# 2  Rural Cayo District 

Cayo has a lot going for it: wide open spaces, cheap land, few bugs and friendly folks. This might be the place to buy a few acres and grow oranges.

# 3  Hopkins/Sittee Point 

This is what Placencia was 20 years ago, almost as pretty and even friendlier. If you want a place on or near the beach, prices are still relatively affordable here, but as anywhere in Belize, do your “due diligence” before putting out cash. 

# 4  Ambergris Caye

This is the most popular, but most expensive, place for expats to live in Belize.  For some, it’s too touristy, but others love the fact that there are other North Americans in residence.  North Ambergris will eventually be the hot spot here, though that’s a bridge and several years off.

# 5  Toledo District.

If you can stand the rain and the mosquitoes, the far south of Belize has some of the lowest land prices and nicest people in the country. When the paving of the Southern Highway is finally completed, it will open this area up to a new blush of tourism and development.

# 6  Placencia Peninsula

Placencia has boomed and busted before, but this time it looks like the boom will continue.  Lots of lots being sold;  few homes yet built.

# 7  Rural Orange Walk District

Orange Walk Town isn’t such a wonderful place, but out in the district, around August Pine Ridge or beside a lagoon, you may find your little piece of isolated paradise. # 8  Sarteneja

If you don’t mind being near the ends of the earth, the Sarteneja peninsula is a beautiful area.

# 9  Remote Cayes

The days of buying your own private island for a song are long gone, but if you have money to burn and the willingness to rebuild after the next hurricane, one of Belize’s 200+ remote islands could be yours.

# 10  Caye Caulker

Corker’s fans are legion, although property here is tightly controlled and rarely sold to outsiders. 

Five Questions to Answer Before Moving to Belize 

# 1  “Do I really know what it’s like?” 

Come down for a long visit before making a commitment;  rent before you buy.

# 2  “Do I really know what it costs for me to live in Belize?” 

Like most countries, Belize has not one but several costs of living, depending upon your lifestyle.  Spend some time in Belize on a trial run to see what your actual living expenses will be.

# 3  “Am I willing to always be an outsider?”

Most expats in Belize are never fully integrated into Belize life — culturally, politically or otherwise.

# 4  “Do I know what precautions to take against crime?”

As a “wealthy” outsider (in the eyes of most Belizeans), you’re fair game for all types of scams, ripoffs, robberies and worse.  The police usually do their best, but their best may be just to take your report after the crime. You’ll have to be proactive to protect yourself and your property. 

# 5  “What will happen if I get sick?” 

Belize has some excellent doctors, dentists and other health care professionals, who will treat you at lower cost than what you’ve probably been paying, but they’re stretched thin, and supplies and modern equipment are often lacking.  If you become seriously ill, what will you do?  Go back home?  Are you prepared to accept Belizean standards of care, go to Mexico or what?

Five Questions to Ask about Belize Real Estate 

# 1  “What is the Belizean price?” 

In Belize, there’s usually a Belize price and a foreigner price.  The story is often told that one’s second house in Belize is twice as nice as the first and costs half as much.

# 2  “Can I ever sell it?”

It’s easy to buy in Belize but sometimes hard to sell.  Remember that the local Belize market is thin, and you’ll most likely have to sell to a foreign buyer.  How many of them are there?

# 3  “What will happen when the next hurricane comes?” 

It’s not a matter of if there will be a hurricane, but when.  Is your property likely to be seriously affected? 

# 4  “What will happen to my property when I’m not in the country?”

Unless you buy a condo, you can’t just lock up and leave.  You’ll likely come back to a house stripped of everything that can be moved.  You’ll need to hire a caretaker.  Even with a condo, if you’re not there to take care of things yourself, you’re at the mercy of a management association. 

#  5  “What happens if the Belize currency is devalued?” 

You’re buying with hard currency, but your real estate asset is valued in Belize dollars.