Hilton Is Opening Two New Resorts in Tulum, Mexico

Hilton is making a major move in one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean: Tulum. 

The hospitality company has announced plans to expand with two new resorts in the Mexican Caribbean hotspot: the Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive Resort and the Conrad Tulum. 

“Mexico has always been an incredibly important destination for Hilton,” said Danny Hughes, executive vice president and president, Americas, Hilton. “We are extremely proud of our new products, ongoing partnership with Parks Holdings and the resilient Team Members who are working to bring the warmth of hospitality to the new resorts entering our portfolio.”

Both Tulum resorts are owned and developed by Parks Hospitality. 

The Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive and the Conrad Tulum will debut as Hiltons in the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2022, respectively. 

“We are honored and excited to be extending our successful partnership with Hilton with these iconic resorts and bringing new unprecedented luxury options to Tulum,” said Charles Elmann Fasja, CEO of Parks Holdings. “We believe Mexico’s unique combination of people, culture, gastronomy, and natural beauties, make it the best global destination for tourism and we look forward to our continued future growth with Hilton. I would like to thank all of Parks, FUNO and Hilton’s team for all their hard work in bringing these amazing projects to reality.”

The Conrad Tulum will be Conrad’s first-ever resort in the Mexican Caribbean; it will provide a “secluded haven for travelers featuring a bold design aesthetic inspired by Tulum’s lush landscape, picturesque beaches, and surrounding nature reserves,” according to the company. 

The Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive Resort will have a total of 735 rooms in an oceanfront setting, with seven dining concepts and an expansive pool complex, including a waterpark. 

The latter is part of a broad expansion for Hilton in the Mexican Caribbean; the company is also planning to open the new Hilton Cancun, another all-inclusive, in the near future. 

And it’s yet another sign of the growing tourism energy in Tulum, which continues to draw in major brands like Kimpton, which opened its new hotel in Tulum late last year, Marriott, which debuted its first-ever Tulum hotel in February, and boutique operators like Namron.

For more, visit Hilton

The post Hilton Is Opening Two New Resorts in Tulum, Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Orchard Real Estate vs Opendoor vs Offerpad: How Do They Compare?

It takes an average of 56 days to sell a home. But, most sellers what this process to go quicker. And, the amount of time it takes to sell a home depends on the real estate market you’re looking in and the real estate website you’re using.

So, if you’re looking to sell your home and/or find a new one, it’s important to look in the right places. When it comes to buying and selling homes, people often look at Orchard, Opendoor, and Offerpad.

But, which one is the best? Which website wins in the war of Orchard vs Opendoor vs Offerpad?

Orchard vs Opendoor vs Offerpad

Orchard, Opendoor, and Offerpad are all real estate websites that make different offers for individuals who are selling homes. In short, they’re all real estate investors. The most popular term is ‘iBuyer.’

iBuyers are online real estate purchasers that exist in multiple markets across the country.

All of these iBuyers are extremely popular with different sellers for different reasons. And, to evaluate which one is best for you, we’re going to compare and contrast six different factors:

  1. What homes qualify for an offer
  2. Available markets that the site focuses on
  3. How long it takes to get a cash offer
  4. How the site handles the closing process
  5. Maximum proceeds to the home seller
  6. Additional fees that the site may charge

Let’s jump in.

Orchard Real Estate

You may have known Orchard as its previous name, Perch. Orchard is an iBuyer that’s based in Texas.

Orchard focuses on homogenous homes that the builders completed before 1978. They’re also looking for homes that have a value between $125,00 and $500,000. You can use our free home value estimator to check the value of your home.

Orchard makes money by making a difference between buying and selling each home. Because of this, sellers should expect to receive about 80-85% of their home’s value. This is after fees, minor repair costs, and resale pricing.

If you’re only using their platform to sell your home, Orchard Realty charges a 6.9% fee.

In sum, Orchard buys a home below market value because of repairs and renovations that they may need to. They then renovate the home and resell it for a profit.

You should keep in mind that Orchard does not represent consumers when selling homes. So, they aren’t required to give you a good offer.

Orchard may buy your home quickly (within a few days), but you will have higher fees because of the quick buy.

If you decide to purchase a home from Orchard, the closing process may take a few weeks. This depends on how long it takes to get the home inspection and financing underway.

If you’re looking for a real estate buyer across San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Orchard may be a great choice for you. This is especially if you’re looking to sell your home sooner rather than later.

Opendoor Real Estate

Opendoor is an iBuyer that exists in multiple states across the US. It focuses on homogenous homes that builders completely after 1960. These homes should also fall between $125,000 and $500,000.

To value the homes that they’re looking at, Opendoor discounts the estimated retail value after they fully renovate the home.

Similar to Orchard, Opendoor makes money by the difference between buying and selling each home. Individuals selling their homes to Opendoor should expect to receive 80-85% of their home value. This is after fees, minor repair costs, and resale costs.

