Local Spotlight: Jonathan Schaede
Jonathan Schaede has a love for island life, food, and languages. His passion, however, is real estate.
By Alita Singh
Schaede is the Head Realtor at Sunshine Properties in St. Maarten/St. Martin. He stepped into this three-plus-decade-old family business 17 years ago. “I grew up in the real estate business,” he says. “I started young, and living here helps me know the market.”
Sunshine Properties is more than the buying and selling of immovable property. Schaede explains, “We are a one-stop shop. We build homes and are involved with several high-end developments on the island.” This, as well as the vast knowledge of Schaede and his team of agents, makes Sunshine Properties a powerhouse on the island.
“We have in-depth knowledge about the market and developed this through hard work and lots of sweat,” Schaede says, as he outlines how Sunshine Properties stays on the cusp of what’s happening on the vast, vibrant, and in-demand island.
“Ours is a very active market. St. Maarten/St. Martin is seeing the trend of more condos, high-end properties, and some land coming available,” he says. The experienced Realtor advises those looking to settle on the island, make an investment in a second home, or otherwise not to discount pre-construction options.
“If you’re willing to wait, getting in at the pre-construction stage will give you results,” he says. At this stage, prices can be more competitive, and as development continues, investment increases.
Before taking the plunge to acquire your home in paradise, Schaede suggests getting familiar with the market to see what the possibilities are within your budget and to get an understanding of what you’re willing to spend, what you’re looking for, and what’s important to you in the move.
“It is always better to speak in person rather than only search online,” he adds. “We are here to help and guide our clients.” This personal touch offered by Sunshine Properties is geared to such interactions. What’s more, the Realtor can assist in any of the five languages he uses daily!
Schaede isn’t only about the island’s real estate potential. This is home for him. “I wake up every morning happy to be on my island,” he says. “When I travel and return home, it just feels right.” It is this same feeling of coming home that he wants his clients to experience.
And why St. Maarten/St. Martin? As Schaede says, “There’s air connectivity to the world daily. Investment is advantageous. The friendliness of the island is still strong. Then there’s the food. The food is a huge draw, whether you like restaurants or are a home cook like I am.”
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