Living in Luxury | Puerto Rico

The Luxury Haven: Raising Children in Paradise

Nicole Franceschini -Luxury Estate Broker

When a family has decided to relocate to Puerto Rico from their Multi Million Dollar estate in Greenwich to an oceanfront villa in Dorado Beach, their primary concern isn’t the tax savings or the tropical lifestyle-it’s their children and their wife. The anxieties of adapting to a new culture, language barriers, social life and a new school all play factors in relocating. 

I relocated to Puerto Rico some years ago and experienced much of this anxiety. I didn’t speak the language and only knew a few people on the island. My thoughts ran to so many questions: Where am I going to work? Will I meet new friends? How will I communicate with people? I quickly became a mom when I arrived and worried about schools, healthcare and the future. 

What I soon realized was that I would be able to provide my children with a childhood filled with adventure, cultural richness, opportunity, and a genuine community. I found that embracing all that Puerto Rico had to offer far outweighed any perceived negatives. My children would be learning not one, not two, but three languages, all while attending world-class schools and socializing with both the local and international communities. The intimate connections due to the friendly nature of Puerto Rico, with its warm and inviting demeanor, would be lifelong. It was something I lacked where I came from, and then the vastness of a bigger city like Boston.  I loved the good nature of the people of Puerto Rico, from the most humble communities to the most exclusive. I understood immediately that I stumbled upon the greatest gift I could give my children, that the life lessons that would be absorbed here would profoundly impact them, making them better people overall. The bonds and connections that they would start here would reach far beyond the 100x35 island.

There is a growing trend among high net worth families discovering that Puerto Rico's communities offer something increasingly rare: an environment where children can experience world-class education and an authentic, enriching childhood. 

I found a career in helping individuals like myself relocate and find these communities. After helping hundreds of families relocate over the last 2 decades, I've witnessed firsthand how the island's unique blend of American standards, combined with the rich Caribbean culture of Puerto Rico and luxury amenities, creates an unparalleled environment for raising children.

I remember a time when I was helping a family move to Dorado. Their son was poised to become a hockey star, and there was genuine worry about how he would adjust and the sacrifices involved. They truly struggled about making a permanent move. After they relocated to Puerto Rico, I followed up to see how they were settling in. Their son had discovered a new passion in the junior golf league. Most people come to the island with a 3 year trial plan, as I did, and find themselves questioning how can they leave now. The key to a successful relocation is the community you select. It's important not to be isolated in a home or neighborhood where meeting new people is difficult, particularly during the initial years. My specialty is not just selling homes, it's in setting up families to thrive. Of course, we set clients up with their real estate team of attorneys, brokers, insurance, financing but we also set up school tours, Act 60 advisors, recommendations on medical doctors and more. This job is about setting up clients for a smooth, successful, and happy transition for all. My personal experience in both real estate and relocation gives me an inside perspective that benefits my clients.