Opendoor makes offers within days or even hours. But, this process comes with additional fees. These go from 6% to 12% depending on how risky your property is.

However, Opendoor does cap its service fee at 5%. So, this keeps the fees down in comparison to other iBuyers.

Opendoor operates in many places across the US, including the following cities:

  • Phoenix
  • Dallas
  • Forth Worth
  • Las Vegas
  • Atlanta
  • Orlando
  • Raleigh
  • Durham
  • San Antonio
  • Charlotte
  • Nashville
  • Tampa
  • Minneapolis
  • St. Paul
  • Houston
  • Sacramento
  • Riverside
  • Denver
  • Portland
  • Austin

With this many options, you are more likely to have access to Opendoor rather than Orchard.

Offerpad Real Estate

Offerpad is another iBuyer that makes it easier for homeowners to sell their homes. Some sellers have closed with Offerpad in as few as ten days. 

Offerpad looks for homes that are single-family structures. Builders must’ve finished the home after 1960. And, the home must have a value that is no less than $500,000 to $600,000.

Additionally, Offerpad stays away from homes that are no greater than one acre of land.

However, just like Orchard and Opendoor, Offerpad fees for this quick service. Offerpad’s service fees can be as high as 10%. This makes it one of the most expensive iBuyers out there. But, it’s still popular because of its quick service.

So, if you’re not too worried bout the price, Offerpad may be a great choice for you. And, it’s located in a variety of areas in the following states:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Texas

Offerpad also offers a unique moving service. It’s free for customers as long as you’re relocating within 50 miles of the property.

Plus, sellers can choose the closing date that they want. And, they can stay on the property for up to three days after the closing date if they need to.

But, for some, the higher fees may completely turn them off from this service.

Another downturn is the fact that you can’t counter the offer that Offerpad gives you. If you don’t like the offer that Offerpad gives you, then you have no option but to reject it completely. It’s like a “take it or leave it” policy.

Which Real Estate Website Is Right for Me?

Now that we’ve compared and contrasted Orchard vs Opendoor vs Offerpad, it’s time to decide which one is the right pick for you. With any decision like this, it ultimately comes down to what you want to do.

There are a few main things that you should be thinking about:

  1. The money
  2. The timing
  3. The personability

These three factors are going to play a big role in helping you decide which one of these real estate websites is the right one for you. So, let’s talk about it.

1. The Money

Obviously, everyone cares about money when it comes to buying and selling a house. Both sides what the best deal that they can get. So, the sellers push the number higher and the buyers push the number lower.

The agreement all depends on how much either side is willing to give up.

When it comes to iBuyers, sellers are at a disadvantage. With all of these iBuyers, you aren’t likely to see an offer of more than 85% of your home’s actual value. 

Meanwhile, buyers get to enjoy a price tag that comes with newly renovated features.

Plus, sellers have to incur plenty of fees. This is especially if they’re looking to sell faster. The faster they want to sell, the more fees they’re going to have to pay.

If your most important factor is money, Opendoor is a great choice with their capped service fees.

2. The Timing

Time can become important to those who are trying to move out of their current home within a specific time frame. On the other end, you may have people who are looking to move into their new home quickly, too.

The house buying and selling process take time, but not a lot of people are willing to wait. So, they’d rather pay those higher fees in exchange for the guarantee of a quick process. It’s essentially giving money in exchange for saving time.

We always recommend that you start several months earlier than the day that you want to have everything completed. This will give you plenty of time to have everything in order before the day that you’re moving in/out.

But, this isn’t always so perfectly planned. It could be because of a job change, a family emergency, or another kind of time-pressing problem. In these cases, people may need to move quickly.

If your most important factor is timing, Offerpad may be the right iBuyer for you. They have the ability to get you moving in as little as ten days.

3. The Personability

Some people enjoy having someone around to show them the ropes. Unfortunately, iBuyers are digitally-based. So, it’s very hard to get a digital experience.

However, you may be too worried about moving in or out that this personability doesn’t really matter to you. It may be better to have cut-and-dry interactions so that everything goes quicker.

The closest thing you’re going to get to personable is Orchard. Because they’re only located in Texas, you can enjoy closer interactions than from iBuyers selling and buying across the nation.

Selling Your Current Home

When it comes to the battle of Orchard vs Opendoor vs Offerpad, the winner comes down to your determining quality. The right iBuyer for you is not necessarily the right iBuyer for someone else.

But, if you’re interested in checking out even more iBuyers, look at our list of top iBuyer companies. We can help you find one in your area.

The post Orchard Real Estate vs Opendoor vs Offerpad: How Do They Compare? appeared first on iBuyer Blog.

