Some stuff on Belize,
be careful, it's promotional.
/Taro
Nov. 10, 2009
Dear International Living Reader,
Two days ago I told you about our special report on Belize. But I forgot to mention something important.
You'll recall our top bargain hunter sniffed out the best places in the country where you can still live the Caribbean dream without spending a fortune. Plus, there are also tax benefits...easy residency options...retiree incentives...and everyone speaks English.
But what I forgot to mention was this: We've put together a free 20-minute presentation recorded at our sold-out Live and Invest Overseas Seminar, in which Phil from Florida reveals everything he's discovered about Belize since he moved there in 2003. He talks about starting a business, the beach lifestyle, the incredible nature, real estate, socializing…in short, Phil answers every Belize question you could have.
As I said, this is a free recording. But today is the last day you can get it. See my full write-up below for details.
Sincerely,
Martina Dunphy
Executive Director, International Living
Dear International Living Reader,
Leave your watch behind because you won’t need it. And toss away your shoes while you’re at it–a bathing suit is the only wardrobe requirement, and even that’s only a suggestion. Spend your afternoon chasing a fish or two or nursing an ice-cold beer, and call that a good day’s work…
There’s a little country in the Caribbean…a new country, in fact, having just gained its independence in 1981. Only about 300,000 people live here…in the entire country!
It’s a place where palm trees sway in rhythm with the gentle waves of clear warm waters caressing soft white sands.
People greet you with a smile and a cheerful “Good Day.” They’re genuinely happy. And why wouldn’t they be? They live in paradise.
They enjoy fresh fruit for breakfast, fresh fish for lunch, and celebrate the end of every blissful day watching the sun set over the Caribbean.
Worries are few. The cost of living is low…less than half what you’d spend in the rest of the Caribbean or the U.S. Property prices, too, are extraordinarily low. In parts of this paradise…virtually unknown to foreigners…you can buy a beach home for as little as $35,000. Even on its most popular ‘upscale’ island, where bargains are hard to come by, a brand-new condo can be had for little more than $100,000.
What’s more, taxes are practically non-existent: 0% income tax on foreign-derived income, 0% capital gains tax, 0% inheritance tax, 0% corporation tax.
All this, plus it’s ridiculously easy to get residency.
Best of all, in addition to being one of the world’s last true tax havens, English is the official language.
Yet amazingly, this country and its benefits remain relatively unknown except to a savvy few.
If You’re Dreaming of Retiring to the Caribbean but Think You Can’t Afford it…Think Belize
The Last Affordable Caribbean Haven
Over the years, the world has started to take notice of little Belize. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, movie director Francis Ford Coppola, and singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker have quietly purchased homes there. Many more…like Tiger Woods, Harrison Ford, Nicolas Cage, and Robert DeNiro…regularly vacation on its private islands and exclusive resort hotels.
Madonna fell so in love with the Belizean island of Ambergris Caye and its little town of San Pedro that she wrote a song about it, which she still sings in concert: "Last night I dreamt of San Pedro, tropical island breeze, all of nature wild and free. This is where I long to be, la Isla Bonita..."
But even though celebrities have found Belize, it remains off the typical tourist radar. In fact, celebrities enjoy it for just that reason: there aren’t hordes of tourists around and they can vacation in peace. And that tranquility (and relative obscurity) is exactly what’s kept the country’s charm rating high and its prices low.
We’ve Had Our Eye On Belize
Just to give you an idea of the affordability of Belize:
Here’s how much it costs to own properties on these well-known English-speaking Caribbean islands:
1. Bermuda: Average condo price in 2008: $830,000.?
2. St. John, United States Virgin Islands: Average condo price in 2008: $634,000.
But in Belize, you can still own a luxury condo on Ambergris Caye – the most country’s most popular resort island – for less than $100,000! Read on to find out more…
My name is Martina Dunphy and I’m International Living’s Executive Director.
At International Living, we’ve had our eye on Belize from the beginning…from even before it earned its independence from Great Britain in 1981. In the early years, divers and fishermen were just about the only tourists who visited this little country, which hugs the Caribbean Sea just south of Mexico.
You may remember it from grammar school as British Honduras – and luckily, Belize has retained its English influence. The stable government is based on the British parliamentary system with a legal system modeled on the common law of England. Everyone speaks English and all contracts are written in that language.
Over the years more than a few International Living readers have been living the good life in Belize. Like Jane, from Illinois. She and her husband, a former environmental science professor, were first attracted to Belize by the rainforests and by the high quality of Caribbean water off the coast. (Their grandkids love to snorkel. ) They retired to Belize a few years ago and moved into a two-bedroom home they bought in Santa Rita, near Corozal…for $48,000!
And there’s Bill and Jenny, who bought a parcel of beachfront on the Bay of Corozal, near the town of Copper Bank. They worked together to build Cerros Beach Resort, now up and running with four cabanas for guests, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
“There are no time clocks or wristwatches, no commutes, stress or worries,” Bill says. “We have the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitats, to sit and listen to the birds and the wind blowing, to watch a beautiful sunset…we take full advantage of it all.”
