Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Why Did You Move To Belize?

This morning I had a real estate broker from Colorado ask me "Why did you move to Belize?" We get asked this question a lot by our clients and people that are visiting the island. The answer that I would have given three years ago is very different from the reason I stay. We came here after getting extremely disheartened and frustrated with corporate life in the US. Like so many others we were watching our portfolios shrinking with an uncertain future. Foreign property investment seemed like a good option to preserve assets. Kim had checked out Costa Rica and considered some places in Europe when she stumbled across Belize. Kim came down as a potential investor and I came to give a second opinion and to have a little tropical fun. We stay because we have grown to love the lifestyle and people we get to meet. Be it for work, play or a little of both. In our three years here we have learned so much about Belize and living here. There is great opportunity and some challenges. We would love to share our experiences, the good and the not so good to help you determine if Belize, specifically Ambergris Caye, is the ideal place for your dream vacation home or your new full time home.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Marco Gonzalez

                                                                                     Aerial View of Site
How exciting that we have our own Archaeological Reserve on Ambergris Caye. Can't wait to see what else may be discovered there!
From the San Pedro Sun
Minister of Tourism, Aviation and Culture, Hon. Manuel Heredia was at the BTB (Belize Tourism Board) Office in San Pedro on Friday, April 1st at 2:00pm along with representatives from the Marco Gonzalez Maya Site Ambergris Caye Ltd. Group (MGMSAC), members of the Government of Belize (GOB), National Institute of Culture and History (NICH); Institute of Archeology (IA) and other invited guests; for the signing of the Statutory Instrument (SI) for the MGMSAC and a Memorandum of Understanding (MU) between all parties involved for the management of the site.


Invited guests included: Ms. Diane Haylock, President NICH: from the IA; George Thompson, Acting Director; Dr. John Morris, Associate Director, Research; Brian Woodye, Associate Director, Parks; Dr. Allan Moore, Associate Director, Education and Melissa Badillo, Staff Archaeologist. From the Marco Gonzalez Board of Directors: Jan Brown, Founder/Chairman; Joe Lawrence, Matt Fowler and Ricky Verde. From the San Pedro Tourism Stakeholders: Mayor Elsa Paz, BTB San Pedro Office Staff; Minister's Secretary Betty Longsworth, Julie Babcock, BTIA; representatives from San Pedro Tour Guide Association; Gach Guerrero, Maya Island Air and others.

The signing of the SI was a historical one for Ambergris Caye as it makes the site the first and only reserve on an island. After the signing, Hon. Manuel Heredia told the The San Pedro Sun, "Ever since Jan decided to come onboard with this project, she had been moving up and down trying to do her best. I think it has been months since this project went underway. I believe that as the Minister responsible, I have to do things right and for that reason the SI was done, as mandated, to be able to have Jan operate the site."



He explained that he further supports the project as it provides an added attraction that the island can offer to its visitors and locals alike; especially the young children who will be now have the opportunity to experience the wonders of our Mayan history without the costly need to travel to the mainland. He went on to state, "I feel that this should have been done a long time ago but we needed people like Jan and her group who have been instrumental in the island not only with Marco Gonzalez but other festivities that we have had on the island as well".

While Mr. Heredia expressed his disappointment in locals who have not taken the initiative to spearhead causes such as this one, he thanked and expressed his appreciation to the Ex-pats who have made San Pedro their home and contributed and continue to contribute to the growth and betterment of the island. Minister Heredia added that he hopes to secure further assistance for the Bacalar Chico Nature Reserve as well, which is in needed of attention and other archeological sites up north. He pledged 20,000 to assist in the MGMS; $10,000from NICH and $10,000 from BTB to be used in the construction of an access route to the site.

A delighted Jan Brown told The San Pedro Sun, "I'm walking on air. My feet haven't touched the ground all day. Now that we have reached our agreements, we're the first co-management that will be able to work with NICH, IA and with the Government and we're very proud that they trust us enough to know that we'll protect their interests - as a recognized Archeological site many avenues of funding becomes opened to the project, we will be looking for grants and we'll be able to go international." Her excitement peaked as she ended expressing her thanks, "I really like to thank everybody for all their hard work. I thank NICH, IA and the Minister Heredia for allowing this project to become a reality for the people of San Pedro and for the people of Belize".



