Understanding All The Players Involved In A Real Estate Transaction

Buying a home is often times a once-in-a-lifetime experience since its a very big investment. Being an experience most rarely experience more than once, all that real estate jargon and attributes are quite foreign to the layman.

Aside from the property itself, a major part of any real estate transaction is the various parties involved, in terms of the buyer, seller and their agents (if any).

It is always recommended to enter into these types of transactions with the help of an agent who would be more knowledgeable of the market trends and have the experience in getting you the best possible deal. However, these agents don't work for free. So who fits the bill for the agents?

In this article, we'll help to clarify everyone's role in the transaction and understand how each person involved benefits.

Buyer's Agent

The buyer's agent acts as an adviser to the buyer throughout the entire home buying process. The buyer's agent will use their acquired knowledge and experience to best educate the buyer on current market conditions and find the best homes that matches the buyer's wants and needs.

The buyer's agent will be responsible for handling all negotiations on behalf of the buyer and ensures that the buyer's interests are thoroughly protected. As part of protecting the buyer's interest, the buyer's agent is also responsible for advising the buyer on how to handle any repairs necessary on the property.

At the close of the deal, the buyer's agent will share profits with the listing agent.

Listing Agent

The listing agent is responsible for helping homeowners to sell their home at the highest price possible. This agent is responsible to negotiate with the buyer/buyer's agent to come to an agreed price that both the buyer and seller can agree upon.

The listing agent would split the commission with the buyer's agent. If there is no buyer's agent, the listing agent receives total commission.

Buyer

The buyer pays no commission fee whether he is working with a buyer's agent or not. Any commissions the buyer's agent would make will come from a share of the commission set out in the listing agreement, by the seller, that would be split between the buyer's agent and listing agent.

So if you're a buyer and want to get expert help finding the home of your dreams, take advantage of buyer's agents that are available to you, free of cost, with a wealth of knowledge and experience in finding homes like the one you may be looking for.

Seller

The seller is the person paying the commission out of the selling price they had set for the property on sale. The percentage for the commission is negotiable and is set when the listing agreement is created.

The commission percentage always remains the same after it is set, whether there is only a listing agent involved or if there is both a listing and buyer's agent.

Get help from experienced Belize real estate agents when conducting real estate transactions in Belize. These real estate agents have access to an extensive listing to some of the most sought after properties in the country and are versed in conducting MLS transactions to get you the most suited property at the best price. If you want to list a property in Belize, real estate agents can take the hassle out of lengthy negotiations and get your property sold fast!

Beautiful 5 Bedroom Beach Home for Sale in Belize

Sittee Point Estates is a developing community in Hopkins, Belize. This community provides serene beach living on spacious beach lots without breaking the bank. This amazing property offers just that plus a spacious, modern home perfect for starting a new in Belize.

The home on this 50 ft. by 125 ft. property is 3 stories and boasts 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It is a recently constructed home made to North American standards. The first floor of the home can be used as an income property. It has a one bedroom apartment or guest suite that is fully equipped with a kitchen, living/ dining combination, a full bath, a garage and storage area. As an added bonus, there's also a large covered deck off the guest suite leading to the sea.

The two upper floors have the main living quarters of the house. The second floor has a large master bedroom with a sitting area for lounging and cane ceilings as well as a master bathroom. Also on this floor is a guest bedroom, guest bathroom, laundry room, and a great room. The great room includes a large kitchen with granite counter tops. Off the great room is a spacious large stone deck, great for outdoor entertaining.

The third floor is a masterpiece with a vaulted ceiling of exotic hardwood. It has a large office area and a second master bedroom with en-suite bathroom that over looks the sea. There is also another guest bedroom and guest bathroom on this floor.

You're guaranteed to stay cool on those warm tropical days as all rooms have a ceiling fan as well as split A/C units. All doors, cabinets and trim in the home are from exotic solid mahogany hardwood. All hardware for the doors (including knobs, hinges, and lock sets) are solid brass with black coating that provides a worn brass patina. The windows are adorned with imported wooden horizontal slat blinds.

This house was built to last your family a lifetime and with the Belizean weather in mind. The foundation consists of 24 piles with heavy pile caps which is able to withstand earthquakes, although Belize isn't prone to them. One weather system Belize is prone to is the hurricane (though the country has been spared for the past few years), and the windows in this home are all laminated hurricane-resistant that provide protection as well as save on energy costs.

On the home's exterior is a 600-gallon water storage.

This property is not prone to flooding and has a good history of generating income as a vacation rental.

To find out more about this great property in Belize and set up a meeting to view the home, contact the Belize real estate agents at CPC.

Exterior

Living area

 

Entertainment Center of exotic hardwood

Kitchen

Bathroom

Understanding the Psychology of Colors When Painting Your Home

Ever wonder why you suddenly feel a dip in your mood or productivity as you enter into a room? Well, that change in mood can be linked something as normal as the color on the walls. To some, painting a room is as simple as getting any old color from the store and plastering it across your walls. While this approach might work for some, arbitrarily selecting a paint color can not only impact your mood but also stifle all productivity because of the hue's psychological effect on you.

Here, we'll give some insight into the psychology of color to help you choose the right paint color for your next home make over.

