Making the right choice under Antigua CBI property is more than a box-ticking exercise. The right investment should secure your passport, protect your capital, and fit your lifestyle whether that means a branded beach club on Jolly Beach or a quiet luxury villa on the west coast.
This guide walks you through how to evaluate Antigua CBI properties and shows you where global investors are actually buying as we approach the end of 2025, highlighting the most exciting options on the island.
Understanding Government-Approved CBI Properties
Under Antigua & Barbuda’s CBI program, not every property on the island qualifies. To obtain citizenship through real estate, you must invest in government-approved developments that meet standards set by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).
In practice, that means:
- The development is officially listed as CIU-approved.
- The minimum qualifying investment (currently from US$300,000 in real estate) is met.
- The project follows program rules on holding periods, resale, and eligible buyers.
- Your purchase is made through a licensed agent and vetted developers, with proper contracts and due diligence.
Why this matters:
- Protection: CIU approval reduces the risk of unfinished or non-compliant projects.
- Exit: Only approved inventory can later be resold as a qualifying CBI property (where allowed by law and project rules).
- Process: Choosing an approved development makes your CBI application faster, cleaner, and more predictable.
In a small market like Antigua, the approved list is intentionally limited. That’s why the same names keep coming up: Hodges Bay, Tamarind Hills, Nikki Beach Antigua, and boutique projects like Passion Village are precisely the type of high-quality, institution-backed developments the CIU wants in the program.
Key Selection Criteria for CBI Properties
Once you’re sure a project is approved, the real work begins: choosing the right one for your goals.
At NTL’s Real Estate Hub, we typically assess Antigua CBI real estate through five lenses:
- Who is behind the project (developer & operator)
- How strong the resale and exit profile is
- The property type (villa, condo, fractional, branded residence)
- Location & lifestyle fit
- Total cost and ongoing returns
Below, we connect these criteria to real projects that are driving investor interest as 2025 wraps up.
Developer Reputation and Track Record
In a small island market, who is behind the project is often more important than what is being built.
Questions to ask:
- Has the developer completed similar projects before?
- Is the development already operational, or is it pre-construction?
- Is there a global or regional brand attached (hotel flag, luxury brand, etc.)?
- How is the property managed day-to-day?
Examples in Antigua’s CBI landscape:
- Hodges Bay Resort & Spa – A fully built, operating five-star resort on Antigua’s north coast, developed over more than a decade with around US$ 100 million invested. It features high-end residences, suites, and the island’s most talked-about art collection, including the 22-foot “Boogie Spaceman” sculpture by Brendan Murphy.
- Tamarind Hills – A completed and expanding west-coast community between Ffryes and Darkwood Beach, with freehold villas and condos, strong rental operations, and some of the best sunset views on the island.
- Nikki Beach Antigua – Backed by the Ayre Group and the globally recognized Nikki Beach brand, this Jolly Beach development combines a branded beach club, residences, and villas. It is positioned to set new pricing and design benchmarks for Antigua’s southwest coast.
- Passion Village – A boutique, master-planned community offering villas and town-homes aimed at families and long-stay users, with a more residential feel than a pure hotel resort.
In a CBI context, completed or well-advanced projects with serious sponsors are often the safest way to secure both citizenship and a resilient asset.
Resale Value and Exit Strategy
Your Antigua CBI property should not feel like locked capital. From day one, you want a clear story for what happens after the required holding period.
Key points to consider:
- Minimum holding period: For most Antigua CBI real estate routes, your property must be held for several years (typically 5+).
- Resale conditions: Some projects can be resold to another CBI investor after the holding period; others are restricted to non-CBI buyers.
- Market positioning: Beachfront, branded, or architecturally distinctive properties tend to hold value better.
- Built-in exit options: Buyback agreements or pre-defined exit structures can protect your downside.
The Best Option in This Category – Hodges Bay Buyback:
Hodges Bay offers a developer-backed buyback after 5 years and 6 months on its fractional investment option, giving investors a pre-agreed exit route once they’ve fulfilled their CBI obligations.
