Matt Sweeting, chief executive of 1 Oak Bahamas, told Guardian Business yesterday that his real estate firm’s partnership with international real estate franchise Re/Max is paying dividends, as he is seeing greater potential in the Canadian market in regard to people looking for second homes, as investors attempt to escape high taxation and look to The Bahamas for permanent residency.
Sweeting said: “We feel confident that the unrest in the US and the continued stress about taxation in Canada is going to be a driver of the Bahamian real estate market in 2026. We’re already seeing evidence of that.”
Canadian interest in second homes has grown across the Caribbean, but The Bahamas is of primary interest because there is no income tax, capital gains, or inheritance tax and it is one of the most straightforward markets to invest in.
Sweeting added: “We’re in talks with Re/Max Global and a tax firm that assists with relocation and tax avoidance, to host a series of seminars for Canadians and Americans looking to relocate to The Bahamas for retirement, to get away from cold weather, to be in a more in a stable environment, without war and without civil unrest. So I think all these things speak well about well for Bahamas real estate in 2026.”
Sweeting continued: “Canadians have historically been plagued with taxation. They are taxed somewhere to the tune of a 42 percent per family. Nearly half of their gross family income goes towards tax. For those in the latter part of their years, their businesses already had successes. They’ve stabilized to a degree, they’ve made most of their money now and they’re at an age where they’re trying to save as much as possible to fund their retirement. These are the kinds of clients that we’ve been getting inquiries from, and that we’re now actively and aggressively pursuing through partnerships with Canadian and US tax agencies and tax firms, to really close the loop with those who are exploring relocation, permanent residency or tax avoidance, and want to explore The Bahamas. We’re advising them on what’s the best way to renunciate, and also why The Bahamas is a good place to do it.”
The partnership 1 Oak has with Re/Max is essential for Sweeting to maximize on this Canadian opportunity, because Re/Max has a considerable market share of Canadian real estate investors in Canada. Re/Max is one of the most prominent real estate networks in the Caribbean, largely because of its massive presence in Canada and the US. For a Canadian buyer, this familiar brand provides a significant advantage when dealing with cross-border referrals.
