Last Updated on December 30, 2025 by Roslin Dwivedi
Hello, my lovely friends! Welcome back to Travel and Life with Roaz. If you’ve ever dreamed about packing up your life and moving to the Bahamas, maybe for work, retirement, or simply to wake up every morning to the sound of the ocean — this story is for you. Today, I’m sharing our real, no-filter experience of house hunting in Nassau, and trust me, it’s not all turquoise waters and Bahama mama.
When we first landed in Nassau, we were put at Ocean Club before moving to our rented apartment in Nassau. We went on house hunting in Nassau every off days we got. Our goal was simple: find a house to rent that felt like home, find a nice school for our son and live a peaceful life. But, of course, nothing is ever that simple on an island. Before I go on, here’s a quick note — keep reading anyway even if you’re planning to buy a house instead of renting. You’ll still get a pretty good idea of what kinds of homes you’ll find here and what to expect.
Now, the first thing I learned after moving to the Bahamas? There’s a difference between condos and apartments and it’s not just the name. Condos usually come with amenities like pools and playgrounds and are part of gated communities. Apartments can be a bit more independent. We were open to both, as long as the house felt right.
We had a little checklist ready even before stepping into our first viewing. We needed a spacious home where our son could run around safely, a laundry room, and absolutely no staircases. I just wasn’t ready to take a risk with our 3 years old. I also dreamed of a kitchen big enough for those times when friends or family drop by to cook together (and talk more than we cook, obviously). A two-bedroom, two-bathroom setup ideally with one bathtub for relaxing evenings and a shower cubicle for rushed mornings. Oh, and it needed to be close to a school, because I don’t drive. I wanted to walk my son to the school every day, not battle with taxis or traffic. Add a safe, lively community with shops and playgrounds nearby and voilà, our “perfect home” checklist was ready.
Make sure you make a list of your own before going with the agent for house hunting in Nassau or in the Bahamas in general. That’s very handy because you know by seeing the websites, what kind of houses you would like before checking them out physically. This will help you in making a decision later. Also take videos or pictures of the houses so when you prepare your pros and cons chart you will have a reference picture ready to check one more time. Visit the house again if you feel you are ready to rent.
The House Hunting in Nassau Bahamas
House no. 1 – The first house we saw in Sandyport ticked some boxes but added a few red flags too. It was next to play ground, had two bedrooms and two baths, but the bedrooms were upstairs — which meant… Yes, stairs. The kitchen was fine for one person to work in, but for me, it felt a bit tight. The laundry was right next to the kitchen (handy!), but the dining hall just didn’t feel right. And at $3,800 a month, it was definitely out of our budget.
House no. 2 – Next, we viewed another house on N Buckner Square Road, which had the same price range — a beautiful, fully furnished home with a balcony and even a tiny coffee corner in the bedroom. Imagine waking up and making your coffee right there without going downstairs! It felt like a hotel room, honestly. But again, it had a balcony (not ideal with a toddler) and had multiple floors. So… no.
House no. 3 – Then came a one-floor plan house near Coconut Cove residences, which had two bedrooms, two baths, that was almost perfect. It was close to a school we were already eyeing on Tambearly International School, supermarkets, and everything else we needed were close by. The layout was good, and the location was spot-on. But, as with everything nice in Nassau, the rent was still a bit steep for us.
House no. 4 – We also toured a three-bedroom home with a gorgeous, open living room and a deck that opened into the garden. It had a pool, a playground, and was part of a gated community — everything we wanted. But again, the rent was pushing $4,000. I could already hear my husband’s gentle-but-panicked “Hmm, maybe let’s keep looking.”
House no. 5 – And then… we walked into my favorite house ever. It was bright, beautifully decorated, and had a balcony that felt like it belonged in a movie. I absolutely fell in love with this house — like, “I’ve already started imagining living here in my head” kind of love. The only problem was it had an internal staircase and no playground nearby. My son’s school was also a bit far, and the commute for my husband wasn’t ideal. Basically, I was ready to move in, but my family was being reasonable. This was in Delaporte and rent was $3500
House no. 6 – Eventually, we found one last house that wasn’t love at first sight but turned out to be the one. It had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, was close to the school, walking distance to shops, and in a gated community with friendly neighbors. It didn’t have the dream kitchen or open balcony I wanted, and the interiors weren’t exactly “Pinterest goals,” but it checked the most important boxes — safety, location, and convenience.
We decided to take it, even though it was a little above our budget at $3,500 per month. Sometimes, the perfect home isn’t the one that looks the best — it’s the one that feels right for your life.
While touring for house hunting, I realised many gated communities in Nassau had a swimming pool and play ground, it was a pretty amazing set up. Also the houses we saw were very good except a few that had very very old furniture and house layout.
Where to Live in Nassau
Before we even started our house hunt, I spent nights reading every blog I could find about where to live in Nassau and if you’re planning a move, this will save you a ton of time.
Each neighborhood here has its own vibe, community feel, and, of course, price tag. For example, Sandyport is one of the most popular areas among expats and families. It’s clean, secure, and has that resort-style living with canals, playgrounds, and restaurants right around the corner. We actually lived in Sandyport for a while and loved how convenient it was — everything from grocery stores to pizza spots was just a few minutes away.
If you’re looking for something a bit more high-end, Old Fort Bay and Lyford Cay are the upscale areas — think luxury gated communities, private beaches, and beautiful architecture. These are popular with expats working for international firms or those relocating for corporate jobs.
For a quieter, more local experience, Cable Beach and Westridge offer a mix of local charm and accessibility, with easy access to schools and shops. These areas also have lovely homes and family-friendly neighborhoods without the “tourist zone” chaos.
And then there’s Blair — a well-established residential neighborhood that we got to know through friends. Interestingly, we discovered that many Indians living in Nassau prefer the Blair area. It has a welcoming community vibe, a mix of long-term residents, and good proximity to schools and stores. It’s not flashy or overly touristy, but it’s safe, peaceful, and practical — which is exactly what many families look for.
Wherever you choose, the key is to balance your budget, commute, and comfort. Nassau may look small on the map, but with traffic and narrow roads, your daily route can really shape your lifestyle here.
What We Learned after house hunting in Nassau
If you’re planning to rent in Nassau, here’s a golden piece of advice: explore your options and don’t let one realtor rush you. Some agents will show you three or four houses, all way above your budget, and make it sound like those are your only choices. Don’t fall for it. There are plenty of listings out there. Visit different agents, ask around, and trust your gut.
And finally, I can’t stress this enough — look for a gated community. It adds a sense of safety, especially for families with kids, and usually comes with shared spaces like pools and playgrounds. It just makes island life smoother and more connected.
After moving to Sandyport house we were positive to start our amazing life here, make lots of memories. With every good day we also faced many challenges here. We wanted to make this house our own, decorate it and call friends and family for many get-togethers. I had a whole Pinterest board full of decorating ideas to transform this house. But within a few months living here we had to leave Nassau. It felt like fate had other good things on our way.
But no matter how lucky you get after a racking wave you are still pulled towards bad memories many times. But given a chance to live in Nassau again, I would definitely go back and live there. I loved our life there. We had everything, a perfect house without stairs and balcony. 2 bedroom 2 bathroom, one had a bathtub, and this one was walking distance to Teamberlay school where my son went for a short while. His teachers were amazing in the school, we built up a great community in such a short time. Our son had many friends from the playground and I made many mom friends too.
Anyways,
Thank you for reading (and living through) our house-hunting in Nassau adventure. If you’re planning a move here, I hope this story helps you avoid a few of our rookie mistakes and find your own little corner of paradise.
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