Insurance and loan broker in Saint Martin
A French registered brokerage serving Saint Martin remotely, in English or in French. Construction cover, property insurance, boat insurance and financing.
By Lionel Grandin, broker registered with ORIAS under number 23007414 · Updated 8 September 2026
In short
Castel Capital AM is a French insurance and credit brokerage registered with ORIAS under number 23007414. Based in Martinique, it serves Saint Martin remotely and works in English as well as French, covering construction insurance, property cover, boat insurance, lending and wealth structuring.
What makes Saint Martin different
| Status | Overseas collectivity, Article 74 of the French Constitution |
|---|---|
| Taxation | Own tax competence since 2007, distinct from Martinique and Guadeloupe |
| Main exposure | Hurricane risk, market still shaped by Irma in 2017 |
| Languages | French and English, island shared with Sint Maarten |
Saint Martin is not a French department. It is an overseas collectivity with its own tax powers, which means the incentive schemes available in Martinique or Guadeloupe do not transfer automatically. Any tax-driven structure has to be checked against the local framework rather than assumed.
Hurricane Irma, in September 2017, left a lasting mark on the local property insurance market and on building activity. Reconstruction and wind-resistance requirements put construction cover at the centre of most files, for private owners and businesses alike.
The island is shared with Sint Maarten on the Dutch side. Owners, marinas and businesses frequently operate in English, and files can be handled in that language from start to finish.
What we cover
Construction and rebuilding
Dommage-ouvrage cover, which French law requires the property owner to take out before building work starts, and decennial liability cover for the contractors involved. The certificate is requested whenever a property less than ten years old changes hands.
Property and business cover
Home and commercial policies, with close attention to storm and climate clauses, deductibles, reinstatement value, and the prevention measures insurers require on the island.
Boat insurance
Sailing yachts, motor boats and catamarans, including compulsory third-party liability, hull cover, theft at anchor, grounding, and the hurricane provisions that govern laying up during the season.
Lending and wealth structuring
Property loans, renovation finance, business funding and ownership structuring, taking the collectivity's own tax framework into account.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saint Martin subject to the same tax rules as Martinique or Guadeloupe?
No. Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity governed by Article 74 of the French Constitution and has held its own tax competence since 2007. A scheme that applies in Martinique or Guadeloupe does not automatically apply here and must be checked case by case.
Can I deal with you in English?
Yes. The island is shared with Sint Maarten, where English is the working language, and a significant share of owners and businesses operate in English. Meetings and documents can be handled in English.
Do I need construction insurance before starting building work?
If the work affects the structure, yes. Under Article L.242-1 of the French Insurance Code, the property owner must take out dommage-ouvrage cover before the site opens. It prefinances repairs falling under the ten-year decennial liability without waiting for a court to establish who is responsible.
Why is that certificate asked for when selling?
For any property less than ten years old, the notary asks whether dommage-ouvrage cover was taken out and records its absence in the deed. Buyers use that as a negotiating point, and the seller remains exposed to defects that appear later.
Are you based in Saint Martin?
The firm is based in Le Lamentin, Martinique, and serves Saint Martin remotely: video meetings, online document exchange and electronic signature. No travel is required.
What does ORIAS registration mean?
ORIAS is the French public register of insurance and credit intermediaries. Castel Capital AM is registered under number 23007414 as both an insurance broker and a broker in banking operations. The register is public and can be checked freely.
A project in Saint Martin?
Free quote, answer within 24 hours. Video meetings and electronic signature: no travel required.
Sources
- French Constitution, Article 74 (overseas collectivities)
- Organic Law no. 2007-223 of 21 February 2007 (status of Saint Martin)
- French Insurance Code, Article L.242-1 (dommage-ouvrage)
- French Insurance Code, Articles L.125-1 et seq. (natural disaster regime)
- ORIAS, French register of intermediaries
Castel Capital AM, registered with ORIAS under number 23007414 as an insurance broker and a broker in banking operations and payment services. This page sets out a general framework and does not constitute personalised advice.