Mr. George Thompson, Associate Director for Planning and Policy and the Acting Director at IA stated, "We'll continue with the work and to do our very best to do all the things necessary for protection and preservation; and to provide all the necessary infrastructure that is reasonably necessary for the full enjoyment of these archeological resources."

The first SI that was signed was to declare the reserve opened to the public. It also gives stakeholders the legal mechanism to put all things necessary in place for the proper management and the responsible use and enjoyment of the site. Strategic planning can now commence for the necessary infrastructure and management presence at the site. This would include having park rangers to administer the site, the creation of trails, visitor centers, restroom facilities, parking facilities and all other amenities needed for the site to be run efficiently.

The site will be managed by the MGMSAC Ltd Group. This would include the collection of fees and the daily running of the site. Entrance fees have been set at $20 for foreigners and $10 for locals. A date has not been set for the completion of the infrastructure needed in order to properly operate the site, however all that can be said, is that the partners have pledged to work together to make it happen. To read up on the cool findings and happenings at Marco Gonzalez go to the following link on our blog: http://sanpedrosun.blogspot.com/2010/07/exploring-marco-gonzalez.html

Friday, January 14, 2011

Top 10 Beaches in Central America

Wow our little Country of Belize has 3 of the best 10 beaches in Central America! Photo is of my personal favorite, Portofino Beach Resort. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40476459/ns/today-todaytravel/

Sunday, January 9, 2011

For anyone looking for a good read based on Caribbean lifestyle this is a great book. It is full of quirky characters and images of the joys, eccentricities and challenges of living in the caribbean. While we are much more developed now and things are easier than they were almost twenty years ago this story gives a glimpse of the characters and attitude in the caribbean. great fun!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The Time is Right

Last year Belize appointed a new Tourism Minister who is committed to the development and promotion of Belize as a luxury market for private tourism; this fact is the number one force driving massive real estate investment in Belize right now.




While Belize has long been associated with low cost and attractive real estate and has long been considered an affordable overseas destination for British and American tourists and retirees, never before has it sought to so fully embrace its cultural and ecological advantages and build on its reputation as a friendly and relaxed destination to directly target the wealthier tourism market.



Belize is of course already a tourism hotspot with travellers drawn to the beautiful cayes, the beaches, the barrier reef and the flora and faunabut with the development of a luxury end tourist market place in Belize, the appeal of the country can only rise and rise.



International real estate investors are well aware of this fact and are buying up land and property in Belize to position themselves ahead of the projected upward swing in real estate prices.



Those who are taking advantage of Belizes policy of actively attracting investment today will benefit over the medium term when the countrys plans for the development and promotion of the tourism market are fulfilled. In other words, those who buy now stand the very best chance of making maximum profit.



Not only are real estate investors well aware of this fact, a growing number of American baby boomers are too and they are securing their retirement lot now while prices remain attractively low. They know that if they spend the next few years before they retire getting their ideal property built so that it will be fully completed and ready to move into when Belize is well under way with establishing itself as a sophisticated travel destination, they will be moving straight in to a more sophisticated country as a result.



In terms of what will drive residential property prices up in Belize, as more and more people travel to Belize so more and more people will understand the charm and appeal of the country and will wish to set up home or buy a vacation home in Belize. This increase in demand for real estate in Belize will come from an increasingly wealthy section of society if the Tourism Ministers plans for Belize come to fruition and these people will be able to afford to pay more for property and this will sustain price increases. Furthermore any increase in demand naturally pushes property prices up anyway – and in fact this trend has already started in the most attractive coastal resorts in Belize and just highlights the shape of things to come.



Therefore NOW is the time to buy real estate in Belize if an investor wants to get the most for his money whilst buying into the maximum period of growth potential.



Originally posted by: Investment articles

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