Overview of Colors and What They Represent

Let's start with the primary colors- yellow, red and blue, that each invoke a different emotion. Yellow is cheerful and warm, but is most likely to cause eye fatigue and strain. It is also believed that yellow makes babies cry. 

Red evokes very strong emotions and encourages an appetite. Red also represents passion or intensity and love. Studies have shown that red can cause poor exam results as it is hypothesized to impair performance on tests since the color is associated with danger of failure.

Blue represents calmness and serenity and is associated with water and peace. It is most preferred by men and is the most-used color in offices since it is believed that people are more productive in blue rooms. The color blue is also believed to curb appetite.

Overview of Accent Colors and What They Represent

Black is a very strong color and represents evil, death, mourning, and slimming. Conversely, ancient Egyptians believed that the color black symbolized life and rebirth. 

White represents purity, innocence, emptiness, spaciousness and is great for creating the illusion of space. 

Green represents good health, tranquility, wealth or money, and nature. It is hypothesized that those who work in green environments have fewer stomach aches. 

Purple most commonly represents royalty since many kings wore purple robes. The color also represents wealth, success and wisdom.

Brown has always been referred to as an "earth tone". However, brown also represents reliability, boredom, and practicality.

Pink represents calming, love and romance. In some prisons, a pink color is used to initially calm inmates.

Orange is commonly used to represent caution, that's why it is commonly used in signage. Orange also represents excitement, enthusiasm and warmth.

Which Color is Best for Rooms in The Home?

Kitchen - Yellow is a good color to use in the kitchen as it increases metabolism, gives you energy and brightens the room.

Living Room - Lavender (a shade of purple) is great for the living room as it calms the nerves and allows relaxation.

Dining Room - Red is very appropriate for a dining room as it encourages an appetite.

Girl's Room - Pink, although it sounds cliche, is great for a little girl's room as it evokes a sense of calm and warmth. 

Bedroom - Green is perfect for a bedroom as it lends tranquility and promotes well being - both good qualities for tired adults looking for a retreat after a long day at work.

Home Office - Blue is the right match for a home office as the color is believed to be the most productive. It will allow you to separate yourself from the fact of being at home so you can get into a productive state of mind.

What about Colors for Advertising?

Luxury Advertisers - Luxury advertisers often use black, white, silver, or gold in their ads as these colors enhance the feeling of sophistication and are great for selling luxury items.

Feminine Advertisers - White, lavender, and pink are all commonly-used colors in ads relating to females. These colors help target the appropriate audiences quickly and are very clean and calming.

Corporate Advertisers - Corporate advertisers tend to lean toward blue in ads because the color represents productivity and is non-invasive.

Restaurateurs - Red is the most popular color among restaurateurs as the color stimulates appetite. This color is used very often in ads for popular restaurant chains like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC, Wendy's and Popeye's.

Invest in Belize with A Thriving Eco Resort

Belize is increasingly becoming one of the hottest vacation destinations in the world. This fact is getting notice from the millions of visiting tourists every year as well as the savvy investors like Leonardo DiCaprio who quickly jump at the opportunity to invest in Belize's tourism sector.

Here's your opportunity to invest in a booming tourism sector in a rapidly developing country. This functioning eco-resort on Lighthouse Reef is on the real estate market.

Lighthouse Reef is the furthest atoll offshore Belize's mainland but it is well-developed and visited regularly since dive boats from San Pedro visit almost everyday. The waters are so clear in Lighthouse Reef that patches of the reef can clearly be seen through the water.

At a mere hour's boat ride from Belize City, this resort is very easily accessible while providing more privacy and top quality of beach as other popular islands. The resort is full-service and lies on prime beachfront land, directly beside the main pier. It is set on the best commercial property on the island of Long Caye.

It is constructed of local hardwoods in an attractive and sturdy post and beam construction style. Because the resort is fairly young, it has a lot of room for growth and development.

The resort features 24 oceanfront rooms. 12 main lodge rooms which have private bathrooms and balconies with an ocean view. The upstairs rooms have vaulted ceilings. 12 smaller rooms have shared balconies with 4 shared bathrooms.

Additional amenities of this luxurious property include a renewable energy system and 15,000 gallon water storage system, solar electric and hot water, 'instant' hot water system, diesel generator power backup, reverse osmosis water-making machine and much more that you can see on the property's listing page. All these amenities help to make this resort very eco-friendly while maintaining full function and comfort.

Also on this property is a full service, licensed, covered bar and restaurant with a seating capacity of over 70 people. The restaurant also has a fully functioning commercial kitchen. Aside from this spacious kitchen, there is also a large facility room for meetings and events as well as an office and gift shop space with broadband satellite internet and US dial tone for communications.

To see full details and specification of this eco-resort, visit CPC Belize Real Estate.

Deck of the resort

Exterior of resort

Arial view of the resort

Closer arial view of the resort

Fabulous Beach Hotel For Sale in Hopkins Belize

Hopkins, Belize is a friendly little village in Belize. A mile south, you can find the sprawling property that is home to Villa Verano. Villa Verano is a 5 star Caribbean sea front hotel for sale in Belize. Its ideal location makes it the perfect destination for romantic getaways, family reunions, fishing expeditions, weddings, yoga groups or corporate retreats.

