Nestled away in a matchless spot, Belize is a nation of Hispanic, English, and Caribbean influence and a top destination on any traveler’s list. The coastal paradise boasts lush jungles, historic Mayan ruins, and snaking rivers that run from the tip of Corozal to the bottom of Toledo. As you venture out to the coast, you’ll find quaint islands like Caye Caulker, where “go slow” is the charming motto the island’s residents live by. The more popular Ambergris Caye is home to San Pedro Town, the continually growing marquee destination for ex-pats from all walks of life. Proximity to the Barrier Reef, crystal blue waters, and year-round summery weather have made Belize a go-to vacation spot and a second or even permanent home to many. Whether you’re a free spirit who wants to put down roots on an island oasis or an entrepreneur planning your next big move, Belize has something for you – you betta Belize it.

Belize is often praised for its undisturbed flora and fauna replete with lush jungles and thoughtfully restricted marine zones making the country an ecotourist’s haven. In a world where climate change and reducing one’s carbon footprint are ever-growing concerns, Belize is a veritable utopia where Mother Nature still reigns supreme. A number of established eco-resorts - many of them private-island-based - enjoy very consistent high-end business whilst legitimately pioneering a new way of traveling. Size isn’t an issue either; the moderately-sized 7-acre Ray Caye located about an hour’s boat ride from Placencia, has 20 rooms and accommodates no more than 50 guests at a time and also features a pristine gym, yoga studio, Pelagic store, and gift shop. 

The private island buy-in is actually more flexible than one would expect with costs ranging from as low as US $250,000 for 1–2-acre options to as much as US $20 million for behemoth acreages prime for development. Most of the private islands in Belize are undeveloped, making it a playground for creating the tropical paradise of your dreams. Building from the ground up ensures that you’ll get exactly what you want every step of the way. Imagine the possibilities of launching a boat off of your own private deck or concluding the 2-hour flight to Belize from Miami by landing on your own heliport? It’s important to note that some structures might require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which may seem intimidating but is a non-factor with the right builders. 

The country benefits from a fixed exchange rate of two to one to the US dollar (BZE $2 = US $1), currencies such as £ Pounds and € Euros can be exchanged at most banks. The combination of the stable and predictable currency, an ever-increasing demand for rooms, and new flights being continually added, makes for a favorable business environment for those looking to net strong ROI as they consider a potential move or investment. Of course, you may also just be looking for your dream escape, expenses be damned. 

Now that you're at the point of buying a private island, you might be asking ‘how does one navigate the tricky world of real estate with the laws and regulations from a country unknown to you’? This is where the expertise of a firm like 4Realty comes in. A service leader in the industry, our broker and agents offer a distinct and proven insight into Belize’s landscape and pride themselves on providing excellent and ethical service to their clients. The right agency hits the ground running, from the early stages of direct marketing and advertising to closing the deal on your new paradise home. Throughout the process, you need to be able to trust that you’re in the capable hands of seasoned agents whose goal is to see their buyers and sellers walk away happy and free. 

In Belize, real estate agents can represent both the buyer and seller which can sometimes lead to murky deals. That’s why it’s important to choose a firm like 4Realty that’s an International Realtor® Member and a proud member of the Belize National Association of Real Estate (BNAR), an organization committed to implementing legislation and licensure within the industry and abides by a stringent code of ethics. If you require further help in developing your newly acquired property, starting a business, navigating permits, or anything else you might need to make your move to Belize seamless, you can count on the consulting branch of 4Realty, Arch Consulting Group to dutifully guide you through the process. As luxury real estate continues to rise in Belize, isn’t it time to kick your feet in the sand and stay awhile? 

For more information, please contact Carlo Habet at carlo@4realty.bz or +1 (754) 444-7773

Carlo Habet is the exclusive agent representing the Belize real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

The post You Better Belize it! Carlo Habet Talks How To Navigate Buying A Private Island In Another Country appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Just because most people prefer to shop for homes during nice weather doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a house in the winter. For many shoppers, buying in the winter might even be a better idea than buying in the summer. Here’s why:

1. You Might Get a Better Deal:

Most sellers are more motivated to offload a home on the market during the winter months when home sales traditionally slow down. So you’ll be able to talk the seller down more than you would in May or June when sellers can usually command higher prices for their real estate.

