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Chopawamsic Island: Is it Worth it?-Update

By Islomaniac | August 24, 2007

Chopawamsic islandA week or so ago I posted this article on Chopawamsic Island.

I wrote the article after an individual sent me a comment stating:

“I looked at this island several times, by boat, and I have had many all-day fishing trips there. I observe nearly continuous helicopter and big Air Force jet operations a few hundred yeards (sic) away. I can’t imagine that anyone looking for solitude and rest would stop here…even for a sales price of $100k. I also never saw a Coast Guard or Marine patrol boat in the area…not even a warning sign.”

This comment got me rethinking that perhaps this island isn’t in fact worth its 25 million dollar price tag. It appears that people seem to agree with both me and the original commenter. Here is what other people had to say about Chopawamsic Island.

“I wouldn’t pay a penny more than US$ 250,000. “The most secure Island” also means the most surveillanced… You’d be buying the one private island in the world that is the least private! The owners claim that it is the “safest island” in the world is complete bull. Washington DC is a big terrorist target.”

“And no beaches! Not the island for me, mate.”

“I have a sold a few half-acre lots on the Potomac for up to 2.5 Million Dollars each. If the owner agree to subdivide this unique 13 acre island, I can sell them for up to 3 Million Dollars per one-acre lot.”

“I doubt you could convince anyone to pay 3 million dollars an acre for land on an island without any sort of public land access. With the base owning the surrounding land, forget about building any sort of bridge or causeway. Private helicopters will be right out given its close proximity to the “U.S. Presidents’ Helicopter Pad”.

Because of these same security concerns, you’re going to find it very difficult to build anything on the island. The government will require the owner to get any construction approved, and will drag its feet (more than usual) until the owner gives up out of frustration. Rumor has it, this is why the island remains unimproved.

If an owner does win approval to build, construction costs will add a few more millions to the price tag, so that needs to be considered in the overall cost.

Helicopters fly over and around that island every day. While I’ll not argue about it being the safest island in the world, I’ll bet it’s the noisiest.”

I think these comments and attitudes towards Chopawamsic Island reflect what I talked about in my post on marketing private islands in which I state that you should not over inflate the price of your island. It is clear that these comments reflect the general attitude of people towards this island. This is not to say that these comments are representative of the attitudes of all people towards the island, nor is it to say that the island will not sell for $25 million. However, the comments are a reflection of the backlash that can happen if people feel that your island is overpriced.

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Topics: Island Advice, Islands for Sale |

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