Planning first house hunting trip to AC...want to be near the activity, but not too near...reading that there is quite a bit of crime etc (like any town/city)...what are the "bad areas" i should avoid?

Any recommendations on a reputable realtor, lawyer and accountant?

thanks (sorry for the flurry of posts, but i only down for 8 days, and dont want to waste time on places/realtors/etc i shouldnt)

Lara

We too are interested in knowing this

I'm sure others can answer better, but in our two trips we felt perfectly safe. Most of the resorts have a security guard on duty at night. Lock up your valuables. Don't bring expensive jewelry--there is no place to wear it. Don't flash your money. Common sense, in other words. We were approached once about drugs, a "no thanks" worked. A flashlight helps at night, but more to keep from tripping over things on the beach. My feeling, unless you seek out trouble, chances are good it won't find you.

TTT - I agree with kris, but I think you guys were looking for different information. I know this board can help you...

Thanks Kris for the tips and info, but i am thinking more along the lines of bad sections to actually buy a property in. Like, if you were to move to Phila, i would tell you to stay away from West Phila, this section of town, that section of town...that sorta thing

:-)

Okay, can't help with that.

I don't think you can get what you are looking for here. I'm afraid you might here from people who have a personal interest. However, I think once you get here it will be obvious what sections to avoid - just keep your eyes open - talk to people - use common sense.
There are many reputable realtors here. Just walk in, introduce yourself, be honest and straight forward about what you are looking for and work with who ever it is you make a good feeling connection with. However, be aware that there does not seem to be a multiple listing arrangement here. From what I have heard a realtor will only show you their listings. Also, the fees are a straight 8% and local financing is 12%.

Wait, let me get this right Lara, You are comparing AC to Philadelphia??? Have you ever been to San Pedro?

OH DEAR GOD NO i'm not comparing at all! i was just trying to clarify the type of information i was looking for...LOL...areas to LIVE versus areas to VISIT

are you thinking of moving here or actually purchasing property here?

both...moving there after having purchased property So, since i am looking to move to where i purchase, i was just wondering on advise as to where to purchase so that when i live there i wont be in a place i dont wanna live

I agree with Scubaldy, once you get there and see for yourself, areas you want to avoid will be obvious.

Scubaldy,

There is some co-operation between the more reputable realtors....the barriers are slowly being broken down. One correction, the buyer does not pay the realtor commission, the seller does.

Good grief........ I've been mostly lurking and occasionally posting here and this is the most unhelpful series of responses to a seriously considered question that I have seen.

Those of you who live, or spend a lot of time in SP can surely give her some broad guidance. Geeeez.....

I think most of the answers have been very helpful. Travelqueen's "wait until you get here" advice is absolutely the best information possible. You can read 1000's of pages of information on Ambergris Caye on the Internet. But! Even if you memorized every single word of what you'd read you'd still only know 1% of what Ambergris Caye is all about.

The other 99% falls into place once you've been on the island for a day or two.

JC, most of the answers have been the truth and Chris put it in perspective. Another thing you need to keep in mind is this section of the board is NOT for seriousness... if you post here, then you have to expect some joking around. If you prefer seriousness, then there is a different section to visit.

And Lara, as far as certain sections of San Pedro to avoid, I always have one rule of thumb: Any section that welcomes Bill Thornton should be avoided at all costs.

Oh, and Lara, since you said you would advise anyone thinking about moving to Philly... let me ask: How about Fishtown?

Sections of town to avoid purchasing and living in San Pedro?

It depends how you want to live. If you want the quiet life on the water where only neighbors drop by occasionally and you plan a 'trip' to town you should look out of town either north or south.

If you want to live like San Pedrano with late parties in the street outside your window (join in if you want) and a gentle hustle and bustle during the day and dozens of people saying hi and stopping to talk to you in the street find someplace closer to town.

One of the advantages of AC is that both these lifestyles are only a short golf cart ride apart.

