George Damianos is the CEO and President of Bahamas Sotheby’s International Realty. With more than 50 years in luxury real estate and over US$1 billion in sales, he’s known for his expertise in the sale of private islands, waterfront estates, and resort properties, pairing deep local knowledge with impressive global reach.
Let’s find out more:
What first drew you to a career in real estate, and what continues to drive you after five decades in the industry?
I grew up in real estate. My father founded our company in 1945, and from a very young age, I watched him advise families, investors, and institutions on some of the most meaningful decisions of their lives. What struck me wasn’t just the buildings; it was trust. Real estate, especially at the high end, is really about stewardship of wealth, privacy, and legacy.
What still drives me today is that the work remains deeply consequential. We’re not selling commodities; we’re helping people choose where their families will live, where their capital will be preserved, and where their stories will unfold. That responsibility never gets old.
How did joining the global Sotheby’s International Realty family change the way you plan for the company’s future?
Joining Sotheby’s fundamentally changed our horizon. It allowed us to think globally while remaining deeply Bahamian. Suddenly, we weren’t just a leading local brokerage; we were connected to the same ecosystem serving collectors, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth buyers in New York, London, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
That connection forces a higher standard. It means our marketing, our data, our compliance, and our client experience must operate at an international level. It also allows us to place Bahamian real estate within a global wealth narrative, which is exactly where it belongs.
What makes the Bahamian luxury real estate market so unique?
The Bahamas is one of the very few jurisdictions in the world that combines:
• Political stability
• English common law
• A dollar-based economy
• No income, capital gains, or inheritance taxes
• And unmatched natural beauty.
But at the top of the market, private islands, gated beachfront estates, and legacy compounds — scarcity becomes the defining factor. You can always build another penthouse. You cannot create another Lyford Cay beachfront or another Exuma Island. That scarcity is what drives long-term value.
From an investment standpoint, how does Sans Souci compare to other luxury waterfront properties in the Bahamas?
Sans Souci is in a class of its own. It sits inside Lyford Cay, the most established, most protected, and most prestigious residential enclave in the country. There is no more land to be developed there. Every beachfront lot is already spoken for.
What makes Sans Souci exceptional is that it is not just beachfront; it is institution-grade beachfront: elevated land, massive scale, flawless infrastructure, and generational build quality. Properties like this don’t trade on short-term cycles. They compound in value as replacement cost rises and supply disappears.
In 20 or 30 years, there will still be wealthy families seeking exactly what Sans Souci offers, and there will be fewer opportunities to buy something comparable.
How have your clients changed over the decades?
Early in my career, buyers were often seeking vacation homes. Today, they are seeking strategic residences. They are globally mobile, tax-aware, security-conscious, and deeply focused on lifestyle quality.
Many of our clients today are family offices, founders, and investors with net worths well north of $100 million. They don’t want salesmanship; they want advice, discretion, and precision.
They expect their broker to understand legal structures, residency, financing, and cross-border issues. That evolution has elevated our role from agents to trusted advisors.
How does Bahamas Sotheby’s ensure exceptional personal service?
We operate as a firm, not a collection of independent agents. Behind every agent is a professional team handling marketing, compliance, transaction management, valuations, and client services.
That structure allows our agents to focus on what matters most: relationships, negotiation, and representation. High-net-worth clients want one point of accountability backed by a deep institutional bench. That is exactly what we provide.
What do you look for when selecting agents?
Integrity, intelligence, and discipline.
Luxury real estate is not about charm; it is about competence.
Our agents must be able to understand financial statements, zoning, title structures, and valuation logic. They must also be emotionally intelligent and discreet. Our clients often make eight- and nine-figure decisions. That requires calm judgment and absolute professionalism.
What challenges do buyers face in The Bahamas, and how do you help?
The Bahamas is wonderfully open to foreign investment, but buyers still face complexities around title, approvals, residency, and structure. Our job is to remove friction and risk.
We work closely with attorneys, banks, government agencies, and family offices to ensure transactions are clean, efficient, and properly structured. For our clients, the process should feel simple even when the reality behind the scenes is complex.
What motivates you and your team to maintain excellence after decades of success?
Reputation.
In a small, high-end market like this, your name is your most valuable asset. Every transaction either strengthens it or weakens it. We are custodians of a family legacy that spans 80 years. That creates a powerful internal standard. We don’t compete on volume; we compete on quality, judgment, and trust.
What is your vision for the future, especially with AI and social media?
Technology will transform marketing, data, and client engagement, but it will never replace judgment and relationships.
We are investing heavily in AI to make our agents more informed, faster, and more precise. At the same time, social media allows us to tell richer stories about properties, lifestyle, and place.
The future of Bahamas Sotheby’s is a powerful blend of heritage and innovation: a world-class advisory firm powered by modern technology but grounded in human trust.