The Tribune

A Bahamian realtor has launched his own brokerage serving clients and investors across New Providence and the Family Islands after spending a decade in the industry.

Ceron Rolle, founder and broker/owner of Rolle Realty Group, said: “Bahamians have always understood the value of owning and developing real estate. What I’m seeing now is a greater ambition to scale.

“Some of the investors I work with have already built successful businesses and own property, but they’re increasingly focused on how many income-producing units they can add to their portfolios.

“They count doors: How many they own, what each one earns and what the next acquisition adds. If you own four, how do we get you to six? If you own six, what does ten look like? Those are the conversations we’re having.”

Mr Rolle pointed to one client whose property portfolio has expanded rapidly. “We started with a three-unit property and established clear investment targets together. After the first year, the property exceeded those targets, and the client was ready to invest further,” he said.

“We leveraged equity to acquire additional properties, and in less than two years, the client has acquired three multi-unit properties and gone from no income-producing units to more than 17 doors. The goal now is to reach 50 doors over the next few years. It’s a strategy I’m seeing more savvy Bahamian investors adopt.”

Alongside interest among local investors, Mr Rolle said international demand for Bahamian real estate remains strong. In its 2025-2026 Bahamas Luxury Market Digest, global property consultancy, Knight Frank, reported that US and Canadian purchasers account for about 85 per cent of transactions in the prime property market covered by its report.

The Central Bank of The Bahamas also noted in its July 2026 quarterly press briefing that foreign investment inflows remain concentrated in residential real estate activity, resort developments and private cruise destinations.

“Helping a Bahamian client build an income-producing portfolio here at home is as meaningful to me as advising someone making a significant investment in The Bahamas from abroad,” Mr Rolle said.

“Their circumstances may be completely different, but my responsibility is the same. I need to understand what that person is trying to accomplish before we start talking about what they should buy or sell.”

Born and raised in The Bahamas, with family roots in Black Point, Exuma and Gaiters, Cat Island, Mr Rolle credits his parents, entrepreneur Clyde Rolle and attorney Christine Brown, with shaping his approach to business.

“My father taught me that a handshake is a commitment, and that you do what you say you’re going to do,” he added. “My mother taught me discretion. In real estate, people trust you with their finances, their families and some of the biggest decisions they will make. I have never taken that lightly.”

Mr Rolle said his background in finance and accounting shapes how he evaluates property, considering income potential, appreciation, equity and holding costs alongside the purchase price.

“Clients can become hyper-focused on finding a property below market value,” he added. “But if the goal is to build wealth, you also have to consider what that property can earn, the equity you are building and the opportunities it may create for your next investment.”

A former professional tennis player who attended university on an athletic scholarship, Mr Rolle later served as vice-president of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) and coached The Bahamas’ junior Davis Cup team.

His advisory team includes Indira Rolle-Thompson, whose background spans private banking, wealthy clients and property development; Ria C. Butler, a former banker and host of You and Your Money; and Timothy Covington, who has more than four decades of experience in real estate and property development, particularly in Exuma.

The firm works alongside clients’ attorneys, accountants, wealth advisers and other specialists, co-ordinating transactions from the initial property search or listing strategy through to closing.

Listings are supported by Fusion IMC, the Bahamian communications agency in which Mr Rolle is an investor.  “The finest photography in the world cannot correct the wrong price,” Mr Rolle said. “We want to understand the property and the market first. Marketing is part of the strategy from the beginning.

“In The Bahamas, your name means something. I grew up here, left for university and returned to plant my roots and raise my family. I’ve watched communities evolve and built relationships over many years. Having my name on the company means my reputation travels with every recommendation I make.

“Years from now, I want the clients we represent, Bahamian and international alike, to feel they were well advised. That’s the kind of name I want Rolle Realty Group to build.”