BELIZE Info
Belize Real Estate Investing:
Belize pronounced be li z. Formally British Honduras, is a democratic constitutional monarchy, and the northernmost Central American Nation. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Belize is bordered by Mexico to its north, by Guatemala to its south and west, and by the Caribbean Sea to the east.With 8,867 square miles (22,960km2) of land and a population of roughly 340,000 people (2011 est), Belize possesses the lowest population density in Central America, and the third lowest in the Americas. however, the country's population growth rate, 2.21% (2008 est.), is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western hemisphere. Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species, and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place within the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Belize is culturally among its Central America neighbors, it is the only nation in the region with a British Colonial Heritage. As a part of the Western Caribbean Zone, however, it also shares a common heritage with the Caribbean portions of other Central American countries. In general, Belize considers itself to be a Central American nation affiliated with both the Caribbean and Latin America.
The origin of the name Belize is unclear, but one idea is that the name is from the native word be 'lix, meaning "muddy water", applied to the Belize River. Belize, having a sizeable proportion of Africans from the ancient kingdom of Kongo, could have brought the name with them, as there is a Belize in Angola as well. For all info on Belize Click Government Website: http://www.belize.gov.bz/
Belize Real Estate - Belize is fast becoming a very popular location for real estate investors due to it's beautiful rain forest, beach and island properties. The prices are still far less than most of the Caribbean Island Countries. Low land tax and "Government Guaranteed Land Certificates" also contribute as well as the strong surge of American and Canadian investors. Belize Real Estate is still considered very reasonable compared to other countries in the Caribbean. Belize Real Estate has consistently increased in value over the past 20 years. Belize Properties are fast becoming popular in this part of the region.
For more information please Click Here
PLACENCIA VILLAGE BEACH
Link Articles:
Money Magazine - Best Overseas Living In 2013
US News Names Top Overseas Retirement Destinations
Ready For Next Year's Tax increase?
The $500 Billion Payday - Wake Up Latin America
A 300% Return With A Sunset View
Where Can You Find Affordable Retirement Real Estate Around The World?
Belize Government Sells Island For $125M for Luxury Hotel
J P Morgan Alters Belize's Financial Position To Strong
Belize's Lighthouse Reef Atoll Longest Coral Reef In Western Hemisphere
Gates Famly Visits Belize
April 10'12
The Attessa IV has been adrift off Ambergris Caye outside the Belize Barrier Reef since early Tuesday, April 10th with the world's second richest man on board. Aboard the 330ft private super yacht is Bill Gates along with six family members and a crew of 23. The vessel, captained by Sergiy Pashchenko, was given the clearance to navigate into Belizean waters just before mid-morning and has permission to remain in the country until May 9th.
According to sources within the Immigration Department, the vessel was cleared by personnel that flew in from Belize City. The Attessa IV is expected to make stops at various world renowned destinations including Hol Chan Marine Reserve, southern Belize, The Turneff Atolls and the Great Blue Hole.
The visit of Attessa IV and Bill Gates is huge, considering the size and facts of the vessel and similarly important, the person aboard the mega yacht. Firstly the Attessa IV was re-launched on December 2010 and is one of the world's top 25 private super-yachts by length. It is considered the largest super-yacht to be (re)launched in North America and the 23rd longest private yacht in the world. According to Forbes, the Attessa IV has an estimated value of $250 million. The vessel is able to accommodate up to 36 guests and around 23 crew members. It came equipped with a helicopter which was cleared to fly in Belize. The owner of the impressive nautical masterpiece is industrialist Dennis Washington whose net worth is about $4 billion.
Bill Gates, born William Henry Gates III, is the second richest man in the world. He is a software executive, an American entrepreneur, philanthropist and the chairman of Microsoft. Bill Gates earns US$250 every second which is about US$20 million a day and US$7.8 billion a year.
In January of 2012 the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) signed an agreement with Belize under the Salud Mesoamerica 2015 Initiative. The project started with sponsorship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carlos Slim Health Institute. Annually, Gates donates some $200 million a year to combat disease in various parts of the world.
BELIZE RETIRED PERSONS INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Who Can Qualify
- Anyone forty-five years and older can qualify for the program.
- A person who qualifies can also include his or her dependents in the
program. - Dependents include spouses and children under the age of eighteen. However,
it can include a person up to the age of twenty-three if enrolled in a
university. - Belizeans who are 45 and older can qualify if they are returning to live in
Belize.
Documents Required
1. Submit Application Form (Request Form)
2. Birth Certificate Copy
for each member of the family ( Notarized )
3. Marriage
Certificate Copy, (if married and spouse is a dependant) ( Notarized )
4.
