Question: When is the best time to visit Belize?
Answer: The dry season is from Feb - April. High season runs from December to April. The rest of the year is not as
crowded so lodging is usually discounted.

Question: Can a foreigner own property in Belize?
Answer: Yes! A foreigner has the same rights as a Belizean citizen to freehold property ownership since our legal
system is based on British common law.

Question: Are any special permits required for a foreigner to purchase property?
Answer: No. There are no permits, licenses or conditions needed for a foreigner to take title to freehold land in Belize.

Question: How are Ambergris Caye properties titled?
Answer: Properties are titled as follows:
The oldest form of title is taken via a Deed of Conveyance (or Deed of Encumbrance). All lands north of the 'River'
of San Pedro Town are titled via Conveyance.Ownership of a property by Conveyance can be converted to a Transfer
Certificate of Title (TCT) through an application for first registration. A TCT is a physical title, while ownership by Deed of Conveyance is a registered right to ownership of a particular parcel of land. Either form of ownership is equally secure, however it is a little more costly to transfer title on a TCT than on a Deed of Conveyance.

Question: What are typical closing costs?
Answer: The government assesses a 5% stamp tax on the purchase price of the property at the time of the title transfer. The legal fees for title research and title transfer typically run at 2% of the purchase price. Legal fees for drafting and recording an Agreement for Sale and Caution run between $US 300-750. It is customary that the purchaser pays for all closing costs under Belize transactions.

Question: Are Purchases made in US Dollars?
Answer: Most of the properties on Ambergris Caye are bought and sold in US Dollars.

Question: What is the process for purchasing a property in Belize?
Answer: The process for purchasing property in Belize is divided into the following 5 steps:

Step 1: Submit an offer to the seller. The offer form is legally binding for both parties. It includes an adequate due diligence period for the purchaser.

Step 2: Once the offer has been accepted by the seller, the purchaser will then obtain a local attorney. When satisfactory title research has been completed, a recordable Agreement For Sale, or original title transfer instrument will be drawn.

Step 3: The balance of the purchase price payable either as the down payment eventually to be followed by monthly
payments or the full purchase price will be due for deposit to our company escrow account at the time specified on
the purchase offer or Agreement for Sale.

Step 4: The transfer documents will then be executed and delivered to the purchaser's attorney for review. The
attorney will then send us copies and notify us that the documents are in order and will instruct us to release the
seller's escrowed funds.

Step 5: The executed documents will subsequently be processed at the Lands Registry and an original title or certified copy of an Agreement for Sale will be presented to the new owner.

Question: How long does it take to close a sale?
Answer: It takes approximately 30 to 60 days to close a sale.

Question: Can I open a bank account in Belize if I am not a resident?
Answer: Yes, you can open a Belize dollar account with any of our local banks. You will need to have a mailing
address, a copy of your passport, and a reference letter from your bank. You can also open a US dollar account
through one of our Belizean offshore banks. They have similar requirements as our local banks but one cannot be a
resident of Belize and hold an account. However you can form an IBC, which is considered non-resident, and
maintaina US dollar account through that company.

Question: What are the rates for property taxes on Ambergris Caye?
Answer: Most properties are taxed at 1.5% of the assessed value. Assessments are usually at 10-30% of the market value.

Question: Do I need to be in Belize to buy or sell property?
Answer: No, transactions can be completed where either the purchaser or seller is not in Belize. Documents are sent
via Fed Ex to the absent party. These documents must be completed in front of a notary public. Offers from purchasers can be done by fax which is legally binding in Belize.

Question: Can I get local financing?
Answer: Yes, interest rates in Belize are currently in the range of 12-14% with fixed terms of only 12 months.
At the end of every year the loan is closed out and then renewed at the current lending rate. Local borrowing is
only permitted in Belize dollars and as a result is not applicable under most property purchasing requirements.
You can however, borrow US dollars through Belizean offshore banking institutions. Interest rates are approximately 12% and the banks usually require that you have at least 50% of the amount being borrowed in collateral. Belizean offshore banks are not permitted to loan to persons residing in Belize.

Question: Besides buying property in Belize, what are some fun things to do and places to see?
Answer: As we say on our home page, Belize is an adventurer's paradise. The cayes and the Barrier Reef alone can offer visitors enough fun and excitement with fishing, snorkeling, diving and parasailing tours, just to name a few. However, it would be very unfortunate for you to visit Belize and not venture inland into the heart of the Maya mountains. This is where the real Indiana Jones type of adventure begins. You can start off by visiting some of our world famous uncovered archaeological sites such as Altun Ha in the Belize district, Xunantunich in the Cayo District or Lubaantun, where the Mitchell-Hedges Cristal Skull was found and Caracol, the largest known Mayan site in Belize. As for fun activities, a combination of Cave Tubing and ATV tours make the ultimate family adventure. Many resorts and some independent tour guides also offer canoe expeditions along the Belize River, the longest river in Belize and one of the main trading routes of the ancient Maya. If you are an intrepid hiker, we recommend a hike up to Victoria Peak, the second highest point in Belize, measuring 3,675 feet high. That might not sound like a very difficult altitude to climb but it is a very strenuous hike that usually takes three to four days, so besides a bit of courage this high adventure expedition also requires some physical fitness.

If you have a question that was not answered here, please feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have about real estate in Belize or even general questions about Belize.