Letting Go

Letting Go…

Another expat here says, “Belize is for those willing to let go of false needs of comfort and live simple…”

Aha! And in doing so, one confirms that old saying —- less can mean more! More time to share friendships and to enjoy what’s around you, more chances to explore about the countryside and one’s inner heart.

So adventure comes in many forms in lovely Belize — the recreational pursuits so readily available and those that come from time to think and contemplate….

Feeling the Love and Warmth of Belize

“Belize is still primal in many ways and that is very appealing as well… It is a true adventure and not one you can pay for anywhere else”. Does this appeal to you?

Ready to get a passport?

More About “Less”

And speaking of “less” —- there is another aspect to living in Belize that greatly appeals to many. In fact, I was surprised at the reaction of an acquaintance when we were discussing this matter.

“No place is perfect but my experience with “1st world” countries is too many rules and too much competition which erases the warmth and friendliness that attracts us all to Belize and her peoples”.

Less restrictions and less competition — now that does sound good!

Here’s more on “less” —- “The out of town building regulations are also phenomenal. Build your house, live in it, and if it falls down you have yourself to blame. If you want you can have building inspectors and architects, but there is no law requiring it.
I can also own and slaughter my own livestock here. I don’t need to fill out endless forms for some faceless bureaucrat or transport animals to an abattoir”.

If you feel the same way, then you may indeed be considering the expat life in Belize!

Peace and Sanity in Belize:

Peace and Sanity in Belize:

As I was on a plane ride back home to Belize, I met a lady who shared with me her thoughts of “Why Belize.”

She said that she appreciated that

living in a country like Belize can be a chance to pull away from the endless financial and social stresses that families in the U.S. encounter. She could sense the calm,peace and sanity that might be the result!

What impressed me the most, however, was how this young mother, obviously under many stresses herself, understood how a move to a less materialistic, less driven culture like Belize can facilitate an inner process of development.

She had a fine sense of what it must be to get to know and experience yourself in a calmer, less stressful environment which still honors Mother Earth and nature.

cozy, Relaxing, and stress free Beach

The Inner Expat

She is not alone. I feel the same way and other expats I’ve talked with refer to this inner, spiritual dimension of living in Belize. It has to do with living a simpler, less consumer oriented lifestyle……making do with less material goods.

Can you imagine yourself saying this — as an expat friend of mine does — “I have more spiritual moments in a day in Belize than I get in a year in the States….”

Wow – what a great way to feel!

Now how about this; does this comment resonate with you? “…we know very well why we love Belize. For its simplicity, it’s inner beauty and its soul, and its live and let live vibe”.

THE EXPAT EXPERIENCE Wither thou go-est………

Inquiring Minds Want To Know!

Does one need special DNA to become an expat?   Is there a secret sign-up sheet?
What makes one a potential expat?

I’ve been discussing my own expat experiences in previous articles.  Now I find I’ve become fascinated by this topic!

After all, what DOES motivate someone/anyone to pack up and move to a foreign country —- to become part of another culture. Wow!  That’s a huge undertaking!

A Simpler Life

Recently, I was on an airplane chatting with a seatmate.  It turned out she had spent her honeymoon in Belize.  She loved her experiences there and said she could see moving there to live.  I was amazed how she expressed herself —- and how she totally “got it” and understood what Belize has to offer.

We’re not talking Starbucks or upscale malls here.  We’re talking about a more relaxed culture in a gorgeous natural setting that offers rest and respite along with every recreational activity that sand, surf and jungle can supply.

What this perceptive lady understood is the allure of living a simpler, less hectic and less materialistic lifestyle in a country where the emphasis is on interconnectedness — between people and between human beings and Mother Nature.

She admired the rewarding possibilities of living in an environment finely attuned to people and nature — where both are greatly valued and appreciated.

And she was respectful of Belizean culture which emphasizes different values from those we find in the U.S.

That refers, of course, to the ever present quest of the almighty dollar in the and keeping up with the Jones. That’s hard enough to do when times are good – much less when we now face shaky financial futures.

mingling with God's Creations at Banana Bank

If you are driven to be an Expat, your DNA is calling you to do it !

So, just go ahead, and Belize it, we are here waiting for you !

Greece Real Estate Purchasing Procedures

The first stage in the conveyancing is to sign a Sales Agreement and pay a deposit – usually 10 percent. This agreement contains the names of the parties, a description of the property, the price, the method of payment and any special conditions negotiable in the purchase process.