The Villa Verano is a 10 room hotel that can accommodate up to 38 guests comfortably. The hotel has Wi-Fi throughout as well as poolside. On-site amenities include full concierge services, 70-foot beachfront swimming pool, bikes, double kayaks, paddle boards, catamaran, a fully-equipped air conditioned gym, rooftop games room, BBQ, hot tub, and galley kitchen.

Villa Verano sits on 100 feet of Caribbean sea front, plus a 50 X 150 foot lot with a staff building across the road.

The hotel is currently staffed and fully operational. Take a closer look at this phenomenal hotel for sale in Belize.

Exterior of Villa Verano

Villa Verano Pool

Room at Villa Verano

Living Area in Villa Verano

2 Bedroom Modern Home in Southern Belize

Life in Belize is filled with relaxation, adventure and endless scenic views. Southern Belize is home to the most beautiful beaches in the country and is near to the lush rain forest and natural attractions like the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Jaguar Preserve and Victoria Peak Mountain. With a home in Belize, you can enjoy all these and more all year long.

So don't miss out on this great deal! This 2 bed/ 3 bath 3 story home in Sittee River Village is for sale.  This home is a sprawling 4,862 square feet and is well-constructed . It boasts custom finishes throughout the home with terraces allowing plenty of fresh air and natural light through.

This home's 2 bedrooms are the same size with each having their own private terraces. Its interior is decorate with custom finishes which include European-style aluminum wood imitation sliding doors and swing/tilt windows. The kitchen features Ceasar stone quartz counters, stainless steal double sinks, an insinkerator, instant hot water dispenser, and a spacious island with bar seating.

The living area has a recessed TV and an electric fireplace. The master bathroom is complete with an indoor/outdoor shower, travertine counter tops, teak cabinets with double vessel sinks, separate water closet, skylight, AC unit and pocket doors. The guest bath includes travertine counter tops and a soaking tub with a swinging glass shower door.

The upper level screened porch boasts an outdoor kitchen with Vermont Castings grill with rotisserie, a bar sink, Frigidaire compact refrigerator, radiant heater, and a ceiling fan. The open terrace includes a 5-person 325 gallon hot tub with ACE salt water sanitizing system, a half bath with towel storage, and an outdoor rinsing shower.

Currently, this home is being sold at a steal of $609K without furnishings. However, the owners are willing to negotiate and include the existing furniture and appliances. Visit the listing page on CPC's site to get more details on this amazing property.

Exterior of this deluxe home in Belize

Spacious living room

Organized laundry room

Airy master bedroom

Outdoor kitchen area

2 Key Ways to Avoid Real Estate Scams

Once you're into real estate, whether as a buyer or seller, you'll always be susceptible to real estate scams. That isn't to say that majority of sellers, buyers and renters aren't honest, but you shouldn't enter into these transactions blindly because not everyone's intentions are true.

We can all detect these scams by paying close attention to detail, but these con artists get smarter and their scams evolve with time. So how can you be sure you're not being scammed? You can't. But there are steps that you can take to protect yourself.

1. Take your time
Real estate transactions come with a lot of back-and-forth as well as a lot of paper work. We tend to get hasty when we're close to finalizing a sale or finding the house of our dreams, but this is often where we get caught up in our emotions and overlook important details of the transaction that may not always be beneficial to us.

This is how all scams are effective. Scams fool the victims into thinking their in for a deal and need to move quickly before they miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Always remember, if something seems too good to be true then it probably is. Slow down to pay attention to details and do your own research to ensure that the transaction is truly beneficial to you.

2. Vet the person you're doing business with
Never take a stranger's word for gold. They can show you the most professional LinkedIn page or the best looking business card and have raving testimonials, but those things can never verify the validity of that person.

No matter how good of a first impression they give, always search for them online. If you're checking out a broker, ensure they have a valid real estate license. When you're finalizing the deal, ensure that all the documents are valid and legal and that the proper processes are being followed.

Its unfortunate that real estate scams have become a part of life for those in the real estate market. Remember these two points to avoid becoming a potential victim to any real estate scams. If you're looking for real estate in Belize, you can avoid these scams by working with legitimate real estate brokers from CPC.

Large Lagoon to Beach Front Property for Sale in Placencia

This sprawling piece of land is the largest on the peninsula for sale. It spans the entire width of the Placencia peninsula from the lagoon’s edge straight across to the beach front. It is a 49.01 acre property with 994’ of prime beachfront with 885’ of protected lagoon frontage and 1,150’ of commercial road frontage on each side. The property is dissected by a newly paved Placencia road. This property is diverse and ideal for a resort, planned community development or even a spacious private residence.

Get to Know Placencia

The Placencia peninsula is gaining a lot of popularity as one of the most exciting destinations in Belize. It provides guests with a unique experience of relaxing beaches on one side and the thrilling jungle to the other. Placencia consists of 16 miles of beautiful beach to the east with a picturesque lagoon to the west, making all properties on the peninsula on or near the water.

There have been many upgrades and development to the area in recent years as well. A new power grid has been set in place after Hurricane Iris in 2001, along the entire peninsula capable of supplying existing demands and to accommodate a wave of development.