This type of structure:
- Makes long-term planning easier
- De-risks the investment for more conservative families
- Keeps the property within a managed, curated ownership base
All you need to know about this opportunity is in our dedicated article:
In-depth guide: Antigua Real Estate at Hodges Bay
Property Type: Villas, Condos, and Fractional Ownership
Not all Antigua CBI properties look or behave the same. The ownership format radically changes your lifestyle, usage, and return profile.
1. Whole-Ownership Villas
- Freehold, deeded ownership (you own the villa outright)
- Strongest emotional appeal: privacy, space, private pool, gardens
- Best suited for:
- Families planning long stays
- UHNW investors wanting a “legacy” asset
- Buyers who may eventually relocate or use the property extensively
Where you see this format:
- Tamarind Hills – Oceanview and beachfront villas with private pools, full ownership, and resort services.
- Nikki Beach Antigua (Beachfront Villas) – Ultra-prime beachfront homes on Jolly Beach, designed for the very top of the market.
2. Condos & Residences
- Freehold apartments or suites within a larger resort or residential building
- Lock-up-and-leave convenience, with central management and rental programs
- Usually more affordable entry points than standalone villas
- Ideal if you want hassle-free Caribbean usage + rental income with minimal involvement.
Where you see this format:
- Tamarind Hills – Oceanview condos and suites with strong rental prospects.
- Nikki Beach Antigua Branded Residences – 1–4 bedroom units integrated into the Nikki Beach resort, combining hotel-style service with ownership.
3. Fractional Ownership
- You acquire a share in a property or pool of properties rather than the entire unit
- Lower capital outlay while still qualifying for CBI (where the structure meets program rules)
- Designed for investors who want citizenship + limited but guaranteed personal usage.
Where you see this format:
- Hodges Bay Resort & Spa – Fractional ownership from US$300,000, including defined personal stay rights, VIP benefits, and a guaranteed buyback after 5 years and 6 months, all within a fully operating five-star resort framework.
Choosing between these formats comes down to how often you’ll use the property, how much time you want to spend managing it, and how important capital preservation vs. lifestyle is to you.
The Trendiest Properties as We Approach the End of 2025
The Antigua CBI landscape is evolving. As we move into late 2025, four names are dominating investor conversations and inquiries at the NTL Real Estate Hub:
Each offers a distinct angle on Antigua real estate and appeals to a different type of buyer.
Hodges Bay: The Flagship North Coast Resort Investment
Hodges Bay Resort & Spa is often described as the “crown jewel” of Antigua’s north coast, a fully operational, five-star resort that blends art, architecture, and beachfront living.
Why investors like it:
- Completed, operating resort with an established international profile
- Fractional ownership from US$300,000 qualifying for CBI
- Access to a curated world of amenities: multiple pools, spa, restaurants, Black Sails ultra lounge, Prickly Pear Island experiences, and a serious art collection
- Developer-backed buyback after 5 years and 6 months on the investment program
- Celebrity-friendly, discreet atmosphere – ideal for those who want lifestyle and liquidity in one package
Hodges Bay is a strong fit if you want a hands-off, resort-style investment with a clearly defined exit and a very polished product from day one.
Passion Village – Boutique Community Living with CBI Access
Passion Village caters to buyers who like the idea of community-scale living more than a pure resort environment.
Think:
- A cluster of villas and townhomes instead of a massive hotel tower
- A more residential feeling: suited to longer stays and family living
- Shared amenities and services, but on a more intimate scale
- A CBI-eligible structure that appeals to buyers seeking a balance between price, comfort, and authenticity
This is the type of project we recommend for clients who say: “I don’t just want a hotel suite, I want a neighborhood I can come back to year after year.”
Nikki Beach Antigua: The Transformational Branded Development on Jolly Beach
Launching sales in the mid-2020s, Nikki Beach Antigua is set to redefine the entire Jolly Beach corridor and, in many ways, reset expectations for Antigua’s southwest coast.
What stands out:
- A globally recognized lifestyle brand combining music, gastronomy, wellness, and design
- Direct frontage on Jolly Beach, with walkable access to Jolly Harbour’s marina, dining, and services
- A mix of branded residences (from around US$750,000) and ultra-high-end beachfront villas
- Strong financial backing from the Ayre Group, giving investors confidence in delivery and long-term positioning
- The potential to drive significant appreciation in surrounding real estate values as the area is repositioned
Nikki Beach Antigua is best suited to buyers who are:
- Comfortable at higher price points
- Looking for a market-defining asset
- Interested in being early in a transformational story on the island’s most visible resort corridor
Tamarind Hills – Sunset Villas on the West Coast
Tamarind Hills is one of Antigua’s most established luxury residential communities, perched on a headland between Ffryes and Darkwood: two of the island’s most photographed beaches.