The vendor will then be instructed to take the property off the market whilst your appointed lawyer completes the purchase transaction. Under Greek law, no contract is enforceable unless it is in writing, It is important therefore that once an offer has been made and accepted all purchase documents are checked by a lawyer before signing to ensure that the vendor has rightful title to the property.

Losing your deposit

If you do not go ahead with buying the property after you have paid your deposit, you will forfeit it and face potential legal action from the vendor. However, if the vendor pulls out of the deal after receiving your deposit, you are entitled to claim a return of double the deposit in compensation. The compensation will not affect your statutory rights to legal action against the vendor for breach of contract.

Finding the Experts

You will undoubtedly need a good team. You will need a:

• • bi-lingual agent
• • notary public
• • lawyer
• • banker.

Liaising with an agent

The agent will normally barter the purchase consideration on your behalf. If you choose to attend this ritual, be prepared for a long duration as the relevant merits of the family, the property, the village/town, etc. are proudly promoted by the seller. When the shenanigans are finally over, and a price is agreed upon, the “ouzo and mezedhes” (these are traditional drinks and food for a kind of celebration, which is a small sign of the famous Greek hospitality) will appear and suddenly everyone will be part of one large happy family, with promises of much merriment and rejoicing. The agent, in coordinating the purchase process, is also likely to establish via the lawyer who the owners are of the adjoining properties. The boundaries are then fixed by topographical survey. Such a survey carried out by an expert could cost in the region of €150.

Appointing a notary public

Your first experience of this official will be the visit together with your agent to sign your Sale Agreement using the Greek bible as the swearing oath. The notary public works with your lawyer to ensure that the contracts are drawn up in an orderly fashion and presented to the taxation authorities on time. Before any transaction takes place, your lawyer will carry out searches with the Land Registry. The notary public will not proceed with a contract concerning a property which does not have a clean title, free of mortgage obligations, etc. You will normally be expected to pay a fee of up to 1.6 per cent of the ‘notional value’ of the property as recorded in the Contract of Sale.

Finding a lawyer

A good, English speaking, well-qualified conveyance solicitor is absolutely essential. The lawyer will draw up the Contract of Sale on your behalf, in Greek, arrange the signing ceremony with the vendors, normally at the office of the local notary public, and also negotiate the purchase tax with the local taxation office. You should allow 1-1.5 per cent of the purchase price for this service.

Money

Getting a banker

The vendor will probably require payment in euros. You will have opened a euro account in preparation at either a private or national bank. Normally, your bank will arrange to pay the vendor a ten per cent deposit at point of signing contracts and allow a further 15-20 days for the remaining consideration to be settled, although the settlement period can vary per transaction. Your choice of banker will depend on day to day considerations such as location, connection with international banks, opening hours, etc.

All titles are in the Land Registry Offices and most of the disputes and arbitrations are between the Greek Church and the Government for past unsolved settlements. There is a recent dispute between these two parties because the Greek Church do not want to pay property taxes.

Regulation

Land use regulation are clear and most of the problems and issues arise in cases of land with forest inside or land with illegal buildings in it. In these two paradigms the law is strict but simultaneously, a potential property investor must know that the corruption of the public services is still high.  Construction rates has been decreased significantly in the last 5 years, mainly, due to the unexpected increase in the building permission licenses and the low house demand levels.  Most of the house are not under an insurance contract but things seems to be changed in the last decade and many people are more willing to pay a property insurance.

There are many broker agents but a small percentage can be characterized as professionals with in depth in knowledge.  Some of the international property consulting firms have also opened representative offices in Greece, most of them under the franchising system and rules.  Royal Institutes and American Appraisal Institute has a low profile presence in the last years.

The Greek property market can be characterized as stable at the moment, but truly speaking, there are always the “Traditional Investors and Buyers”, those that are strongly believing that Greece, with Acropolis and Parthenon, with the most beautiful and idyllic islands for a majority of people, has something unique. In other words, lots of investors are looking for a house or a piece of land in a Greek island or across the endless coastlines. The drop in the house demand levels,especially in the big cities, are inter-related with the adoption of strict bank loans policies and as a result, fewer property buyers have the money to invest, or to buy a house.

In the commercial property market, vacancies rates are high, 30-40% of the new buildings are not under a lease at the moment. Most of the home buyers are looking for second hand homes to buy or they tend to agree to buy a new house with at least 20 square meters (one room less then) smaller than in the past. Now,the average home for a Greek family is 80-90 sq.m when before 5-8 years was 100-110 sq.m. The strong financial asset for most of the Greek families is the home ownership rate which is around 85%.

