It’s a relatively small nation located on the western side of the Caribbean, bordering Mexico in the north, Guatemala in the west and Honduras to the south, but there are some great reasons why Belize is well worth exploring by property investors. Here are five.

1. Property prices have increased in Belize over the last year or so, thanks to the country increasing its profile on the tourist map. In 2007, for example, a 15% annual increase in property in urban areas was recorded, with a 30% increase in coastal areas. As it still regarded as one of the world’s emerging property markets, many property prices are still low, but could well see more rises.

2. Tourism and interest in Belize is increasing, which is in turn upping the need for good rental properties. Rental yields are estimated as being between 4% and 9%.

3. English is the main language spoken in Belize, which is a major attraction for UK investors. It helps avoid any difficulties with understanding language and makes property transactions easier.

4. Foreign buyers are able to easily purchase property in Belize. Plus, there’s the added bonus of favourable taxes – there’s no capital gains tax or inheritance tax to pay.

5. Eco-tourism is a big focus in Belize and even Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio is getting in on the act. He’s been the proud owner of his own £1.15m island off Belize since 2005 and is working in conjunction with the Four Seasons Hotel group to turn it into an eco-friendly resort. A celebrity endorsement can work wonders for boosting the property profile of a country, so Belize could do well from his involvement.

If you’re interested, take a look at the property on offer in Belize.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 16th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Belize, Caribbean. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.