Ann Kuffner first visited Belize in 1999 with her husband, Mike. From that point on, she says, they were hooked. They invested in property in the little town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, where Mike, a contractor, designed and built a home. They haven’t looked back. Now living happily on the island full-time, Ann and Mike keep busy (as busy as they want, anyhow) with several successful business ventures.
“I’m content with my day-to-day life in Belize” says Ann. “I can swim every day or walk the beach with my dogs. We have a full, active social life, and I’m developing skills in new and interesting professional areas. We have made many friends here in San Pedro.”
Belize Fast Facts
Despite what you may think, Belize remains a little-visited country. Outside of cruise passengers on day trips, only about 250,000 tourists visit Belize each year…far less than most other Caribbean tourist destinations. (By contrast, each year nearly 4 million tourists visit the Dominican Republic, and 2.16 million travel to Cancun, just a few hours north of Belize.) About half of the tourists who visit Belize go to Ambergris Caye. And that’s exactly why real estate prices are a bit higher there but remain so low in the rest of Belize…
There’s Much More to Belize Than Ambergris Caye…The Country’s Most Popular Tourist Destination
There are many little islands off the coast (at least 200, say tourism officials) and miles of Caribbean coastline that remain undiscovered by most travelers.
And that’s where the real estate bargains are…
We sent veteran writer (and bulldog bargain real estate hunter) Don Ediger to Belize to sniff out some of the places in the country where you can still live the Caribbean dream without spending a fortune…where you can have a champagne lifestyle on a Belikin budget. (Belikin is Belize’s mighty tasty beer…a cold one will set you back just a buck or two, depending on the hoity-toity-ness, or lack thereof, of the establishment.)
Don has compiled his findings in a special Belize insider intelligence report—more than 45 comprehensively detailed pages titled Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less.
If you’re interested in finding your place in the Caribbean sun…but you’d rather not pay typical Caribbean prices…you need to read this report.
As Don writes, “Belize is a country with some of the world’s best sailing, fishing, and diving, not to
About the Author
Don Ediger, the author of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less, first visited Belize (then British Honduras) in 1970, as a young archeology student. Since then, he’s been back many times.
“There are several misconceptions about Belize,” Don says. “Many North Americans and Europeans think it’s a primitive Spanish-speaking country with a government that’s as unstable as many others in Central America. What often intrigues first-time visitors is finding out that their misconceptions are false.
Belize is a stable English-speaking member of the British Commonwealth with banking laws designed to help foreigners protect their assets. Foreigners fall in love with the country because of what it has to offer – relatively inexpensive property, friendly people, a tropical climate, a magnificent seacoast, and unparalleled diving, fishing and swimming.”
mention opportunities for visiting Mayan ruins, hiking in the jungle, meeting interesting people, or just relaxing by the beach or on your patio. Moreover, Belize is a beautiful, peaceful nation with a year-around tropical climate and easy access to the U.S., Mexico, other Central American countries, and Caribbean islands.”
But Don digs deep. Not one to just scratch the surface, he gives you every little detail…all the nuances, tips, insider secrets, and every little tidbit that normally slips between the cracks…everything you need to know if you’re considering relocating to Belize.
All This, And One of the World’s Best Retirement Programs, Too!
For instance, you may have heard of Belize’s Qualified Retired Person Program (QRP). (Despite the name, you needn’t be retired.) If you’re at least 45 years old and have a monthly income of at least $2,000 from a pension or annuity (including Social Security) generated outside of Belize, you can qualify. This allows you to bring all your personal goods to Belize tax-free, and pay no Belizean taxes on any foreign-earned income.
Don explains exactly what you need to do to qualify. This is the very latest information from the Belize government. It’s verified and up to date. (That’s important, as much of what you’ll find in an Internet search can be dangerously outdated.)
What’s more, Don tells you how you can become a permanent resident of Belize, which offers you even more advantages, including the ability to work and earn an income there.
I can’t tell you everything that Don has turned up about Belize…as I mentioned, his report is more than 45 pages!
Here’s Some of What You’ll Discover in
Your Belize Insider Intelligence Report
- Location, location, location. You’ll learn about the top spots in Belize for expats…some of which you may have never heard of, including a quiet, tidy town on the ocean (but with all the amenities you need) where you can live…more than comfortably…on less than $2,000 per month.
- Contacts, contact, contacts. From expat organizations in Belize to those people who can help you streamline your move… Don names names and gives contact info, so you’ll have both business and social circles in Belize before you ever leave home.
- How much you can expect to pay for things like telephone, Internet, cable TV, and household help…including a gardener. (Remember, in the tropics, one plant can quickly turn into a jungle…you’ll be happy to have affordable help in your garden!)
- An example of how some expats use a little chicanery (and the black market) to save even more on living expenses.
- Detailed information about real estate in Belize. What the buying process is like…where to go and who to talk to in order to find the best bargains… Like a two-bedroom house for $135,000 and a spacious condo (with a pool) for $149,000 -- on popular Ambergris Caye!