A property investor can expect annual property yields such as the below:

• houses: 2.6-4%
• The small houses (30-45 sq.m.) has 7-9% yield annually.
• offices:6%
• stores:6-7%
• warehouses and industrial buildings: 8%

The ExPat Dream Takes Hold

BELIEVE IT!!!!!!  BELIZE just might be the place where your dreams of an expat life come true!

Relaxing in Belize

Ok, take the test.  See if you have an expat life in your future! (This is all in good fun)

The Test

1.  Have you spent days at work trying to look like you’re busy and productive ——- when you’re actually fantasizing about becoming an expat!!  (YES / NO)

2.  Are you staring at that computer screen with glazed eyes ——- but instead of seeing excel spread sheets, you see yourself spreading your towel out on an exotic beach and an afternoon of blissful naps and naughty novels.  (YES / NO)

3.  You think you’re the next India/Indiana Jones on a  mission to seek hidden relics in Mayan temples.  Instead you’re seeking new markets for the company.  You give your sales pitch to the glazed eyes of potential customers — who are busy daydreaming about their own expat adventures. And thus don’t hear a word you say!  (YES / NO)

4.  You dream about becoming a world famous botanist who will uncover new medicinal plants and new cures for mankind’s ills.  Hey, that Nobel Prize might be next!  (YES / NO)

Expat On Your Mind

If you find yourself checking off even one “YES” —– it could be you’re ready to explore more of living abroad.

You are not alone.  This is a very common syndrome.   And of course, even more so in these financially insecure times when the thought of stretching your dollars makes you to want to stretch your life too ——— and seek a way out. Who doesn’t dream of becoming an ESCAPE ARTIST -  leaving it all behind for a saner life; a more satisfying and less stressful lifestyle you can easily afford.  Imagine having something left over at the end of each month.

Who doesn’t want that!

Romania: The Economic and Financial Crisis Takes It’s Toll

The financial crisis continues to take it’s toll on the commercial real estate markets in Romania, as in most of CEE. The economy is closely linked to the health of the political system, and as the Government collapsed in Romania ahead of Presidential elections, depending on who wins the Presidency, there may be new Parliamentary elections at hand.

The focus of the few remaining investors is now the search for distressed assets and truly exceptional investment opportunities. Whereas in 2007, at the height of the commercial market, sellers were receiving in the 6% yield range for their highest quality properties, hoping for prices to go higher still (lower yields). Now, not even 2 years later, the tables have turned completely from a seller’s market and has become a buyer’s market. Yields have risen to the double digit range over 10% and 12%.

Credit is almost non-existent causing investors to purchase with a majority (or all) of equity and little debt. Major investors still in the marketplace are primarily institutional investors, private equity parties, and bottom fishing opportunistic funds. Buyers are highly selective and very cautious to purchase the highest quality properties in the best locations. They use conservative assumptions when doing their spreadsheet analysis regarding price, income growth, and exit strategies. In light of the increased risks, many major investors have abandoned Romania, even CEE, for their comfortable, stable western European markets such as Paris and London.

With significant problems still existing in the capital markets and financial sector and uncertainty where the market is heading several years into the future, active investors are offering considerably higher yields for properties, typically over 12%, often causing a disconnect as sellers still hope for top price in a rapidly sinking market. This credit crisis has had a devastating effect on both investors and sellers and a quick return to pre-2008 market conditions will not occur any time soon. Overall, 2009 is expected to be a very difficult year and the number of transactions will decrease due to lenders requiring more equity from the investor per deal, if credit is available at all.

A reassessment of risk has occurred on the part of investors and lenders due to the economic and financial crisis. Prior to the economic and financial crisis and due to cheap credit and the possibility of high leverage, similar to Western Europe, commercial property prices were headed toward the under 6% yield level. This is no longer possible and yields have nearly doubled. There currently is a re-pricing of risk worldwide. 2009 and beyond will be a time of aggressive opportunities – if any deal will be made at all.

As Warren Buffett astutely states, “There are times when cash buys more than at other times and this is one of those times when it buys you a lot more. You want to be greedy when others are fearful and you want to be fearful when others are greedy”.

Expats Tell It Like It Is

Here is a sampling of comments and observations on life in Belize.  They are thought provoking — some may be quite eye opening.  It’s all good!!  This helps you do your research on becoming an expat.

There are many topics covered.  There are even answers to questions you may not have thought about yet!   The more understanding you gain and the more aspects you explore of life abroad will put you more solidly on the road to a successful expat experience —- if you decide to go ahead and live abroad or in Belize.

