DR Renovating a villa in Sint Maarten typically costs $150 to $400 per square foot depending on scope, with full gut renovations of larger homes running into the high six figures. Budget 15 to 25 percent on top of estimates for contingencies, imported materials, and shipping. Success hinges on hiring a licensed, reputable contractor, getting...
Category: Ownership Costs & Legal
Sint Maarten LLC Setup for Property Ownership
TL;DR You do not need an offshore LLC in Sint Maarten to buy property: foreigners can own real estate directly. Many buyers still use a local company (a B.V., the LLC-style private limited, or an N.V.) for liability protection, estate planning, and privacy. Setup runs roughly $1,500–$3,500 through a local notary and attorney, with annual...
Sint Maarten Wills and Inheritance: A Foreign Owner’s Guide
TL;DR A Sint Maarten will and inheritance plan matters because the Dutch side follows civil-law rules, including forced heirship that reserves a portion of your estate for your children no matter what your home-country will says. Property here is transferred through a notary, and without local planning your heirs can face a slow, costly probate....
Estate Planning for Sint Maarten Property Owners
TL;DR Estate planning for foreign property in Sint Maarten matters because the Dutch side uses civil law with forced-heirship rules that can override a foreign will, and transfers must go through a local notary. Owners should clarify which country’s law governs their estate, consider a local will alongside any home-country will, choose an ownership structure...
Cost of Owning Property in Sint Maarten: The Transparent 2026 Owner’s Guide
Most buyers begin their Caribbean property search by comparing listing prices. That’s the wrong starting point. What really separates a rewarding ownership experience from a regretful one in Sint Maarten isn’t the purchase price — it’s understanding the true annual cost of holding the property year after year. This guide walks through every cost category...
What No One Tells You About the Sint Maarten Real Estate Closing Process
Most buyers spend months finding the right property. Then the offer gets accepted — and suddenly they’re in unfamiliar territory. The closing process in Sint Maarten follows Dutch civil law, and it works quite differently from what North American or British buyers are used to. Here’s what actually happens. There’s No ‘Attorney Review’ Window Like...

