Where To Look For Properties To Buy In Belize

by Larry Waight

Belize is becoming a highly sought-after real estate market for a number of key reasons. If you have decided to look into purchasing a property there, however, you might not be sure of the best places to search. This largely depends on what you want the property for (as a personal residence or rental investment, for example). The following guide is intended to give you an overview of how to go about finding a property you want to buy in Belize.

Why Belize?

Helicopter rides over the Belize Barrier Reef. Image via Matachica Belize

First, it is important to ask why purchasing real estate in Belize is a good idea. Buying a property is a significant investment no matter how you intend to use it, so you will want to make the right decision. Location is also critically important in real estate, so you will want to have an idea of the areas in Belize as well. With that in mind, you should know what Belize has to offer. The official language is English, which means buyers from the United States and Canada will not have to contend with a language barrier. There are also no restrictions on foreign nationals buying property. For investors, Belize’s tourism industry is growing substantially and there is a strong market for vacation rentals. The country is a peaceful and stable democracy as well.

Enlist Help

vista-real-estate-belize-san-pedro

San Pedro Town. Image courtesy Vista Real Estate

Although buying real estate in Belize is incredibly simple and you can easily search available properties online, international transactions are always best done with the aid of a professional real estate agent and qualified property attorney. There are scams out there, like anywhere else, and the best way to avoid them is to work with a respected local agency. VISTA Real Estate is a full-service real estate company that works with agents throughout the country so you know you will always be working with someone trustworthy.

Now, some of the areas to consider:

Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island and one of the top tourist destinations in the country. For this reason, it is especially popular with investors, although it’s also a great location for summer homes or people who would prefer to live in a vibrant seaside community.

Other Islands

Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker, Belize. Photo via Dreamstime

Belize has a proliferation of small islands where you can make your own tropical paradise. Caye Caulker, for example, is often considered Ambergris Caye’s smaller, quieter brother and might be a good option for someone looking for something similar but more laid-back. You even have the option of purchasing a private island all to yourself.

Corozal

Corozal town sign

Photo by the Corozal Town Council via Facebook

Corozal is a sizable community located on Belize’s northern coast near the border with Mexico. In fact, many of its residents frequent Chetumal, Mexico for shopping and other services. This community is a bit more off the beaten path which is why many who choose to live there like it so much.

Orange Walk

A small fruit market in Orange Walk Town. Photo by Javier Rejon on Unsplash

Orange Walk Town is the fourth-largest settlement in Belize and is a largely Latino community, making it a good option for buyers who speak Spanish well. There are also rural areas to consider in the surrounding Orange Walk District, which is landlocked.

Belize City

The Swing Bridge of Belize. Image via Belize Tourism Board.

Belize City is the largest city in the country and where you should be looking if you want to buy in an urban area. There are plenty of options in the rest of the Belize District as well, from coastal and island properties to options farther inland.

Cayo

hawksworth bridge Cayo

Hawksworth Bridge, San Ignacio. Photo by Meritt Thomas/Unsplash

The Cayo District is located in western Belize and is often considered Belize’s “heartland” or “hidden gem.” San Ignacio is the largest settlement in the region and the second-largest in the country, although it retains a small-town feel. The towns and rural areas in this district have a reputation for an irresistible rustic charm.

Stann Creek

Stann Creek is one of the southeastern districts located along Belize’s southern coast. Notable communities in the district include the quaint seaside town of Placencia, the capital Dangriga (formerly known as Stann Creek Town), and Hopkins, a small Garifuna town and popular tourist destination.

Toledo

Punta Gorda by EcoTourism Belize:Yaaxche

Punta Gorda by EcoTourism Belize (Ya’axche)

Toledo is the southernmost district in Belize and the least developed, giving it pristine rainforests, offshore cayes, lowland plains along the coast, and extensive networks of caves. The Toledo District is considered an important emerging tourism destination but is still great for the hardy and adventurous.

When looking to buy property in Belize, you will want a local, experienced agent working for you. VISTA Real Estate is ready to help you through the entire process from start to finish and find the right property for you.

Related Articles