Also, I seldom - if ever - give my opinion on this board about recommending the likes of fishing guides or restaurants as those tend to be subjective based on personal preferences and if one has the unfortunate experience of not being satisfied they are not out much - a not too costly a lesson. Much different with real estate agents.
Two that participate on this board that I have no reservations about personally recommending are - Sunrise and Pelican. There are others that I know personally that are also reputable, and I hope they will forgive me for not mentioning them, but I mention these two because of their frequent contributions to discussions on this board.

I am sure it would be informative and valuable information if others that have used real estate agents would comment.

The People on vacation are just that ...vacated ! and they become easy targets for fraud and con. What most of the people that live here want is for tourist/visitors to be comfortable and safe. So naturally we have some big attitudes about the number of foreign real estate sellers that show up to abuse them it hurts the whole reputation of Belize.
Its an unregulated market and needs legislation to control it desperately.

What a cunundrum, the GOB controlling.

Bywarren-What I hope Elbert means is that the regulations would be (I have my suspicions that I could be incorrect here)

1. Realtors check the land titles and guarantee true and clean title.

2. Realtors cannot sell condos or houses that do not have planning permission.

3. Realtors must have an escrow account that cannot be used as their private piggy bank (a lot of escrow accounts are their own personal accounts)

4.Gov't just needs to pass these laws and collect their property and sales taxes.

5.Realtors should be held accountable for the claims on their web sites -if they make false claims as some do (especially the ones who employ people who say they have been here for years and have been here that many months)-should be penalised in some way.

6. Realtors should employ local people not all foreigners.

7. pre construction contracts should have a start and finish date and all parties should be subject to penalties if contract adhered to i.e. Builder starts and completes/realtor checks that all is going ok (not for extra money but as part of his/her commissions,a sort of free service) purchaser has to pay monies on time-all governed by force major-all pre construction should be insured with a local re-insurer

Just my thoughts

I had to look that up warren thanks , 'my word of the day'
your right its a new and developing country that has a lot of problems enforcing the laws it has, and needs to make more still.

Peter,
7. make them have to have a licenses.

It is amazing that pedro is right on the money with his post..As the island has flourished ..The quick get rich con men have Appeared in droves..I have been coming here once a moth or so for over five yers but have seen the land sharks ariving each day ..I have had only one real Estate tranaction and it was great and went smooth as I dealt with chris at pelican properties a class act ..But there are a few other good ones here !!If you can ask me how I Am so sure of my statements it is becauce I went to the school of hard knocks!!! I think I have lots of street sense .!!! I know why this is happening the island is full of good people tring to buy a piece of Paradise to live the dream ....I personaly would not deal with any one ,not here at least five years with lots of happy clients ..And never some fast talking flim ,flam ,person with no track record... Buyer beware and never with out a good Attorney both in the states and one in belize.. This is just my, not so humble opinion!!!!!!

"enforcing the laws it has, and needs to make more still."
That is an oxymoron. There is another one for you Elbert referring to the locution you pointed out.

You can now go for a hat trick today.

capt. US att.'s are as useless as [#%!] on a boar in Belize.

oops the auto sensor picked up my locution