The Luxury Real Estate in Belize Scene

Are you wishing you had a better view from your deck? Did this past winter wear you out? You might want to check into a regular change of scenery through luxury real estate in Belize. [caption id="attachment_10458" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Placencia luxury home for sale - (c) Boris Mansfield Associates[/caption] We regularly publish luxury real estate round-ups for Latin American destinations that are favored by expatriates. Some people head south looking for a retirement home, others a vacation home, and those who can work from anywhere often make their dreams come true with a permanent move. There are less expensive places you could invest in Central America, for sure, but as with Costa Rica, properties generally hold their value well here in coastal areas and Belize has a whole lot going for it. It's the only country in Latin America where English is the primary language, first of all, which is a big factor for some buyers who don't want to tackle learning Spanish or Portuguese. It's not hard to find a flight to Belize from Canada or the USA and you can get to your home in Ambergris Caye or Placencia on a quick prop plane flight from the international airport. We just updated our two features on the two most popular locations for vacation homes and retirement homes in Belize.

The Placencia Peninsula for Luxury Real Estate in Belize

We just updated our article on the area that has great beaches that go on for miles and miles. See our story on luxury real estate in Placencia. There are actually more luxury resorts in Placencia than there are in any other area of Belize, which gives you an idea of the kind of clientele this destination attracts. A good number of them like what they see after staying at Itz'Ana or Naia Resort and they decide to grab a piece of the peninsula for a vacation getaway or a winter home. Both have established real estate communities nearby. Placencia is basically a long and skinny peninsula stretching out from the mainland, so from almost any home you can walk a few minutes and touch the water. You can catch the sunrise or catch the sunset easily and go kayaking or fishing in the calm waters on either side. The village of Placencia has some great spots for dining out or drinking. This is not the unknown gem it was just a few years ago, however, and prices have climbed quite a bit this decade for those who did come in early.

"A Beach home for a million dollars used to be a rarity. Now it is the norm," broker Boris Mansfield says, adding, "if you can find one." An outdated 2- or 3-bedroom beach home priced at $700,000 will see quickly. A million bucks will get you a 3-4 bedroom beach home in what is not a prime location, he says. "Most high-end beach homes are selling for $1.3 — $1.5 million. We also have a spectacular one listed at $2.9 million."

Whichever location you like better in Belize, you get ease of ownership for foreigners, extremely low taxes, and a stable currency - the Belize dollar has been tied to the USD at two to one for more than a decade now. The government is relatively stable and sensible here compared to many neighbors and with a low population density. The water is warm all year, so you can visit the beach or go snorkeling just about any time you want. It's relatively easy to get residency here, to open a bank account, and to take advantage of incentives for retirees. Some of these homes come furnished and are fitted with high-end appliances already, so just bring a suitcase and stock up on good Tiburon rum to sip at sunset. When it's time to go take a scouting trip to check things out on luxury real estate in Belize, see our reviews of the best Belize luxury hotels and resorts. There are quite a few fantastic properties in Placencia.

Upscale Homes in Ambergris Caye

The most popular area for vacationers though is closer to Belize City, a short flight or ferry boat ride away. See our older article on that area: Ambergris Caye: a Hot Real Estate Market This is most people's first introduction to Belize since it's the part of the country that gets the most vacationers. Anchored by the town of San Pedro (population 15,000), Ambergris is close enough to the huge barrier reef running down past several countries that you can see it from the shore. Most of the beaches here are nothing to get excited about until you get a few miles out to where Matachica is, but there's great fishing, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking around this island. When it comes to property, there's a wide array of choices. You've got easy-maintenance condos in a complex with a big shared pool up to massive villas with several floors with panoramic views and a boat dock outside. Some of the top draws are homes that are integrated with new hotel developments that are larger than what's previously been available. That would include Mahogany Bay, part of a Curio Collection by Hilton resort, and Alaia Resort, which opened up during the pandemic times. There's a hotel component that's under the Marriott umbrella, plus it has 8 beachfront villas and 71 condo units in a horseshoe-shaped ring behind the main resort building. According to local agent Robert Colon, some man-made work has assured a real beach resort feel. "The developers of this project have spent lots of money (and time getting the permits) to create a beachfront that is what you expect from the Caribbean coast." Most lots and finished houses are less than a million bucks, though of course you can spend far more if you want. When our article went up, the local RE/Max office had a waterfront mansion of 4,000 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 acres, and a caretaker's house for $2.1 million. Now there are several more in that price range. Ambergris offers a laid-back Caribbean lifestyle on an island where most transportation is by bike or golf cart. You can easily get here by boat or plane from Belize City, or -- when it starts back up again -- by ferry from near Chetumal in Mexico. See more on luxury travel in Belize to decide what kind of fun you'll have on your scouting trip!