Beautiful 3 Bedroom, Riverfront Home in Hopeville Area of Punta Gorda - Belize

This Beautiful Belize home is just minutes from downtown Punta Gorda in the Hopeville Area and sits on the river.

This spacious single storey 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, 2400 Sqft Home is completely move in ready. The large lot measures 102 x 82 Ft. and has plenty of room to expand.

The home boasts a large open floorplan and the kitchen  has a full breakfast bar and lots of storage space. The full wrap-around verandah/patio lends itself to beautiful views of the river. This home has its very own access to the river and private pier.

For more information on this property, CLICK HERE


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Call Today for an appointment to view this wonderful home!

Call Today for an appointment to view this wonderful home!

SAGA Humane Society may be forced to close its doors to the animals

SAGA is a humane society in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, that is committed to providing care for unwanted, abused, neglected, homeless, injured and sick animals in Belize. It is committed to preventing cruelty in all its forms through educational programs and provides an invaluable service to the San Pedro Town Board by doing public health investigations, dealing with dog bites and other animal nuisance issues. SAGA has allowed the San Pedro Town Board to cease using poison as a method of stray control.

Please help Save SAGA Humane Society!


For 10 years the SAGA Humane Society has provided valuable services to the Town of San Pedro and now it may be forced to close. Please Act NOW.

Over 75% of the money needed to provide the community with a Humane Society comes from the veterinary clinic SAGA runs, which provides both free and for-charge care. It is this income that pays for all of the other services. NOW, the SAGA veterinary clinic may be forced to close, putting the entire Humane Society at risk and out of business. If SAGA cannot employ a full-time vet, we cannot generate the income to offer all the many free and low-cost services we currently provide.

WARNING: If you are an animal lover the photos below may be graphic and disturbing in nature. There is a happy ending thanks to SAGA HUMANE SOCIETY.


This is what SAGA does for you and the animals of San Pedro:

* Dog Patrols to pickup stray, dangerous, diseased, maltreated, abandoned or injured animals.

* Responds to complaints of dog attacks, dog fights, noise nuisance and other negative interactions between the animal population and humans.

* Provides free rabies shots for all animals.

* Provides free or low cost medical treatment for animals belonging to those suffering financial hardship.

* Provides a shelter to house, feed and treat the homeless or mistreated animals of San Pedro.

* Provides animal adoption services, providing many local families with much loved pets and guard dogs.

* Assures that all people who want to adopt are able to provide good care for the animal.

* Assures all animals placed for adoption are spayed or neutered and have been given a clean bill of health with all shots up to date.

* Provides free or low cost spays & neuters to help prevent overpopulation.

* Provides humane euthanasia when appropriate and eliminate the need for the Town Board to use poison as an alternative.

* Provides educational programs to help the people of San Pedro learn how to care for a healthy, happy pet.

If you want to help, please contact SAGA urgently to sign their petition to save this very valuable service to the community before it is too late. For 10 years we have helped San Pedro. We need your help now.

Contact The SAGA Society:
Coconut Drive, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Tel: +501 226 3266, Email: saga@btl.net
visit theier website: http://sagahumanesociety.org/

Please sign the petition to save SAGA.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesagahumanesociety/

Upon arriving at Saga Humane Society

Getting immediate treatment at Saga Humane Society

After Being rehabilitated at Saga Humane Society

Saving yet another dog from neglect

Kids appreciating and learning about animals at Saga Humane Society

Saving another Puppy from neglect

Saga Humane Society

10 Questions You Must Ask The Real Estate Developer Before You Buy

Master-planned communities in Central America come in all shapes and sizes - from small condo buildings to developments covering thousands of acres offering resort style amenities. Many offer pre-construction sales where you buy before you see the finished product. Great gains can be made as properties are offered at a discount. But you have to be confident that the developer will deliver. The starting point is getting answers to these 10 questions below, before you sign the contract.

1.Find out what kind of title the developer has to the land and ask to see the master title insurance policy. Ensure the legal due diligence on these documents is carried out by a good quality attorney. The developer may recommend their own attorney, but it is always safer to conduct an independent review of the documents before signing.

2.Ask whether the development masterplan has been approved by all relevant authorities. In particular, check to see if environmental impact statements have been submitted, and approved. Authorities across Central America are getting increasingly stringent in their environmental regulation.

