The Exodus of Americans Moving to Belize

 

The Exodus of Americans Moving to Belize

Every year, more-and-more people are looking at investing and relocating off-shore. Whether it is for lifestyle or retirement, Americans & Canadians are rethinking their lives and where in the world would provide the best future. This is shown by the recent migration stats.

Americans & Canadians are leaving their home countries and seeking foreign visas in record numbers, according to immigration lawyers and expatriate organizations. Belize saw an unprecedented number of Americans not only inquiring about Belize real estate but also following through on their pledge and taking the steps to leave over the last 3-years (2020, 2021 & 2022). This is seen by the growth in the expat population on Ambergris Caye over recent years.

The number of Americans who were recorded as having given up their citizenship or U.S. residency soared to 5,816 in the first six months of 2020, compared with 2,072 in all of 2019, according to data from the Internal Revenue Service.

Dan Prescher, the senior editor of Internationalliving.com, said traffic related to “how to move out of the U.S.” surged 1,676 percent in 2020 and has been a continued trend since.

“Quieter, more stable countries start to look appealing,” he said.

The exodus has been led by not only baby boomer expats, but also young professionals looking for an opportunity and parents looking for countries with open and safe schools that provide futures for their children. No matter the age, the group largely consists of Americans with financial means and the ability to work virtually, or are in a position to relocate.

 

Why are people leaving?

The U.S. State Department reported in April that there are a record 8.7 million Americans live abroad. This number alone speaks for itself – never before has such a large group of U.S.-born citizens lived abroad. They’ve decided that it’s time for a change, to move to a new location where they are able to not just survive but thrive.

People’s motives for leaving or seeking relocation differ. But overall, the objective is a better life and a more promising future. The IMMI Group analyzed the top 10 motives for leaving the US, the list includes;

1. Money
2. Cost of healthcare
3. Taxes
4. Government regulations
5. Freedom

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Belize Ranks Among Forbes Best Beach Destinations

 

Wendy Altschuler a travel writer for Forbes who covers travel, adventure, and culture across the globe, wrote an article on January 28, 2023, on The 9 Best Beach Destinations For Families with one of the 9 destinations being Belize, and more specifically, Ambergris Caye.

Forbes, the rеnоwnеd buѕіnеѕѕ аnd trаvеl mаgаzіnе, hаѕ lіѕtеd Веlіzе аѕ оnе оf thе bеѕt bеасh dеѕtіnаtіоnѕ fоr fаmіlіеѕ (one of the nine locations mentioned in the article). Fоrbеѕ lіѕtеd Ѕаn Реdrо Аmbеrgrіѕ Сауе hаѕ а “mаgісаl аnd full оf fаmіlу-frіеndlу wоndеr”.

Wendy Altschuler with Forbes said in the article;

“Magical and full of family-friendly wonder, Ambergris Caye has it all. Rent a golf cart, the only way to travel all over the island, and visit Secret Beach (not all that secret), where you can spend the day swimming in the warm water, snorkeling, boating, or enjoying good food. Visitors can also enjoy the underwater world in the pristine waters of Belize. In San Pedro Town, be sure to stop at Caye Coffee Roasting Company; Belize Chocolate Company; and the food truck haven, The Truck Stop.”

It is amazing to see Ambergris Caye get global recognition from Forbes and rank among the top 9 beach destinations for families. Belize has entered the world’s radar, continuing to be featured in major publications around the globe. The Belize Barrier Reef remains the country’s top tourism driver, but the fact our beaches are ranked among the top for families is a further reason so many people visit Belize each year.

The article by Forbes listed other top beach destinations for families as well, and Ambergris Caye ranked among the likes of; The Bahamas, Maldives, Puerto Vallarta, Grenada, Maui, St. Kitts and Nevis, Seaside (Florida), and Cavallo Point (California).

 

Ambergris Caye Real Estate

With all the publicity going towards Ambergris Caye, the real estate market continues to grow. Publications like Forbes reach an international audience. The more people learn about Belize, the more tourism comes to Ambergris Caye. There is. a direct correlation between tourism numbers and real estate values. With higher visibility and recognition, tourism will grow. As tourism grows, so will the demand for nightly vacation rentals. There is a direct correlation between tourism growth and real estate appreciation. If you are looking at owning property or investing in 

Belize Secret Beach

 

Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize has been growing and developing fast, and with all the new development there has been even more momentum around the West Coast. Between new homes being built, exciting new communities, and announcements of high-end resorts, the West Coast is really at a tipping point! Because of this, we wanted to update you on everything happening at Secret Beach.

You can see a Secret Beach 2022 Video below;

Everything around Secret Beach (the beach clubs, bars, restaurants, boutique hotels, homes, etc.) happened between 2016 and now. With the recent announcements, the trajectory is starting to take off!

You can see the growth and development of Secret Beach in the image and video below;

Six Senses Resort & Residences

Secret Beach has become one of the region’s most popular beach destinations, and it is also starting to attract high-end developments, including the recently announced Six Senses Resort Belize!

Between the Six Senses, Ixchel Resort, Habitat Belize community, and the other upscale developments coming to the area, you will likely see equity appreciation and property prices rise because of it.

The recent announcement of the Six Senses resort has been the biggest news for the area since Leonardo DiCaprio purchased his island, Blackadore Caye. Six Senses is one of the top internationally recognized luxury hotel brands. It will also be the first official 5-star resort brand on the island of Ambergris Caye and will be located near Secret Beach.

Ix Chel Resort Wellness Resort

At Secret Beach (just north of the beach bars), you have a new upscale boutique resort nearing completion. Ix Chel Wellness Resort is well underway and nearing completion. It brings an exciting new vision and design to the west coast with a vibrant atmosphere. Both resorts will bring more restaurants and businesses to the West Coast, further propelling the desire to live and stay in the area.

You can see photo renderings of the project below;

Belize Secret Beach Real Estate Investment

Off-beach, there are dozens of new homes, with more being added every month. There are also quite a few exciting new projects and communities underway off-beach (within a mile of the West Coast). Our team at RE/MAX Belize is excited to share those with you so you can see how much is happening in the area and the new opportunities available near Secret Beach.

Secret Beach changed dramatically over the last several years (2016 to 2023), and the next 6-years will see an even more substantial leap forward. By 2028, it will see even more development as these are only the first few dominos to fall. The West Coast is really at a tipping point, and there are still opportunities to buy off-beach Belize land for under $50,000 with financing available. Whether or not you build/develop the land, the Secret Beach properties are an amazing opportunity to be part of one of the region’s top emerging destinations!

Learn more on our Guide to Secret Beach Real Estate Investment.

The property near Secret Beach has a huge upside with little risk. You own an asset in an appreciating market hedged against inflation for less than a bank account annually. The only cost of ownership is the $75 to $90 per year property taxes (paid annually in April). You own the land outright, with a fee-simple title, financing is available, and the cost of ownership is almost nothing.

You are able to purchase a property and build. Or just secure the land and ride the organic momentum that will drive real estate value up.Our team looks forward to chatting with you and making your dreams a reality!