possibility of buying property

garyclarke1962 wrote:

Aré there many people who live somewhere cold, think they would like to live somewhere hot, but then when they get there, decide they would actually perder to live somewhere cold after all?

I am guessing there are some who need the climate change and can not live in a place where the temperature is constantly hot throughout the whole year. The way I see it is those who have to wear layers of clothing to keep warm, continuously digging snow from driveways and sidewalks and getting holes on the side of their car from the salt on streets would look forward to warmer climate so they don't have to worry about snow and can wear shorts and a t-shirt all year round. I am looking forward when I will be there to bask in the sun.

katzgar wrote:

Inadequate health care, corruption, family situations up north and third world standards also play rolls. Like I said further up an estimated 40% return back north.

I can tell you are  proficient at getting stuff off the interweb, however I am curious how much time you have actually spent in Belize, and when were you last physically in Belize?

katzgar wrote:

Inadequate health care, corruption, family situations up north and third world standards also play rolls. Like I said further up an estimated 40% return back north.

What are the family situations up north?

billdoesbelize wrote:

RANT ALERT ~ IF YOU WANT TO HELP. WHY NOT BE HELPFUL?

I am not singling anyone out, just sharing some recent observations regarding this particular forum.

There is IMHO a difference between being correct and being helpful. Short answers like "you won't be able to work there" while mostly true is just a lazy response to a complicated answer and therefore not very helpful.

I think questions like do you live there? and what do you do there? are relevant for those seeking information to evaluate the persons motives providing the information. I believe that Google Search is a great tool but unfortunately most information provided online about Belize is posted by Resort, Real Estate, or Tourist industry Driven businesses. And while not untrue it is often sugar coated to entice buyers rather than to actually inform. Even many of those blogging tend to share only the bright spots of their days and are  creating passive income from resulting advertising. So to say "Google it" or "get someone to show you how to use YouTube" are again in my opinion not very helpful.

I personally am selective about comments I respond to. Lately I have replied less for two reasons. First people seem to be more argumentative, and second people asking questions seem to have it all figured out. Not everyone, but a general observation of late. A couple of visits to a resort does not qualify you as an expert on Belize. Believe me.

I think that spreading hear-say or assumptions does a real disservice to those trying to do their due diligence, no matter how much we trust our source. I also think that if one can't share their actual experience, then maybe our comment is not relevant or really helpful. As I often say, and I have a lot of sayings, lol, "we should speak when we have something to say, rather than because we have to say something". I will answer questions based on my experiences in San Pedro and in Cayo. Sure I also have some impressions about Corozal, but are my self concluded impressions helpful? Well, probably not so much.

I have seen others say "check out the Government Website". This tells me that you have never done it because these sites in Belize are usually outdated or provide very limited information that only begs more questions. But you might not even know that unless you already knew some of the answers based on living experience here. So if you are trying to be helpful maybe check the site yourself, then provide the link to that page rather than site or resource that you blindly promote. or are encouraging others to use that is not very helpful.

Not everyone that lives here has a vested interest in others moving to Belize. And, not everything on Google is complete truth either. You can usually sort out who is sincerely trying to help in these forums by their collective responses to multiple topics. So I would say personal expat experiences from someone with no agenda are what are most relevant. Determining who those people are, I guess is a similar talent to Googling it or searching it on YouTube.

The flip side is that I also see new posters that think they have it all figured out already. Or that they shrug off any warnings posted because they have experience in another culture, and know how to deal with that. Know you are probably not the exception to any of the rules. Being argumentative will discourage those that are truly here to help, insights that you can't possibly get in a first world nation may be missed, it will  encourage short unhelpful answers, and will put a target on your back, opening the door for those to friend you for their ulterior motives. Just saying. My view from the cheap seats.

Good Luck with your research.

END RANT

Checking the government website is as good as any a place to start

Ivana H wrote:

So, so good. Thank you, billdoesbelize. I, too, have been a victim of the less than helpful advice to "google youtube videos." Thankfully, it doesn't take long to figure out who is truly helpful and you're definitely one of those people. Now if I could just figure out how to block the "clutter!"

so you cant figure out the value of looking at pictures on sites like you tube and instagram?  really?