3.Investigate whether the developer has the capital to move the real estate development forward or if they are relying on sales revenues. Remember that limited financial flexibility or low project sales can adversely impact the timely completion of a project.

4.Do some research into the past experience of the developer and and ask to be put in touch with previous buyers. Try and get background information or bios on the entire developer team including builders, architect, marketers, operators and master-planners.

5.The builder being used is a critical component of the development team. If the developer is using a well respected local firm that has a track record in the type of construction required by the master plan, this is a good sign. If possible try and see examples of buildings that have been completed by the builder so that you can get a real sense of the quality of their work.

6.Find out how much time of the year the developer spends in-country. If the developer is foreign, but lives full-time in the country where the real estate project is located, this is a positive indicator for their long term commitment to the project and country.

7.Find out about the water source and whether the developer has ensured that there will be enough supply even when the development is fully built-out. Ask how sewage is being handled and does the process comply with local regulations. Check to see if power lines will be underground or overground.

8.Read the Codes Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) carefully. CC&Rs in some international real estate developments can be highly restrictive, down to what you can or can’t grow in your garden, what pets you can have, the architectural style that is allowed, or the color of your roofing tiles. Make sure you know what you’re getting into. In most cases the CC&Rs will be enforced by a Home Owners Association (HOA) - a legal entity which allows the developer to transfer ownership and management of the community to the homeowners after it has sold a predetermined number of units or lots. Ask to see a copy of the Association bylaws and budget.

9.Don’t forget to find out about after sales service such as property management, rental management and marketing support for re-sales. Make sure you are comfortable with the level of service that the developer intents to provide after the sale.

10.Find out if the developer is addressing the social and environmental impacts of the development and whether there are any programs in place to support the local community. Efforts to protect the environment, treat employees and suppliers fairly and ensure that the local community is benefiting are all good signs of a ‘responsible’ approach to development over the long term.

Reveal Real Estate - charting international real estate trends in Central America.

Corozal Town's Early History

Corozal Town of Today

To the extreme north in Belize you will find the town of Corozal which was founded in 1848 by refugees from the Maya Indian uprising against the Spanish in neighboring Yucatan. This uprising, known as the Caste War (from the Spanish "castas" or race), began as a war against the Spaniards, but it eventually became a war against the Mestizos. The Mestizos who are half Spanish and half Indian, had proven to be formidable allies of the Spaniards, and were thus mortal enemies of the Maya Indians.

A massacre at Bacalar, Mexico which was a Mestizo stronghold about thirty miles north of Corozal Town, finally led to the exodus of thousands of Mestizos from Bacalar and the surrounding areas in Mexico. Between 1848 and 1856 more than 10,000 Mestizo refugees crossed the Rio Hondo, the river that now serves as the boundary between Belize and Mexico. The immigrants sought refuge in northern Belize, and increased the population of Corozal Town to 4500. Mr. James Blake, a magistrate, let them settle on lands in the Corozal District and helped them to establish the new crop, sugar cane.

The Mestizo refugees were far from safe in Corozal Town as the Maya Indians from the Mexican base in Santa Cruz Bravo, which today is now Carrillo Puerto, made several incursions into Corozal Town. In defense, Corozal became a garrison town and Fort Barlee was built here in 1870. Today, the brick corner supports of the fort surrounds the post office complex of the buildings across from the central town square.

The immigrants brought with them Mestizo culture: Spanish and Yucatec Maya language, Catholicism and Maya folklore, the use of alcalde system, their family structure and way of life. Soon, there emerged a local replication of the society of the Yucatan within the boundaries of a country ruled by English expatriates.

Cerros Maya Ruin in Corozal

Across the bay from Corozal Town are the mounds of Cerros, the first Maya coastal trading center. Cerros is considered one of the most important late pre-classic Maya sites because it represented the first experiment with kingship in the Maya world. Cerros was important as a coastal trading center and expressed new forms of art and architecture that proved to be crucial for the classic Maya art and architecture. The remains include a number of temples, plazas, ball-courts, canals, and minor structures. Cerros’ tallest temple rises 21 meters above the plaza floor. The most interesting artifacts so far discovered are the five jade head pendants.