The Placencia Road project connecting the peninsula to the Southern Highway was also recently completed in 2010. This is now one of the best roads in the country complete with highway signs, painted center lines, imbedded reflectors, developed shoulders and bicycle and pedestrian lanes in the villages.

Over the past decade, Placencia has been a favorite stop for yachters and now it is the undisputed sailing capitol of the country. There are new charter bases that include Moorings and Sunsail which are the two largest sailing charter fleets in the world. There are other smaller charter companies and private yachts as well in Placencia.

Own a Piece of Placencia, Today!

This expansive property is priced to sell at only $6.6M. Take advantage of this investment opportunity now! Contact CPC Real Estate Solutions for more on this property.

How to Choose the Perfect Location for Your Next Home

Finding a home is a long, exhausting process but when done right, it can be the most rewarding endeavor you've ever done. A crucial part to buying the right home is ensuring that its location affords you easy access to places and amenities that matter most to you and your family. Here some tips to choosing the perfect location for your next home.

Visit during the day, at night and on the weekend

If you’re seriously considering buying a home this is important. You can find the perfect house to live in, but if its location isn’t practical for your lifestyle it you’ll never be satisfied with it. Get to know the neighborhood before you jump to buying the home. Visit the home during the day, at night and on the weekends. Listen to what sounds you hear and make note of what type of people are in the area. Do you hear a lot of traffic outside? Are there mostly families living in the area or younger people? Do the people walking around look sketchy? All these things will give you an idea of what the neighborhood is like and will help you decide if it’s the kind of environment you want to be living in.

Do mock trips to places you frequent most

This one relates to location similar to the previous tip, but here you’ll time how long it takes you to get to the places you go to most like work, school and the supermarket. Try to do mock trips to these places, from the home you’re thinking of buying, at the same times you’d normally go so you can get a true picture of what traffic along your new route would be like.

Pay attention to the cars and landscaping

If you can’t get a look at the people living in the neighborhood, a quick look at their cars and the exterior of their property can give a good indicator of what kind of people they are. If there are a lot of clean, well maintained cars around you can deduce that your neighbors are people who take care of their belongings rather than if you see junk cars that may indicate a more juvenile, careless neighborhood. The same can be said for areas where the yards a well maintained and not overgrown or filled with trash.

Visit the shopping centers

Your needs don’t stop just because you move, and unfortunately not all stores carry the same stock. Ensure that the grocery stores and shopping centers carry all the products you use or if they are adequate alternatives at good prices.

Aside from ensuring your shopping list will remain unchanged, the local grocery store is always filled with people from the area and may even contain a community billboard with events. Take a look around to see what the people are like and what’s happening in the area. You can even take this time ask people what it’s like to live in the community to get real-life reviews to help you make your choice.

If you’re ready to buy a home in Belize, get help from our reliable agents at CPC Real Estate Solutions.

7 Things Every Home Owner Should Know About Home Insurance

Home insurance is a necessity for every home owner to ensure their property and belongings are protected against natural disasters, accidents and burglaries. Although it’s a necessity, there are still lots of people that take the risk of going without and many that do have it don’t pay enough attention to the little details that outline exactly what they are covered for. Here are 7 things every home owner should know about their home insurance policies.

1. What it covers

Home insurance can cover a wide range of incidences including, but not limited to, damage to your home and possessions in the event of storms, fire, theft or vandalism. Some policies even cover expenses should someone get hurt on your property and decides to file a law suit against you. Some policies may cover all of these incidences or only a few. Make sure you know exactly what you’re protected against and covered for in your insurance policy.

2. What it doesn't cover

This one is just as important. People tend to hear a long list of areas that their insurance provides protection against and completely disregard important areas that may be a possible threat to their property. For example, some standard policies may exclude incidents like damages caused by power failure, faulty zoning, and defective maintenance. Some policies may only cover flooding and water damages under certain conditions.

3. Shop around

Key elements to compare when choosing a company to work with are protection plans, customer service and rates. You’d want to ensure the insurance company you choose offers the right amount of protection for you at an affordable price. Customer Service is just as important as price and coverage, because when you’re facing an emergency you’ll be dealing directly with the insurance company. Having great customer service personnel makes facing disasters a lot easier.

4. Ways to lower your rates

By ensuring safety measures are in place in your home can reduce the rate of your insurance premium. Simple household items like a smoke detector or burglar alarms can lower your rates. Insurance premiums are normally priced based on the amount of risk involved. By having these safety devices in place, your home is less susceptible to major damage from a fire or burglary.
Bundling policies for your different policies, like your home and auto insurance, may also reduce premiums.

5. Respond quickly to incidents

Most insurance companies have a time limit from the time and date of the incident in which you can file a claim to receive compensation for your damages. Report any issues promptly to ensure you receive proper compensation for damages to your home and to avoid the damages to worsen over time.

6. Keep an incident log

You should properly document everything that occurs during a loss. Create an incident log to write down what damages occurred, when it happened, what you’ve done to help mitigate damages, and when you reported the incident to the proper authorities and your insurance company.
In addition to this log, keep any receipts and contracts so that you have everything on hand when filing a claim with the insurance company. Your agent will require specific details, so it’s important to have a log of everything that happened and of what was done after the incident occurred so no detail is forgotten.

