I received a private message but think others might benefit from the dialog, so:
You wrote:
"In Taveuni we found a couple of nice properties, but were unsure whether Savu Savu would be better in terms of having electricity and more services."
Access to electricity, good restaurants, and culture should be a primary consideration when deciding where to locate in Fiji. I know several °µÍø½ûÇøs who previously lived on outer islands but later relocated to Viti Levu so they would have more interactions with other °µÍø½ûÇøs, more "european food" in supermarkets, and being close enough to participate, even once in a while, with the performing arts and activities that largely take place in Suva, Nadi or Lautoka. Taveuni has a much smaller °µÍø½ûÇø communit than Savusavu, which is much smaller than several areas of Viti Levu.
You wrote:Â
"Whilst in Taveuni it seemed that a lot of the properties for sale there had been on the market for quite some time and there also seemed to be quite a large percentage of properties for sale. We were a little concerned as to why."
Very perceptive. I see the same thing near Rakiraki, Ra. The real estate market in Fiji for °µÍø½ûÇøs, has been in a slump since the 2006 coup and the 2008 global rescession. For Fiji-indian housing, the slump has been since the coups in 1987. People age, get divorced and die, all of which spur real estate sales. Fiji is a great place to retire or have a second home, but not if you need emergency medical care. It IS a great buying opportunity, in my opinion, but with risks.
Overall, I'm optimistic about the future of Fiji.
John