Realtors

4POSTS

11 years ago

Hello everyone;

Writing from Northern British Columbia, where at the moment it is -25 degees! Sun is shining and it is beautiful.

Some time ago we decided to move somewhere else and have a completely new experience.

So.....

We will be moving to Belize in the next year or so, (it is our desire to rent for a few months first )and are trying to establish connections with realtors and expats to determine areas that would best suit our needs. We have contacted a few realtors and initially they are helpful, but then when we advise聽 it may take us some time to "figure" things out they stop responding.
We had thought that living near Punta Gorda area would be nice, as it is quiet and there seems to be some beautiful land available. But a realtor (from another area) advised the weather is very rainy there, thus not a desireable place to live.
This is when we discovered the realtors we communicated with did not seem to want to venture from their home towns. Not sure how to proceed.

Being from the country it is our desire to live similarly, near the woods and nature. We love beaches too, lol.

It was our desire to rely on the expertise of one realtor.

Is there someone out there who has advice on this issue.

Thank you.
Dan and Lee

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Mommy2all6 Active member

82POSTS

11 years ago

From our experience, we briefly visited a few areas we thought we might be interested in.....san Ignacio, Corozal, caye caulker and ambergris caye.
We wanted to聽 check out the areas to narrow it down before getting a realtor involved.聽 We felt once we found the location we loved, we could then let the realtor focus on the home.聽 Because the areas in Belize are so very different, I would highly recommend checking a few out first....they are so different !.

We purchased a condo on Ambergris Caye,聽 used Sunrise Reality and was very happy with the service,

Good Luck

Hmrladybug Member

1POSTS

11 years ago

Dan and Lee,

Don't give up on PG yet! Toledo District is fabulous, and most storms seem to hit at night and you sleep through them (smile)

A realtor in PG who is a fellow Canadian is Chris Neron of Southern Realty ( info@southernrealty-belize.com or 011-501-663-7538 ) you will find that here in Belize realtor do not play well together and do not share commission, so that is why they will not go out of their area. Do not lock yourself into one agent, but contact the agent with the home/land you like. We find that if an agent knows he has competition to get a sale, they work more and deal better for pricing.

Best of luck with your move - life is too short not to live it fully!

Heidi and Chris

rsugarte New member

4POSTS

11 years ago

If you want you can check with this Real Estate. He is a honest person, Belizean, lives in Belize City and he knows perfectly all the country and very well P.G. He is the first person we knew 3 years ago, and now we are friends.

Hugo Moguell
hugo@vistabelize.com
+501 6101404

Shangri-laa New member

4POSTS

11 years ago

Good evening,

We enjoyed reading these wonderful responses, and we
will be following through on all suggestions given.

Truly appreciated.

Thank you;

Lee and Dan

mcagun Active member

70POSTS

11 years ago

Hello
12 years in belize tells me that Belizeans don't do electronic communication well.
Realtors in Belize are different than what you or me are used to.
Remember you are at the other end of the extreme weather scale in belize and even in belize the scale from north to South is very different.
Belize basically has 2 seasons wet and wetter.
From North to South the scale rises in both rainfall and humidity.
I chose to settle in the northern district of Corozal which has least rainfall and less humidity and has cooler nights to aid sleep.
The expat community area where I live is very safe and everyone watches out for you, it has both Jungle and Beach and has lots of wildlife in both, last year I caught a Puma on my camera trap
I have built three homes in belize and am about to start my 4th as an investment property
My suggestion is to 1st find your ideal place to live and then look for your property to buy, either ready built, or build your own, both of which I can help you with should you choose to settle in Corozal area.

1 member reacted to this post

karenjoe Serial expat

384POSTS

11 years ago

Hello!
We just purchased some property off the Hummingbird Highway.
We used Ceiba Realty out of Santa Elena, Cayo. We had a really great experience with them -聽 a family owned and operated business that has been selling real estate in Cayo primarily, for a number of years. They have listings all over Belize, but 'specialize' in the Cayo area. I would recommend them to anyone serious about purchasing property in Belize.聽

Shangri-laa New member

4POSTS

11 years ago

Hello again;

Again, thank you for taking the time to respond to our questions. Hoping all is going well for you in your new home.
We have seen a property we like on Hugo's site and just wished to confirm that all went well for you regarding your purchase. We are unsure about what to expect in commissions, fees (lawyers and other costs) taxes, closing costs etc.
Bit unnerving, lol. We have made several purchases here in Canada in our lives, but it seems things are done quite differently there. Recently upon an enquiry we were sent a "Buyers' Agreement" an exclusive contract for one year. We did not sign it.
We hope this in not the norm as it seems this is very limiting and may not work in our best interests. Wondering if you signed such an agreement?

Although warmer, we have a lot of snow,(as you can see) can hardly wait for our time there when we will begin our journey "home."

Take care;

Lee and Dan

karenjoe Serial expat

384POSTS

11 years ago

The only issue we had was that the "title" can only be in a persons name or an LLC (or IBC).
Closing costs, etc. came to about $7,000.:Attorney fees were $2000, Belize tax stamp $4500, title search $325.
You could do it for a little cheaper with some real estate agents doing the closing, but I felt like I at least had some recourse dealing with a licensed professional, should something 'go wrong'. We signed a typical purchase contract after negotiating a final price, typical of the US, which required 10% 'earnest' money. All in all, as easy,or actually easier, than buying real estate in the US, and... much better property, much better scenery, much better price, a much better place to live.聽

1 member reacted to this post

1LarryS Active member

64POSTS

10 years ago

#10

Hello to everyone. I am wondering if anyone is familiar with Berkovitz Development? A guy by the name Andreas Johansson is a member of this company. Also is anyone aware of Glenn Godfrey, Attorney? Can someone tell me if they know of either of the two? I patiently waiting for our property deal to complete. Does anyone have any idea of business with Glenn Godfrey's Law Firm?
Please let me know what or if you know of these two entities.