7. Know how much your jewelry is insured for

Jewelry is normally included in the possessions that are insured in your home insurance policy. However, it may only be insured up to a certain value. Always verify your limits with your agent to ensure your policy, or a supplemental policy, will cover 100% of the value.

If you’re buying a home in Belize or have already bought a home and need insurance, contact our Belize real estate agents for assistance on finding and insuring your home.

7 Reasons Your Home Won't Sell

1. You've overpriced your house

This is the main reason your house won't sell. Most buyers will have done some research, either personally or through their realtor, and will know what market value is for most homes in the area. Try to be objective when determining the true value of your home and steer clear of letting any emotional attachments hamper your better judgement.

2. The real estate market is saturated with homes for sale

You might be having a hard time selling your home because there is simply too much competition at the moment. Once supply is high, the demand for your specific home will naturally not be as high as if it were only one of few like it for sale.

3. There are too many personal touches in the home

Buyers prefer to purchase a home that they can easily make their own. If at the time of your open house you have lots of eclectic decor out that might not transcend well with others' tastes, you're making harder for potential buyers to imagine the home as their own. Try to keep the decor as minimal as possible when showing your home to potential buyers.

4. The house isn't in a great residential location

Real estate is all about location! Unfortunately, this is something you can never change and the only way to get around this sometimes is to lower the selling price a bit to keep potential buyers interested.

5. Your home needs some repairs and updates

Once any imperfections are visible to your home or it seems outdated, it won't sell very quickly. Its a good idea to do any repairs or updates necessary in your home before an open house so that buyers can see a home that will last them a lifetime, instead of a constant work in progress.

6. Your home smells

An odor is always a bad sign and an immediate turn off to potential buyers. The smell could just be coming from the trash or from lifestyle habits like smoking or pets - it doesn't matter. Any odor in your home will rub buyers the wrong way. Ensure your home is free from any unattractive sights and smells when on the market.

7. There is no insulation in the house

A home is supposed to feel comfortable to its owners. So if your potential buyers come during the summertime and their in a pool of their own sweat, they'll immediately be turned off from the home thinking its too hot to live in. Likewise if its winter and the house is very cold inside. It would be very uncomfortable living in any of these temperature extremes. Ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature when showing it to potential buyers.

Beautiful Home for Sale in Placencia Belize

Placencia is quickly becoming one of the most sought after places to live in Belize. Its southern location on a peninsula makes it ideal for home owners who want a true "beach house" experience. This beautiful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home in Surfside, Placencia is the epitome of beach house elegance and charm.

The home sits on one of the largest lots in the southern tip of Surfside with amazing views of the Caribbean sea and Maya Mountains across the Placencia lagoon. The lot size is 78' X 237' X 135' X 230'. The home itself provides a whopping 4,562 square foot of living space with a 20' X 35' garage.

The home was recently built in 2008 and is two stories with 4 bedrooms, 2 and a half bathrooms and a den. The main floor features an open floor plan with a modern kitchen. All the included appliances are like new, so they're guaranteed to provides years of service. A large sea-side veranda lines the outside of the living room, as well as the dining room and two main floor bedrooms. Off the living room is a den which can be converted into an office or an additional bedroom.

The second floor of this home has the master bedroom which has an en-suite bathroom and balcony. The fourth bedroom is also located on this floor and also has a balcony. Just above is the sky deck which provides 360 degree views of the entire peninsula.

All the floors and sky deck are fully tiled. The kitchen and bathroom counter tops are finished in marble. There is great natural light in every room of this house which enters through huge windows.

The home comes equipped with all municipal utilities and a 1,588 gallon cistern to store additional water. The yard is fully landscaped with a wide variety of flowering plants, trellised walk ways, tropical trees and a garden area. There is also an outdoor shower so you can take a refreshing rinse after swimming in the sea. The deck is ideal for outdoor entertainment, equipped with a large gas BBQ and plenty of counter- and storage space. The fenced property has a circular driveway  with a two-car palapa garage and utility building.

Contact the Belize real estate agent for more details on this luxurious beach property.

Balcony

Open Floor Plan

Kitchen

Outside of Home

Back Yard

Turnkey Business for Sale in Cayo, Belize

This thriving, profitable business for sale is a resort in the Blackman Eddy Village in Cayo, Belize. The resort features 4 cabanas, restaurant and an owner’s residence. The property is directly beside the Belize River, 8 miles east of San Ignacio Town and 8 miles west of Belmopan. It is nestles atop a tropical hill that gives breathtaking views of the area.

Specs

Included in the sale of this resort are:

• 3 fully furnished rental units with handcrafted furniture;
• 3 bamboo outdoor showers;
• 2 outdoor toilets;
• 1 owner’s residence with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and kitchen with appliances;
• 1 fully furnished apartment with 1 bathroom;
• A fully furnished, 24-seat restaurant;
• 1 thatch structure with hammocks.

The property also has access to all major utilities like cable TV, phone, electricity, water and internet. There are two backup water systems on the property, as well as a well landscaped garden including plants and fruit trees like papayas, orange, bananas and limes.

