Belize – You’d Better Believe it!

The Central American country of Belize has a lot to offer potential property
investors. It is one of the most varied countries in terms of terrain and climate
and offers solid property returns. Infrastructure is improving and the country
is on the up. A property investor’s dream!

More to Belize than meets the eye

Belize is not one of the first possibilities that come to mind when you are
looking for a good location to invest in property abroad. However, this small,
democratic country has much to offer the investor hoping to make an extra bit
of money, both in terms of letting and in terms of capital growth.

There are huge advantages to investing in Belize; it has absolutely beautiful
countryside, beaches and even jungles, as well as plenty of good value properties
from which to choose.

Tourists are also starting to flock to Belize in order to enjoy the sheer
indulgence that the country has to offer. Most of the tourists who visit Belize
are there to enjoy the fantastic coastline and diving opportunities that exist
around the shores of its many islands as well as the main coastline. The most
popular of these regions is the island of Amergris Caye, which is one of the
best areas, in terms of rental return. There are plenty of management companies
that are more than happy to deal with the day to day running of tourist properties.

No Restrictions

Unlike many other countries, there are no restrictions on buying property
in Belize. There are no restrictions on who can hold freehold property deeds
and there are no permissions or permits required.

Language barriers should not be a major issue for purchasers, as the official
language of the country is English, so all legal documents and negotiations
will be understandable to the Brit buying abroad.

The buying process

Buying property in Belize is a relatively straightforward procedure and should
take roughly thirty days, which is particularly important if you think you
may want to sell in a hurry!

Another benefit for buying in Belize is that there is no capital gains tax
or inheritance tax, so selling a property in Belize could be a good move for
tax planning purposes. Of course, you may be taxed back in the UK and independent
advice should be sought on this issue.

Belize is growing. This is good news for investors. Although it is one of
the smallest countries in the world, in terms of population, 42 percent of
the people are under 16 meaning that the demand for housing is likely to increase
in coming years.

For those who think that Belize may be a little risky, it is time to think
again. The country offers easy access to North America and is a member of the
British Commonwealth and of the United Nations. It also boasts a fixed exchange
rate of 2 Belize dollars to 1 US dollar, not to mention an excellent medical
and education system.

As with any foreign purchase, good legal representation is vital and you should
expect to pay in the region of $1,000 for this service. Other costs of buying
include 15 percent stamp duty, which is aimed at preventing speculation on
the market, over short periods of time. Belize wants to encourage long-term
growth and, as such, this high tax is levied to encourage purchasers to retain
their property for a reasonable length of time.

Belize certainly has it all to offer and with the opening of the new airport
in Belize City, the country is likely to continue to go from strength to strength.
Whatever you want from a property, it is likely that Belize has it, in abundance!

For more information on buying in Belize try these web sites:

www.belizefirst.com
www.realestatebelize.com
www.southernbelizerealestate.com

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