Thanks.

Larry

mcagun Active member

70POSTS

10 years ago

#11

Larry
I do not know Andreas personally but have had correspondence with him about the 2 developments in Corozal along the Consejo road. I think they are called palms and lakes, I was very interested in the lakes as it will be next to my development where I have already built a number of properties and am about to build another this September
They seem a genuine outfit although they are not in the country I do know their rep he is a local guy
Drop me a private message Larry ask me about both developments

1LarryS Active member

64POSTS

10 years ago

#12

Mcagun, thanks for the info. Yes, Andreas does come off as respectable. I'm just back tracking a bit before I throw a name out to anyone. I got to see a couple of structures going up. Spoke with a local, who gave me a number to another builder in the Puerto area code. I didn't get a name of the builder or don't remember it. So you say that you have a development going on near by. I was on one forum, there was two guys airing out their laundry about building. Needless to say, I wouldn't want to be involved with either of the two. I don't need the drama, though they may do good work. So what is it that you have going on and where is your project? I'd like to see some photos. I was wondering about a Yurt. Then I wonder about property insurance and cost. I saw some inexpensive extremely nicely constructed homes, then I saw some low cost homes that were nice too. I could do with a little of nothing. But it's not just me coming to live. You got any home plans? I'm not interested in two story. If you got something to show, I'd like to have a look.
Thanks for the response, Mcagun. We'll talk later.

Larry

mcagun Active member

70POSTS

10 years ago

#13

Larry
Sorry, but I did not make myself clear enough
When I say MY development what I really meant was the development that I am building on, it's not my development, it is the one I've chosen to build my properties on.
I used to build homes for private individuals but do not compete with local builders anymore, what I offer is a more specialised product. Specialised in the fact that I cater for clients who are looking for more technical aspects in a home, likes of structured wiring, more automated and future proofing homes.
I am presently controlling a multi million project in the UK, which is due for completion in September.
When I will return to Belize to start another of my own home build projects that I plan to put to the market once completed

I can offer some advise on resources and design in the Corozal district, especially developments along the northern part of Corozal.

belizein2020 Member

18POSTS

9 years ago

#14

Hello read your post I am looking to build in Corozal this year.聽 I have a preliminary set of plans drawn by an American architect.聽 I thought it would assist in accelerating the process with a local Architect.聽 My plane is simple wood sided 1200 sq. ft. home with a sloped metal roof.聽 Looking for a recommendation for a contractor and a firm to draw the plans ect.聽 Planning on coming down in late February to begin talking to people.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Will The Old Serial expat

418POSTS

9 years ago

#15

Hopefully you have researched Mennonite builders in Belize, as this is the general type of home they specialize in. There are threads on them in this forum.聽

Also Google聽 Mennonite builders in Belize, and note many more of them do not have a website or Facebook page. A trip to "Spanish Lookout" is a must for anyone looking at building a non-concrete home in Belize, as several聽 Mennonite builders are located there.聽 Hopefully others here will recommend their favorite. I have found in Belize, word of mouth is often the best source of information.聽

Last year I bought a聽 Mennonite built home in Placencia, it was built in 2000, is still in great shape. It was one of few that survived the big Hurricane of 2001, most of the wooden structures in the village did not. I asked, but the previous owner had no idea which builder built it back then. I am updating it and recommend to anyone having a new wooden home built, build on a concrete foundation/posts from the start. I just had a local crew put a full concrete foundation and posts under it replacing the wooden posts and small concrete blocks used originally.

belizein2020 Member

18POSTS

9 years ago

#16

Thank you most helpful!

sloputtputt Contributor

113POSTS

9 years ago

#17

I have been keeping in contact with James McDonald who is a realtor and works on Ambergris Caye. Here is the website:

Kevin Performance Construction Active member

39POSTS

9 years ago

#18

I met with quite a few--that was a fun day. It was pouring and the vehicle I had well let's just say not appropriate for some roads in Belize lol. Pletts in Spanish Lookout is who I liked the best, his workmanship is better, his prices lower--he has been around the longest --I think--but I may be wrong. Look them up on FB they are very responsive to your questions.

margewest Active member

98POSTS

9 years ago

#19

We are looking to build on an island on the leeward side right off of Ambergris Caye. Anybody know of a builder?

Will The Old Serial expat

418POSTS

9 years ago

#20

margewest wrote:
We are looking to build on an island on the leeward side right off of Ambergris Caye. Anybody know of a builder?

Your "Island" is more than likely a "Caye".聽

The first time I went sailing in Belize waters, the Captain firmly educated me on my fupa.

bmcraig Active member

67POSTS

9 years ago

#21

We looked at both Plett's and Linda Vista in Spanish Lookout. We plan to purchase from Linda Vista - Cost for the home we want is about $2000聽 more, but both design and workmanship is far better. As people who have been building and renovating homes for over 16 years, we know our products, and have based our decision on this.

1 member reacted to this post

Renerabril New member

7POSTS

9 years ago

#22

Thanks for this post Will. I think Belize might just add 20 years to my life. Very informative.

ToddHenry Active member

26POSTS

9 years ago

#23

I totally agree! When we went to Belize looking, we met with a lot of Realtors along the way because we started in Placencia and went all the way North to the corozal district. We did however find a great realtor in the corozal district and if you're looking in that area drop me a line and I will give you his information.

1 member reacted to this post