This resort is ideally located nearby lots of tourist attractions, making it very appealing to guests. Some of the best attractions in Belize are only a few minutes’ drive away, like the Mountain Pine Ridge, Barton Creek, Mayan Ruins and Spanish Lookout.

Public transportation is readily available at regular intervals near the property making it very accessible. Being nestled in this village, gives guests a unique experience during their stay. As a testament to the resort’s superior quality, it has received a “Certificate of Excellence” from TripAdvisor in 2014.

If you’d be interested in an expansion of the property, the land size gives enough room for the addition of additional cabanas or a pool. There is an adjoining property for sale that is over an acre which, if bought, can combine with this property to make about 3 acres of total land.

The lodge is currently a family-run operation. Because of its quaint size, it is easily managed while bringing in constant revenue. The property is set up for longevity and constant revenue generation.

To find out more about this recently reduced property, visit CPC Real Estate Solutions Ltd.

What to Look for when Buying A House

Buying a new house is a big deal. It’s a huge investment and you need to make sure you’re choosing a house with all the right components to fit your lifestyle, now and in the future. When you’re touring for a future home, some questions you should be asking yourself are “Does this house look and feel like home?” and “Could this house really be my dream home?” Apart from those basic questions, here is a list to keep in mind when buying a house.

Space

The first thing you should be sure of when buying a house is the size and space it offers. It’s always a better option to have more space rather than less. Ensure there are enough bedrooms for your family to be comfortable, your furniture would be able to fit without making the space seem cluttered, the kitchen is big enough for more than one person to move around in and it has enough prep space, and finally that the home provides enough space to grow.

Features

Think of what a typical day for you would be like if you were already living in that house. Make a list of all the activities you would normally do and cross check the house’s features to ensure that it has everything you need in a home. If you have a green thumb and enjoy gardening, an important feature of the house for you would be enough outdoor space with good soil. A nice storage shed would come in handy for lots of outdoor gear and tools. If you have dogs, a fenced-in yard would definitely be a plus so they have room to run around. Aside from enough bedrooms, you should check to see if the home has space for an extra laundry room, office or workout room if those things are important for you to be comfortable.

Proximity

This is a biggie! Finding the perfect home includes its proximity to places you visit most- work, school, shopping and recreation. Do a mock commute to and from work at the same times you normally would to get an idea of how long it would take and the traffic you’ll encounter if you buy the house.

Amenities

Amenities here include those inside the house as well as those in the neighborhood. Check the age and condition of the appliances (refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, etc.) as their condition will determine whether you’d need to have extra money to replace or service them. Other important appliances to check in the home are the A/C units and water heaters. These items are very expensive to fix or replace, so it’s important to determine their condition when buying a home so you can know if you’d need to a lot a budget for maintenance. 

If you're looking to buy a home in Belize, be sure to get the help of a certified agent at CPC Real Estate Solutions Ltd.

The SMART Way To Make an Offer Lower Than The List Price

Every real estate transaction is a dance between buyers and sellers that can go on for months. Both parties want to be profitable from the transaction; and to achieve this, they may have to go through several bouts of negotiations.

However, not everyone is a master negotiator. So to help buyers get the most bang for their buck, we've devised this list of elements that provide a smart way for buyers to make an offer lower than the list price.

Know the stats
You need to do your research here. You can't just offer a lower price for a property and expect the seller to jump without a second guess. You need to work with your Realtor to get specific stats like what the fair market value would be for the property you're interested in. Ways they would get this information would be by evaluating the list price of that specific home versus those of similar homes. Your Realtor would also compare the list price versus the selling price of the home as well as the number of days the home has been on the market.

Follow a set communication process
Its always better to convey any communication to the seller in writing via your Realtor. When presenting your offer, your Realtor will draft the letter, including some statistics mentioned above, and present it to the seller for consideration. If you wish to further explain your lowered offer to the seller or tell them about your feelings about their home, you may write a personal letter to them which is often times a nice touch. Personal letters may also touch the emotions of the seller and make them more inclined to take a lower offer on the home.

The seller must be motivated to sell
This is the main reason any seller will accept a lower offer on their property. A seller may be motivated to sell if they have already closed the deal on a new home and are scheduled to move soon. There are many other reason for seller motivation. Any reason it is, you need to do your research to ensure that the seller will even be inclined to budge given a lower offer before presenting one to them.

Make your lower offer attractive
If the seller doesn't seem to have a clear cut motivation to sell quickly, you may need to entice them to accept your lower offer with some offers from you. You'll need to be able to offer some compensation for the loss in profit from a lower offer like flexible closing dates or accepting all closing costs. Another thing that may make a lower offer more attractive would be having a mortgage pre-approval letter to show the seller that your funds are secure. Make sure you present ample benefits the seller will enjoy by accepting your offer.

Get the most out of the list price
Conversely if the seller refuses your offer, you can still benefit by ensuring you're getting all you could out of the cost of the home. You can request that the home be sold with the existing furniture or appliances which will save you those costs after moving in. You could also ask the seller to cover all closing costs, allowing you to use that money in upgrading your home. Get help from your Realtor in finding different ways you can get all you can out of the list price of the home if the seller won't budge on price.