Steve

Denny Shane
Hi there...HA fishtown! i actually was born raised and still in phila...and if you want a SHOCKER OF SHOCKERS Fishtown is a HOT HOT HOT property now...

now, for those of you that dont know phila, the fact that fishtown is a selling row homes for nearly upwards of $500,000, its an amazing twist that NO ONE saw coming.

Anyway, when rowhomes in fishtown start selling for that much, its time for this sista to get the hell outta dodge

Lara, I know, prices are crazy. My daughter still lives there, in Fishtown, in the house I bought back in 1970 for $7,800. I think she was offered 375,000.00 for it.

Where do you live now?

Homes in Las Vegas. a $134,000 house in July 2001 is now $350,000 today.

The sad part is that 5 years from now the same houses will be going for 650,000... and everyone will be saying, crap we should have bought them when they were 350,000.

YEP. so buy now. wish I would have in 1990's when they were $80,000 there but I wasn't even outta school yet.

The really sad part is that's what the dollar is worth , almost nothing. Gold used to be $38 an oz. and oil $8 a barrel. Now it's $560 for gold and $60 for oil. There still the same houses, it's the money that's changing.

why is that sad? Exciting to me if you are taking advantage and investing in such property.

Well put Steve.

dang Denny, thats some appreciation. my house has gone from 48,000 to 325,000 since 88. amazing to see the difference from 1970

i remember working for that $1.30

I do too, but I could put $2.00 worth of gas in the car and cruise all night.

Marty,
I've got Denny beat on appreciation! Home purchased in Santa Cruz, CA in 1999 for 425,000 can now be listed and sold quickly for a million buckeroos. You can't sell though until you are ready to move to a more affordable area. Sure you'd have a million dollars, but if you wanted to stay in Santa Cruz you'd have to spend that and more to live in a similar home. Retiring in Belize is looking better and better...

Dang. I like my wooded lot in suburban Columbus, Ohio. Only appeciating at 5-7% a year which stinks (comparitively), but I have 2600 square feet in a family neighborhood with the best schools in Ohio for uner $300k

shaking head

Although Steve never agrees with me I occasionally agree with him :p ; and this time he is right on the money. My first two trips I stayed at Tradewinds and Rocks (Now Blue Tang), 3rd trip Lily’s, 4th trip The Hideaway, 5th trip above Manelly’s Ice Cream. I subsequently rented here full time at a good rate which held the place until I could move down full time. I spent a year in that cute little place and absolutely loved my hammock across from the Mayan Princess’s 3rd floor open walk way. I met a lot of people there. LOL
The best part of living in the middle of town was sitting in Coconet Internet or in front of Manelly’s Ice Cream and ‘visiting’ with who ever came by. The worst part was the #$% @^&*#*^ LOAD music every Saturday night at the Lions Den. (I heard a rumor that it has been discontinued.) By the time I moved north I felt a real part of the community.
Now I relish the peace and quiet of the north and only go to town on Tuesdays, Thursdays and occasionally a 3rd day.

So, as Steve said, it all depends on what you are looking for. Most of us would tout our own areas – so advice here is usually not totally objective

great info scuba lady... any points like that (music etc), or potentially moving once i establish a "life" (friends, contacts etc) makes me think quite a bit about how to proceed with the realtors! thanks very much!!

Lara... I just reread this entire post and no where does it say that you have ever actually been to Belize? Did I miss it? If you have never been there, I strongly suggest waiting until you visit and get to go around the island and the mainland before making any decision.

It's not like Philly at all. For one thing you can't get a soft pretzel, nor cheesesteaks or hoagies like we're used to... geez, I have a hard enough time here in Houston getting these items.

LOL Denny and don't forget the italian ice. I would kill for a pork cheesesteak from Tony Luke's right now with provolone. hots and Os.

bill

thats "water ice" to us philadelphians...and Rita's or locally made are the only ones that will do.

Denny
Yip, first time going down there. I'm not doing anything till i get there, just lots and lots and lots of research, soul searching, evaluating and thinking. I am looking at this as a vacation first, and a potential for a move second. Just like to think through things in finite detail first. As for the food, as much as i know i will miss amoroso's rolls, i am really ok with it. i love phila, and always will, have lived here my entire life, didnt even leave for college...but sometimes you just know when it is time to move on.

