I need a guide to living in the Bahamas; probably a book would be the
most likely solution.  I can find dozens of guides for vacationing in
the Bahamas, but I do not want that.  I need a guide for buying real
estate (for living in, not investment), cost of living in various
areas, good access to transportation, where to have good access to
shopping and anything else that would help a person select a good
place to live in the Bahamas.  If an all-inclusive guide cannot be
found, I would accept a guide covering most of the above.  I would
also accept an answer where everything above is covered by two or
three books/guides.

Hi frisbeeman,

Sounds like you’re setting out on an adventure – and on the right foot
by finding out all you can before you go!   Surprisingly, there seems
to be much more information available online than in bookstores, so
you might actually be able to find most of what you need there.

For starters, here’s the U.S. Department of State for all your
official information:  http://www.state.gov/  You might want to begin
with the “Travel and Living Abroad” link.

There, here’s a website with good information on settling in the
Bahamas: http://www.aboutthecaribbean.com/bahamas/settlingliving.jsp 
;
There’s another with a lot of additional links to further information
here: http://www.escapeartist.com/bahamas/bahamas1.htm  ;
with another good one here:
http://www.expatexchange.com/dev/networks.cfm?networkID=18 ;
and another good general site here:
http://www.bermuda.com/categories/relocating/ .

This site is addressed to retirees, but nevertheless has a lot of good
information on best places to live, real estate prices, etc.  with the
added plus of links to the specific islands:
http://www.thebahamasreport.com/
 
Here’s a site under construction, but it promises more soon, so might
be good to keep the link awhile to see if they make good on their word
– if they do it looks like a lot of good info:
http://www.bizzz.com/photoads3/index4.htm#

This relocation service has fairly limited links, mostly about
insurance, but it might be useful:
http://www.livingabroad.com/relocation/baharelo.html

Here’s a consulting service offering financial advice to expatriates
worldwide: http://www.offshoreconsultant.net/index.html

You can find some good general articles here about living in the
Bahamas, buying property, good locations, and the like:
http://www.internationalliving.com/postcards.cfm?ctry=Bahamas

There’s a site geared specifically to the island of Abaco, but with
some interesting local links, and a message board offering the
opportunity to ask questions of residents:
http://abacotoday.com/oii.html and another message forum here – this
one on Bahamas in general: http://www.bahamas.net/bahamas/


As to books, here are a few for you to consider:

“The Expert Expatriate: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad:
Moving, Living, Thriving” for $13.97 at Amazon.com (with a selection
pages to view): http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/travel/1857883209/sr=8-1/qid=1034100816/103-7892867-1666269

“Talkin’ Bahamian: A Useful Guide to the Language of the Islands:”
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9768140240/qid=1034101266/br=1-15/ref=br_lf_travel_15//103-7892867-1666269?v=glance&s=travel&n=639798#product-details

“1997 Bahamas Handbook and Businessman's Annual,” older yes, but cheap
in the used book section at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0914755633/all/ref=dp_pb_a/103-7892867-1666269

“Bahamas Country Study Guide,” ($59.95) at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0739714112/qid=1034101322/br=1-9/ref=br_lf_travel_9//103-7892867-1666269?v=glance&s=travel&n=639798

Search terms used:

Living in the Bahamas
Moving to the Bahamas
Settling in the Bahamas
Relocating Bahamas
Bahamas expatriates
Bahamas real estate
Bahamas 
US State Department
Living abroad

I hope you find this information useful.  
Best of luck to you in your information gathering and impending move,

Byrd