Building a Home in Belize, Part One
What a 20-Year Canadian Construction Veteran Recommends for Foreigners Building in Central America
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With the continued inflows of foreigners into Belize, land and property purchases continue at a record pace countrywide. If you are a foreigner looking to purchase or relocate, several options are available: rent, buy a pre-existing home, or purchase a lot and build your own. This post will explore the latter option, which my family and I chose three years ago. The following year, we began construction.
Like any construction project, it was a significant undertaking, even for a contractor in Canada like myself. Despite nearly 20 years of construction and renovation experience, I still found there was a learning curve to building in Belize. Construction methods vary, as do the communication styles of local contractors, builders, and suppliers. I learned some valuable lessons and want to share them with you so your project unfolds smoothly.
An Explanation of the Following Posts
The original draft was lengthy, so I've divided it into two parts, making it easier to digest and refer to later. Part One—this post—covers various pre-construction processes, like determining a location, considerations when choosing a lot, and ways to hack your budget and keep costs down. Part Two discusses all things construction, from clearing a lot and installing services to building methods, materials, and maintenance requirements and considerations.
Before We Get Started
There is one, albeit important, topic I won't cover in the posts: finding the right contractor. I wrote an award-winning book, Home in Good Hands: A Homeowner's Guide to Construction and Renovation, which includes a chapter on that subject.
The book also contains detailed information on renovations and construction projects, from start to finish, and it serves as a great companion resource to this and the following post. To keep the posts concise, I choose not to rehash it here. You can find the book on Amazon (linked above in the book title), Google Play, Apple Books, Kindle, and elsewhere. It provides valuable information that you can apply to any construction or renovation project, whether at home, abroad, or in Belize.
A Wee Disclaimer
While I have considerable experience in construction in Canada and built a home from scratch in Belize, expats aspiring to build here should conduct thorough research and exercise due diligence. My experience building in Belize is now three years old, so things may have changed. Indeed, material and labour costs, the availability of buildable lots, and contractors to do the work have changed since then.
Nevertheless, much of the information provided applies to the current market conditions and will, at the very least, get you thinking about things you might not have otherwise.
A Final Caveat
If you have never built or renovated a house in your home country, I wouldn't recommend cutting your teeth in a new country. If you are entirely new to residential construction or renovation, you may want to consider buying a home in Belize instead. Doing so will make your time in the country more enjoyable and preserve your mental and familial health.
For those with previous experience or an adventurous spirit, this post and the following will provide a comprehensive guide to building a home in Belize.
Let's get started!