This process may seem like a long journey to acquiring the right home, but in the end it will be worth it. Take your time and plan out your offer strategically. Present it with the right facts and make it work for both your seller and you. In the end, you'll walk away with a profitable investment and the home of your dreams.

5 Places You Should ALWAYS Clean Before An Open House

An open house is the main deciding factor in whether you'll get list price for your property or not. If you cannot convince your buyers that your property is worth what you're asking for there's no way you'll get what you're asking for it.

When buyers go to an open house, they want to see the home in its most pristine form to help them envision their lives in it. The only thing dirt and clutter does is make buyers see the home as dysfunctional and too small to accommodate them.

Avoid making the wrong impression with your property by ensuring these 5 places are always clean before an open house.

1. Garage - The garage is much more to buyers than a safe place to keep their cars. Its a gargantuan of extra storage space they can use for just about anything. So when preparing your home for prospective buyers, ensure that all your tools and equipment are placed neatly on the shelves and keep as much of the ground space free so the buyers can get an idea of the amount of additional space they can get from the garage. Also, make sure all the counter tops and shelves are dusted off and the floors are swept clean.

2. Backyard - Buyers love yard space. What they love even more is having it well landscaped. Ensure the lawn is cut low and all the leaves are raked away. They patio also needs to be cleared of any dirt and the BBQ and lawn furniture needs to be properly cleaned. All these details add to the appeal of your backyard and gives the buyers a great idea of what they can do with it if it were theirs.

3. Indoor Storage - this means all closets, drawers and cupboards. You would be fooling yourself if you thought prospective buyers wouldn't open every door of your home during an open house. They will look! Make sure all these storage areas are kept neat and organized. When buyers see how well-kept these areas are it helps to emphasize how useful these storage spaces will be for them. Along with keeping the storage spaces organized, you need to ensure that there's nothing out in the open that you don't want seen, namely anything that may be offensive to guests.

4. Laundry Room - Aside from the kitchen, the laundry room is one of the most used areas of the home. Its expected to be dirty. But no one wants to use an untidy laundry room, or picture themselves in one anyways. This is a particularly important room for moms who are constantly burdened by laundry duties week in and week out. As the seller, you need to ensure the laundry room is as pristine as possible to spark excitement in the buyers to actually have a functional and attractive laundry area. Make sure there's no dirty clothes in the hampers or dryer sheets on the floor. Put everything in its place and make the room spotless.

5. Appliances - This is a biggy, especially if your selling them with the home. Most people will ensure the outside of their appliances are clean but neglect the insides keeping spoiled foods in the fridge or letting the stove build up gunk inside. This is a HUGE no-no! Buyers don't want to see their future appliances being mistreated by previous owners. They want to know that, although they're buying used appliance, they were handled with the utmost care guaranteeing them additional years of use.

After cleaning your home and getting everything ready for your open house, be sure to go over our list and ensure all these items are clean. Once you have all these areas covered, you're guaranteed to be a hit with home buyers at your next open house.

Get detailed one-on-one advice from a certified Belize real estate agent today!

Great Deal! Two Homes for Sale in Belize on Sittee River

The Sittee River in Southern Belize lines the banks of the Sittee River Village that neighbors Hopkins. Sittee River Village is a shaded community filled with lush vegetation on its banks, and small wooden houses, small grocery stores and friendly residents.

CPC Real Estate is giving you the chance to experience life in this quaint oasis with a package deal of two homes for sale on 5.45 acres of land in southern Sittee River Village. This Belize property for sale is comprised of 4 parcels (lots numbers 3,4,5 and 6) which are ideally located near Hopkins and its developing hotel zone.

The main living quarters are on lots #4 and #5 which consists of 1.78 acres. There is a home on each lot with 350 feet of river frontage. The main home is turnkey and sits on lot #5. It is a 2000 sq. ft. 2 story concrete home with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

The second home is on lot #4. This home is 900 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It is a 2 story wooden home that is currently being used by the property's caretakers.

This property is home to a host of amenities including a 60 foot boat dock, large two-car garage, two-car carport, and ample space for storage under the main home for additional vehicles and other equipment.

Community amenities include a marina just south of the property, a newly constructed marina in nearby Sittee Point Estates, municipal power, water, internet and cable TV, immediate access to the sea and proximity to Hopkins Village.

Here are some images of the property and homes.

Main Turnkey Home

Second Home used by Caretakers

Garage for Main Home

Living Room of Main Home

Kitchen of Main Home

Enclosed Sun Room of Main Home

To get more information on this property and see more pictures, visit the listing page here.

The Beginner's Guide to Owning your First Home

Ready, set, BUY!

If only it were so easy. You will never be without worry when in the market for purchasing a home. This is a huge investment that deserves an equally huge, well thought out plan of action. Here's a concise beginner's guide to owning your first home to help form a steady path on your house-hunting endeavor.

Know what you can afford
The most important factor in determining your success when buying a new home is knowing what you can afford and staying within those limits. As a general rule of thumb, you can afford a mortgage 3 times your annual income. Your monthly payments on your mortgage should not exceed 28% of your monthly income, while your monthly bills should not exceed 36% of your monthly income.