2. You’re Less Likely to Be Outbid:

You might have fewer homes to choose from in the winter, but you’ll be more likely to have an offer accepted when there’s less competition from other buyers.

3. You’ll Know What to Expect from a Home in Bad Weather:

When you shop for homes in the winter, you’ll get to see how drafty the windows are or how cold the bedrooms get. You’ll have the chance to inspect the roof for ice dams and check the walk and driveway for icy spots. How well does the city clear the roads leading to your prospective home? Driving there in the winter will tell you.

4. You Could Close Faster:

Because the real estate market picks up so much in the spring and summer, mortgage brokers tend to get behind on their work. It can be a real bummer to have to wait for closing just because your mortgage broker is slammed, but you could end up closing a lot faster if you buy in the winter.

5. It’ll Be Easier to Hire Movers:

While it’s true that ice and snow can make moving even more miserable than it might otherwise be, having your pick of moving companies can make up for that. It’ll be much easier to book movers in the winter, and you might just be able to negotiate a better deal, too, because they aren’t booked solid.

Buying a home during the winter might sound like a bad idea on the surface, but it can actually be a great way to get a better deal on your dream house.*

The post Toni Jennings Gives Her Top 5 Reasons Why Winter is the BEST Time to Buy a Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Find the right cart.

A good bar cart should be a focal point, that draws people together. It doesn’t need to be a big piece, but rather a small, portable table, preferably tiered, that can hold everything the home bartender may need at his or her disposal, glasses, booze, cordials, tumblers, even garnishes. A bar cart should be an elegant piece to compliment any home. Here, two different bar carts offer the same refined, though practical approach, for two very different aesthetics.

Ethan Allen, $1,699

Not all bottles are created equal.

Bar carts are not infinite spaces. The curating of bottles should be those that have a great finish to the glass and a well-designed label on the front. Even ones with an interesting glass bottle like Crystal Head vodka can make great additions to classic shapes like Bombay Sapphire gin's look. That said, there’s no need to have bottles on their that will never be touched. If you don’t care for a certain spirit, don’t keep it on there. Though for staple spirits, it’s always a generous gesture to guests to keep some in the cupboard as a back up. As you plan which bottles make it onto your personal top-shelf selections, consider the following elements when designing the look of your cart: bottle shape and size, interesting labels, and the color of the spirit inside. It’s nice to always have a mix of whiskies, gins, rums, vodkas, and cordials. Above all else though, include spirits you will enjoy drinking, because no bottle looks worse than with a layer of dust on it.

Decant tell you enough.

While top shelf booze at the ready is great, there are always the labels and spirits that may not be so high-class, but hold a special, sentimental place in our hearts. If there’s a bottom shelf whisky or flavored vodka your significant other may enjoy (but be a little embarrassed by) there’s no need to get rid of it all together. Having a glass decanter can be a great way to hide that bottle of Sailor Jerry Rum while still having it on hand.

Those in glass houses…

Finding the right glassware is important to completing any cocktail. Having a good mix of highball glasses, old fashioned glasses, and champagne glasses and flutes are important to matching the right cocktail to the right drink. Glasses should also go on the middle or lower tier of any bar cart, away from the bottles and covered from any spills or drippings from the flight above.

A little extra.

Cordials, or liqueurs, are an important fixture in any bar cart. With hundreds of different options, one more specific than the next, stocking a bar with cordials means knowing one’s own tastes enough to not oversaturate the bar. Like White Russians? Be sure to have Kahlua. Cosmopolitans? Have some triple sec ready to go. These bottles are also filled with sugar though, and a little goes a long way. Be sure to be careful when pouring unless you’re ready to unload everything to wipe the cart down.

…and Jack came tumbling after.

The final, and most important piece to a bar cart, is having a solid tumbler or two at the station. For any cocktails that require a good shaking, having a few metal tumbler is important to not need to be running back and forth to rinse out.

The post Build The Perfect Home Bar Cart With These Tips appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.