Anguilla

There is no mountain here and no rainforest — Anguilla is limestone and scrub, which is exactly why the sand is as pale as it is. The island reads as a string of settlements rather than a town, with restaurants that outrank the size of the place and very little else competing for attention.

Who buys here

A small, repeat crowd: people who came for a week, came back, and eventually bought. Most transactions are villas, often on or near a beach, and many are held for private use rather than let out heavily. Non-belonger purchases require government approval, which is a standard part of the process and a reason to involve a local attorney early.

The trade-off

Very few properties are on the market at any one time, and a house can sit for a long while before it finds the one buyer it suits. There is no international airport of consequence; most arrivals come through St Martin and then a ferry or a short flight, which adds an hour or two and an occasional weather problem. Water, food and building materials are all imported, and the island is inside the hurricane belt.