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Old Faithful in action in Puerto Rico

… is now transporting patients in Puerto Rico
Old Faithful, named due … and that ambulance went to Puerto Rico.” 
Commissioner Ron Lee asked, … considered the governor, in Puerto Rico, and he is over … boat and ships them to Puerto Rico. So, that’s where …

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7 Great Reasons to Visit Turks and Caicos Right Now

The Turks and Caicos islands blend the sophistication of Providenciales with the quiet solitude of islands like Middle Caicos and South Caicos. Whether you’re searching for the ultimate socially-distanced vacation or a classic beach getaway, there are many great reasons to explore this archipelago Caribbean destination further. Here are some of our favorites.

And for more on how to visit, check out the Turks and Caicos Islands’ entry protocols for travelers.

Grace Bay Beach, near the Ocean Club Resort.

Grace Bay Beach: There are plenty of beaches in the Caribbean that claim to be among the world’s best (and some of them are), but it’s hard to top the broad, talcum-soft sands of Grace Bay Beach. Stretching for miles along the shore of Providenciales, Grace Bay Beach also has calm and brilliant waters and a wide range of hotel, resort, and activity options to enhance your days at the beach.

turks and caicos visit reasons
The Shore Club on Long Bay in Turks and Caicos.

Fabulous Resorts: From boutique luxury beach hotels to private island resorts, Turks and Caicos has an exceptional array of places to lay your head for a Caribbean vacation. For pure beachfront luxury, it’s hard to beat the Shore Club on Long Bay or the Palms, Turks and Caicos. For an all-inclusive stay, there’s Beaches Turks & Caicos and Club Med Turkoise, both located on Grace Bay Beach. Ambergris Cay joins the Meridian Club on Pine Cay as exclusive private island resorts off the coast of Providenciales. The dune-protected Beach House is a small boutique hotel with a beach club vibe, while Aman Resorts’ Amanyara and Seven Stars resorts also offer luxurious accommodations and top service. The new Beach Club at the Rock House resort features luxury accommodations, oceanfront dining, and a 130-foot jetty with umbrellas and daybeds for guests. That’s along with the brand-new Ritz-Carlton, Turks and Caicos, which just opened in June.

Middle Caicos, including the Dragon Cay resort (left).

Splendid Isolation: As bustling as Providenciales can seem at times, quiet Caribbean calm is never too far away. Less than half an hour from the Provo beaches you’ll find Chalk Sound, an undeveloped lagoon dotted with limestone islands that can be explored by kayak or paddle board. Big resorts and crowds are likewise absent from Sapodilla Bay. And if you really want a taste of the “old Caribbean,” venture off Provo to historic Salt Cay, where donkeys outnumber people, and Middle Caicos, which is blessedly devoid of mass tourism despite beautiful beaches like Mudjin Harbor.

turks and caicos visit reasons
Cocovan.

Beach Bars and Fine Dining: Sophisticated dining can be found at both resorts and standalone restaurants, but Turks & Caicos also has its share of laid-back and local eateries. Da Conch Shack on Provo is a legendary but pretense-free beach bar famed for its conch dishes. Hemingways has fish tacos and other beach food served under shady umbrellas at the Sands Hotel on Grace Bay. With outdoor dining is a palm shaded courtyard, Coco Bistro proves that it’s worth venturing away from the shore if you want to sample some of Provo’s best food (along with its splendid food-truck-style eatery, Cocovan. And for real local flavor, be sure to make it to Bight Park on Friday night for the weekly fish fry, which also is accompanied by live music and the occasional Junkanoo parade, too.

Fishing: The waters surrounding Turks and Caicos are rich in big-game fish, including wahoo, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, sailfish, and sharks, with excellent fishing grounds located as close as 10 minutes offshore. Fishing charter boats operate out of a pair of marinas on Providenciales, and local restaurants are usually happy to prepare your “keeper” fish for dinner when you get back into port.

turks and caicos visit reasons

Diving and Snorkeling: The Turks and Caicos Islands sit on the edge of a mostly submerged plateau, surrounded by the barrier reefs of the Caicos Banks and with precipitous drop-offs to the 6,000-foot-deep Turks Island Passage. Add the fact that the islands are largely composed of porous limestone and it sets the stage for some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular diving, from plunges over colorful reefs and walls teeming with marine life rising from the dark deep to the beauty of blue holes like the 250-foot-deep Middle Caicos Ocean Hole.

Iguanas and Stingrays and Bats, Oh My: Take a wild guest what inhabits Iguana Island. We’ll wait. Yup, it’s a colony of rare rock iguanas, which once were found across the islands but now live only in a few isolated communities like the one on Little Water Cay off Providenciales (Iguana Island is a nickname). The waters off Gibbs Cay, another small island off the coast of Grand Turk, is home to a docile population of stingrays who will eat out of the palm of your hand. And if you visit the Conch Bar Caves on Middle Caicos be sure to look for the resident bats hanging out on the ceilings in this vast cave system.

The post 7 Great Reasons to Visit Turks and Caicos Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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