October 2025

There are moments in a nation’s story when the landscape itself seems to sigh — as if exhausted by the weight of human neglect. Hurricane Melissa was one such moment. It didn’t simply pass through Jamaica; it unstitched her seams. Before the storm, there was the hum of daily life: the chatter in the shops, the soft hum of generators in the distance, and the hopeful rhythm of a country preparing...

By Dean Jones – Chartered Construction Manager, Project Manager, Surveyor, RealtorPublished October 31, 2025 A Nation Reshaped Overnight When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica with sustained winds nearing 185 mph, it wasn’t just another storm. It was a defining moment — one that has changed how we see our homes, our infrastructure, and our future as a nation. In areas like...

Published October 29, 2025By Dean Jones | Chartered Construction Manager · Project Manager · Surveyor · Realtor A Nation Tested by Storm and Spirit On October 29, 2025, I joined CNN International’s Isa Soares Tonight live from Jamaica to speak about the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The storm, which packed winds up to 185 mph, left parts of the island unrecognizable — entire...

Disclaimer: The following is a reasoned interpretation based on available public-information concerning the passage of Hurricane Melissa over the town of Black River (St Elizabeth parish), Jamaica. It is not based on detailed engineering surveys of each roof and should be treated as informative rather than definitive. Local building records, structural assessments and site-specific investigations would be...

By Dean Jones 31 October 2025 This week, I had the opportunity to speak with one of Britain’s most respected journalists, Andrew Marr, on LBC — the UK’s largest commercial news radio station, with over 3.4 million listeners.You can watch the full interview here: 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkQ9SWjTVFA It was an honour to discuss the situation on the ground in...

The Rhythm Has Shifted There was a time when selling a home in Jamaica felt effortless — as if the island itself conspired to make every listing sparkle. The market pulsed like a dancehall beat: lively, fast, irresistible. Homes were scarce, buyers were eager, and everything that went up seemed to vanish in days. But that was then. Now, there’s a pause — a shift in tempo. The market has...

There is a moment — just before a storm lands — when Jamaica seems to hold its breath.The air grows heavy, the trees bow low as if in prayer, and the sea hums a low, ancient note. It is in that pause, that uneasy silence before the hurricane, that we are reminded of who we are. Jamaica has always lived in dialogue with nature. We’ve known her fury — Gilbert in 1988, Ivan in 2004 — and each...

Scroll through your feed in Jamaica, and you’ll find plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. Some blame the banks, others the government, and increasingly, people are accusing big investors—those “faceless companies” and “foreign buyers”—of snapping up everything in sight. It’s an easy story to believe, especially when frustration is high and hope feels like a...

It begins, as it always does, with a swirl on a screen.A pale spiral forming over the Atlantic, a name whispered first in passing — Melissa.At that point she is nothing more than an organised rumour: a tropical depression, a projection, a probability. But in the islands, we know how rumours behave. They grow. They gather energy. They take on lives of their own. By the time the storm earns her title...

There’s something oddly mesmerising about watching a storm form — that slow ballet of cloud and sea, the delicate symmetry of destruction gathering shape. From a distance, the satellite image looks almost beautiful: a swirling masterpiece of physics and inevitability. But beauty takes on a different meaning when that spiral starts pointing toward home. Tonight, the name on everyone’s lips is...

In the Caribbean, hurricanes are a part of life. While we can prepare, reinforce our homes, and follow safety alerts, it’s important to understand how these storms behave — especially the difference between the right and left sides of a hurricane’s path. Understanding the Structure of a Hurricane A hurricane rotates counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere — and that includes Jamaica...

In the Caribbean, time often moves to its own rhythm — unhurried, measured, and deeply spiritual. But every so often, nature steps in to remind us that even paradise must prepare. This week, Jamaica stands poised beneath the gathering clouds of Hurricane Melissa: a storm born slow, grown steady, and whispered into being by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. And as the nation watches and waits, one...

A reflection by Dean Jones — Founder, Jamaica Homes When Hurricane Gilbert hit Jamaica in September 1988, I was here. I remember the sound first — the roar that seemed to come from everywhere at once. It was devastating, yes, but also unforgettable. Back then, our homes were mostly wooden. Light frames, zinc roofs, the smell of pine and paint — that was the Jamaica I partly grew up knowing. The...

The Jamaican Dream — and the Reality Check Every Jamaican, whether living in Kingston, Montego Bay, or abroad in New York or London, dreams of owning a piece of “the rock.” It’s a symbol of success, belonging, and legacy — the home that roots generations. Yet for many, that dream feels like a mirage shimmering just beyond reach. Prices are rising, salaries can’t keep up, and fingers are...

Jamaica’s real estate scene has always had its rhythm — a steady heartbeat that follows the pulse of our economy, our diaspora, and our dreams. But if you’re planning to sell your property in 2026, what you do in 2025 could decide whether that process feels like a smooth sail across the harbour… or like paddling against the current in a storm. While many homeowners wait until the “For Sale”...