Comments from Current Expats in Belize

One reason I love Belize is for its simplicity. When the power goes out, you light candles, listen to the wind, and look at the sky. I can’t remember the last time I sat and looked at the sky in the states. Power outages in the states cause varying levels of panic. In Belize-You go to plan B…..Click here to read about Lee in Belize- http://www.expatbelize.com/meet-the-experts/98-lee-austin.html

I have more spiritual moments in a day in Belize than I get in a year in the States….

When something is in season, you savor it, and enjoy it. When something is out of season, you make other choices. You are resourceful, you plan, and you make do. There is an abundance of choices, regardless of the season. You look forward to things. Lobster in season? Sweet!

You learn that less is more………

People do things in Belize that seem to be lost in the so called “first” world…. They give you plants or extra “stuff”, loan you tools, invite you over. They just drop in. They watch out for each other. They offer you a ride into town.

…..people here are REAL…

Rodriguez Family in Belize

I think many in Belize (the expats) come here to be more ecologically grounded…… It is exactly WHY we come to Belize. Because it DOESN’T have all the consumerist traps you find elsewhere, at least not easily acquired ones……

Oh yes, there are the “those” who throw money at building projects, cars, big boats, you name it. I’m not really sure WHY they are here and not in Florida, where there are more people they don’t know to impress with all their stuff. But as for the rest of us, we know very well why we love Belize. For its simplicity, it’s inner beauty and its soul, and its live and let live vibe.

I like my place in Belize because it’s beautifully green and warm. I have rolling terrain, water and abundant wildlife like parrots, armadillo, fox and howler monkeys. The property taxes are very low, I don’t have building restrictions where my place is and my neighbors are few but friendly. I have all the privacy I need in a country with the smallest population in Central America. As for amenities, well I certainly spend a whole lot less simply because there’s a lot less to buy. I have no trouble preparing gourmet meals any time of year and I don’t need a big variety of clothes apart from a tee shirt and shorts…….

Belize is for those willing to let go of false needs of comfort and live simple. Now that doesn’t mean easier at all, just living with less………

I think we all have reasons for living here. I just thank God that I am still here.

…many ex-pats…were very welcoming (as we look forward to the next Friendship Luncheon). We wanted to learn to live the simpler life. That is why we are here now.

I tell everyone that Belize is not for everyone, yet, Belize is also EVERYTHING to some people !

Oddly,…most every driver of a vehicle going in the other direction on a local road waves at me, and I wave back. There’s no reason for this other than expressing friendship or at least cordiality. It’s little things like this that make me smile.

When I pick up someone looking for a ride, there is always a thank you. Locals have gotten to know me and my pickup truck whether it’s the ferry man, a soldier or some young girl who doesn’t speak a word of English. They have gotten to know me as I have them.

The Mennonites in Spanish Lookout are fantastic people. They are always helpful and honest. I get their courtesy and time even if all I’m buying is a 25 cent item. It is these intangibles in Belize that are so wonderful, it is the warmth of the people.

We’d been to other places, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Mexico. I don’t know exactly what it was or is as to why we love Belize so over these other places…I think part of the attraction is because it isn’t crowded and it isn’t covered in fast food outlets…

Belize operates on a whole different schedule. If you expect it to work like clockwork, you’ll be sadly disappointed. It’s their country, and things work on Belize time. That said, when you go to pay your bills, you will wait in line, and yet, the beauty of this, is you will have at least 5 conversations with others in line, that will just plain fascinate you !

A wise man…once told me, “Belize is real and pure paradise”, So true….Here is a website that features expats in Belize resources: http://www.expatbelize.com/meet-the-experts/101-jana.html

Think it through, and do your homework. Be real with yourself about EVERYTHING…Can you do without all the conveniences? The more you make these decisions and address your REAL feelings, the better decisions you will make in regards to life in Belize.

The upsides to Belize over Mexico and a lot of the Caribbean were the land ownership laws. You get clear title to your land in Belize [thanks in part to the pioneering efforts of RAINFOREST REALTY!] and also there are no punitive taxes on the purchase or sale if you are a ‘foreigner’.  Plus you are pleasantly surprised every time you go and pay your land taxes, and also the ability to pay them up to ten years in advance is a real bonus, and at the average price of 60 dollars a year.

Veterinary bills here are a fraction of what they are in other countries.

Then of course there is the weather. Never too hot nor too cold. I don’t have heating or air conditioning bills. If you build your house right and don’t let the sun beat on your walls, all you will ever need is a fan.

I have a real life in Belize. Not just an existence in a rat race.

