We did it, folks.

We made it through 2017, one of the wackiest years in recent memory.

“Normalcy” gained a whole new meaning in a year that saw Donald Trump sworn in as president of the United States of America, Serena Williams win a grand slam tennis tournament with a baby inside of her, and everyone and their mother – myself included! – either talking about or investing in a “currency” that none of us ever intends to use to actually buy stuff…you know, the main thing currencies are “normally” used for.

Luckily for all of us, the real estate market was less wacky. Generally speaking, the global luxury property market remained stable throughout the year, buoyed by increased demand and more realistic pricing by sellers across the board. In The Bahamas where I am based, we saw increased interest from Europe and South America in particular.

Strong sales were reported in prime areas such as Lyford Cay, Ocean Club Estates, Albany and Baker’s Bay – all private residential communities with superb resort-like amenities. These amenities – pools, spas, fitness, beaches, club & sporting facilities and more – have become a ‘must have’ for today’s high end buyer. While these buyers enjoy the island’s slower pace and the tranquility that comes along with it, they don’t want to sacrifice the lifestyle they are accustomed to in their home countries.

We are also noticing that today’s buyers want turnkey properties and are less interested in building their own homes, which is a shift from say, 10 years ago. This shift will likely impact the type of product we see coming from developers who will want to adjust to stay in line with what buyers want.

On a personal level, 2017 was a record year, by far my best ever with closed sales of roughly $28 million. I continue to be surrounded by the best clients, friends and family who support me and my business beyond what I could ever ask for. Here’s hoping 2018 will be even better – for you and me!!

New year, new profile shot.

**"La Vista", Ocean Club Estates - my top sale of 2017 at $7,900,000**

WHERE IN THE WORLD

I traveled far and wide in 2017 and the place that continues to stand out to me is Istanbul, which I found to be just a magical city (look out for an upcoming post about my time there). In this edition of Where in the World, though, I want to hear from you guys on your favorite travel spots, or your dream destinations for 2018! Where do you want to go?!?

I’ve been thinking about putting together a #RyanKnowlesBest curated trip, where I plan and program a five to seven-day journey in an exotic destination, from accommodations to excursions and everything in between. If you like the idea and would be interested in joining let me know! :-)

PRET-A-MANGER

The holidays are famous for bringing lots of joy into our lives and also lots of food! If you’re not careful, it can be a dangerously gluttonous few weeks. Ham, turkey, macaroni, stuffing, collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy - they are almost impossible to resist. My personal secret – not that I’m a nutritional expert by any stretch – is to limit myself to one heavy meal per day. If I have a heavy lunch, I’ll go light on dinner and maybe just do a salad. Or if I know I’ve got a big dinner ahead, I might just do a shake for lunch with a snack between lunch and dinner. When you live on an island where the weather is great all year round, it’s important to preserve your beach body as much as possible ;)

Having said that, the next time you go for dinner or lunch, consider one of my restaurant picks for this month:

PAO, Faena Hotel, Miami Beach, FL

Cleo, SLS Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas

SO LIT.

Those who know me know I love politics, and no matter what yours are, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Hillary Clinton’s “What Happened”, a fascinating behind the scenes look at the miscalculations and mistakes (her words) that led to her defeat. If you’re a fan of HRC, you’ll likely find the read cathartic. If you’re not, you might find yourself empathising with her as she pulls back the curtain on what it was like to be the first woman candidate of a major political party in United States history. Heavy stuff!

On the lighter side, check out The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao, a quirky and often hilarious tale about a housewife in search of purpose in her life.

INSPIRATION

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Or do you simply set goals for yourself every year and go after them? No matter your approach, staying inspired and motivated will no doubt be a key factor in whether or not you reach your goals. Inspiration is something you can never have too much of in life, so with every post this year, I'll be sharing a video that I find inspiring. Leave a comment and let me know what you think! Oh, and tell me about your goals for 2018 too. Mine include taking up painting, learning French and blogging more consistently :-) What are yours?