First time visit to Belize

[COUNTRY EXPERT ANN KUFFNER]

Steve,

If you have been reading our on line materials, you know that we strongly encourage expats to rent for a few months in any area overseas they are considering buying. It’s easy to fall in love with a new country when you have not spent much time there and haven’t experience the day to day lifestyle. Ambergris Caye, in particular, has a spectacular coastline, the nearby reef, and a lot of activities. But expats who buy too quickly at times become disenchanted after they get tired of the traffic, sargasso seaweed (which is just a recent thing, that comes and goes), or the very loud music…Then the rest of us who love the island have to listen to them complain regularly.

You mention this is your first trip and that you are looking for property. The price of real estate on the cayes and in the Placencia/Hopkins region has gone up significantly in the last few years. It’s hard to imagine prices continuing to go up, as few expats are willing to pay more for property in Belize than what they would pay in the USA. That being said, the prices in Corozal, San Ignacio, and Punta Gorda, are still quite reasonable.

Ambergris Caye, in particular, is experiencing very rapid growth, with some growing pains. If you stay for a few months atleast you’ll get to know people who will be honest with you about what’s going on, both the good and the not so good. Some realtors will not “share” the problems of a given property they show you. And there continue to be title issues for properties. We do have a list of realtors in each region of Belize on this website, who other expats speak highly of. While here, talk to expats about specific neighborhoods on the island, and specific developments or properties before getting serious about buying. And have a lawyer research the title for you before buying, to be sure it’s clear and there are no encumbrances. Most realtors do not use an outside lawyer to do this search.

In the Belize Manual, and on the website, there is a very helpful article, written by Margaret Summerfield, about what to look out for when buying property overseas.

[Author]

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