Private Islands Becoming More Affordable

With waterfront real estate prices rising, more buyers are purchasing their own private islands.

1 minute read

December 22, 2004, 9:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"With prices for waterfront homes growing as much as 30% a year in popular destinations, some vacation-home shoppers say there's an alternative that's increasingly attractive: buying a private island. Though life offshore has more than a few inconveniences -- getting there, for starters -- on a per-acre basis, these properties can offer surprising values. Overall, real-estate experts say, price increases for island realty have lagged behind those for traditional waterfront properties.

...Near Savannah, Ga., a beachfront home on less than an acre might sell for $2.5 million, but Eagle Island, a 160-acre property including a cypress lodge, carries a price tag of $1.95 million.

...It's easier now for island shoppers to get their feet wet, in part because of new online listing sites, such as Private Islands Online, that are devoted entirely to offshore properties."

[Editor's note: The link below is available to non-subscribers for a period of six days.]

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 in Wall St. Journal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

April 27 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

April 27 - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY