Long term Property Rental

We live in Placencia in a long term apartment. There are others similar to this and houses. If you can be interested in this area I can try to help you. Contact me

i seen your email and hope you don't mind me emailing you i am a single woman and looking for a place to live and was wondering how much is the apts that you live in please? thank you Libby

There are lots of rentals available. Look in the online classified sections of the newspapers in the area you want to live. There are also property management companies who can help you find something. Some people just show up and stay in a cheap hostel/hotel and find something to rent in a matter of days. San Ignacio and Placencia have cheap hotel options, but San Pedro will be a little more expensive. Word of mouth is also a good way to find something after you arrive.

I'm also in the same situation. I'll arrive San Pedro Oct 2.Can anyone please recommend an inexpensive hotel while I look for an apt?Don't need anything fancy. Thank you very much,
Mike

Thank you so much my classifieds will not post Belize in it or i think you meant once i got there,i want to have something before i get there if at all possible ....starting to get things together...thanks so so much...Libby email is tnfishingnut@gmail.com

Seems like real estate co.'s want you to commit before you are there. Even the rentals! I don't know about you but I'd like to see where I'm going to live. I've emailed several places with condos and Apts for rent. When I told them I would like to look first.I never heard from them again. I've already gotten advice from this blog that did not pan out. All those real estate names
For nothing. If you recommend someone make sure they're  good please. Make sure you know they're credible. I'm coming to San Pedro alone. I think hanging with locals is the best thing.

i am going alone to and would like someplace safe i am a woman and dont know a sole there but very friendly and love people i am very honest and blunt  and very kind and scared  to go way over there by myself but have faith in the human race...thank you...Hugs...Libby

If you are interested in Placencia, try Michael Kramer at Singing Sands Resort. He manages a number of rental properties on the peninsula.

Thanks for your information. If anyone knows about San Pedro I would love to hear from you. This is this 3rd time I'm asking for the name of an inexpensive hotel I can stay. ., while I look for an apt. .I don't need nothing fancy. Is anyone hangin in San Pedro?

Try to contact

http://conchcreative.com

They are wonderful people and work and live  in San Pedro.

Good luck in your search!

thank you so much and i will try that

Thanks so much. Good people are hard to find.

Check with Pedro's Inn on ambergris Caye for inexpensive stay while looking for rental.

Thanks..I emailed and called all over the island. Finally found PEDROS last week. I spoke to a gentleman named Peter. Thanks for the reassurance.

Adam get a  hold of me please i want to send you some info thank you Libby
tnfishingnut@gmail.com

tnfishingnut and Mikebove,

the two of you may also wish to check out this site as well in your search as some of the posters here are on those forums as well and questions asked there may be more helpful to your search.

http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/

Another contact that may assist you would be Katie Valk,  Belize based travel specialist,   www.belize-trips.com

I hope this helps some.

is Placencia close to the market that they have in town to buy fruit and veggies please? or is this in the cayo district please and Thank You so much for your kindness...Libby

tnfishingnut,

Here are a few links that I found that may help you find better answers.  I live in Cayo,  Placencia is in Stann Creek.  I do not live there and could not provide as much information to you than the people who actually live there.  They have a Placencia forum but it appears at the moment to be down.

http://forum.virtualtourist.com/Placenc … forum.htmlhttp://gocentralamerica.about.com/od/be … cencia.htmhttp://www.belize.net/search/links/listlinks/117http://pureplacencia.blogspot.com/

Hope this helps out.

is the cayo more costly than Placencia? and is it closer to the markets please? thank you very much and i loved all the info you gave me about Placencia thank you for that as well so helpful

For me to say definitely life is cheaper in Cayo, which I believe it to be so, it is argument material.  I do not wish to argue with anyone, and just state what I know is and works for us, as well as many we know.

There are two market days in Belmopan which are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week.  The big market only happens in San Ignacio on Saturdays. The Belmopan Market market is not small but not nearly as large as the San Ignacio market on Saturdays.  The only way their days may change are by holidays celebrated here in Belize.  Then both places have a regular everyday market with produce, fruits, and food vendors selling local fairs and very affordable.

We are close enough to the sea to visit and enjoy and far away to be more protected by most of the hurricanes that occasionally occur. 

There are a lot of Belizean and Expats doing things together, as well as working together for a better Belize.

Everyone has different opinions as to what they are looking for.  Belize for me for the first year was strange.  After I got my PR status and went back home for a visit to the US, I could hardly wait to return home to Belize.  Every year since then, I feel stronger about my decision and am happy with my choice to remain here.

I think it was Dr. Al that first posted on this site that Belize is not for everyone.  He got that from me and gives me the credit for that idea on another site.

He can ruffle feathers many times, but I actually like his post.  He makes me laugh and is a colorful person.  I believe people interested in a life in Belize should listen to everyone's point of view.  Discover the good bad and ugly.  All of this can be said of any where one chooses to live in the world.  Please educate your self and learn about Belize before just making a serious move.  Take time, learn and make and educated decision.  Please?   

I recommend you visit a few times and explore different parts of our beautiful country Belize.  Get a feel for the different areas.  Learn what each has to offer you.  There are many expats and Belizean's that will offer you much.  By listening and waiting to make a decision, you will be come more successful in making the right decision for yourself!

If I can be of more help or assistance, let me know and if I can assist you, I will, if not, I will  try to get you to someone who can!

Wishing you all the best.  April

Thank you April i like your post, i love the water and it looks like Placencia may be the place for that, and this is why i am asking so many questions and i really don't want to upset anyone because of them, I would just really like to come and live for at least 6 months and see if i like it or not, oh how i love to learn about Belize, Once i get there I can check it all out and find my place, it's nice to know a bit about it and very thankful for people like you who can shed some light about things...Thanks again....Libby

There are several Placencia forums on Facebook, including Placencia Rant and Rave and Maya Beach forum. You might consider posting there--the folks on it are pretty responsive.

It sounds like you probably haven't visited Placencia. Life is very easy going and most folks are very nice. The peninsula is about 17 miles long (depending upon where you start measuring), and there are five distinct communities:
1. Placencia--a village at the very end of the peninsula
2. Seine Bight--a village about seven miles north of Placencia
3. Maya Beach--too small to be a village, but about 10 miles north of Placencia
4. The Plantation--a community which includes a gated housing area, the Placencia Hotel, and other housing
5. North Plantation--single family homes, largely along Caribbean Way road.

Most people in Placencia walk, ride a bike, or drive a golf-cart. There are a number of "markets" selling fresh fruits and veggies (My favorite is Mr. Greg's by the football field.) and three different food stores, selling canned foods, meats, seafood, etc--just a very small version of a Safeway or Krogers.

My best advice is that the "vibe" is so different between the various communities--Cayo district, Ambergris Caye, and Placencia--that you should spend a few days in each before making any decisions.

good advice thank you....Libby

Thank You Kferris for your input i'am a bit overweight and need to walk my arse off so i really like that we have to walk i own a car but not bringing it for the simple fact i need to walk and change my lifestyle and yes i can handle that, and for all you lovely people and your input on helping us we know you don't have to so i cant thank you enough every  little bit helps and i suck in every little bit of knowledge i can get, i have been researching Belize for a year now and nothing will help as much as just being there. I don't need to live large i just need to live happy I can fit in anyplace and i just love people so i think all will be good for me, Be good and thank you for being so helpful....Libby

Your post sounds real to what I know of the area.  Thank you for participating and doing it properly!!!!!

I have a couple more questions if you don't mind please, i do i get some of my belongings over here just like my sewing stuff and also how can i get my mother over there as well like from my bank to me with out USA knowing about it, i don't  want USA knowing where i am @ thank you.....

Now they know

oh so sorry about that post it didnt quit make any sense i was asking how do i get my belongings over there but i am on a site now that does international shipping and moving so i guess this may be the way to go, i am not going to move everything but just stay about 6 months but still would like to know how to transfer money over to Belize, would i just use my debit card like i would here? i would rather not the US know where I am at there or anywhere for that matter...

Hi Libby. Someplace on this site there is an entire thread regarding setting up a bank account in Belize, and it is quite a bit more involved than doing so in North America. The concern, of course, is money laundering since Belize is one of the countries considered to be "an off-shore banking center" where folks can (try to) hide financial assets. (More on this shortly) So, have a look for that thread...and it may be in some other form as there was someone from Expat.com who was trying to turn the important threads into electronic "phamplets." Bottom line--the best way to get money to Belize, since there is a limit of $10,000 USD leaving the U.S. and $10,000 BZD coming into Belize, is by wire transfer. But you need a bank account here before you can execute a wire transfer. I bank with Atlantic Bank International, but there are several others as well. The website for Atlantic Bank is www.atlabank.com.

As you probably have seen in the press, the U.S. government is going after folks who hide income overseas. Once you set up a bank account outside the U.S., you must check a box on Form B when you file your U.S. Federal Income Tax return indicating that you have an overseas account. Don't fail to do this because the fine for failing to check that box is big ( $10,000, I think). And if you are going to maintain large amounts of financial assets off-shore, there are some additional significant reporting requirements. So, try to keep your balance in Belize below $10,000 USD so you can avoid all of the additional tax filings. Just an fyi--there is a U.S. IRS office in Belize now--not sure if it is in Belmopan or Belize City. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

As to shipping, there are several options, including having your stuff come by land. I run a charitable organization called "Books for Belize" wherein I bring heavy pallets of books to Belize to donate to the schools, communities, and what few libraries we have here. I ship my books relatively cheaply thru a group called Hyde Shipping out of Ft. Lauderdale. They have been very reliable so far, and you can find out about them by googling "Hyde Shipping."
Once you get your stuff here, you will also need a "receiving agent" to help you get your belongings thru Customs. I use a fellow in Belize City whose name is Oscar Ramos and so far he has been very dependable. (I don't have Oscar's e-mail address in front of me but will look for it for you.)

Hope this all helps.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFO AND I WAS NOT TRYING TO HIDE MONEY WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO GET IT OVER THERE BECAUSE I m sure my back is not over there and don't want to endure a lot of fees using my bank card i will bring most of it with me and open an account there, but very good to know just to keep up to 10.000 there, i was wondering like on a monthly thing how do i get it there so i see where you said wire it there,i have never done this before so will have to check into wiring it to myself my son will be here and can help me with this, i really didn't mean to imply i was trying to hide money i just don't think i need to report everything i do to the US and one of the reason i am leaving for about 6 to 12 months, i may come back and i may not who know? thank you so much for all the help

Sorry if you thought that I might suspect that you wanted to hide some income. That was not the intent.  Just trying to alert you to the new risks that any American now faces with an overseas bank account. You can bring up to $5,000 USD with you into Belize, but anything in excess of that should be declared at Customs. If you do bring in excess of $5,000 USD, you will be interviewed at the airport--just an fyi.

Most US bank credit cards (ie.Visa, MC, but not American Express) are accepted in Belize. Also, you can use your US bank ATM card to access funds from the U.S. but the transaction fees can be very high.

If you are only planning you stay for six months, then you can prepay your hotel/rent and just use cash/credit/debit thereafter.

Good luck.

Actually your idea of coming over and opening a local bank account is not a simple proposition. All accounts have to be approved by central bank and there is a mountain of paper work and  notorized documents entailed, going back and forth. We were informed we had got ours opened quickly and it took 10 weeks start to finish. Belize is very fond of its red tape. Also as we live in the USA and pay tax here we had to sign a form that allows the US to see our bank details, so as to be sure we are not laundering money through the account. If we wire medium to large amounts to a 3rd party in Belize our local builder for example we have to send the info as to what the amount is for to the Belizian bank. There is absolutely nothing hidden from the US tax man. Once set up it is easy to wire money into our own account, and we have Belize ATM cards and cheque book. Hope this is not bad news for you. some banks don't charge an ATM fee for getting cash for certain foreign accounts, you may have to check those out I think Atlantic has more liberal  views on that. Also if you take a large amount of US money(up to the amount allowed) and pay it into a Belize account they can be snippy about the notes they will take, any slight damage and they refuse them. also you dont get the regular 2 for 1 the bank keeps 1and a half cents per US dollar. Last week the bank did not like a 100$ bill I had so i used it at the gas station to fill up, no problem there.

oh your such a smart little cookie i think you read my mind in that whole post,thank you for that, i will also hop on that  rant and rave facebook and the maya beach you have helped me so much, i hope you don't mind i save some of your post, so i can remember what you said...thanks again...Libby
PS. are you in Placencia? because i would like to meet you and give you something for your time...

Don't know if that was aimed at me or not but I will answer anyway.
Much as I love Placencia we have bought a piece of land and added a small wooden house, (using a local Cayo builder), on the river in Belmopan.
I love that location as it is the middle of everything.  2  or less hours driving will get me to all the places I am wanting to  go to, air port, beach, San Ignatio/SantaElena. to get to the cayes the airstrip is a mile away,  plus all the advantages of the capital city are 7 minutes drive from our place. I timed it last week while there. Unfortunately I have to save my pennies for my next trip now. managed 5 trips in 13 months, all really needed my personal attention, whatever hubby and the family think.

tnfishingnut,

Terrific,  has told you correctly!

i have another question please please!! is there a way i can get to placncia without going through Belize city i have heard and seen video's on how unsafe it is in Belize city? thank you so much i seen on facebook that there is a small landing strip in San Inacio is this close to placencia? i am starting to plan my trip and would love to know the best way of getting there,they have these small trips from Miami Florida over to ambergris Caye for a 1 day of a fun outing i could just stay from there if i knew how to get over to plancencia from there i could plan this. Thank You

i am sorry that post was for Kferris.

All international flights come into the international airport in Belize City. Then you hop on one of the small domestic airlines--Maya Air or Tropic Air--to get to your final destination. (Maya Air and Tropic Air fly to all of the major population centers in Belize.) You can also drive to most locations, like San Ignatio or Placencia, and you can boat to San Pedro. But flying is the easiest as our "highway" system is not an efficient way to travel. (We have no stop signs or stop lights, for instance, on the peninsula, but we have a large number of speed bumps to slow traffic down, especially in school zones and in population centers.)

I avoid Belize City as much as I can. When you fly into the international airport, you are actually in Ladyville, which is about 20 miles west of Belize City. I've worked in several Central American cities, and they seem to all be very similar--lots of poverty, lots of crime, lots of razor wire, lots of congestion. The beauty of Belize is not in Belize City, but rather in the Maya Mountains, the rural communities, the beaches, the cayes and the barrier reef, and the coastal plains.

Safe travels.

If you fly to the airport and want to drive you can avoid driving through the city by using the Burrel Boom road. Turn left out of the airport for about 5 miles the turn off is sign posted. That road is also a GOOD road stick on the road and you come out on the Western highway at Hattieville. turn Right off the roundabout also well sign posted. Once on the Western highway you need to go through to Belmopan. Do not be tempted by the sign around mile 20 something to Dangriga. Just cos you look down and see a nice road its a facade it becomes a BAD dirt road within a couple of hundred yards. Rental cars actually forbid its use. At Belmopad turn left and you are on the Hummingbird highway.Plain sailing from there on.
I avoid driving through Belize city if at all possible.