Santa Rita Maya Ruin in Corozal

Within Corozal Town can be found another Maya ruin from the fourteenth century AD. Known as Santa Rita, the pyramid site sits atop the remains of a Maya city that dominated the area for more than 2000 years. This site was important during the late Post-Classic Period and was occupied up to the time of the time of Spanish contact in the 1500’s. The largest building in the central core of Santa Rita has been excavated and consolidated, and open to the public. Archaeological excavations there have shown Santa Rita to be the ancient province of Chetumal, where a large part of the Post-Classic civilization once thrived at the time of the first Spanish attempt to conquer the Yucatec Mayas in the early 16th century. Burial sites rich in jewelry and artifacts have recently been unearthed there.

A sight worth seeing is the vibrant mural in the Town Hall. Painted by the Belizean-Mexican artist Manuel Villamore, it surrealistically depicts the rich history of Corozal.

365 Acre Private Island Residence and Playground or Developers Dream with Plans and Approvals off the Coast of Belize City in the Caribbean.

This is the ultimate in island residences, South Riders Caye is a private island that sits only 5 minutes off the coast of Belize City in the Caribbean. This is a prime location that is ready for you to create your very own 365 Acre Private Island Playground.

A great investment for any Developer! Included in the price is the approved documentation and plans of the entire island with all the financials showing the positive ROI (Return on Investment). South Riders Caye's development plans have already been inspected and approved by the Environmental agencies and the Government of Belize. The distinctive plans includes private airstrip, golf course, marina, club house, wellness center, recreation facilities, trade center and so much more.

For more information on this property, CLICK HERE


To view other properties in Belize, CLICK HERE


For more information about this excellent opportunity, contact us at 501-664-1630 or email info@platinumrealestate.biz

365 Acre Private Island Residence and Playground

or Developers Dream with Plans and Approvals
off the Coast of Belize City in the Caribbean.

Working with a Platinum International Real Estate and Investments Agent Vs. Working Alone

What are the benefits of selling your home with a Platinum International Real Estate agent?


A good real estate agent brings experience and knowledge to the home-selling experience that can ease the process for their clients.
Pricing a home correctly is the key step to a successful sale, and an agent's experience selling other homes in your area and knowledge of the market as whole, can help him or her determine how to price your home to sell.
A good real estate agent is also familiar with local laws, like those regarding issues you may have to disclose to potential sellers, and will be familiar with staging a home -- ways to arrange furniture and belongings so the space appeals to potential home buyers.
An experienced agent will also know where and how to advertise your home for optimum exposure and will handle placing the listings for you. The price of advertising is usually included in the agent's commission at the end of the sale and not before.
Once there is interest, he or she will then take potential home buyers on tours of your house and will often arrange open houses or private tours.
According to the National Association of Realtors, home sellers who use an agent receive 16 percent more for their homes.

What does a Platinum International Real Estate agent do for you?


Your real estate agent does a lot to earn that commission and you may never be aware of the work that went into selling your home.

•Your agent will collaborate with you to correctly price your home. As a seller, you may use home valuation tools, but it's best to work with your agent to make sense of all the information you collect. They will use their market knowledge to figure out a price that will get someone to buy your home, but will also get you the most for your home.

•Their will handle buyer inquiries and home showing, a process that can be time-consuming if you have a busy wor schedule or social life. They may get calls from people who are just kicking the tires and don't intend to buy soon, as well as calls from people who are serious about purchasing a home. Your real estate agent will spend much of their time talking to buyers to decipher which are serious and which are not as well as giving tours of your home.

•They will handle all the advertising. They know what works: which Web sites get results and which magazines and newspapers are most often read by potential home buyers. They will take care of taking pictures of your home to post on the Web or in ads and will update postings and listings. You'll never have to think about it.

•Your agent can help you stage your home before showing it to potential buyers. Many professionals say the first impression can make or break a deal. The agent will know how to clear out the clutter and arrange your furniture to make your home more appealing to potential buyers.
 
Choose a Platinum International Real Estate agent today!

Happy New Year - 2010

Sending you our warmest wishes...
For a year filled with good cheer, joy and peace
Wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous
Happy New Year!

MOST POPULAR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
■Lose Weight
■Manage Debt
■Save Money
■Get a Better Job
■Get Fit
■Get a Better Education
■Drink Less Alcohol
■Quit Smoking Now
■Reduce Stress Overall
■Reduce Stress at Work
■Take a Trip
■Volunteer to Help Others
■Learn Something New
■Get Organize in your Home and Work
■Spend More Time with Family and Friends


Which one of these did you make?