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St Maarten Property Tax: What Owners Pay Each Year (2026)

Coastal town with blue water, boats anchored in a calm harbor, and pastel buildings along a hillside under a bright blue sky.

Property Tax in Sint Maarten: Annual Costs Explained TL;DR Property tax in Sint Maarten is low compared to North America. On the Dutch side there is no annual recurring real estate tax the way US and Canadian owners are used to. Your real recurring costs are a one-time transfer tax of 4% at purchase, rental […]

St Maarten Mortgage for Foreigners: American Buyer Guide (2026)

Aerial view of white modern villas along a tropical hillside next to a sandy beach and blue sea.

Dutch Bank Mortgage Requirements for American Buyers TL;DR Getting a Dutch bank mortgage as an American buyer on Sint Maarten is possible but harder than at home. Expect a 30 to 40 percent down payment, interest rates roughly 1 to 3 points above US rates, proof of local or regional income preferred, and a slow […]

Financing Property in St Maarten: Foreign Mortgage Options (2026)

Two-story Mediterranean-style house with yellow walls, white arches, and a wraparound balcony, set above a stone retaining wall with flowering shrubs.

Foreign Mortgages in Sint Maarten: Your Options TL;DR Yes, foreigners can finance property in Sint Maarten, but most US and Canadian buyers pay cash or use home-country financing because local mortgages for non-residents are limited. Local and regional banks that do lend to foreigners typically require 30 to 50 percent down, charge rates around 6 […]

Notary Fees in St Maarten: What Buyers Actually Pay (2026)

Marina with white yachts docked along a blue bay, red-roofed buildings on a small island, green hills in the background.

By Wei Landgraf, Sint Maarten real estate agent and full-time resident. Last updated: July 2026. On the Dutch side of St Maarten, the notary fee for a property purchase is roughly 1 to 1.5 percent of the purchase price. A civil-law notary is required by law on every sale: they run the title search, draft […]

St Maarten Property Due Diligence: A Complete Checklist (2026)

Property deed documents and a cadastral survey plan on a notary desk in Sint Maarten, lit through louvered shutters

Due Diligence on Sint Maarten Property: A Complete Checklist TL;DR Property due diligence on Sint Maarten is more rigorous than most North American buyers expect: there is no MLS, no centralized title database, and the legal system is Dutch civil law, not US common law. A complete checklist covers title history at the Cadaster, outstanding […]

Title Insurance in St Maarten: Do You Actually Need It? (2026)

Overhead view of a Sint Maarten property title file, cadastral map, notarized deed and a brass key

Title Insurance for Sint Maarten Property: Do You Need It? TL;DR Title insurance in Sint Maarten works differently than in the United States. On the Dutch side, a civil-law notary verifies and registers title through the public Kadaster, which already provides strong legal certainty, so traditional US-style title insurance is uncommon and often unnecessary. Where […]

Terres Basses Saint-Martin Real Estate: A Buyer's Guide (2026)

A luxury hillside villa with an infinity pool in Terres Basses on the French side of Saint-Martin

Terres Basses Saint Martin: Luxury Real Estate Guide TL;DR Terres Basses is the gated, low-density luxury enclave on the French side of Saint Martin, home to four beaches and some of the island's most expensive villas. Terres Basses villas for sale typically range from about $1.5 million for a modest hillside property to well over […]

St Maarten Closing Costs: A Buyer's Complete Breakdown (2026)

Balcony view over turquoise sea with boats, palm trees, and distant mountains at sunset/sunrise.

By Wei Landgraf, Sint Maarten real estate agent and full-time resident. Last updated: July 2026. Closing costs on the Dutch side of St Maarten run about 4 to 6 percent of the purchase price, and the buyer pays them. The two big pieces are a transfer tax of roughly 4 percent and a notary fee […]

Philipsburg Apartments for Sale: City Living in St Maarten (2026)

Covered outdoor patio with wicker seating around a round table, a pool, and lounge chairs overlooking the ocean and rocky coastline.

Philipsburg Apartments: City Living in Sint Maarten TL;DR Philipsburg apartments put you in the only true downtown on Sint Maarten, within walking distance of Front Street, Great Bay Beach, restaurants, and the courthouse. Expect to pay roughly $180,000 to $450,000 to buy a one or two-bedroom, or about $1,200 to $2,800 a month to rent, […]