How To Find Your Dream Home In Belize

Shopping for property in Belize is not as simple an undertaking as you might initially expect!

Firstly, estate agents as we know them are non existent! Real estate brokers that do exist are likely to be unlicensed, unregulated and certainly not trained or insured.  Secondly, the majority (and I mean the majority) of property for sale is not advertised!

But with property prices remaining affordable, the quality of property available attractive, the climate beautiful, the people welcoming, the quality of life incredible and the opportunities in Belize plentiful, more and more people need to know HOW they can go about procuring themselves their dream home in Belize.

This article should cover the tips, tricks and important points for your consideration, and go some way to helping you locate and purchase your ideal piece of Belizean real estate!

Part One: House Hunting.

As mentioned, many properties that are for sale often go totally unadvertised.

Sure, there are the occasional adverts in the San Pedro Sun or in the Belize City newspapers and some estate agents exist who keep up to date listings - either available upon request of via their internet sites - but seriously, the majority of properties that are for sale are not advertised - and Im talking at least three quarters.

The only way to find out whats really available is to travel to Belize and spend time there among the local people and the expats.

You see, properties that are for sale are generally put up by their owners and they often choose to skip the middle man - the real estate broker. Therefore, with no brokers and no signs, the only way youll learn about whats on the market is to get to know the local people and expats in the particular areas that youre interested in, and via word of mouth youll begin to hear about whats really available.

As soon as word gets out that youre in the market, chances are youll be inundated and have more properties and deals to choose from that you can cope with! Be prepared and dont agree to the very first opportunity presented to you!

Part Two: Real Estate Brokers.

Because anyone in Belize can be a real estate broker the quality you come across will vary immensely!

So please be careful - to become an estate agent there is no license needed, no insurance necessary, no experience or training required: therefore what you will find on the whole are expats, hoteliers, shop owners and taxi drivers as estate agents on the side.

Yes there ARE some professional agents who are honest and knowledgeable and whose agency businesses are legitimate, but there are also those out to make a quick killing selling anything and everything to unsuspecting tourists.

Listen to the experiences of others and if someone is recommended to you by a trusted adviser then all the better.

If you do purchase via an agent, commissions in Belize are typically 7% on residential property, and about 10% on land deals - chargeable to the vendor: and in some cases you as the purchaser may be charged for viewing property if it is remote and requires travel expense outlay. Make sure youre aware of any such charges that you may be liable for from the outset.