If there is a difference in Mexico between a rental contract in English and in Spanish, the Spanish version always controls. If you want to purchase property, you have to be aware that many documents from your real estate provider will be in English and Spanish for you to understand what you are signing. When you get to the final documents, which are the public document with the notary, the documents will all be in Spanish.
 
The law in Mexico requires that if you do not speak...

If there is a difference in Mexico between a rental contract in English and in Spanish, the Spanish version always controls. If you want to purchase property, you have to be aware that many documents from your real estate provider will be in English and Spanish for you to understand what you are signing. When you get to the final documents, which are the public document with the notary, the documents will all be in Spanish.
 
The law in Mexico requires that if you do not speak Spanish, you should have a translator when you sign. If you are going to sign a public document in Spanish at the notary, you should have a translator. When you are going to the notary to sign the fideicomiso (the bank trust that foreigners use to buy and hold property in Mexico that are in the restricted zones), you should have someone with who can translate for you at the notary public.

 

 

They don’t have to be a certified translator but it is a good idea to bring someone who speaks very good English and very good Spanish and it should be someone you trust.  It is important that you know what you are signing because if there is a legal dispute, then the judges will go with the Spanish version of the document.

 

(Condos on the beach at Puerto Penasco, Baja California, Mexico, pictured.)

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• Public Health is available to everyone, including visitors.  The main hospital for public health in Panamá City is Santo Tomas (St. Thomas), which has one of the best trauma centers in the region.  Of course, it does not offer the the same types of facilities or have the same types of well groomed-buildings as private hospitals, but it is a great hospital, with ridiculously low prices, but the waiting time is much longer than it is in private hospitals, unless there is a real emergency.   Most doctors are the same as in private practice, and Santo Tomas is a medical school hospital.  Services at Santo Tomas are available to locals and visitors.

• The Social Security is reserved for Panamanians, either working or retirees, and their service is sometimes delayed, because thousands of people are seeking it. Social Security includes medical, hospital and medications, all free of charge. It´s socialized medicine.  This an additional service to private industry workers, who also enjoy private insurance.

In the Cayo District / San Ignacio, Belize, for about US $100,000 you can get a nice, well-built, well-finished, 2-bedroom, 1 or 2 bathrooms, wooden cabana-style building, which would be around 2,000 square foot with a galvalum roof with a good amount of land. For this amount, the house will be in a good, safe location, located close to restaurants and shops. This would not be a North American style home. Instead, it would be tropical construction. We don’t have winters so you...

In the Cayo District / San Ignacio, Belize, for about US $100,000 you can get a nice, well-built, well-finished, 2-bedroom, 1 or 2 bathrooms, wooden cabana-style building, which would be around 2,000 square foot with a galvalum roof with a good amount of land. For this amount, the house will be in a good, safe location, located close to restaurants and shops. This would not be a North American style home. Instead, it would be tropical construction. We don’t have winters so you don’t need insulation.  You would have a single hardwood wall and you might have a cathedral ceiling. It’s not bad. That’s actually what a lot of people are looking for because it is basic, simple, but it’s good enough because half the time, you are going to be outside anyway. You don’t lock yourself up inside your house. 
 
For $200,000, you could get a bigger house with a bigger lot in a better location or with a cement construction. 
 
In Belize, you can’t find a home in a selection with a set price. They are all over the place. People try to get the maximum they can so you have to look around and see what is available. If you don’t see what you want, consider building your own because sometimes, you just won’t find what you want. I sell mostly raw land and farmlands. We don’t sell many homes. Often, we encourage people to build their own homes because, that way, you get what you want. 
 
A fifth of an acre of land can be as inexpensive as $10,000 to $15,000 on the low end, while in a good location, it would cost around US $25,000. Obviously, there are more expensive options but if you come to me with $20,000, I could sell you a decent lot around town with utilities such as pipe water, electricity, and probably cable. For an acre of land, I have options in very good neighborhoods. For half acres, the price could start at $35,000.  Whole acres start at $70,000 in a high-end neighborhood with good views; something nice. And I can get a whole acre in another location starting at $38,000. All of these prices are for lots that are serviced.
 
There are no condos in the Cayo area. We have been talking about building some but we are still exploring the market and haven’t built any condos yet. Part of the reason is because, unlike Placencia or Ambergris Caye where land is a real premium, we have a lot of land out here in Cayo. There is a lot of space so there is no need to cram people into one little location. 

 

(Terraced walls of a home in Cayo District, Belize, pictured.)

As a foreigner, you can buy fee simple title and it’s in your name.

 

Furthermore, you can buy property in Nicaragua without being a resident.

As a foreigner, you can buy fee simple title and it’s in your name.

 

Furthermore, you can buy property in Nicaragua without being a resident.