Authentic/Original Police Record from last place of residence, issued 1
month prior to application for applicant, wife and children 18 years and
older.
5. Passport Color Copies of Complete
Passport (including all blank pages) for each family member,
each page must be certified and stamped by a Notary
Public.
6. Proof of Income
An official statement from a Bank or Financial Institution from the
country of residence certifying that the applicant is the recipient of a monthly
income of a minimum of US $2,000.00 through a pension or annuity that has been
generated outside of Belize.
Please note that
after approval into the program all retirees are to open a Local Bank Account
and deposit their monthly pension funds. The Belize Tourism Board will request
bank statements on a yearly basis to show proof of income and compliance with
the retirement program.
7. Medical Examination plus AIDS test
for each member of the family.
8. Four front and
four side passport photographs of each family
member.
Note: Items 5, 7 and 8 can be completed in Belize when
you are visiting.
Incentives and Benefits
- Qualified Retired Persons can import personal effects free of import duties;
- Qualified Retired persons are strongly encourage to procure a vehicle in
Belize, no older than three years. However, we will facilitate duty and tax
exemption on an imported vehicle. Motor vehicles must be no older than 3 years
from the present year. - Qualified Retired Persons can import a boat free of import duties to be used
for personal use; - Qualified Retired Persons are exempted from payment of all taxes on income
received from outside Belize.
Note: All importation must be
done within a year after the date of approval into the program. A Master List of
household & personal effects must be submitted for approval before shipping.
Regulation on Aircraft
- A Qualified Retired Person is entitled to import a light aircraft less than
17,000 kg. - A Qualified Retired Person is required to have a valid Private Pilot license
to fly in Belize. - This license can be obtained by passing the requirements set by the Civil
Aviation. However, if the participant has a valid pilot's license, that license
only has to be validated by Civil Aviation Department in Belize.
General Information
- Qualified Retired Persons are not allowed to seek employment in Belize,
however, voluntary work and business investments are encouraged; - Qualified Retired Persons will be asked to submit a yearly bank statement
showing compliance with the financial requirements of the program; - You will be required to renew your retiree status every year;
- You will require a Customs Broker to process you importation of personal
effects, vehicle or boat at your expense. You can request Broker available or
check in the yellow pages; - You are not allowed duty free on items used to repair or build, neither
tools of their trade; - You must spend an equivalent of 1 month in Belize annually to maintain your
retiree status.Note: If you desire to apply for Work Permit and Permanent Residence
your Retirement Status will be revoked and payment will be required for all Duty
Free Items.
Application Processing Fees
- Our application processing fee for a Single Applicant and follow up on
Retiree Card and Customs Letter for Duty Exemption is US $700.00 in addition to
general sales tax of 12.5% plus estimated miscellaneous expenses of US $100 for
local courier, telephone, fax, e-mail, photocopy and office supplies. - Processing of Additional dependent to the same application pays a fee of US
$75.00, plus 12.5% general sales tax for a total of US $84.37. - The program fee to the Belize Tourism Board is US $1,200.00 for a
Single Applicant; additional dependant pays a fee of US $750.00, which
includes fee for the issuance of the Retirement Card. - A Non-Refundable application fee of US $150.00 payable to the Belize
Tourism Board must accompany the application and required documents. - Note that payments are payable to Belize Tourism Board and must be paid
either by US Bank Draft, US Cashier's Check or US Cash. - Kindly note that the below does not include medical examination expense,
photographs, notarization of documents and overseas couriers for the
application. Any additional work will be at a fee of US $50.00 per hour.
Under this system, the lot is assigned a "Parcel Number" not lot number, from the Government's RIM Sheet. One form document with parcel number, location, and size of property in Sq.Meters. It will also state if there are any bank liens i.e., mortgage(s) or encumbrances on title.
Closing Fees: For purchasing Belize real estate is 5% of selling price - Government Stamp Duty. The first $10,000 US is Exempt. Registration and Filling fees are usually around $50.00 US.
Land Tax: Very minimal. Some beach parcels are only in the $75.00 US/Yr. range.
Construction Cost: in the Placencia Area, range from $50 - 80US per Sq.ft. & $85 - $150 US per Sq. ft. for Higher End construction i.e., Condominiums and fine beach homes. This naturally depends on the quality of "Trim Work"...interior involved. Yearwood Construction Ltd. is based in Placencia, does good quality construction and has built many homes from medium to High-End. They also handle heavy dredging and Marina Development. One can contact them at byearwood11@yahoo.com. Their work can be seen on their Facebook Page - Yearwood Construction Ltd. moving forward with the purchase, the agent should put together a binding Construction Contract stipulating all of the scheduled details of the construction.
© 2011 Yearwood Properties. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Agent Image - Real Estate Web Site Design