Headline news was thin across the ABC islands this week, but Curaçao's next round of Defense-housing auctions and fresh Aruban tax figures both point to a market still running hot beneath the surface — plus a refresher on erfpacht versus eigendom for anyone weighing a purchase.
It was a quiet week for splashy headlines across Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao — no new laws, no blockbuster sales. But the numbers underneath tell a different story: government auctions of surplus homes, climbing tax receipts, and a fresh tourism accolade all point to a market still running warm.
The Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (RVB), the Dutch government's real-estate agency, is continuing its disposal of former Ministry of Defense homes on Curaçao, with viewings of four-bedroom properties in the Katoentuin neighborhood set for September 29 and October 1, ahead of public auctions on November 6 and 13 via Biedboek.nl. Worth watching for value-minded buyers: an earlier tranche of Defense homes in the Kwartje neighborhood sold well above their starting prices — even government-surplus stock is drawing competitive bidding. Source: Curaçao Chronicle.
Figures from Aruba's tax department show grondbelasting (property tax) revenue up sharply year-on-year for July, with overdrachtsbelasting (transfer tax) collections rising too, as part of an overall ~8% increase in government tax income. For owners, it's a reminder that climbing assessed values feed directly into annual property-tax bills, not just purchase-time costs. Source: Aruba.nu.
USA Today's 10Best readers voted Curaçao the top Caribbean island to visit in 2026 — a tourism halo that tends to firm up demand for rentals and second homes, and keeps the island in front of international buyers. Source: Curaçao Chronicle.
Local commentary has turned more pointed: a recent editorial asked who Curaçao's housing market is really serving as homes go to the highest bidder, while a companion piece traced today's prices to the post-pandemic wave of remote-worker demand and low interest rates. Pricing pressure is now a mainstream local conversation, not just an investor talking point. Source: Curaçao Chronicle.
A quiet week on the surface — but the figures underneath tell a market still running warm.
Across Curaçao and Bonaire, a large share of property is sold as erfpacht (long leasehold) rather than eigendom (freehold) — typically a 60-year term with a fixed annual canon, renewable and freely transferable, and usually priced below comparable freehold. It isn't a lesser form of ownership, but it does change the financing conversation: local banks often want well over a decade left on the term before they'll lend, so ask early how much runway remains on any erfpacht listing you're considering.
For verified listings across Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao — freehold and leasehold alike — browse the current inventory →