I know a number of expats living in Belize who were not 100% healthy. Most say that their health has improved in Belize. I know I find it easier to maintain a healthy diet, when I’m there, compared to when I’m in Florida. I also get more exercise, just getting through the typical day. The fruits and vegetables here in Belize are stunning !

Pithaya Fruit is Lucious !

I’d like to add…that our number one consideration for Belize was the price of land…Second major reason for Belize is that the official language is English; not everyone speaks it though.

Summary

So you see —- there are many aspects to life as an expat that are crucial for you to consider.  Some have been mentioned here but there’s more and I know you will continue to do your homework.  That way you will make sure you and your families have as much information as possible of what is involved in becoming an expat.

Then you can make an informed and successful decision about moving abroad, and live a DREAM !!

Toronto Real Estate Board Releases Canadian Consumer Price Index August 2009

Click on the Full Screen Button at the bottom of this slide to View. Then press ESC or escape when finished.

Reposted from www.Torontoism.com

Toronto Real Estate Board Launches Housing Market Stats

Great News! The Toronto Real Estate Board is providing us with housing market information in graph format that will help you be up-to-date about what is really happening in the Toronto Real Estate Market. Let me know what you think, or if you need more clarification and know that I will be updating these graphs on my web sites as they are published by TREB…. so please come back for next month’s updates.

Click here for Toronto Real Estate Board Market Stats

Reposted from www.Torontoism.com

The Canadian Real Estate Association Upgrades Its Forecast

MLS® home sales forecast revised

OTTAWA – August 27, 2009 – MLS® home sales were much stronger than expected in the second quarter of 2009, with activity having climb throughout the quarter and into July. The remarkable recovery of resale housing has prompted a change to the MLS® home sales forecast issued by The Canadian Real Estate Association for 2009 and 2010.
The speed and magnitude of the rebound in sales activity to date has lifted CREA’s national forecast for the number of transactions to 432,600 units. This represents an annual decline in activity of 0.4 per cent compared to levels set in 2008, and is a significant upward revision from the previously forecast decline of 14.7 per cent in CREA’s forecast issued last May.
“Sales activity started off the third quarter on a strong footing,” said CREA President Dale Ripplinger. “The difference in the resale housing market now, compared to the beginning of the year, is night and day, and nowhere is this more evident than in the West.”
British Columbia and Ontario are now forecast to post annual increases in activity this year, reflecting weak demand last year and a subsequent rebound. Forecast declines in annual activity were trimmed significantly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, and were also shaved for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
National MLS® home sales activity is forecast to rise 5.3 per cent to 455,400 units in 2010. This is a smaller rise in activity than previously forecast. “Low interest rates are boosting sales by returning homebuyers to the market who moved to the sidelines late last year, and shifting ” said Chief Economist Gregory Klump. “Buyers are also shifting purchase decisions forward as they take advantage of attractive interest rates now before financing costs increase.”
New listings have been edging down from record levels, with many sellers taking their home off the market pending an improvement in housing market conditions. Average price increases in the second half of 2009 are likely result in a mild rebound in listings in 2010.
The national MLS® average home price is forecast to edge up 1.5 per cent in 2009, as the strong rebound in sales activity, not price, in some of Canada’s most expensive markets continues to skew the national, and some provincial, average prices upward. Alberta is the only province with a forecast decline in average price in 2009 (-4.4 per cent). Average prices are forecast to rise in all other provinces except British Columbia, where average price in 2009 is forecast to remain stable. CREA’s previous forecast predicted a decline in the national average price of 5.2 per cent in 2009.
Average prices are forecast to stabilize over the rest of 2009 and into 2010, but weak results in the first quarter of 2009 will result in a lower annual average price this year compared to 2010. The national average price is forecast to be up 2.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis in 2010.
The price trend is similar but less dramatic for the weighted national MLS® average price, which compensates for changes in provincial sales activity by taking into account provincial proportions of privately owned housing stock. The weighted national MLS® average price is forecast to climb 1.4 per cent in 2009, with a further 1.7 per cent rise in 2010. CREA previously forecast that the weighted national average price for MLS® homes sales would hold steady from 2009 to 2010.
“The speed with which the Canadian resale housing market has rebounded is unprecedented,” said Klump. “The economic recovery is expected to be slow and protracted, so the dramatic swings in activity seen in late 2008 and this year are unlikely to be repeated in 2010.”

Related Posts:

Canadian Real Estate Association Posts Best July on Record

REALTOR.ca and why it is not an MLS System.

CREA Issues Strong Report For Canadian Real Estate.

National resale housing continues to rise in May

Reposted From:

The Canadian Real Estate Association Upgrades Its Forecast