I’ve visited Belize twice and loved it, so it came as no surprise to me when I read recently that Belize is becoming more and more attractive for property buyers. As the only English speaking country in Central America (it was formerly British Honduras), expats find that it is easy to move there and find their way around.

The currency of Belize is fixed at 2 Belizean dollars to 1 US Dollar which is nice and simple. The cost of living is relatively low and I just read through the introduction for an e-book that promises to show how a couple can live on just US$450 a month! In these turbulent economic times this would be a boost to anyone.

Property prices are reasonable and there is a large variety of both land and property available. Caribbean Land and Property have a good selection of properties listed for sale to choose from. The Government of Belize is creating incentives for people over 45 to relocate to the country. These include tax-free income status and duty free concessions to import all your household items, a car and even boat or a light aircraft!. They have also recently reduced the stamp duty tax on real estate title transfers. The new rate is 0% up to US$10,000 in purchase price and 5% for any amount above US$10,000. Continue reading "Beauty and Bargains - Buying in Belize"

If you are a Caribbean sailing enthusiast you may desire to secure an island home that either is within a marina or close to a good anchorage. However the choice in the region is fairly limited and finding a property that suits the needs of both you the buyer and your boat can be a challenge.

A recent article in ‘All at Sea’ magazine, a publication for the Caribbean’s boating community, focuses on the increasing demand for luxurious properties with marina facilities. They quote Kerstin McConnell, the owner/broker of Sea Glass Properties on St. Thomas, who says “The opportunities for boaters to have a residence at a marina have, heretofore, been very rare, although the desire to have a land base near the boat slip is a near-universal one.”

Indeed at this moment the demand outstrips the supply and securing a property with boating facilities is quite a coup. Due to the high demand, buying a property with marina facilities can be a lucrative incoming generating investment through rentals for those who do not live permanently in their property. Continue reading "Home for a Boat"