Why Tamarind Hills remains a favorite:
- Freehold ownership of villas, townhomes, and condos
- Strong rental performance thanks to west coast sunsets, beach access, and high-end design
- Professional management that makes ownership practical even if you’re based abroad
- CBI eligibility at qualifying investment levels, combining citizenship with a true “holiday home” feel
For many families, Tamarind Hills is the ideal compromise between a private villa and a fully serviced hotel, a place you can happily spend weeks at a time, while still generating income the rest of the year.
Lifestyle Consideration and Location: Comparing Antigua’s Neighbourhoods
Two CBI investors can invest the same amount and end up with completely different lives on the island, simply based on where they buy.
Here’s how Antigua’s key areas compare from a CBI property perspective:
- Hodges Bay / North Coast
- Close to the airport and St. John’s
- Upscale, low-key, with a focus on design and privacy
- Great for: frequent travelers, families who want convenience, and those who prefer refined resort-style living (e.g., Hodges Bay Resort & Spa)
- Jolly Harbour & Jolly Beach (Southwest Coast)
- Deepwater marina, golf, restaurants, and one of the island’s longest beaches
- Rapidly evolving thanks to new investment and projects like Nikki Beach Antigua
- Great for: yacht owners, marina-oriented buyers, and investors who believe in long-term appreciation of a redeveloping corridor
- Valley Church / Ffryes / Darkwood (West Coast)
- Home to Tamarind Hills and some of Antigua’s best sunset-facing views
- A blend of boutique hotels, villas, and residential projects
- Great for: picture-perfect views, strong rental appeal, and buyers who want a quiet but premium setting
- English Harbour / Falmouth
- Historic Nelson’s Dockyard, yachting regattas, restaurants, nightlife
- More “scene,” especially in season; boutique and historic properties
- Great for: social buyers, sailors, and those who want to plug into Antigua’s yachting culture
- Five Islands / Pearns Point
- Dramatic headlands, high-end resorts, and seclusion
- Emerging as a high-luxury, low-density enclave
- Great for: ultra-privacy and those who want to hold rare, premium coastline.
Your perfect property is where lifestyle, logistics, and investment logic overlap. That may mean being 10 minutes from the airport or it may mean being as far from everything as possible.
Expert Tips for Choosing an Antigua CBI Property
To wrap it up, here are the practical steps we walk clients through at the NTL Real Estate Hub:
- Start with your main objective, not the brochure.
Is citizenship your primary goal? A holiday home? Long-term capital appreciation? Clarify this first. - Insist on CIU-approved, fully vetted projects.
Never assume a property “must be approved” because it looks good online. Always verify status through our on ground experts and official channels. - Favour strong sponsors and operational track record.
Completed or near-completed projects with serious developers and brands (Hodges Bay, Tamarind Hills, Nikki Beach Antigua) dramatically reduce execution risk. - Understand exit terms from day one.
Ask: Can I resell to another CBI applicant? Is there a buyback? What is the minimum holding period? How active is the resale market in this area? - Match property type to your real usage.
- If you’ll visit once a year: fractional may be ideal.
- If you plan extended stays: a full villa or condo makes more sense.
- Visit, or book a virtual tour, with our trusted agent on your side.
Walking the site (physically or virtually) with our advisor who understands both investment migration and real estate will give you a much clearer picture of what you’re buying. - Run the numbers, not just the dreams.
Weigh total cost (investment + government + legal + closing) against likely rental income, long-term appreciation, and your exit options.
Choosing the right Antigua CBI property comes down to understanding your goals, the island’s key locations, and which developments offer the strongest mix of security, lifestyle, and long-term value. With options like Hodges Bay, Passion Village, Nikki Beach, and Tamarind Hills, investors in 2025 have access to some of the most compelling real estate opportunities in the Caribbean. Contact us today to book a call with one of our on ground experts.
