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Belize update
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Belize update Ok so with all my savings going to living while I was sick I had to re asses my Belize plans.I left Toronto on Friday 10 February 2017 and first flew to Charlotte,North Carolina.We were in the airport there overnight before we flew to Cancun the next day.Everything went fine it was just a long way to get to Belize and next time I'll do it differently.In Cancun we caught a but to Chetumal,Mexico which is right on the borderThe bus ride was about six hours but it was an enjoyable six hours for me..Once there we got a cab to the border crossing.I had read a lot about the border guards and how they often asked for "extra" money from tourists but we had no issues at all,in fact the border guard was a really nice guy and we had a laugh and a joke with him.Once in Belize we got another cab into Corozal.The cab driver was a bit of a crook but we paid him and told him we'd call if we needed a cab,we didn't.We arrived at the hotel after check in time but they were great and very accommodating.Our room was basic but very nice and clean and just what we were looking for.We were now in Belize finally.Corozal turned out to be a really nice place.Our hotel was right on the sea front and the view from outside our room was spectacular.The next day we went for breakfast and met a guy there who turned out to be originally from England so we had a lot in common,his name was John.He was a builder so we got talking to him and he told us that if we needed a ride out to see a little of the area as well as the lots he had for sale to call him and he'd make time for us.It could be a coincidence that he was there or it may be that someone called him and told him there was a couple of tourist in town,either way is fine with me because thats the reason I was there.We promised to call later in the week.The first couple of days were spent just walking around,getting the lay of the land,checking out places for sale and trying different restaurants.In the middle of the week we went to visit the local Century 21 agent.Eleanor was her name and she was very helpful.She took us out and showed us a few places she had listed.We calledJohn on the Friday and made arrangements to meet up on the Sunday and he would show us around.We were joined by a couple from the States who were also looking into retiring n Belize.John took us to a place called Four Mile Lagoon and showed us the lots he had for sale.It was spectacular.He gave us lots of useful information and seemed to be very honest and upfront.The prices seemed reasonable to me and I know a similar house in Canada would be minimum of half a million but down there it would be under two hundred thousand.The following week Eleanor took us out again and showed us more listings she had.I had narrowed my list down to about four properties that I really liked and hoped I'd be able to get financing.I knew my credit rating was decent so hoped I'd be able to get the right mortgage.The rest of our time there was spent just walking around and meeting locals as well as expats.The weather was fantastic.Temperatures were nice and we only had rain once.The bugs were almost non existent.There was no real need for a car as everything we needed was in walking distance.I never felt threatened in any way and the locals were as friendly as can be.We met some really nice people from Canada as well as the States and all of them seemed to be doing the same as us,looking into retiring in Belize. All in all I fell in love with Belize especially Corozal and knew that if I could swing all the financing then I would retire there.I have 10/15 years until I retire so I plan to work as much as I can in Canada and save enough for retirement and if I could get a mortgage for property down there then I'd have 10/15 years head start by working in Canada. Getting back to Canada was just as arduous as getting to Belize.We bussed overnight back to Cancun stayed in the airport there for six hours then flew to Miami.We were supposed to spend nine hours in Miami airport but paid the extra $200 to get an earlier flight back to Toronto,it was worth it.We arrived back in Canada around midnight.My cousin picked me up and drove me home. Once back in Canada I started looking for financing for property in Belize.It turned out to be almost impossible.Canadian banks wont give mortgages for property outside Canada and Belize banks wont give mortgages to non residents.In Corozal there is a Scotia Bank,which we used for cash down there so I started with my local Scotia Bank in Hamilton.They gave me the e-mail address of the Scotia Bank in Corozal so I e-mailed them and got absolutely no response.My local branch in Hamilton couldn't help me either.I tried e-mailing lots of other people,banks,financing companies,mortgage companies and anyone else who I thought might be able to help.Because I'm not a home owner and I dont have any equity in Canada it was like pissing in the wind.I have since found a bank that might be able to help somewhat but they will only finance 60% and I have to find the other 40%.I think I should be able to use the land as equity for the other 40% but I now think I need blueprints for a house before financing is possible.If I was guaranteed to get financing then I'd pay an architect to draw up some blueprints but because theres no guarantees then I dont want to risk spending the money for what might turn out to be a waste.I am still planning to retire to Belize its just taking waaaaaay longer to get it done than I thought it ever would. I know a lot of you probably think I'm crazy to think of retiring to Belize with the recent murders taking place in Corozal.I can only go on my own experiences and I felt very safe there.I walked around alone after dark with money in my pocket and probably looking like a tourist and never felt threatened in any way.The local people were as nice as I've ever met and were more than helpful.It does concern me that I could be murdered but it concerns me more that I could also be murdered in Hamilton.I am not easily scared off. I am still planning on retiring in Belize and still doing research into getting financing.I know a lot more about Belize now than I did in February and so I think another trip is needed sometime soon,unfortunately my buddy isn't up for going again so soon so it might have to be in 2019 but I'll keep trying to get him to change his mind,I'm keeping my fingers crossed. |
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