I'm not from philly but spent about 6 months there. Great place, I had some called Italian ice also, Ritas was better you're right. I could never get myself to call it "water ice" and could not remember the name. Philly is one of the few places I ever spent some time and gained weight.

Amoroso's rolls seem to be the biggest weakness that I have found to getting great cheesesteaks outside of the philly area.

Cheesesteaks for dinner Send me rolls.

Lara, since you've never been to Belize... may I make a suggestion? Come to Houston and visit me first. Stay awhile, maybe a couple weeks. Even though I have a two bedroom apartment, I only have one actual bedroom as the other is my computer room/library, but I don't forsee any problems there. You can trust me to stay on my side of the bed.

Belize is a very beautiful country but a very hard place to live, especially for an ex-pat. It's not cheap either and very expensive.

Another thing to think about... what kind of work do you do? Remember, the country of Belize hires Belizeans first and THEN everyone else.

Plus there's no South Street.

thanks for the offer...i've been to houston...neat place really.

i'm sure i will learn a lot on the trip...the issue with "expense" is that it is so relative...i just gotta see for myself i guess...like everyone said on here

Denny, you dog!!!

Well Lara, being the gentleman that I am, I wanted to make the offer... ya know, just cause you're a fella philladelphian.

B. Bill... moi?

Very hard to understand why someone would move to a place they've never been! I sure hope things work out for the best tho. I've been to the island several times,but i'm not sure i could live there.
I love it tho! Walmart is too far away sometimes!
Richard :p

Hey Judge - I could get jealous! How u b?

Denny, you might stay on your side of the bed but I don't think you could close your eyes.

Hanging in law... not feeling too optimistic lately since the last stroke a few weeks ago. Next year I'm going for a record, 4 for 4 lol

danny... you're right and I didn't say anything about eyes... nice of you to tip her off... sheesh...

Denny, baby Are these TIA's or full strokes?

Not TIA's but the full blown ones. I don't do anything half way.

The Drs called and they wanted me to go to Dallas to a hospital there. They said they wanted to operate. The artery that is 100% blocked is right in the middle of my brain. I said, well, how many of these operations have they done and how successful have they been?

The Dr. said, "ummm, well, you'll be the first!"

THAT nearly gave me another one. Needless to say I nicely told the Dr. to call me back after they have a few 100 under their belts.

WEll Denny....now that i hear about the stroke, i wouldnt want to add to you health conditions...its best i stay away Although, i do appreciate the hospitality, and truly extend it back to you (or anyone else for that matter) here in phila. You'd have your very own bedroom

Besides..., while i might be cute...I snore.

I'm sorry to hear about your health.

As for "moving to an island i've never seen"...seriously, some seem to miss the point that i am coming to SEE the country, and CONSIDERING buying...hence the question that started this thread... If i like it, MAYBE i will move there, if i like it, MAYBE I will buy property and visit frequently, if i hate it, I'll go home

I am doing a LOT of preliminary research from here (phila), including this board, reading books, internet searches and such, talking to someone who lives here and been there half a dozen times, and someone that has bought property there and building a home.

I guess we all have our own ways about building our lives...and all we can hope for is that our way works out best for ourself. We all have our own stories that lead us to certain points in our lives, and we are all just trying to find our way.

BAD PARTS OF SAN PEDRO:

1) San Pedro Town Board - beware of crooks and liars
2) Fido's at closing time - angry mob shouting "WE WANT MORE!"
3) Coconet when Steve is hung-over and has no Coke Light.
4) Police Station when you have bought drugs and complained they are cut with steriods (inside joke) lmao
5) Jaguar's when they ask you to pay your bill (and you forgot, or ate, your credit card).


AND

6) Your bathroom after a night of jerk chicken, Belikin and Jagermeister shots.

Besides those areas, San Pedro doesn't have a ghetto if that was the question.

SIN

.

Jaguar's takes cards? Not in Apr. 17th '05 they didn't. :rolleyes:

Steve... too funny!!

Fido's... that would be me!!!