For example, if you make $36,000 a year, you will be able to afford a home worth $108,000 with your monthly mortgage payment being no more than $840 and your monthly expenses being no more than $1,080.

Have your down payment on hand
Depending on the type of loan you're getting, your down payment can be anywhere from 3% to 20%. Having a larger down payment readily available can reduce the amount you have to pay back on the loan monthly. Some other factors that may lower your monthly mortgage payments are having a lower interest rate or a longer loan length.

Other payments you'll need to have on hand are about 1 to 8% of your purchase price for closing costs and anywhere from $250 to $800 for other miscellaneous fees that may pop up.

Get Pre-approved
Being pre-approved for your mortgage is a must in order for you to know exactly how much you have on hand to spend on your new home. Without a pre-approved loan, you may miss out on homes you're interested in because you cannot act as quickly as possible in closing the deal. If you already got the loan approved, you then have the flexibility to make an offer as a home peaks your interest.

Find the right realtor
Realtors are the most knowledgeable people about property on the market for sale. They're familiar with the neighborhood, traffic trends and the prices homes are going for in the area. Real estate agents already know what homes are on sale and which ones meet your criteria, saving you tons of time and providing vital insights into which home will be the best fit for you. Visit CPC for great advice from Belize real estate agents and homes for sale in Belize.

Know what you want
Its easy to get thrown off track of what you really want and need in a home when you see what all some homes have to offer. To stay on track, you should create a list of all your must-haves in a home before you start looking. Then, split that list into two-- wants & needs. Take those lists with you on your house tours and ensure that the home you choose has all your needs in it so you're not looking back with regret for not buying a home with everything you need. If the home checks off all your needs and includes some wants too within your budget, then you've hit the jackpot!

Do your research
Although you'll have the help of your Realtor, its still important for you to know where you stand in your house-hunting journey. It's important to know your budget, but you also need to do your research on the desired location you wish to live in and have some knowledge of the prices homes are selling for in the area so that you can know if the house you're interested in is a realistic option or not.

Make an offer
After you've decided on the home of your dreams, its now time to make an offer to the sellers. This offer is your proposed price for purchasing the home. Your Realtor will normally craft an agreement with your offer and present it to the sellers for them to sign if they are in agreement. If they are, then you've got a new home. If not, you'll have to create a counter offer or find another home that will be sold for the amount you're offering.

Get a home appraisal and inspection
Once your offer is accepted, you will need to get it appraised to know its true value. Also, you'd need a thorough home inspection in order to identify any problems with the home. Both are crucial in knowing if the home is a good investment or not.

Close the deal
In closing the deal on your new home purchase, you sit down and finalize all the legalities and ownership transfer. You'll also make the down payment now and pay closing costs if necessary. Finally, you'll also be given the keys to your new home!

5 Tips Every First Time Buyer Needs to Know

Buying your first home is a HUGE deal. Its probably the biggest investment you'll ever make so the pressure that comes along with being a first-time home buyer is sure to be monumental. Don't let your emotions get caught up and hinder your good decision-making skills. Follow these 5 tips every first time buyer needs to know, and you're sure to have a clear path in finding the home of your dreams.

1. Get approved
In order to come out of this investment successfully, you need to know the right amount to invest. The only way to find this out is by consulting with your lending institution to find out exactly how much you're approved for. This amount will then be your guide in your house hunt.

2. Budget smart
Just because you've been pre-approved for a certain amount doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to comfortably afford it.  You need to take things like renovations, new appliances and furniture, bills and incidentals into account as well with your budget. Ensure that the amount you set to spend on purchasing your new home leaves you with enough change in the budget to cover other expenses so you're not stretching yourself too thin.

3. Research location
More times than not, the location of your new address is even more important than the home itself. A home is something you can always customize to meet your personal taste and style; but there's no changing a location. Do your research and make sure the neighborhood of your potential home is right for you in terms of its proximity to stores, activities, work and school; as well as its crime rate and traffic. Once you have the desired location set out, you can then venture freely into finding a home on the market or land where you can break ground on building your own home.

4. Keep your options open
People tend to get stuck into their pattern of thinking and block out amazing opportunities that lie outside what they've ever imagined possible. Don't let this happen to you. Just because you've decided on an existing home in your neighborhood to be yours, doesn't mean its the best possible option out there. Spend a couple weeks exploring other locations where the  homes may be cheaper, sort through foreclosures or maybe even building your own home from the ground up. Take the time to weed through all the options available to you instead of just latching onto one option immediately based solely on your emotions.

5. Save, save, save
When you're in the market for a huge investment like a home, its certainly not the time to make large purchases or any major career changes that can negatively impact your budget. You never know what emergencies may happen while you're in the process of buying your home. As a basic rule of thumb, you should have at least 3 months' mortgage payments set aside in your account in case of any unforeseen emergency that may arise.

Bonus: Don't get hung up on the decor and furniture in homes that you tour. Remember all these things can be changed to your liking. Keep your focus on the space the home provides and the flow, to see if it would suite your needs.

You can get more insight into buying your home from the experienced agents at CPC Real Estate Solutions Ltd.