Change of plans. There is a property on Ambergris Caye, Sapphire Beach, that is offering a free, three-day stay in return for viewing the property. So I will stay February 19-21 on Ambergris Caye, then take the ferry from San Pedro to Belize City and pick up a rental car to head south. I would like to look at property here anyway, so this makes sense. Talking to someone who is pitching a sale will help me to ask better questions later on and get a handle on some of the issues involved in buying and owning property in Belize. Besides, maybe I will like it and quickly conclude my search.
Actually, I seriously doubt that I would buy something that quickly. First of all, this is the first country I am visiting with an eye towards permanent residency. Second, from everything I’ve read, most real estate (both purchase and rental) is found through sources other than brokers or the marketing of a specific development. Unless I can see a positive cash flow from the start, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Since I have toyed with using my IRAs to purchase a property, I’ll have to go see that attorney my accountant recommended sometime between now and February.
Getting to Belize is not cheap; I presume it's because there just aren't enough travelers to create the competition you find for, say, Cancun. Even so, I found good flights on American through Miami, so I will fly directly into Belize. If I were traveling for a couple of weeks instead of one, then driving from Cancun would make more sense -- maybe next time.
Being in Belize during the best weather will be nice, but I realize that I will have to return during hurricane season to see what the heat and bugs are really like. I have time off right after Labor Day, so maybe I will go back at that time. I have the weather for Belize City, Corozal and Tulum, Mexico on my Yahoo homepage. Although the weather is staying warmer for a longer period of time in that part of the world, it doesn’t appear to be much different than Tampa Bay, where I am.
Now that my plans are being set, I need to read more on Belize and have a set of questions to be answered so I get the most out of the trip.
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