BUYERS who want to get in early on Issa Homes’ Harmony Retreat luxury residential development in Kingston’s Golden Triangle can do so now as they have started preconstruction sales.

Work is expected to begin on the eight-unit project by January 2026, at the latest, and the goal is to have it wrapped up by April 2027.

The two stand-alone units, priced at US$1.695 million, already have buyers, but there are six duplexes available for US$1.495 million each. These 3,500-square-foot town houses each have three bedrooms with balconies, open-plan living, smart home features, and their own pools.

Harmony Retreat is being billed as a tropical oasis in one of Kingston’s most sought after locations.

“It’s Golden Triangle, an area steeped in history, prestige, and culture. It’s in close proximity to a lot of modern amenities, convenient shopping, schools, dining, entertainment,” Issa Homes CEO Alex Issa told the Jamaica Observer’s Real Estate on the Rock.

Large windows let lots of natural light into the open-plan living and dining room of Issa Home’s Harmony Retreat in Kingston’s Golden Triangle.

“There’s a building Renaissance going on right now in in the Golden Triangle. It’s making a comeback. It’s a prime location because you’re close to [the] New Kingston business district, close to Lady Musgrave, you’re close to Hope Road, you can get to downtown pretty quickly from there; so it’s very central,” he added.

Issa said a concerted effort was made to avoid overcrowding the space — a hallmark of all their luxury developments.

“You see a lot of complexes that are just extremely overbuilt; every square inch is concrete and just very packed. Harmony Retreat was designed to be low density, with a lot of green space. There’s a nice blend between the homes and the landscaping that kind of harmonise together in terms of the aesthetic. It’s a place where somebody can enjoy living without feeling crowded with too many residents. That was the idea around it,” he told the Sunday Observer.

ISSA… there’s a building renaissance going on right now in the Golden Triangle

“To be considered true luxury, it has to have certain criteria: not overly crowded, not overdone, it has to offer peace and privacy,” Issa added.

In keeping with that thrust, the by-laws will stipulate that no short-term rentals are allowed.

“We’re protecting the ambiance and comfort of residents that are buying in there. Obviously, the owners would be allowed to do long-term rentals with one-year or longer leases; but no short-term, Airbnb-type rentals. That would not be allowed in Harmony Retreat,” said the Issa Homes CEO who is working with his father and company Chairman Lee Issa on the project.

Buyers looking for an Issa Homes property that may be used for short-term rentals can keep an eye out for Cascade in Negril. Final approvals are being tied down and Issa is hoping work can begin in Spring 2026. Located on three acres off the popular Norman Manley Boulevard, Cascade will have 32 two-bedroom apartments and occupants have access to a pool, gym, and lush tropical gardens. Each open-plan, 1,900-square-foot unit will have a balcony tub, study, and smart home features.

Architectural render that shows the front entrance to a Harmony Retreat town house.

“It’s a two-minute walk across the road and you will be right on the world-famous, beautiful Negril Seven Mile Beach. It’s only 32 apartments, so it’s very low density, and then there’s going to be a lot of ponds, beautiful gardens, and the nice pool and a gym for the complex. We’ve already gotten quite a bit of people showing interest in that upcoming project — locals, people from the Diaspora, and also foreigners,” said Issa.

With Negril’s status as a resort town, the thinking is that Cascade buyers will likely only live there a few months each year and use it as a revenue stream the rest of the time. According to Issa, there will be a property management company on site, and it will manage all short-term rentals.

“Homeowners in Cascade would be allowed to put their units into the rental pool. To keep control and maintain standards, units would be managed centrally through the property management team at Cascade,” he said.

“I definitely believe that most of the owners of Cascade would want to have the ability to short-term rent their units, but it has to be done in a controlled, professional way,” Issa added.

He launched Issa Homes in November 2022, determined to fill what he saw as a gap in Jamaica’s luxury real estate market. A third project, Sierra in Hermitage, Stony Hill, St Andrew, is also in the works for the distant future.

“By harmonising innovation, quality, sustainability, and exclusivity, we aim to create homes that not only reflect opulence but also resonate with the essence of modern living and seamlessly blend with the surrounding natural environment. With a commitment to pushing boundaries and reimagining possibilities, Issa Homes wants to shape the future of luxury real estate in Jamaica in the true sense and essence of the words ‘luxury’ and ‘exclusivity’,” says the company website.

A render of the main entry into Issa Homes’ Harmony Retreat, located in Kingston’s Golden Triangle.

The contemporary style of Harmony Retreat comes through in the design of its kitchen.