- Buying in Cayman isn’t just “20% down and done.” The bank might approve your mortgage while your savings account quietly screams.
Here’s what you actually need in the bank before you go house-shopping.
- CI$400,000 condo → CI$40,000–80,000 down
- CI$800,000 home → CI$80,000–160,000 down That’s your starter ticket. But it’s just Level 1 of the video game.
- Legal fees — your attorney doesn’t work for hugs
- Bank fees — application, commitment, valuation
- Registration and misc. costs — all the paper-shuffling As a rough rule, many buyers assume 1–2% of the purchase price on top of stamp duty. Not precise, but it keeps you from daydreaming in fantasyland.
- Strata fees (for condos/townhouses)
- Property insurance (non-negotiable in Cayman)
- Maintenance — AC, appliances, hurricane prep, and “why is this leaking?” moments Your mortgage payment is not the whole story. Add CI$500–1,500+/month depending on the property and lifestyle.
- Use the Mortgage Calculator to see your real monthly.
- Use the Stamp Duty Calculator to see your real upfront hit. Then ask one simple question: “If this all happened tomorrow, do I have the cash and the stomach for it?” If yes, you’re not just “looking at property” anymore — you’re shopping for a home in Cayman like a grown- Calculate Cayman stamp duty here