As Don says, though, although it’s where most expats want to be, increasing numbers are looking beyond Ambergris Caye for Belize’s true bargains. He found a two-bedroom house on the outskirts of a beach town that’s just now gaining the attention of expats…for just $49,000!
On the southern coast just minutes from the beach, there’s an octagonal house in move-in condition for just $35,000!
And go inland to get even more bang for your buck. In hilly verdant San Ignacio town, Don’s located a three-bedroom home with a tropical veranda overlooking a lush garden filled with fruit trees. Price? Just $49,000!
I’m not making this up. Don gives you the contact info so you can follow up on these (and many more like them) yourself.
Reserve Your Belize Insider Intelligence Report Now…
Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less is the best resource available to help you get to know the Caribbean paradise that is Belize. From finding a property…to obtaining residency. You’ll learn how to invest, travel, live, retire, and start a new business in Belize. With this report as your guide, you’ll save time, money, and hours of frustration...
Keep in mind…this special insider intelligence report is the result of years of travel by Don Ediger and months of follow-up research and consultations with expats in Belize, immigration attorneys, offshore banking experts, real estate agents, and developers. If you were to try to get this information yourself, it would take years and thousands of dollars to compile. I can guarantee you won't find anything like it on the Internet or in a bookshop.
In fact, I will guarantee it…more about that in a minute.
Try it out, explore everything Belize has to offer... and certainly, make use of the information when you’re in Belize in search of your dream home or investment. With all the pointed information and contact details in this report, you’ll be glad you did.
…AND A SPECIAL BONUS REPORT:
What most people don’t know about Belize but should…
There’s something else you may not know: Belize is one of the best banking and tax havens in the world. Many financial advisors, in fact, believe that Belize is a far better option than better-known tax and private banking havens like Switzerland, Austria, Panama, and the Cayman Islands.
This is something that should be important to you no matter your financial status.
You see, in 1992, Belize officially adopted its International Business Companies Act, the Trusts Act, and the Offshore Banking Act, and became a premier jurisdiction for asset protection trusts. It’s also one of the few trust jurisdictions in the world that offers protection from court action initiated by creditors that might challenge your transfer of property into a trust.
And don’t worry that Belize will cave in to pressure from the IRS…the country has consistently defended its asset protection laws in international courts. In one recent landmark case, “Securities and Exchange Commission v. Fund International,” the Supreme Court of Belize upheld the Trusts Act, and the SEC was stymied in its attempt to acquire confidential trust documents in Belize.
According to financial consultants around the world, this decision sends a clear signal that Belize can be relied on to provide financial services in an environment that is both confidential and capable of protecting assets at a high level.
These are complicated issues, certainly. Obviously, you know it’s in your best interest to protect your hard-earned assets. (If you’ve ever experienced any type of legal action…including divorce…you know what I’m getting at.)
But you may not understand why, especially if you have only limited assets, it makes so much sense to establish an offshore trust, bank account, or company…
We can help. When you reserve our special Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less report, we’ll also send you a special report we’ve created to help you understand the offshore asset protection options offered in Belize.
Called Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits (value $29.97) it’s yours FREE with your copy of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less.
This report alone can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming years. Global financial advisors believe the window of opportunity will soon close (for U.S. citizens, especially) to move financial assets into offshore vehicles.
Now is the time to act… Our special report, Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits, tells you how. (Yes, you’ll not only get all the information you need to understand these issues, you’ll also get our rolodex of expert contacts who can help you open bank accounts, create trusts, IBCs and more.)
…If you’ve ever wanted to know everything there is to know about Belize…in order to make an informed decision about moving or investing there…act now.
Not Available Anywhere Else
These special reports, created by Belize expert, Don Ediger and the editors of International Living, are not available in bookstores, resource libraries, or anywhere else on the Internet. They are available in an online downloadable form only. That’s how we can keep the information as up-to-date and reliable as possible. It also allows us to get this information in your hands as quickly as possible.
Travel to Belize to obtain all this information yourself and you’d expect to pay $2,000 or more. (The time and efforts of attorneys and other experts who worked to compile this information is worth that much alone.) But when you act now and reserve your copy of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less you’ll pay just $49. And you’ll also receive our special free bonus report about offshore asset protection options, Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits.
And the best part is that we publish these reports electronically…so they are much more useful, colorful, and interactive than ever before. Plus you’ll have access to them as soon as your order has processed.
Discover Belize Risk-Free
In Belize, there’s a mantra that everyone lives by. It’s an attitude, really, and a direct result of living a no-stress lifestyle. The sun comes up, you play in the water all day…or just sit next to it with your feet up and a cold drink in your hand. And then the sun goes down. The next day you do it all again.
“No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”
I’m so confident that Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less special report will help you realize your dream life in Belize that I’ll offer you this guarantee: If, for any reason, you’re not completely happy with this report, just let us know. You have our 90-day no-hassle money back guarantee…
We’ll refund your $49, no questions asked…and you can keep your copy of Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits.
You have nothing to lose…and so much to gain!
Regards,
Martina Dunphy
Executive Director, International Living |
